DC

Fifth Edition, last update January 1, 2004
2
Lessons In Electric Circuits, Volume I – DC
By Tony R. Kuphaldt
Fifth Edition, last update January 1, 2004

i
c 1998-2003, Tony R. Kuphaldt

°
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PRINTING HISTORY
• First Edition: Printed in June of 2000. Plain-ASCII illustrations for universal computer
readability.
• Second Edition: Printed in September of 2000. Illustrations reworked in standard graphic

(eps and jpeg) format. Source files translated to Texinfo format for easy online and printed
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• Third Edition: Equations and tables reworked as graphic images rather than plain-ASCII text.
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• Fifth Edition: Printed in August 2002. New sections added, and error corrections made, since
the fourth edition.
ii
Contents
1 BASIC CONCEPTS OF ELECTRICITY 1

1.1 Static electricity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 Conductors, insulators, and electron flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.3 Electric circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
1.4 Voltage and current . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
1.5 Resistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
1.6 Voltage and current in a practical circuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
1.7 Conventional versus electron flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
1.8 Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
2 OHM’s LAW 33
2.1 How voltage, current, and resistance relate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
2.2 An analogy for Ohm’s Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
2.3 Power in electric circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
2.4 Calculating electric power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
2.5 Resistors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
2.6 Nonlinear conduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
2.7 Circuit wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
2.8 Polarity of voltage drops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
2.9 Computer simulation of electric circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
2.10 Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
3 ELECTRICAL SAFETY 73
3.1 The importance of electrical safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
3.2 Physiological effects of electricity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
3.3 Shock current path . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
3.4 Ohm’s Law (again!) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
3.5 Safe practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
3.6 Emergency response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
3.7 Common sources of hazard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
3.8 Safe circuit design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
3.9 Safe meter usage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
3.10 Electric shock data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
3.11 Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
iii
iv CONTENTS
4 SCIENTIFIC NOTATION AND METRIC PREFIXES 113

4.1 Scientific notation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
4.2 Arithmetic with scientific notation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
4.3 Metric notation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
4.4 Metric prefix conversions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
4.5 Hand calculator use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
4.6 Scientific notation in SPICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
4.7 Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
5 SERIES AND PARALLEL CIRCUITS 123

5.1 What are ”series” and ”parallel” circuits? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
5.2 Simple series circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
5.3 Simple parallel circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
5.4 Conductance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
5.5 Power calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
5.6 Correct use of Ohm’s Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
5.7 Component failure analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
5.8 Building simple resistor circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
5.9 Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
6 DIVIDER CIRCUITS AND KIRCHHOFF’S LAWS 165

6.1 Voltage divider circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
6.2 Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
6.3 Current divider circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
6.4 Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
6.5 Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
7 SERIES-PARALLEL COMBINATION CIRCUITS 191

7.1 What is a series-parallel circuit? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
7.2 Analysis technique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
7.3 Re-drawing complex schematics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
7.4 Component failure analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
7.5 Building series-parallel resistor circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
7.6 Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
8 DC METERING CIRCUITS 229

8.1 What is a meter? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
8.2 Voltmeter design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
8.3 Voltmeter impact on measured circuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
8.4 Ammeter design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
8.5 Ammeter impact on measured circuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
8.6 Ohmmeter design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
8.7 High voltage ohmmeters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
8.8 Multimeters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
8.9 Kelvin (4-wire) resistance measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
8.10 Bridge circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
CONTENTS v
8.11 Wattmeter design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292

8.12 Creating custom calibration resistances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
8.13 Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
9 ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENTATION SIGNALS 297

9.1 Analog and digital signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
9.2 Voltage signal systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
9.3 Current signal systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
9.4 Tachogenerators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
9.5 Thermocouples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
9.6 pH measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
9.7 Strain gauges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
9.8 Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
10 DC NETWORK ANALYSIS 325

10.1 What is network analysis? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
10.2 Branch current method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
10.3 Mesh current method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
10.4 Introduction to network theorems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
10.5 Millman’s Theorem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
10.6 Superposition Theorem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
10.7 Thevenin’s Theorem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355
10.8 Norton’s Theorem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
10.9 Thevenin-Norton equivalencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
10.10Millman’s Theorem revisited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365
10.11Maximum Power Transfer Theorem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
10.12∆-Y and Y-∆ conversions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369
10.13Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375
11 BATTERIES AND POWER SYSTEMS 377

11.1 Electron activity in chemical reactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 377
11.2 Battery construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383
11.3 Battery ratings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386
11.4 Special-purpose batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 388
11.5 Practical considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 392
11.6 Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 394
12 PHYSICS OF CONDUCTORS AND INSULATORS 395

12.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395
12.2 Conductor size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 397
12.3 Conductor ampacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403
12.4 Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 405
12.5 Specific resistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412
12.6 Temperature coefficient of resistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 417
12.7 Superconductivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 419
12.8 Insulator breakdown voltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 422
vi CONTENTS
12.9 Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 423

12.10Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 423
13 CAPACITORS 425
13.1 Electric fields and capacitance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 425
13.2 Capacitors and calculus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 429
13.3 Factors affecting capacitance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 435
13.4 Series and parallel capacitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 437
13.6 Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 445
14 MAGNETISM AND ELECTROMAGNETISM 447

14.1 Permanent magnets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 447
14.2 Electromagnetism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 450
14.3 Magnetic units of measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 453
14.4 Permeability and saturation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 455
14.5 Electromagnetic induction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 460
14.6 Mutual inductance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 462
14.7 Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 465
15 INDUCTORS 467
15.1 Magnetic fields and inductance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 467
15.2 Inductors and calculus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 471
15.3 Factors affecting inductance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 477
15.4 Series and parallel inductors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 481
15.6 Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 483
16 RC AND L/R TIME CONSTANTS 485

16.1 Electrical transients . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 485
16.2 Capacitor transient response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 485
16.3 Inductor transient response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 488
16.4 Voltage and current calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491
16.5 Why L/R and not LR? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 497
16.6 Complex voltage and current calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500
16.7 Complex circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 501
16.8 Solving for unknown time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 506
16.9 Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 508
17 ABOUT THIS BOOK 509

17.1 Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 509
17.2 The use of SPICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 510
17.3 Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 511
CONTENTS vii
18 CONTRIBUTOR LIST 513

18.1 How to contribute to this book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 513
18.2 Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 514
18.2.1 Benjamin Crowell, Ph.D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 514
18.2.2 Tony R. Kuphaldt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 514
18.2.3 Ron LaPlante . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 515
18.2.4 Jason Starck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 515
18.2.5 Warren Young . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 515
18.2.6 Your name here . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 515
18.2.7 Typo corrections and other “minor” contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 515
19 DESIGN SCIENCE LICENSE 517

19.1 0. Preamble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 517
19.2 1. Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 517
19.3 2. Rights and copyright . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 518
19.4 3. Copying and distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 518
19.5 4. Modification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 519
19.6 5. No restrictions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 519
19.7 6. Acceptance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 519
19.8 7. No warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 519
19.9 8. Disclaimer of liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 520
Chapter 1
BASIC CONCEPTS OF
ELECTRICITY
1.1 Static electricity
It was discovered centuries ago that certain types of materials would mysteriously attract one another
after being rubbed together. For example: after rubbing a piece of silk against a piece of glass, the
silk and glass would tend to stick together. Indeed, there was an attractive force that could be
demonstrated even when the two materials were separated:
attraction
Glass rod Silk cloth
Glass and silk aren’t the only materials known to behave like this. Anyone who has ever brushed
up against a latex balloon only to find that it tries to stick to them has experienced this same phe-
nomenon. Paraffin wax and wool cloth are another pair of materials early experimenters recognized
as manifesting attractive forces after being rubbed together:
1
2 CHAPTER 1. BASIC CONCEPTS OF ELECTRICITY
attraction
Wax
Wool cloth
This phenomenon became even more interesting when it was discovered that identical materials,
after having been rubbed with their respective cloths, always repelled each other:
repulsion
Glass rod Glass rod
repulsion
Wax Wax
It was also noted that when a piece of glass rubbed with silk was exposed to a piece of wax
rubbed with wool, the two materials would attract one another:
attraction
Wax
Glass rod
Furthermore, it was found that any material demonstrating properties of attraction or repulsion
1.1. STATIC ELECTRICITY 3
after being rubbed could be classed into one of two distinct categories: attracted to glass and repelled
by wax, or repelled by glass and attracted to wax. It was either one or the other: there were no
materials found that would be attracted to or repelled by both glass and wax, or that reacted to
one without reacting to the other.
More attention was directed toward the pieces of cloth used to do the rubbing. It was discovered
that after rubbing two pieces of glass with two pieces of silk cloth, not only did the glass pieces repel
each other, but so did the cloths. The same phenomenon held for the pieces of wool used to rub the
wax:
repulsion
Silk cloth Silk cloth
repulsion
Wool cloth Wool cloth

