Circuit Connections

 Series Circuit – Loads are connected end to end along the path of current in
a single closed loop. A typical example is Christmas lights where a number of
loads (bulb) are connected to one another. If one bulb burns out, the whole
set of bulbs goes dark. Then you have to find out which bulb is bad, and
replace it to get the lights working again.
 Important rules of a Series Circuit

R1= 20 ohms

ET= 60V R2=40 ohm

R3= 60 ohm

Rule 1. When two or more resistors are connected in series , the total resistance
is the sum of all the resistances in circuit.
RT= R1 + R2 + R3--------Rn

Where:

RT- Total resistance

R1- Resistance of the number one resistor and so on
Hence:
RT= R1 + R2 + R3
= 20 + 40 + 60
= 120 ohms
Rule 2. The total voltage in series circuit is the sum of all individual voltage
drops of the loads.

ET= E1 + E2 + E3 ------ En
Where:
E1= Total Voltage
E2= Voltage drop across R1 or load # 1
E3= Voltage drop across R2 and so on
Example:
R1= 20 ohm

E1= 10V

E2= 20V
ET=? R2= 40 ohm

E3= 30V

R3= 60 ohm

ET= E1 + E2 + E3
= 10V + 20V + 30V
= 60 volts\v

ET
IT= RT
60 V
=
20 ohms+40 ohms+60 ohms

Rule 3. The current flowing in a series circuit is the same or constant.

Hence,
 R1= 20 ohms

E1= 10v

E2= 20v R2= 40 ohms

E3= 30v

R3= 60 ohms

IT = I1 = I2 = I3 = -------In
IT= .5 Amp.
E1
I1 = R1
10 V
= 20 ohms

I1 = .5 Amp.
E2
I2 = R2
20 V
= 40 ohms

I2= .5 Amp.
E3
I3 = R3
30V
= 60 ohm
= .5 Amp.
Therefore: IT = I1 = I2 = I3
To prove rule # 2
ET = E1 + E2 + E3
E1 = I1 x R1 = .5A x 20 ohms = 10 volts
E2 = I2 X R2 = .5A x 40 ohms = 20 volts
E3 = I3 x R3 = .5A x 60 ohms = 30 volts
ET = 10v + 20v + 30v = 60 volts
Proof.
ET = IT x RT
= .5A x 120 ohms
= 60 volts
To prove rule #2
RT = R1 + R2 + R3
R1 = E1 \ I1 = 10v / .5A = 20 ohms
R2 = E2 / I2 = 20v / .5A = 40 ohms
R3 = E3 / I3 = 30v \ .5A = 60 ohms
RT = 20 + 40 + 60 = 120 ohms
Proof.
RT = ET \ IT = 60v \ .5A = 120 ohms

Schematic Diagram of a Parallel Circuit

Pictorial Diagram of a Parallel Circuit

Rules of Parallel Circuit

Rule 1. The resistance in parallel circuit is the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals of
all the branches. The total resistance is always lower than the lowest value in the circuit
once the resistor decreases.

Example:
R1= 20
R2= 40
R3= 80
RT=?
Formula:
1/RT= 1/20 + 1/40 + 1/15
1 = 4 +2 + 1
RT 80
RT= 80/7
RT= 11.43 ohms
Rule 2. The total voltage in parallel circuit is always equal to the voltage drop in each
load
Hence:
ET= E1 = E2 = E3 = ------En
Rule 3. The current in parallel circuit is distributed in every branch. The total current is
the sum of the currents of each branch.
It= I1 + I2 + I3 + ------In