DC Parallel Circuit

Chapter 4
DC Parallel Circuit

IT I1 I2 I3

VT R1 R2 R3

A parallel circuit is a circuit in which two or more components are

connected across the same voltage source.
 VOLTAGE AND CURRENT IN A PARALLEL CIRCUIT

The voltage across parallel branches are equal.

VT = V1 = V2 = V3= VN
 VOLTAGE AND CURRENT IN A PARALLEL CIRCUIT

The total current IT is equal to the sum of all branch

currents.

IT = I1 + I2 + I3+…+ IN
 VOLTAGE AND CURRENT IN A PARALLEL CIRCUIT

EXAMPLE
Two lamps each drawing 2 A and a third lamp drawing 1 A are
connected in parallel across a 110-V line. What is the total
current?

IT I1 I2 I3
110 V
2A 2A 1A
DC power supply
 VOLTAGE AND CURRENT IN A PARALLEL CIRCUIT

EXAMPLE

IT = I1 + I2 + I3

= 2+ 2 + 1

= 5A
 VOLTAGE AND CURRENT IN A PARALLEL CIRCUIT

EXAMPLE
A parallel circuit consists of a coffee maker, a toaster, and a frying pan plugged into a
kitchen appliance circuit on a 120-V line .What currents will flow in each branch of
the circuit and what is the total current drawn by all the appliances?
 VOLTAGE AND CURRENT IN A PARALLEL CIRCUIT

EXAMPLE

IT I1 I2 I3

V = 120 V R1 15 Ω R2 15 Ω R3 12 Ω
 RESISTANCES IN PARALLEL

 The total resistance in a parallel circuit is found by applying

Ohm's law.

 The words total resistance and equivalent resistance are

used interchangeably.
 RESISTANCES IN PARALLEL

General Reciprocal Formula

The total resistance in parallel is given by the formula

1 1 1 1 1
= + + +…+
RT R1 R2 R3 RN
 RESISTANCES IN PARALLEL

EXAMPLE
Find the total resistance of a 2 Ω , a 4 Ω, and an 8 Ω resistor in parallel.
Write the formula for three resistances in parallel.
 RESISTANCES IN PARALLEL

Simplified Formulas

The total resistance of equal resistors in parallel is equal to the

resistance of one resistor divided by the number of resistors.

RT = R
N
 RESISTANCES IN PARALLEL

Simplified Formulas

When any two unequal resistors are in parallel, it is often easier to

calculate the total resistance by multiplying the two resistances and
then dividing the product by the sum of the resistances.

R1 R 2
RT =
R 1 + R2
 RESISTANCES IN PARALLEL

EXAMPLE
1. Four lamps, each having a resistance of 60Ω, are connected in
parallel. Find the total resistance.

2. Find the total resistance of a 6 Ω and an 18 Ω resistor in parallel.

 RESISTANCES IN PARALLEL

EXAMPLE
3. What value of resistance must be added in parallel with a 4- Ω
resistor to provide a total resistance of 3 Ω.
 OPEN AND SHORT CIRCUITS

 An “open” in any part of a circuit is, in effect, an extremely

high resistance that results in no current flow in the circuit.
 OPEN AND SHORT CIRCUITS

 When there is an open in the main line current to all the parallel
branches is stopped. When there is an open in one branch only
that branch will have no current. However, current in branches 1
and 3 will continue to flow so long as they are connected to the
voltage source.

Open in Main Line Open in Parallel Branch

 OPEN AND SHORT CIRCUITS

 A “short” in any part of a circuit is, in effect, an extremely

low resistance. The result is that very high current will flow
through the short circuit.
 OPEN AND SHORT CIRCUITS

 Assume that a conducting wire at point a in Fig. should

accidentally contact the wire at point b.

Short in parallel circuit

 OPEN AND SHORT CIRCUITS

EXAMPLE
4. Find the current in each parallel branch (Fig. a). If the resistor in
the second branch burns out, causing an open circuit (Fig. b), find the
new branch currents.

a b
DIVISION OF CURRENT IN TWO PARALLEL BRANCHES

R2
I1 = IT
R1 + R2

R1
I2 = IT
R1 + R2
 DIVISION OF CURRENT IN TWO PARALLEL BRANCHES

EXAMPLE
Find the branch currents I1 and I2 for the circuit shown .
 CONDUCTANCES IN PARALLEL

 Conductance is the opposite of resistance. The less the resistance,

the higher the conductance. The symbol for conductance is G and
its unit is siemens (S). G is the reciprocal of R, or

1
G=
R
 CONDUCTANCES IN PARALLEL

 Since conductance is equal to the reciprocal of resistance, the

reciprocal resistance equation,

GT = G1 + G2 + G3 +…Gn
POWER IN PARALLEL CIRCUITS

PT = P1 + P2 + P3 +…+Pn
 POWER IN PARALLEL CIRCUITS

EXAMPLE
Find the power dissipated in each branch and the total power of the
circuit . First find the branch current and the power in each branch.
 POWER IN PARALLEL CIRCUITS

SEATWORK
1. Branch circuits in a house wiring system are parallel circuits. A
toaster, a coffee maker, and a frying pan are plugged into a kitchen
appliance circuit across a 110-V line.The current through the toaster is
8.3A; through the coffee maker, 8.3A; and
through the frying pan, 6A.

Find

(a) the total current from the main line,

(b) the voltage across each appliance, and
(c) the total resistance of the circuit.
 POWER IN PARALLEL CIRCUITS

SEATWORK
2. Two resistors, each dissipating 2 W, are connected in parallel across
40 V . What is the current in each resistor? What is the total current
drawn?

I1 = ? I2 = ?
IT = ?

V = 40 V
R1 P1 = 2W R2 P2 = 2W