Now, this was really strange to witness. After all, none of these objects were visibly altered by
the rubbing, yet they definitely behaved differently than before they were rubbed. Whatever change
took place to make these materials attract or repel one another was invisible.
Some experimenters speculated that invisible ”fluids” were being transferred from one object to
another during the process of rubbing, and that these ”fluids” were able to effect a physical force
over a distance. Charles Dufay was one the early experimenters who demonstrated that there were
definitely two different types of changes wrought by rubbing certain pairs of objects together. The
fact that there was more than one type of change manifested in these materials was evident by the
fact that there were two types of forces produced: attraction and repulsion. The hypothetical fluid
transfer became known as a charge.
One pioneering researcher, Benjamin Franklin, came to the conclusion that there was only one
fluid exchanged between rubbed objects, and that the two different ”charges” were nothing more
than either an excess or a deficiency of that one fluid. After experimenting with wax and wool,
Franklin suggested that the coarse wool removed some of this invisible fluid from the smooth wax,
causing an excess of fluid on the wool and a deficiency of fluid on the wax. The resulting disparity
in fluid content between the wool and wax would then cause an attractive force, as the fluid tried
to regain its former balance between the two materials.
Postulating the existence of a single ”fluid” that was either gained or lost through rubbing
accounted best for the observed behavior: that all these materials fell neatly into one of two categories
when rubbed, and most importantly, that the two active materials rubbed against each other always
fell into opposing categories as evidenced by their invariable attraction to one another. In other
words, there was never a time where two materials rubbed against each other both became either
positive or negative.
Following Franklin’s speculation of the wool rubbing something off of the wax, the type of charge
that was associated with rubbed wax became known as ”negative” (because it was supposed to have
a deficiency of fluid) while the type of charge associated with the rubbing wool became known as
”positive” (because it was supposed to have an excess of fluid). Little did he know that his innocent
conjecture would cause much confusion for students of electricity in the future!
Precise measurements of electrical charge were carried out by the French physicist Charles
Coulomb in the 1780’s using a device called a torsional balance measuring the force generated
between two electrically charged objects. The results of Coulomb’s work led to the development of
a unit of electrical charge named in his honor, the coulomb. If two ”point” objects (hypothetical
objects having no appreciable surface area) were equally charged to a measure of 1 coulomb, and
placed 1 meter (approximately 1 yard) apart, they would generate a force of about 9 billion newtons
(approximately 2 billion pounds), either attracting or repelling depending on the types of charges
involved.
It discovered much later that this ”fluid” was actually composed of extremely small bits of matter
called electrons, so named in honor of the ancient Greek word for amber: another material exhibiting
charged properties when rubbed with cloth. Experimentation has since revealed that all objects are
composed of extremely small ”building-blocks” known as atoms, and that these atoms are in turn
composed of smaller components known as particles. The three fundamental particles comprising
atoms are called protons, neutrons, and electrons. Atoms are far too small to be seen, but if we
could look at one, it might appear something like this:
1.1. STATIC ELECTRICITY 5
e e = electron
P = proton
N = neutron
N
P P
e N P e
N P
N P P
N N
Even though each atom in a piece of material tends to hold together as a unit, there’s actually
a lot of empty space between the electrons and the cluster of protons and neutrons residing in the
middle.
This crude model is that of the element carbon, with six protons, six neutrons, and six electrons.
In any atom, the protons and neutrons are very tightly bound together, which is an important
quality. The tightly-bound clump of protons and neutrons in the center of the atom is called the
nucleus, and the number of protons in an atom’s nucleus determines its elemental identity: change
the number of protons in an atom’s nucleus, and you change the type of atom that it is. In fact,
if you could remove three protons from the nucleus of an atom of lead, you will have achieved the
old alchemists’ dream of producing an atom of gold! The tight binding of protons in the nucleus
is responsible for the stable identity of chemical elements, and the failure of alchemists to achieve
their dream.
Neutrons are much less influential on the chemical character and identity of an atom than protons,
although they are just as hard to add to or remove from the nucleus, being so tightly bound. If
neutrons are added or gained, the atom will still retain the same chemical identity, but its mass will
change slightly and it may acquire strange nuclear properties such as radioactivity.
However, electrons have significantly more freedom to move around in an atom than either
protons or neutrons. In fact, they can be knocked out of their respective positions (even leaving the
atom entirely!) by far less energy than what it takes to dislodge particles in the nucleus. If this
happens, the atom still retains its chemical identity, but an important imbalance occurs. Electrons
and protons are unique in the fact that they are attracted to one another over a distance. It is this
attraction over distance which causes the attraction between rubbed objects, where electrons are
moved away from their original atoms to reside around atoms of another object.
Electrons tend to repel other electrons over a distance, as do protons with other protons. The
only reason protons bind together in the nucleus of an atom is because of a much stronger force
called the strong nuclear force which has effect only under very short distances. Because of this
attraction/repulsion behavior between individual particles, electrons and protons are said to have
opposite electric charges. That is, each electron has a negative charge, and each proton a positive
charge. In equal numbers within an atom, they counteract each other’s presence so that the net
charge within the atom is zero. This is why the picture of a carbon atom had six electrons: to balance
out the electric charge of the six protons in the nucleus. If electrons leave or extra electrons arrive,
the atom’s net electric charge will be imbalanced, leaving the atom ”charged” as a whole, causing it
to interact with charged particles and other charged atoms nearby. Neutrons are neither attracted
to or repelled by electrons, protons, or even other neutrons, and are consequently categorized as
having no charge at all.
The process of electrons arriving or leaving is exactly what happens when certain combinations
of materials are rubbed together: electrons from the atoms of one material are forced by the rubbing
to leave their respective atoms and transfer over to the atoms of the other material. In other words,
electrons comprise the ”fluid” hypothesized by Benjamin Franklin. The operational definition of a
coulomb as the unit of electrical charge (in terms of force generated between point charges) was
found to be equal to an excess or deficiency of about 6,250,000,000,000,000,000 electrons. Or, stated
in reverse terms, one electron has a charge of about 0.00000000000000000016 coulombs. Being that
one electron is the smallest known carrier of electric charge, this last figure of charge for the electron
is defined as the elementary charge.
The result of an imbalance of this ”fluid” (electrons) between objects is called static electricity.
It is called ”static” because the displaced electrons tend to remain stationary after being moved
from one material to another. In the case of wax and wool, it was determined through further
experimentation that electrons in the wool actually transferred to the atoms in the wax, which is
exactly opposite of Franklin’s conjecture! In honor of Franklin’s designation of the wax’s charge
being ”negative” and the wool’s charge being ”positive,” electrons are said to have a ”negative”
charging influence. Thus, an object whose atoms have received a surplus of electrons is said to be
negatively charged, while an object whose atoms are lacking electrons is said to be positively charged,
as confusing as these designations may seem. By the time the true nature of electric ”fluid” was
discovered, Franklin’s nomenclature of electric charge was too well established to be easily changed,
and so it remains to this day.
• REVIEW:
• All materials are made up of tiny ”building blocks” known as atoms.
• All atoms contain particles called electrons, protons, and neutrons.
• Electrons have a negative (-) electric charge.
• Protons have a positive (+) electric charge.
• Neutrons have no electric charge.
• Electrons can be dislodged from atoms much easier than protons or neutrons.
• The number of protons in an atom’s nucleus determines its identity as a unique element.
1.2. CONDUCTORS, INSULATORS, AND ELECTRON FLOW 7
1.2 Conductors, insulators, and electron flow

The electrons of different types of atoms have different degrees of freedom to move around. With
some types of materials, such as metals, the outermost electrons in the atoms are so loosely bound
that they chaotically move in the space between the atoms of that material by nothing more than
the influence of room-temperature heat energy. Because these virtually unbound electrons are free
to leave their respective atoms and float around in the space between adjacent atoms, they are often
called free electrons.
In other types of materials such as glass, the atoms’ electrons have very little freedom to move
around. While external forces such as physical rubbing can force some of these electrons to leave
their respective atoms and transfer to the atoms of another material, they do not move between
atoms within that material very easily.
This relative mobility of electrons within a material is known as electric conductivity. Conduc-
tivity is determined by the types of atoms in a material (the number of protons in each atom’s
nucleus, determining its chemical identity) and how the atoms are linked together with one another.
Materials with high electron mobility (many free electrons) are called conductors, while materials
with low electron mobility (few or no free electrons) are called insulators.
Here are a few common examples of conductors and insulators:
• Conductors:
• silver
• copper
• gold
• aluminum
• iron
• steel
• brass
• bronze
• mercury
• graphite
• dirty water
• concrete
• Insulators:
• glass
• rubber
• oil
• asphalt
• fiberglass
• porcelain
• ceramic
• quartz
• (dry) cotton
• (dry) paper
• (dry) wood
• plastic
• air
• diamond
• pure water
It must be understood that not all conductive materials have the same level of conductivity,
and not all insulators are equally resistant to electron motion. Electrical conductivity is analogous
to the transparency of certain materials to light: materials that easily ”conduct” light are called
”transparent,” while those that don’t are called ”opaque.” However, not all transparent materials
are equally conductive to light. Window glass is better than most plastics, and certainly better than
”clear” fiberglass. So it is with electrical conductors, some being better than others.
For instance, silver is the best conductor in the ”conductors” list, offering easier passage for
electrons than any other material cited. Dirty water and concrete are also listed as conductors, but
these materials are substantially less conductive than any metal.
Physical dimension also impacts conductivity. For instance, if we take two strips of the same
conductive material – one thin and the other thick – the thick strip will prove to be a better conductor
than the thin for the same length. If we take another pair of strips – this time both with the same
thickness but one shorter than the other – the shorter one will offer easier passage to electrons than
the long one. This is analogous to water flow in a pipe: a fat pipe offers easier passage than a skinny
pipe, and a short pipe is easier for water to move through than a long pipe, all other dimensions
being equal.
It should also be understood that some materials experience changes in their electrical properties
under different conditions. Glass, for instance, is a very good insulator at room temperature, but
becomes a conductor when heated to a very high temperature. Gases such as air, normally insulating
materials, also become conductive if heated to very high temperatures. Most metals become poorer
conductors when heated, and better conductors when cooled. Many conductive materials become
perfectly conductive (this is called superconductivity) at extremely low temperatures.
1.2. CONDUCTORS, INSULATORS, AND ELECTRON FLOW 9
While the normal motion of ”free” electrons in a conductor is random, with no particular direc-
tion or speed, electrons can be influenced to move in a coordinated fashion through a conductive
material. This uniform motion of electrons is what we call electricity, or electric current. To be
more precise, it could be called dynamic electricity in contrast to static electricity, which is an un-
moving accumulation of electric charge. Just like water flowing through the emptiness of a pipe,
electrons are able to move within the empty space within and between the atoms of a conductor.
The conductor may appear to be solid to our eyes, but any material composed of atoms is mostly
empty space! The liquid-flow analogy is so fitting that the motion of electrons through a conductor
is often referred to as a ”flow.”
A noteworthy observation may be made here. As each electron moves uniformly through a
conductor, it pushes on the one ahead of it, such that all the electrons move together as a group.
The starting and stopping of electron flow through the length of a conductive path is virtually
instantaneous from one end of a conductor to the other, even though the motion of each electron
may be very slow. An approximate analogy is that of a tube filled end-to-end with marbles:
Tube
Marble Marble
The tube is full of marbles, just as a conductor is full of free electrons ready to be moved by an
outside influence. If a single marble is suddenly inserted into this full tube on the left-hand side,
another marble will immediately try to exit the tube on the right. Even though each marble only
traveled a short distance, the transfer of motion through the tube is virtually instantaneous from
the left end to the right end, no matter how long the tube is. With electricity, the overall effect
from one end of a conductor to the other happens at the speed of light: a swift 186,000 miles per
second!!! Each individual electron, though, travels through the conductor at a much slower pace.
If we want electrons to flow in a certain direction to a certain place, we must provide the proper
path for them to move, just as a plumber must install piping to get water to flow where he or she
wants it to flow. To facilitate this, wires are made of highly conductive metals such as copper or
aluminum in a wide variety of sizes.
Remember that electrons can flow only when they have the opportunity to move in the space
between the atoms of a material. This means that there can be electric current only where there
exists a continuous path of conductive material providing a conduit for electrons to travel through. In
the marble analogy, marbles can flow into the left-hand side of the tube (and, consequently, through
the tube) if and only if the tube is open on the right-hand side for marbles to flow out. If the tube
is blocked on the right-hand side, the marbles will just ”pile up” inside the tube, and marble ”flow”
will not occur. The same holds true for electric current: the continuous flow of electrons requires
there be an unbroken path to permit that flow. Let’s look at a diagram to illustrate how this works:
A thin, solid line (as shown above) is the conventional symbol for a continuous piece of wire.
Since the wire is made of a conductive material, such as copper, its constituent atoms have many
free electrons which can easily move through the wire. However, there will never be a continuous or
uniform flow of electrons within this wire unless they have a place to come from and a place to go.
Let’s add an hypothetical electron ”Source” and ”Destination:”
Electron Electron
Source Destination
Now, with the Electron Source pushing new electrons into the wire on the left-hand side, electron
flow through the wire can occur (as indicated by the arrows pointing from left to right). However,
the flow will be interrupted if the conductive path formed by the wire is broken:
Electron no flow! no flow! Electron

Source (break) Destination
Since air is an insulating material, and an air gap separates the two pieces of wire, the once-
continuous path has now been broken, and electrons cannot flow from Source to Destination. This
is like cutting a water pipe in two and capping off the broken ends of the pipe: water can’t flow if
there’s no exit out of the pipe. In electrical terms, we had a condition of electrical continuity when
the wire was in one piece, and now that continuity is broken with the wire cut and separated.
If we were to take another piece of wire leading to the Destination and simply make physical
contact with the wire leading to the Source, we would once again have a continuous path for electrons
to flow. The two dots in the diagram indicate physical (metal-to-metal) contact between the wire
pieces:
Electron no flow! Electron

Source (break) Destination
Now, we have continuity from the Source, to the newly-made connection, down, to the right, and
up to the Destination. This is analogous to putting a ”tee” fitting in one of the capped-off pipes and
directing water through a new segment of pipe to its destination. Please take note that the broken
segment of wire on the right hand side has no electrons flowing through it, because it is no longer
part of a complete path from Source to Destination.
It is interesting to note that no ”wear” occurs within wires due to this electric current, unlike
water-carrying pipes which are eventually corroded and worn by prolonged flows. Electrons do
encounter some degree of friction as they move, however, and this friction can generate heat in a
conductor. This is a topic we’ll explore in much greater detail later.
• REVIEW:
• In conductive materials, the outer electrons in each atom can easily come or go, and are called
free electrons.
• In insulating materials, the outer electrons are not so free to move.
• All metals are electrically conductive.
• Dynamic electricity, or electric current, is the uniform motion of electrons through a conductor.
Static electricity is an unmoving, accumulated charge formed by either an excess or deficiency
of electrons in an object.
• For electrons to flow continuously (indefinitely) through a conductor, there must be a complete,
unbroken path for them to move both into and out of that conductor.
1.3. ELECTRIC CIRCUITS 11
1.3 Electric circuits
You might have been wondering how electrons can continuously flow in a uniform direction through
wires without the benefit of these hypothetical electron Sources and Destinations. In order for the
Source-and-Destination scheme to work, both would have to have an infinite capacity for electrons
in order to sustain a continuous flow! Using the marble-and-tube analogy, the marble source and
marble destination buckets would have to be infinitely large to contain enough marble capacity for
a ”flow” of marbles to be sustained.
The answer to this paradox is found in the concept of a circuit: a never-ending looped pathway
for electrons. If we take a wire, or many wires joined end-to-end, and loop it around so that it forms
a continuous pathway, we have the means to support a uniform flow of electrons without having to
resort to infinite Sources and Destinations:
electrons can flow
in a path without A marble-and-

beginning or end, hula-hoop "circuit"
continuing forever!
Each electron advancing clockwise in this circuit pushes on the one in front of it, which pushes
on the one in front of it, and so on, and so on, just like a hula-hoop filled with marbles. Now, we
have the capability of supporting a continuous flow of electrons indefinitely without the need for
infinite electron supplies and dumps. All we need to maintain this flow is a continuous means of
motivation for those electrons, which we’ll address in the next section of this chapter.
It must be realized that continuity is just as important in a circuit as it is in a straight piece

of wire. Just as in the example with the straight piece of wire between the electron Source and
Destination, any break in this circuit will prevent electrons from flowing through it:
no flow!
continuous
electron flow cannot
occur anywhere
in a "broken" circuit!
(break) no flow!
no flow!
An important principle to realize here is that it doesn’t matter where the break occurs. Any
discontinuity in the circuit will prevent electron flow throughout the entire circuit. Unless there is
a continuous, unbroken loop of conductive material for electrons to flow through, a sustained flow
simply cannot be maintained.
no flow!
continuous
electron flow cannot
occur anywhere
in a "broken" circuit!
no flow! (break)
no flow!
• REVIEW:
• A circuit is an unbroken loop of conductive material that allows electrons to flow through
continuously without beginning or end.
• If a circuit is ”broken,” that means it’s conductive elements no longer form a complete path,
and continuous electron flow cannot occur in it.
• The location of a break in a circuit is irrelevant to its inability to sustain continuous electron
flow. Any break, anywhere in a circuit prevents electron flow throughout the circuit.
1.4. VOLTAGE AND CURRENT 13
1.4 Voltage and current

As was previously mentioned, we need more than just a continuous path (circuit) before a continuous
flow of electrons will occur: we also need some means to push these electrons around the circuit.
Just like marbles in a tube or water in a pipe, it takes some kind of influencing force to initiate flow.
With electrons, this force is the same force at work in static electricity: the force produced by an
imbalance of electric charge.
If we take the examples of wax and wool which have been rubbed together, we find that the
surplus of electrons in the wax (negative charge) and the deficit of electrons in the wool (positive
charge) creates an imbalance of charge between them. This imbalance manifests itself as an attractive
force between the two objects:
+++++ +
+ ++ + +
-- - - - - + + ++ +
- - - - - - ---
- ++++++
+ +
- -- - - - - attraction + ++ + + +
-- --- - ++++++
- - -
++ +++ ++
Wax
Wool cloth
If a conductive wire is placed between the charged wax and wool, electrons will flow through it,
as some of the excess electrons in the wax rush through the wire to get back to the wool, filling the
deficiency of electrons there:
++ ++ +
++
+ +++
-- - - - electron flow
------ - - - +++
++
- -- wire +
-- - +++
- - +
++ +++ ++
Wax
Wool cloth
The imbalance of electrons between the atoms in the wax and the atoms in the wool creates a
force between the two materials. With no path for electrons to flow from the wax to the wool, all
this force can do is attract the two objects together. Now that a conductor bridges the insulating
gap, however, the force will provoke electrons to flow in a uniform direction through the wire, if
only momentarily, until the charge in that area neutralizes and the force between the wax and wool
diminishes.
The electric charge formed between these two materials by rubbing them together serves to store
a certain amount of energy. This energy is not unlike the energy stored in a high reservoir of water
that has been pumped from a lower-level pond:
Reservoir Energy stored
Water flow
Pump
Pond
The influence of gravity on the water in the reservoir creates a force that attempts to move the
water down to the lower level again. If a suitable pipe is run from the reservoir back to the pond,
water will flow under the influence of gravity down from the reservoir, through the pipe:
Reservoir
Energy released
Pond
It takes energy to pump that water from the low-level pond to the high-level reservoir, and the
movement of water through the piping back down to its original level constitutes a releasing of
energy stored from previous pumping.
If the water is pumped to an even higher level, it will take even more energy to do so, thus more
energy will be stored, and more energy released if the water is allowed to flow through a pipe back
down again:
Reservoir
Energy stored
Energy released
Pump
Pond
Reservoir
More energy stored More energy released
Pump
Pond
Electrons are not much different. If we rub wax and wool together, we ”pump” electrons away
from their normal ”levels,” creating a condition where a force exists between the wax and wool, as
the electrons seek to re-establish their former positions (and balance within their respective atoms).
The force attracting electrons back to their original positions around the positive nuclei of their
atoms is analogous to the force gravity exerts on water in the reservoir, trying to draw it down to
its former level.
Just as the pumping of water to a higher level results in energy being stored, ”pumping” electrons
to create an electric charge imbalance results in a certain amount of energy being stored in that
imbalance. And, just as providing a way for water to flow back down from the heights of the reservoir
results in a release of that stored energy, providing a way for electrons to flow back to their original
”levels” results in a release of stored energy.
When the electrons are poised in that static condition (just like water sitting still, high in a
reservoir), the energy stored there is called potential energy, because it has the possibility (potential)
of release that has not been fully realized yet. When you scuff your rubber-soled shoes against a
fabric carpet on a dry day, you create an imbalance of electric charge between yourself and the
carpet. The action of scuffing your feet stores energy in the form of an imbalance of electrons forced
from their original locations. If this charge (static electricity) is stationary, and you won’t realize
that energy is being stored at all. However, once you place your hand against a metal doorknob
(with lots of electron mobility to neutralize your electric charge), that stored energy will be released
in the form of a sudden flow of electrons through your hand, and you will perceive it as an electric
shock!
This potential energy, stored in the form of an electric charge imbalance and capable of provoking
electrons to flow through a conductor, can be expressed as a term called voltage, which technically is
a measure of potential energy per unit charge of electrons, or something a physicist would call specific
potential energy. Defined in the context of static electricity, voltage is the measure of work required
to move a unit charge from one location to another, against the force which tries to keep electric
charges balanced. In the context of electrical power sources, voltage is the amount of potential
energy available (work to be done) per unit charge, to move electrons through a conductor.
Because voltage is an expression of potential energy, representing the possibility or potential for
energy release as the electrons move from one ”level” to another, it is always referenced between
two points. Consider the water reservoir analogy:
Reservoir
Drop
Location #1
Drop
Location #2
Because of the difference in the height of the drop, there’s potential for much more energy to be
released from the reservoir through the piping to location 2 than to location 1. The principle can be
intuitively understood in dropping a rock: which results in a more violent impact, a rock dropped
from a height of one foot, or the same rock dropped from a height of one mile? Obviously, the drop
of greater height results in greater energy released (a more violent impact). We cannot assess the
amount of stored energy in a water reservoir simply by measuring the volume of water any more
than we can predict the severity of a falling rock’s impact simply from knowing the weight of the
rock: in both cases we must also consider how far these masses will drop from their initial height.
The amount of energy released by allowing a mass to drop is relative to the distance between its
starting and ending points. Likewise, the potential energy available for moving electrons from one
point to another is relative to those two points. Therefore, voltage is always expressed as a quantity
between two points. Interestingly enough, the analogy of a mass potentially ”dropping” from one
height to another is such an apt model that voltage between two points is sometimes called a voltage
drop.
Voltage can be generated by means other than rubbing certain types of materials against each
other. Chemical reactions, radiant energy, and the influence of magnetism on conductors are a few
ways in which voltage may be produced. Respective examples of these three sources of voltage
are batteries, solar cells, and generators (such as the ”alternator” unit under the hood of your
automobile). For now, we won’t go into detail as to how each of these voltage sources works – more
important is that we understand how voltage sources can be applied to create electron flow in a
circuit.
Let’s take the symbol for a chemical battery and build a circuit step by step:
-
Battery
+
2
Any source of voltage, including batteries, have two points for electrical contact. In this case,
we have point 1 and point 2 in the above diagram. The horizontal lines of varying length indicate
that this is a battery, and they further indicate the direction which this battery’s voltage will try
to push electrons through a circuit. The fact that the horizontal lines in the battery symbol appear
separated (and thus unable to serve as a path for electrons to move) is no cause for concern: in real
life, those horizontal lines represent metallic plates immersed in a liquid or semi-solid material that
not only conducts electrons, but also generates the voltage to push them along by interacting with
the plates.
Notice the little ”+” and ”-” signs to the immediate left of the battery symbol. The negative
(-) end of the battery is always the end with the shortest dash, and the positive (+) end of the
battery is always the end with the longest dash. Since we have decided to call electrons ”negatively”
charged (thanks, Ben!), the negative end of a battery is that end which tries to push electrons out
of it. Likewise, the positive end is that end which tries to attract electrons.
With the ”+” and ”-” ends of the battery not connected to anything, there will be voltage
between those two points, but there will be no flow of electrons through the battery, because there
is no continuous path for the electrons to move.
Water analogy
Reservoir
Electric Battery
No flow (once the
reservoir has been
1 completely filled)
-
No flow Battery
Pump
+
2 Pond
The same principle holds true for the water reservoir and pump analogy: without a return pipe
back to the pond, stored energy in the reservoir cannot be released in the form of water flow. Once
the reservoir is completely filled up, no flow can occur, no matter how much pressure the pump
may generate. There needs to be a complete path (circuit) for water to flow from the pond, to the
reservoir, and back to the pond in order for continuous flow to occur.
We can provide such a path for the battery by connecting a piece of wire from one end of the
battery to the other. Forming a circuit with a loop of wire, we will initiate a continuous flow of
electrons in a clockwise direction:
Electric Circuit
-
Battery
+
2
electron flow!
Water analogy
Reservoir
water flow!
water flow!
Pump
Pond
So long as the battery continues to produce voltage and the continuity of the electrical path
isn’t broken, electrons will continue to flow in the circuit. Following the metaphor of water moving
through a pipe, this continuous, uniform flow of electrons through the circuit is called a current. So
long as the voltage source keeps ”pushing” in the same direction, the electron flow will continue to
move in the same direction in the circuit. This single-direction flow of electrons is called a Direct
Current, or DC. In the second volume of this book series, electric circuits are explored where the
direction of current switches back and forth: Alternating Current, or AC. But for now, we’ll just
concern ourselves with DC circuits.
Because electric current is composed of individual electrons flowing in unison through a conductor
by moving along and pushing on the electrons ahead, just like marbles through a tube or water
through a pipe, the amount of flow throughout a single circuit will be the same at any point. If we
were to monitor a cross-section of the wire in a single circuit, counting the electrons flowing by, we
would notice the exact same quantity per unit of time as in any other part of the circuit, regardless
of conductor length or conductor diameter.
If we break the circuit’s continuity at any point, the electric current will cease in the entire loop,
and the full voltage produced by the battery will be manifested across the break, between the wire
ends that used to be connected:
no flow!
1
- -
Battery voltage
(break) drop
+
+
2
no flow!
Notice the ”+” and ”-” signs drawn at the ends of the break in the circuit, and how they
correspond to the ”+” and ”-” signs next to the battery’s terminals. These markers indicate the
direction that the voltage attempts to push electron flow, that potential direction commonly referred
to as polarity. Remember that voltage is always relative between two points. Because of this fact,
the polarity of a voltage drop is also relative between two points: whether a point in a circuit gets
labeled with a ”+” or a ”-” depends on the other point to which it is referenced. Take a look at the
following circuit, where each corner of the loop is marked with a number for reference:
no flow!
1 2
- -
Battery (break)
+
+
4 3
no flow!
With the circuit’s continuity broken between points 2 and 3, the polarity of the voltage dropped
between points 2 and 3 is ”-” for point 2 and ”+” for point 3. The battery’s polarity (1 ”-” and
4 ”+”) is trying to push electrons through the loop clockwise from 1 to 2 to 3 to 4 and back to 1
again.
Now let’s see what happens if we connect points 2 and 3 back together again, but place a break
in the circuit between points 3 and 4:
no flow!
1 2
-
Battery no flow!
+
+ -
4 3
(break)
With the break between 3 and 4, the polarity of the voltage drop between those two points is
”+” for 4 and ”-” for 3. Take special note of the fact that point 3’s ”sign” is opposite of that in the
first example, where the break was between points 2 and 3 (where point 3 was labeled ”+”). It is
impossible for us to say that point 3 in this circuit will always be either ”+” or ”-”, because polarity,
like voltage itself, is not specific to a single point, but is always relative between two points!
• REVIEW:
• Electrons can be motivated to flow through a conductor by a the same force manifested in
static electricity.
• Voltage is the measure of specific potential energy (potential energy per unit charge) between
two locations. In layman’s terms, it is the measure of ”push” available to motivate electrons.
• Voltage, as an expression of potential energy, is always relative between two locations, or

points. Sometimes it is called a voltage ”drop.”
• When a voltage source is connected to a circuit, the voltage will cause a uniform flow of
electrons through that circuit called a current.
• In a single (one loop) circuit, the amount current of current at any point is the same as the
amount of current at any other point.
• If a circuit containing a voltage source is broken, the full voltage of that source will appear
across the points of the break.
• The +/- orientation a voltage drop is called the polarity. It is also relative between two points.
1.5 Resistance
The circuit in the previous section is not a very practical one. In fact, it can be quite dangerous
to build (directly connecting the poles of a voltage source together with a single piece of wire).
The reason it is dangerous is because the magnitude of electric current may be very large in such a
short circuit, and the release of energy very dramatic (usually in the form of heat). Usually, electric
circuits are constructed in such a way as to make practical use of that released energy, in as safe a
manner as possible.
One practical and popular use of electric current is for the operation of electric lighting. The
simplest form of electric lamp is a tiny metal ”filament” inside of a clear glass bulb, which glows
white-hot (”incandesces”) with heat energy when sufficient electric current passes through it. Like
the battery, it has two conductive connection points, one for electrons to enter and the other for
electrons to exit.
Connected to a source of voltage, an electric lamp circuit looks something like this:
electron flow
-
Battery Electric lamp (glowing)
+
electron flow
As the electrons work their way through the thin metal filament of the lamp, they encounter
more opposition to motion than they typically would in a thick piece of wire. This opposition to
electric current depends on the type of material, its cross-sectional area, and its temperature. It is
technically known as resistance. (It can be said that conductors have low resistance and insulators
have very high resistance.) This resistance serves to limit the amount of current through the circuit
with a given amount of voltage supplied by the battery, as compared with the ”short circuit” where
we had nothing but a wire joining one end of the voltage source (battery) to the other.
1.5. RESISTANCE 23
When electrons move against the opposition of resistance, ”friction” is generated. Just like
mechanical friction, the friction produced by electrons flowing against a resistance manifests itself
in the form of heat. The concentrated resistance of a lamp’s filament results in a relatively large
amount of heat energy dissipated at that filament. This heat energy is enough to cause the filament
to glow white-hot, producing light, whereas the wires connecting the lamp to the battery (which
have much lower resistance) hardly even get warm while conducting the same amount of current.
As in the case of the short circuit, if the continuity of the circuit is broken at any point, electron
flow stops throughout the entire circuit. With a lamp in place, this means that it will stop glowing:
no flow! no flow!
(break)
- +
- voltage
drop
Battery Electric lamp
+ (not glowing)
no flow!
As before, with no flow of electrons, the entire potential (voltage) of the battery is available
across the break, waiting for the opportunity of a connection to bridge across that break and permit
electron flow again. This condition is known as an open circuit, where a break in the continuity of the
circuit prevents current throughout. All it takes is a single break in continuity to ”open” a circuit.
Once any breaks have been connected once again and the continuity of the circuit re-established, it
is known as a closed circuit.
What we see here is the basis for switching lamps on and off by remote switches. Because any
break in a circuit’s continuity results in current stopping throughout the entire circuit, we can use a
device designed to intentionally break that continuity (called a switch), mounted at any convenient
location that we can run wires to, to control the flow of electrons in the circuit:
switch
It doesn’t matter how twisted or

- convoluted a route the wires take
conducting current, so long as they
Battery form a complete, uninterrupted
+ loop (circuit).
This is how a switch mounted on the wall of a house can control a lamp that is mounted down a
long hallway, or even in another room, far away from the switch. The switch itself is constructed of
a pair of conductive contacts (usually made of some kind of metal) forced together by a mechanical
lever actuator or pushbutton. When the contacts touch each other, electrons are able to flow from
one to the other and the circuit’s continuity is established; when the contacts are separated, electron
flow from one to the other is prevented by the insulation of the air between, and the circuit’s
continuity is broken.
Perhaps the best kind of switch to show for illustration of the basic principle is the ”knife” switch:
A knife switch is nothing more than a conductive lever, free to pivot on a hinge, coming into
physical contact with one or more stationary contact points which are also conductive. The switch
shown in the above illustration is constructed on a porcelain base (an excellent insulating material),
using copper (an excellent conductor) for the ”blade” and contact points. The handle is plastic to
insulate the operator’s hand from the conductive blade of the switch when opening or closing it.
Here is another type of knife switch, with two stationary contacts instead of one:
1.5. RESISTANCE 25
The particular knife switch shown here has one ”blade” but two stationary contacts, meaning
that it can make or break more than one circuit. For now this is not terribly important to be aware
of, just the basic concept of what a switch is and how it works.
Knife switches are great for illustrating the basic principle of how a switch works, but they
present distinct safety problems when used in high-power electric circuits. The exposed conductors
in a knife switch make accidental contact with the circuit a distinct possibility, and any sparking
that may occur between the moving blade and the stationary contact is free to ignite any nearby
flammable materials. Most modern switch designs have their moving conductors and contact points
sealed inside an insulating case in order to mitigate these hazards. A photograph of a few modern
switch types show how the switching mechanisms are much more concealed than with the knife
design:
In keeping with the ”open” and ”closed” terminology of circuits, a switch that is making contact
from one connection terminal to the other (example: a knife switch with the blade fully touching
the stationary contact point) provides continuity for electrons to flow through, and is called a closed
switch. Conversely, a switch that is breaking continuity (example: a knife switch with the blade not
touching the stationary contact point) won’t allow electrons to pass through and is called an open
switch. This terminology is often confusing to the new student of electronics, because the words
”open” and ”closed” are commonly understood in the context of a door, where ”open” is equated
with free passage and ”closed” with blockage. With electrical switches, these terms have opposite
meaning: ”open” means no flow while ”closed” means free passage of electrons.
• REVIEW:
• Resistance is the measure of opposition to electric current.
• A short circuit is an electric circuit offering little or no resistance to the flow of electrons. Short
circuits are dangerous with high voltage power sources because the high currents encountered
can cause large amounts of heat energy to be released.
• An open circuit is one where the continuity has been broken by an interruption in the path
for electrons to flow.
• A closed circuit is one that is complete, with good continuity throughout.
• A device designed to open or close a circuit under controlled conditions is called a switch.
• The terms ”open” and ”closed” refer to switches as well as entire circuits. An open switch is
one without continuity: electrons cannot flow through it. A closed switch is one that provides
a direct (low resistance) path for electrons to flow through.
1.6. VOLTAGE AND CURRENT IN A PRACTICAL CIRCUIT 27
1.6 Voltage and current in a practical circuit
Because it takes energy to force electrons to flow against the opposition of a resistance, there will
be voltage manifested (or ”dropped”) between any points in a circuit with resistance between them.
It is important to note that although the amount of current (the quantity of electrons moving past
a given point every second) is uniform in a simple circuit, the amount of voltage (potential energy
per unit charge) between different sets of points in a single circuit may vary considerably:
same rate of current . . .
1 2
-
Battery
+
4 3
. . . at all points in this circuit
Take this circuit as an example. If we label four points in this circuit with the numbers 1, 2, 3,
and 4, we will find that the amount of current conducted through the wire between points 1 and 2
is exactly the same as the amount of current conducted through the lamp (between points 2 and
3). This same quantity of current passes through the wire between points 3 and 4, and through the
battery (between points 1 and 4).
However, we will find the voltage appearing between any two of these points to be directly
proportional to the resistance within the conductive path between those two points, given that the
amount of current along any part of the circuit’s path is the same (which, for this simple circuit, it
is). In a normal lamp circuit, the resistance of a lamp will be much greater than the resistance of
the connecting wires, so we should expect to see a substantial amount of voltage between points 2
and 3, with very little between points 1 and 2, or between 3 and 4. The voltage between points 1
and 4, of course, will be the full amount of ”force” offered by the battery, which will be only slightly
greater than the voltage across the lamp (between points 2 and 3).
This, again, is analogous to the water reservoir system:

2 Reservoir 1
(energy stored)
Waterwheel
(energy released)
Pump
3
4
Pond
Between points 2 and 3, where the falling water is releasing energy at the water-wheel, there
is a difference of pressure between the two points, reflecting the opposition to the flow of water
through the water-wheel. From point 1 to point 2, or from point 3 to point 4, where water is
flowing freely through reservoirs with little opposition, there is little or no difference of pressure (no
potential energy). However, the rate of water flow in this continuous system is the same everywhere
(assuming the water levels in both pond and reservoir are unchanging): through the pump, through
the water-wheel, and through all the pipes. So it is with simple electric circuits: the rate of electron
flow is the same at every point in the circuit, although voltages may differ between different sets of
points.
1.7 Conventional versus electron flow

”The nice thing about standards is that there are so many of them to choose from.”
Andrew S. Tannenbaum, computer science professor
When Benjamin Franklin made his conjecture regarding the direction of charge flow (from the
smooth wax to the rough wool), he set a precedent for electrical notation that exists to this day,
despite the fact that we know electrons are the constituent units of charge, and that they are
displaced from the wool to the wax – not from the wax to the wool – when those two substances
are rubbed together. This is why electrons are said to have a negative charge: because Franklin
assumed electric charge moved in the opposite direction that it actually does, and so objects he
called ”negative” (representing a deficiency of charge) actually have a surplus of electrons.
By the time the true direction of electron flow was discovered, the nomenclature of ”positive” and
”negative” had already been so well established in the scientific community that no effort was made
to change it, although calling electrons ”positive” would make more sense in referring to ”excess”
charge. You see, the terms ”positive” and ”negative” are human inventions, and as such have no
1.7. CONVENTIONAL VERSUS ELECTRON FLOW 29
absolute meaning beyond our own conventions of language and scientific description. Franklin could
have just as easily referred to a surplus of charge as ”black” and a deficiency as ”white,” in which case
scientists would speak of electrons having a ”white” charge (assuming the same incorrect conjecture
of charge position between wax and wool).
However, because we tend to associate the word ”positive” with ”surplus” and ”negative” with
”deficiency,” the standard label for electron charge does seem backward. Because of this, many
engineers decided to retain the old concept of electricity with ”positive” referring to a surplus
of charge, and label charge flow (current) accordingly. This became known as conventional flow
notation:
Conventional flow notation
+ Electric charge moves

from the positive (surplus)
side of the battery to the
- negative (deficiency) side.
Others chose to designate charge flow according to the actual motion of electrons in a circuit.
This form of symbology became known as electron flow notation:
Electron flow notation
+ Electric charge moves

from the negative (surplus)
side of the battery to the
- positive (deficiency) side.
In conventional flow notation, we show the motion of charge according to the (technically incor-
rect) labels of + and -. This way the labels make sense, but the direction of charge flow is incorrect.
In electron flow notation, we follow the actual motion of electrons in the circuit, but the + and -
labels seem backward. Does it matter, really, how we designate charge flow in a circuit? Not really,
so long as we’re consistent in the use of our symbols. You may follow an imagined direction of
current (conventional flow) or the actual (electron flow) with equal success insofar as circuit analysis
is concerned. Concepts of voltage, current, resistance, continuity, and even mathematical treatments
such as Ohm’s Law (chapter 2) and Kirchhoff’s Laws (chapter 6) remain just as valid with either
style of notation.
You will find conventional flow notation followed by most electrical engineers, and illustrated
in most engineering textbooks. Electron flow is most often seen in introductory textbooks (this
one included) and in the writings of professional scientists, especially solid-state physicists who are
concerned with the actual motion of electrons in substances. These preferences are cultural, in the
sense that certain groups of people have found it advantageous to envision electric current motion in
certain ways. Being that most analyses of electric circuits do not depend on a technically accurate
depiction of charge flow, the choice between conventional flow notation and electron flow notation
is arbitrary . . . almost.
Many electrical devices tolerate real currents of either direction with no difference in operation.
Incandescent lamps (the type utilizing a thin metal filament that glows white-hot with sufficient
current), for example, produce light with equal efficiency regardless of current direction. They even
function well on alternating current (AC), where the direction changes rapidly over time. Conductors
and switches operate irrespective of current direction, as well. The technical term for this irrelevance
of charge flow is nonpolarization. We could say then, that incandescent lamps, switches, and wires are
nonpolarized components. Conversely, any device that functions differently on currents of different
direction would be called a polarized device.
There are many such polarized devices used in electric circuits. Most of them are made of so-
called semiconductor substances, and as such aren’t examined in detail until the third volume of this
book series. Like switches, lamps, and batteries, each of these devices is represented in a schematic
diagram by a unique symbol. As one might guess, polarized device symbols typically contain an
arrow within them, somewhere, to designate a preferred or exclusive direction of current. This is
where the competing notations of conventional and electron flow really matter. Because engineers
from long ago have settled on conventional flow as their ”culture’s” standard notation, and because
engineers are the same people who invent electrical devices and the symbols representing them, the
arrows used in these devices’ symbols all point in the direction of conventional flow, not electron
flow. That is to say, all of these devices’ symbols have arrow marks that point against the actual
flow of electrons through them.
Perhaps the best example of a polarized device is the diode. A diode is a one-way ”valve” for
electric current, analogous to a check valve for those familiar with plumbing and hydraulic systems.
Ideally, a diode provides unimpeded flow for current in one direction (little or no resistance), but
prevents flow in the other direction (infinite resistance). Its schematic symbol looks like this:
Diode
Placed within a battery/lamp circuit, its operation is as such:

Diode operation
+ -
- +
Current permitted Current prohibited

When the diode is facing in the proper direction to permit current, the lamp glows. Otherwise,
the diode blocks all electron flow just like a break in the circuit, and the lamp will not glow.
1.7. CONVENTIONAL VERSUS ELECTRON FLOW 31
If we label the circuit current using conventional flow notation, the arrow symbol of the diode
makes perfect sense: the triangular arrowhead points in the direction of charge flow, from positive
to negative:
Current shown using

conventional flow notation
On the other hand, if we use electron flow notation to show the true direction of electron travel
around the circuit, the diode’s arrow symbology seems backward:
Current shown using

electron flow notation
For this reason alone, many people choose to make conventional flow their notation of choice when
drawing the direction of charge motion in a circuit. If for no other reason, the symbols associated
with semiconductor components like diodes make more sense this way. However, others choose to
show the true direction of electron travel so as to avoid having to tell themselves, ”just remember
the electrons are actually moving the other way” whenever the true direction of electron motion
becomes an issue.
In this series of textbooks, I have committed to using electron flow notation. Ironically, this was
not my first choice. I found it much easier when I was first learning electronics to use conventional
flow notation, primarily because of the directions of semiconductor device symbol arrows. Later,
when I began my first formal training in electronics, my instructor insisted on using electron flow
notation in his lectures. In fact, he asked that we take our textbooks (which were illustrated using
conventional flow notation) and use our pens to change the directions of all the current arrows so
as to point the ”correct” way! His preference was not arbitrary, though. In his 20-year career as a
U.S. Navy electronics technician, he worked on a lot of vacuum-tube equipment. Before the advent
of semiconductor components like transistors, devices known as vacuum tubes or electron tubes were
used to amplify small electrical signals. These devices work on the phenomenon of electrons hurtling
through a vacuum, their rate of flow controlled by voltages applied between metal plates and grids
placed within their path, and are best understood when visualized using electron flow notation.
When I graduated from that training program, I went back to my old habit of conventional flow
notation, primarily for the sake of minimizing confusion with component symbols, since vacuum
tubes are all but obsolete except in special applications. Collecting notes for the writing of this
book, I had full intention of illustrating it using conventional flow.
Years later, when I became a teacher of electronics, the curriculum for the program I was going
to teach had already been established around the notation of electron flow. Oddly enough, this
was due in part to the legacy of my first electronics instructor (the 20-year Navy veteran), but
that’s another story entirely! Not wanting to confuse students by teaching ”differently” from the
other instructors, I had to overcome my habit and get used to visualizing electron flow instead of
conventional. Because I wanted my book to be a useful resource for my students, I begrudgingly
changed plans and illustrated it with all the arrows pointing the ”correct” way. Oh well, sometimes
you just can’t win!
On a positive note (no pun intended), I have subsequently discovered that some students prefer
electron flow notation when first learning about the behavior of semiconductive substances. Also,
the habit of visualizing electrons flowing against the arrows of polarized device symbols isn’t that
difficult to learn, and in the end I’ve found that I can follow the operation of a circuit equally well
using either mode of notation. Still, I sometimes wonder if it would all be much easier if we went
back to the source of the confusion – Ben Franklin’s errant conjecture – and fixed the problem there,
calling electrons ”positive” and protons ”negative.”
1.8 Contributors
Contributors to this chapter are listed in chronological order of their contributions, from most recent
to first. See Appendix 2 (Contributor List) for dates and contact information.
Bill Heath (September 2002): Pointed out error in illustration of carbon atom – the nucleus
was shown with seven protons instead of six.
Stefan Kluehspies (June 2003): Corrected spelling error in Andrew Tannenbaum’s name.
Ben Crowell, Ph.D. (January 13, 2001): suggestions on improving the technical accuracy of
voltage and charge definitions.
Jason Starck (June 2000): HTML document formatting, which led to a much better-looking
second edition.
Chapter 2
OHM’s LAW
”One microampere flowing in one ohm causes a one microvolt potential drop.”
Georg Simon Ohm
2.1 How voltage, current, and resistance relate
An electric circuit is formed when a conductive path is created to allow free electrons to continuously
move. This continuous movement of free electrons through the conductors of a circuit is called a
current, and it is often referred to in terms of ”flow,” just like the flow of a liquid through a hollow
pipe.
The force motivating electrons to ”flow” in a circuit is called voltage. Voltage is a specific measure
of potential energy that is always relative between two points. When we speak of a certain amount
of voltage being present in a circuit, we are referring to the measurement of how much potential
energy exists to move electrons from one particular point in that circuit to another particular point.
Without reference to two particular points, the term ”voltage” has no meaning.
Free electrons tend to move through conductors with some degree of friction, or opposition to
motion. This opposition to motion is more properly called resistance. The amount of current in a
circuit depends on the amount of voltage available to motivate the electrons, and also the amount
of resistance in the circuit to oppose electron flow. Just like voltage, resistance is a quantity relative
between two points. For this reason, the quantities of voltage and resistance are often stated as
being ”between” or ”across” two points in a circuit.
To be able to make meaningful statements about these quantities in circuits, we need to be able
to describe their quantities in the same way that we might quantify mass, temperature, volume,
length, or any other kind of physical quantity. For mass we might use the units of ”pound” or
”gram.” For temperature we might use degrees Fahrenheit or degrees Celsius. Here are the standard
units of measurement for electrical current, voltage, and resistance:
33
34 CHAPTER 2. OHM’S LAW
Quantity Symbol Unit of Unit

Measurement Abbreviation
Current I Ampere ("Amp") A
Voltage E or V Volt V
Resistance R Ohm Ω
The ”symbol” given for each quantity is the standard alphabetical letter used to represent that
quantity in an algebraic equation. Standardized letters like these are common in the disciplines
of physics and engineering, and are internationally recognized. The ”unit abbreviation” for each
quantity represents the alphabetical symbol used as a shorthand notation for its particular unit of
measurement. And, yes, that strange-looking ”horseshoe” symbol is the capital Greek letter Ω, just
a character in a foreign alphabet (apologies to any Greek readers here).
Each unit of measurement is named after a famous experimenter in electricity: The amp after
the Frenchman Andre M. Ampere, the volt after the Italian Alessandro Volta, and the ohm after
the German Georg Simon Ohm.
The mathematical symbol for each quantity is meaningful as well. The ”R” for resistance and
the ”V” for voltage are both self-explanatory, whereas ”I” for current seems a bit weird. The ”I”
is thought to have been meant to represent ”Intensity” (of electron flow), and the other symbol for
voltage, ”E,” stands for ”Electromotive force.” From what research I’ve been able to do, there seems
to be some dispute over the meaning of ”I.” The symbols ”E” and ”V” are interchangeable for the
most part, although some texts reserve ”E” to represent voltage across a source (such as a battery
or generator) and ”V” to represent voltage across anything else.
All of these symbols are expressed using capital letters, except in cases where a quantity (espe-
cially voltage or current) is described in terms of a brief period of time (called an ”instantaneous”
value). For example, the voltage of a battery, which is stable over a long period of time, will be
symbolized with a capital letter ”E,” while the voltage peak of a lightning strike at the very instant
it hits a power line would most likely be symbolized with a lower-case letter ”e” (or lower-case ”v”)
to designate that value as being at a single moment in time. This same lower-case convention holds
true for current as well, the lower-case letter ”i” representing current at some instant in time. Most
direct-current (DC) measurements, however, being stable over time, will be symbolized with capital
letters.
One foundational unit of electrical measurement, often taught in the beginnings of electronics
courses but used infrequently afterwards, is the unit of the coulomb, which is a measure of electric
charge proportional to the number of electrons in an imbalanced state. One coulomb of charge is
equal to 6,250,000,000,000,000,000 electrons. The symbol for electric charge quantity is the capital
letter ”Q,” with the unit of coulombs abbreviated by the capital letter ”C.” It so happens that the
unit for electron flow, the amp, is equal to 1 coulomb of electrons passing by a given point in a
circuit in 1 second of time. Cast in these terms, current is the rate of electric charge motion through
a conductor.
As stated before, voltage is the measure of potential energy per unit charge available to motivate
electrons from one point to another. Before we can precisely define what a ”volt” is, we must
understand how to measure this quantity we call ”potential energy.” The general metric unit for
energy of any kind is the joule, equal to the amount of work performed by a force of 1 newton
exerted through a motion of 1 meter (in the same direction). In British units, this is slightly less
2.1. HOW VOLTAGE, CURRENT, AND RESISTANCE RELATE 35
than 3/4 pound of force exerted over a distance of 1 foot. Put in common terms, it takes about 1
joule of energy to lift a 3/4 pound weight 1 foot off the ground, or to drag something a distance of
1 foot using a parallel pulling force of 3/4 pound. Defined in these scientific terms, 1 volt is equal
to 1 joule of electric potential energy per (divided by) 1 coulomb of charge. Thus, a 9 volt battery
releases 9 joules of energy for every coulomb of electrons moved through a circuit.
These units and symbols for electrical quantities will become very important to know as we
begin to explore the relationships between them in circuits. The first, and perhaps most important,
relationship between current, voltage, and resistance is called Ohm’s Law, discovered by Georg
Simon Ohm and published in his 1827 paper, The Galvanic Circuit Investigated Mathematically.
Ohm’s principal discovery was that the amount of electric current through a metal conductor in
a circuit is directly proportional to the voltage impressed across it, for any given temperature.
Ohm expressed his discovery in the form of a simple equation, describing how voltage, current, and
resistance interrelate:
E=IR
In this algebraic expression, voltage (E) is equal to current (I) multiplied by resistance (R). Using
algebra techniques, we can manipulate this equation into two variations, solving for I and for R,
respectively:
E E
I= R=
R I
Let’s see how these equations might work to help us analyze simple circuits:
electron flow
+
Battery Electric lamp (glowing)
-
electron flow
In the above circuit, there is only one source of voltage (the battery, on the left) and only one
source of resistance to current (the lamp, on the right). This makes it very easy to apply Ohm’s
Law. If we know the values of any two of the three quantities (voltage, current, and resistance) in
this circuit, we can use Ohm’s Law to determine the third.
In this first example, we will calculate the amount of current (I) in a circuit, given values of
voltage (E) and resistance (R):
I = ???
+
Battery Lamp
E = 12 V R=3Ω
-
I = ???
What is the amount of current (I) in this circuit?
E 12 V
I= = = 4A
R 3Ω
In this second example, we will calculate the amount of resistance (R) in a circuit, given values
of voltage (E) and current (I):
I=4A
+
Battery Lamp
E = 36 V R = ???
-
I=4A
What is the amount of resistance (R) offered by the lamp?
E 36 V
R = = = 9Ω
I 4A
In the last example, we will calculate the amount of voltage supplied by a battery, given values
of current (I) and resistance (R):
2.1. HOW VOLTAGE, CURRENT, AND RESISTANCE RELATE 37
I=2A
+
Battery Lamp
E = ??? R=7Ω
-
I=2A
What is the amount of voltage provided by the battery?
E = I R = (2 A)(7 Ω) = 14 V
Ohm’s Law is a very simple and useful tool for analyzing electric circuits. It is used so often
in the study of electricity and electronics that it needs to be committed to memory by the serious
student. For those who are not yet comfortable with algebra, there’s a trick to remembering how to
solve for any one quantity, given the other two. First, arrange the letters E, I, and R in a triangle
like this:
I R
If you know E and I, and wish to determine R, just eliminate R from the picture and see what’s
left:
E
R=
E I
I R
If you know E and R, and wish to determine I, eliminate I and see what’s left:
E
I=
E R
I R
Lastly, if you know I and R, and wish to determine E, eliminate E and see what’s left:
E E=IR
I R
Eventually, you’ll have to be familiar with algebra to seriously study electricity and electronics,
but this tip can make your first calculations a little easier to remember. If you are comfortable with
algebra, all you need to do is commit E=IR to memory and derive the other two formulae from that
when you need them!
• REVIEW:
• Voltage measured in volts, symbolized by the letters ”E” or ”V”.
• Current measured in amps, symbolized by the letter ”I”.
• Resistance measured in ohms, symbolized by the letter ”R”.
• Ohm’s Law: E = IR ; I = E/R ; R = E/I
2.2 An analogy for Ohm’s Law

Ohm’s Law also make intuitive sense if you apply if to the water-and-pipe analogy. If we have a
water pump that exerts pressure (voltage) to push water around a ”circuit” (current) through a
restriction (resistance), we can model how the three variables interrelate. If the resistance to water
flow stays the same and the pump pressure increases, the flow rate must also increase.
Pressure = increase Voltage = increase

Flow rate = increase Current = increase
Resistance= same Resistance= same
E=I R
If the pressure stays the same and the resistance increases (making it more difficult for the water
to flow), then the flow rate must decrease:
2.3. POWER IN ELECTRIC CIRCUITS 39
Pressure = same Voltage = same

Flow rate = decrease Current = decrease
Resistance= increase Resistance= increase
E=I R
If the flow rate were to stay the same while the resistance to flow decreased, the required pressure
from the pump would necessarily decrease:
Pressure = decrease Voltage = decrease

Flow rate = same Current = same
Resistance= decrease Resistance= decrease
E=I R
As odd as it may seem, the actual mathematical relationship between pressure, flow, and resis-
tance is actually more complex for fluids like water than it is for electrons. If you pursue further
studies in physics, you will discover this for yourself. Thankfully for the electronics student, the
mathematics of Ohm’s Law is very straightforward and simple.
• REVIEW:
• With resistance steady, current follows voltage (an increase in voltage means an increase in
current, and visa-versa).
• With voltage steady, changes in current and resistance are opposite (an increase in current
means a decrease in resistance, and visa-verse).
• With current steady, voltage follows resistance (an increase in resistance means an increase in
voltage).
2.3 Power in electric circuits

In addition to voltage and current, there is another measure of free electron activity in a circuit:
power. First, we need to understand just what power is before we analyze it in any circuits.
Power is a measure of how much work can be performed in a given amount of time. Work is
generally defined in terms of the lifting of a weight against the pull of gravity. The heavier the
weight and/or the higher it is lifted, the more work has been done. Power is a measure of how
rapidly a standard amount of work is done.
For American automobiles, engine power is rated in a unit called ”horsepower,” invented initially
as a way for steam engine manufacturers to quantify the working ability of their machines in terms
of the most common power source of their day: horses. One horsepower is defined in British units
as 550 ft-lbs of work per second of time. The power of a car’s engine won’t indicate how tall of a
hill it can climb or how much weight it can tow, but it will indicate how fast it can climb a specific
hill or tow a specific weight.
The power of a mechanical engine is a function of both the engine’s speed and it’s torque provided
at the output shaft. Speed of an engine’s output shaft is measured in revolutions per minute, or
RPM. Torque is the amount of twisting force produced by the engine, and it is usually measured
in pound-feet, or lb-ft (not to be confused with foot-pounds or ft-lbs, which is the unit for work).
Neither speed nor torque alone is a measure of an engine’s power.
A 100 horsepower diesel tractor engine will turn relatively slowly, but provide great amounts of
torque. A 100 horsepower motorcycle engine will turn very fast, but provide relatively little torque.
Both will produce 100 horsepower, but at different speeds and different torques. The equation for
shaft horsepower is simple:
2πST
Horsepower =
33,000
Where,
S = shaft speed in r.p.m.
T = shaft torque in lb-ft.
Notice how there are only two variable terms on the right-hand side of the equation, S and T. All
the other terms on that side are constant: 2, pi, and 33,000 are all constants (they do not change in
value). The horsepower varies only with changes in speed and torque, nothing else. We can re-write
the equation to show this relationship:
Horsepower ST
This symbol means

"proportional to"
Because the unit of the ”horsepower” doesn’t coincide exactly with speed in revolutions per
minute multiplied by torque in pound-feet, we can’t say that horsepower equals ST. However, they are
proportional to one another. As the mathematical product of ST changes, the value for horsepower
will change by the same proportion.
In electric circuits, power is a function of both voltage and current. Not surprisingly, this
relationship bears striking resemblance to the ”proportional” horsepower formula above:
P=IE
2.3. POWER IN ELECTRIC CIRCUITS 41
In this case, however, power (P) is exactly equal to current (I) multiplied by voltage (E), rather
than merely being proportional to IE. When using this formula, the unit of measurement for power
is the watt, abbreviated with the letter ”W.”
It must be understood that neither voltage nor current by themselves constitute power. Rather,
power is the combination of both voltage and current in a circuit. Remember that voltage is the
specific work (or potential energy) per unit charge, while current is the rate at which electric charges
move through a conductor. Voltage (specific work) is analogous to the work done in lifting a weight
against the pull of gravity. Current (rate) is analogous to the speed at which that weight is lifted.
Together as a product (multiplication), voltage (work) and current (rate) constitute power.
Just as in the case of the diesel tractor engine and the motorcycle engine, a circuit with high
voltage and low current may be dissipating the same amount of power as a circuit with low voltage
and high current. Neither the amount of voltage alone nor the amount of current alone indicates
the amount of power in an electric circuit.
In an open circuit, where voltage is present between the terminals of the source and there is
zero current, there is zero power dissipated, no matter how great that voltage may be. Since P=IE
and I=0 and anything multiplied by zero is zero, the power dissipated in any open circuit must be
zero. Likewise, if we were to have a short circuit constructed of a loop of superconducting wire
(absolutely zero resistance), we could have a condition of current in the loop with zero voltage, and
likewise no power would be dissipated. Since P=IE and E=0 and anything multiplied by zero is
zero, the power dissipated in a superconducting loop must be zero. (We’ll be exploring the topic of
superconductivity in a later chapter).
Whether we measure power in the unit of ”horsepower” or the unit of ”watt,” we’re still talking
about the same thing: how much work can be done in a given amount of time. The two units
are not numerically equal, but they express the same kind of thing. In fact, European automobile
manufacturers typically advertise their engine power in terms of kilowatts (kW), or thousands of
watts, instead of horsepower! These two units of power are related to each other by a simple
conversion formula:
1 Horsepower = 745.7 Watts

So, our 100 horsepower diesel and motorcycle engines could also be rated as ”74570 watt” engines,
or more properly, as ”74.57 kilowatt” engines. In European engineering specifications, this rating
would be the norm rather than the exception.
• REVIEW:
• Power is the measure of how much work can be done in a given amount of time.
• Mechanical power is commonly measured (in America) in ”horsepower.”
• Electrical power is almost always measured in ”watts,” and it can be calculated by the formula
P = IE.
• Electrical power is a product of both voltage and current, not either one separately.
• Horsepower and watts are merely two different units for describing the same kind of physical
measurement, with 1 horsepower equaling 745.7 watts.
2.4 Calculating electric power
We’ve seen the formula for determining the power in an electric circuit: by multiplying the voltage
in ”volts” by the current in ”amps” we arrive at an answer in ”watts.” Let’s apply this to a circuit
example:
I = ???
+
Battery Lamp
E = 18 V R=3Ω
-
I = ???
In the above circuit, we know we have a battery voltage of 18 volts and a lamp resistance of 3
Ω. Using Ohm’s Law to determine current, we get:
E 18 V
I= = = 6A
R 3Ω
Now that we know the current, we can take that value and multiply it by the voltage to determine
power:
P = I E = (6 A)(18 V) = 108 W
Answer: the lamp is dissipating (releasing) 108 watts of power, most likely in the form of both
light and heat.
Let’s try taking that same circuit and increasing the battery voltage to see what happens. In-
tuition should tell us that the circuit current will increase as the voltage increases and the lamp
resistance stays the same. Likewise, the power will increase as well:
2.4. CALCULATING ELECTRIC POWER 43
I = ???
+
Battery Lamp
E = 36 V R=3Ω
-
I = ???
Now, the battery voltage is 36 volts instead of 18 volts. The lamp is still providing 3 Ω of
electrical resistance to the flow of electrons. The current is now:
E 36 V
I= = = 12 A
R 3Ω
This stands to reason: if I = E/R, and we double E while R stays the same, the current should
double. Indeed, it has: we now have 12 amps of current instead of 6. Now, what about power?
P = I E = (12 A)(36 V) = 432 W
Notice that the power has increased just as we might have suspected, but it increased quite a bit
more than the current. Why is this? Because power is a function of voltage multiplied by current,
and both voltage and current doubled from their previous values, the power will increase by a factor
of 2 x 2, or 4. You can check this by dividing 432 watts by 108 watts and seeing that the ratio
between them is indeed 4.
Using algebra again to manipulate the formulae, we can take our original power formula and
modify it for applications where we don’t know both voltage and resistance:
If we only know voltage (E) and resistance (R):
E
If, I= and P=IE
R
2
E E
Then, P = E or P=
R R
If we only know current (I) and resistance (R):
If, E= I R and P=IE
2
Then, P = I(I R ) or P= I R
An historical note: it was James Prescott Joule, not Georg Simon Ohm, who first discovered
the mathematical relationship between power dissipation and current through a resistance. This
discovery, published in 1841, followed the form of the last equation (P = I 2 R), and is properly
known as Joule’s Law. However, these power equations are so commonly associated with the Ohm’s
Law equations relating voltage, current, and resistance (E=IR ; I=E/R ; and R=E/I) that they are
frequently credited to Ohm.
Power equations
E2
P = IE P= P = I2R
R
• REVIEW:
• Power measured in watts, symbolized by the letter ”W”.
• Joule’s Law: P = I2 R ; P = IE ; P = E2 /R
2.5 Resistors
Because the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance in any circuit is so regular, we can
reliably control any variable in a circuit simply by controlling the other two. Perhaps the easiest
variable in any circuit to control is its resistance. This can be done by changing the material, size,
and shape of its conductive components (remember how the thin metal filament of a lamp created
more electrical resistance than a thick wire?).
Special components called resistors are made for the express purpose of creating a precise quantity
of resistance for insertion into a circuit. They are typically constructed of metal wire or carbon,
and engineered to maintain a stable resistance value over a wide range of environmental conditions.
Unlike lamps, they do not produce light, but they do produce heat as electric power is dissipated
by them in a working circuit. Typically, though, the purpose of a resistor is not to produce usable
heat, but simply to provide a precise quantity of electrical resistance.
The most common schematic symbol for a resistor is a zig-zag line:
Resistor values in ohms are usually shown as an adjacent number, and if several resistors are
present in a circuit, they will be labeled with a unique identifier number such as R 1 , R2 , R3 , etc. As
you can see, resistor symbols can be shown either horizontally or vertically:
2.5. RESISTORS 45
R1 This is resistor "R1"

with a resistance value
150 of 150 ohms.
This is resistor "R2"

R2 25 with a resistance value
of 25 ohms.
Real resistors look nothing like the zig-zag symbol. Instead, they look like small tubes or cylinders
with two wires protruding for connection to a circuit. Here is a sampling of different kinds and sizes
of resistors:
In keeping more with their physical appearance, an alternative schematic symbol for a resistor
looks like a small, rectangular box:
Resistors can also be shown to have varying rather than fixed resistances. This might be for the
purpose of describing an actual physical device designed for the purpose of providing an adjustable
resistance, or it could be to show some component that just happens to have an unstable resistance:
variable
resistance
. . . or . . .
In fact, any time you see a component symbol drawn with a diagonal arrow through it, that
component has a variable rather than a fixed value. This symbol ”modifier” (the diagonal arrow) is
standard electronic symbol convention.
Variable resistors must have some physical means of adjustment, either a rotating shaft or lever
that can be moved to vary the amount of electrical resistance. Here is a photograph showing some
devices called potentiometers, which can be used as variable resistors:
Because resistors dissipate heat energy as the electric currents through them overcome the ”fric-
tion” of their resistance, resistors are also rated in terms of how much heat energy they can dissipate
without overheating and sustaining damage. Naturally, this power rating is specified in the physical
unit of ”watts.” Most resistors found in small electronic devices such as portable radios are rated at
1/4 (0.25) watt or less. The power rating of any resistor is roughly proportional to its physical size.
Note in the first resistor photograph how the power ratings relate with size: the bigger the resistor,
the higher its power dissipation rating. Also note how resistances (in ohms) have nothing to do with
size!
Although it may seem pointless now to have a device doing nothing but resisting electric cur-
rent, resistors are extremely useful devices in circuits. Because they are simple and so commonly
used throughout the world of electricity and electronics, we’ll spend a considerable amount of time
analyzing circuits composed of nothing but resistors and batteries.
For a practical illustration of resistors’ usefulness, examine the photograph below. It is a picture
of a printed circuit board, or PCB : an assembly made of sandwiched layers of insulating phenolic
fiber-board and conductive copper strips, into which components may be inserted and secured by a
low-temperature welding process called ”soldering.” The various components on this circuit board
are identified by printed labels. Resistors are denoted by any label beginning with the letter ”R”.
2.5. RESISTORS 47
This particular circuit board is a computer accessory called a ”modem,” which allows digital
information transfer over telephone lines. There are at least a dozen resistors (all rated at 1/4 watt
power dissipation) that can be seen on this modem’s board. Every one of the black rectangles (called
”integrated circuits” or ”chips”) contain their own array of resistors for their internal functions, as
well.
Another circuit board example shows resistors packaged in even smaller units, called ”surface
mount devices.” This particular circuit board is the underside of a personal computer hard disk
drive, and once again the resistors soldered onto it are designated with labels beginning with the
letter ”R”:
There are over one hundred surface-mount resistors on this circuit board, and this count of
course does not include the number of resistors internal to the black ”chips.” These two photographs
should convince anyone that resistors – devices that ”merely” oppose the flow of electrons – are very
important components in the realm of electronics!
In schematic diagrams, resistor symbols are sometimes used to illustrate any general type of
device in a circuit doing something useful with electrical energy. Any non-specific electrical device
is generally called a load, so if you see a schematic diagram showing a resistor symbol labeled
”load,” especially in a tutorial circuit diagram explaining some concept unrelated to the actual use
of electrical power, that symbol may just be a kind of shorthand representation of something else
more practical than a resistor.
To summarize what we’ve learned in this lesson, let’s analyze the following circuit, determining
all that we can from the information given:
I=2A
Battery R = ???
E = 10 V P = ???
All we’ve been given here to start with is the battery voltage (10 volts) and the circuit current
(2 amps). We don’t know the resistor’s resistance in ohms or the power dissipated by it in watts.
Surveying our array of Ohm’s Law equations, we find two equations that give us answers from known
quantities of voltage and current:
2.6. NONLINEAR CONDUCTION 49
E
R= and P = IE
I
Inserting the known quantities of voltage (E) and current (I) into these two equations, we can
determine circuit resistance (R) and power dissipation (P):
10 V
R= = 5Ω
2A
P = (2 A)(10 V) = 20 W
For the circuit conditions of 10 volts and 2 amps, the resistor’s resistance must be 5 Ω. If we were
designing a circuit to operate at these values, we would have to specify a resistor with a minimum
power rating of 20 watts, or else it would overheat and fail.
• REVIEW:
• Devices called resistors are built to provide precise amounts of resistance in electric circuits.
Resistors are rated both in terms of their resistance (ohms) and their ability to dissipate heat
energy (watts).
• Resistor resistance ratings cannot be determined from the physical size of the resistor(s) in
question, although approximate power ratings can. The larger the resistor is, the more power
it can safely dissipate without suffering damage.
• Any device that performs some useful task with electric power is generally known as a load.
Sometimes resistor symbols are used in schematic diagrams to designate a non-specific load,
rather than an actual resistor.
2.6 Nonlinear conduction

”Advances are made by answering questions. Discoveries are made by questioning
answers.”
Bernhard Haisch, Astrophysicist
Ohm’s Law is a simple and powerful mathematical tool for helping us analyze electric circuits,
but it has limitations, and we must understand these limitations in order to properly apply it to real
circuits. For most conductors, resistance is a rather stable property, largely unaffected by voltage
or current. For this reason, we can regard the resistance of most circuit components as a constant,
with voltage and current being inversely related to each other.
For instance, our previous circuit example with the 3 Ω lamp, we calculated current through the
circuit by dividing voltage by resistance (I=E/R). With an 18 volt battery, our circuit current was
6 amps. Doubling the battery voltage to 36 volts resulted in a doubled current of 12 amps. All of
this makes sense, of course, so long as the lamp continues to provide exactly the same amount of
friction (resistance) to the flow of electrons through it: 3 Ω.
I=6A
+
Battery Lamp
18 V R=3Ω
-
I = 12 A
+
Battery Lamp
36 V R=3Ω
-
However, reality is not always this simple. One of the phenomena explored in a later chapter
is that of conductor resistance changing with temperature. In an incandescent lamp (the kind
employing the principle of electric current heating a thin filament of wire to the point that it glows
white-hot), the resistance of the filament wire will increase dramatically as it warms from room
temperature to operating temperature. If we were to increase the supply voltage in a real lamp
circuit, the resulting increase in current would cause the filament to increase temperature, which
would in turn increase its resistance, thus preventing further increases in current without further
increases in battery voltage. Consequently, voltage and current do not follow the simple equation
”I=E/R” (with R assumed to be equal to 3 Ω) because an incandescent lamp’s filament resistance
does not remain stable for different currents.
The phenomenon of resistance changing with variations in temperature is one shared by almost
all metals, of which most wires are made. For most applications, these changes in resistance are
small enough to be ignored. In the application of metal lamp filaments, the change happens to be
quite large.
This is just one example of ”nonlinearity” in electric circuits. It is by no means the only example.
A ”linear” function in mathematics is one that tracks a straight line when plotted on a graph. The
simplified version of the lamp circuit with a constant filament resistance of 3 Ω generates a plot like
this:
I
(current)
E
(voltage)
The straight-line plot of current over voltage indicates that resistance is a stable, unchanging
value for a wide range of circuit voltages and currents. In an ”ideal” situation, this is the case.
Resistors, which are manufactured to provide a definite, stable value of resistance, behave very
much like the plot of values seen above. A mathematician would call their behavior ”linear.”
A more realistic analysis of a lamp circuit, however, over several different values of battery voltage
would generate a plot of this shape:
I
(current)
E
(voltage)
The plot is no longer a straight line. It rises sharply on the left, as voltage increases from zero to
a low level. As it progresses to the right we see the line flattening out, the circuit requiring greater
and greater increases in voltage to achieve equal increases in current.
If we try to apply Ohm’s Law to find the resistance of this lamp circuit with the voltage and
current values plotted above, we arrive at several different values. We could say that the resistance
here is nonlinear, increasing with increasing current and voltage. The nonlinearity is caused by the
effects of high temperature on the metal wire of the lamp filament.
Another example of nonlinear current conduction is through gases such as air. At standard tem-
peratures and pressures, air is an effective insulator. However, if the voltage between two conductors
separated by an air gap is increased greatly enough, the air molecules between the gap will become
”ionized,” having their electrons stripped off by the force of the high voltage between the wires.
Once ionized, air (and other gases) become good conductors of electricity, allowing electron flow
where none could exist prior to ionization. If we were to plot current over voltage on a graph as we
did with the lamp circuit, the effect of ionization would be clearly seen as nonlinear:
I
(current)
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400
E
(voltage)
ionization potential
The graph shown is approximate for a small air gap (less than one inch). A larger air gap would
yield a higher ionization potential, but the shape of the I/E curve would be very similar: practically
no current until the ionization potential was reached, then substantial conduction after that.
Incidentally, this is the reason lightning bolts exist as momentary surges rather than continuous
flows of electrons. The voltage built up between the earth and clouds (or between different sets of
clouds) must increase to the point where it overcomes the ionization potential of the air gap before
the air ionizes enough to support a substantial flow of electrons. Once it does, the current will
continue to conduct through the ionized air until the static charge between the two points depletes.
Once the charge depletes enough so that the voltage falls below another threshold point, the air
de-ionizes and returns to its normal state of extremely high resistance.
Many solid insulating materials exhibit similar resistance properties: extremely high resistance to
electron flow below some critical threshold voltage, then a much lower resistance at voltages beyond
that threshold. Once a solid insulating material has been compromised by high-voltage breakdown,
as it is called, it often does not return to its former insulating state, unlike most gases. It may
insulate once again at low voltages, but its breakdown threshold voltage will have been decreased to
some lower level, which may allow breakdown to occur more easily in the future. This is a common
mode of failure in high-voltage wiring: insulation damage due to breakdown. Such failures may be
detected through the use of special resistance meters employing high voltage (1000 volts or more).
There are circuit components specifically engineered to provide nonlinear resistance curves, one
of them being the varistor. Commonly manufactured from compounds such as zinc oxide or sili-
con carbide, these devices maintain high resistance across their terminals until a certain ”firing” or
”breakdown” voltage (equivalent to the ”ionization potential” of an air gap) is reached, at which
point their resistance decreases dramatically. Unlike the breakdown of an insulator, varistor break-
down is repeatable: that is, it is designed to withstand repeated breakdowns without failure. A
picture of a varistor is shown here:
There are also special gas-filled tubes designed to do much the same thing, exploiting the very
same principle at work in the ionization of air by a lightning bolt.
Other electrical components exhibit even stranger current/voltage curves than this. Some devices
actually experience a decrease in current as the applied voltage increases. Because the slope of the
current/voltage for this phenomenon is negative (angling down instead of up as it progresses from
left to right), it is known as negative resistance.
region of
I negative
resistance
(current)
E
(voltage)
Most notably, high-vacuum electron tubes known as tetrodes and semiconductor diodes known
as Esaki or tunnel diodes exhibit negative resistance for certain ranges of applied voltage.
Ohm’s Law is not very useful for analyzing the behavior of components like these where resistance
is varies with voltage and current. Some have even suggested that ”Ohm’s Law” should be demoted
from the status of a ”Law” because it is not universal. It might be more accurate to call the equation
(R=E/I) a definition of resistance, befitting of a certain class of materials under a narrow range of
conditions.
For the benefit of the student, however, we will assume that resistances specified in example
circuits are stable over a wide range of conditions unless otherwise specified. I just wanted to expose
you to a little bit of the complexity of the real world, lest I give you the false impression that the
whole of electrical phenomena could be summarized in a few simple equations.
• REVIEW:
• The resistance of most conductive materials is stable over a wide range of conditions, but this
is not true of all materials.
• Any function that can be plotted on a graph as a straight line is called a linear function. For
circuits with stable resistances, the plot of current over voltage is linear (I=E/R).
• In circuits where resistance varies with changes in either voltage or current, the plot of current
over voltage will be nonlinear (not a straight line).
• A varistor is a component that changes resistance with the amount of voltage impressed
across it. With little voltage across it, its resistance is high. Then, at a certain ”breakdown”
or ”firing” voltage, its resistance decreases dramatically.
• Negative resistance is where the current through a component actually decreases as the applied
voltage across it is increased. Some electron tubes and semiconductor diodes (most notably,
the tetrode tube and the Esaki, or tunnel diode, respectively) exhibit negative resistance over
a certain range of voltages.
2.7 Circuit wiring
So far, we’ve been analyzing single-battery, single-resistor circuits with no regard for the connecting
wires between the components, so long as a complete circuit is formed. Does the wire length or
circuit ”shape” matter to our calculations? Let’s look at a couple of circuit configurations and find
out:
2.7. CIRCUIT WIRING 55
1 2
Battery Resistor
10 V 5Ω
4 3
1 2
Battery Resistor
10 V 5Ω
4 3
When we draw wires connecting points in a circuit, we usually assume those wires have negligible
resistance. As such, they contribute no appreciable effect to the overall resistance of the circuit, and
so the only resistance we have to contend with is the resistance in the components. In the above
circuits, the only resistance comes from the 5 Ω resistors, so that is all we will consider in our
calculations. In real life, metal wires actually do have resistance (and so do power sources!), but
those resistances are generally so much smaller than the resistance present in the other circuit
components that they can be safely ignored. Exceptions to this rule exist in power system wiring,
where even very small amounts of conductor resistance can create significant voltage drops given
normal (high) levels of current.
If connecting wire resistance is very little or none, we can regard the connected points in a
circuit as being electrically common. That is, points 1 and 2 in the above circuits may be physically
joined close together or far apart, and it doesn’t matter for any voltage or resistance measurements
relative to those points. The same goes for points 3 and 4. It is as if the ends of the resistor
were attached directly across the terminals of the battery, so far as our Ohm’s Law calculations
and voltage measurements are concerned. This is useful to know, because it means you can re-
draw a circuit diagram or re-wire a circuit, shortening or lengthening the wires as desired without
appreciably impacting the circuit’s function. All that matters is that the components attach to each
other in the same sequence.
It also means that voltage measurements between sets of ”electrically common” points will be
the same. That is, the voltage between points 1 and 4 (directly across the battery) will be the same
as the voltage between points 2 and 3 (directly across the resistor). Take a close look at the following
circuit, and try to determine which points are common to each other:
1 2
Battery 4
10 V 3
Resistor
5Ω
6 5
Here, we only have 2 components excluding the wires: the battery and the resistor. Though the
connecting wires take a convoluted path in forming a complete circuit, there are several electrically
common points in the electrons’ path. Points 1, 2, and 3 are all common to each other, because
they’re directly connected together by wire. The same goes for points 4, 5, and 6.
The voltage between points 1 and 6 is 10 volts, coming straight from the battery. However, since
points 5 and 4 are common to 6, and points 2 and 3 common to 1, that same 10 volts also exists
between these other pairs of points:
Between points 1 and 4 = 10 volts

Between points 3 and 4 = 10 volts (directly across the resistor)
Between points 1 and 6 = 10 volts (directly across the battery)
Since electrically common points are connected together by (zero resistance) wire, there is no
significant voltage drop between them regardless of the amount of current conducted from one to
the next through that connecting wire. Thus, if we were to read voltages between common points,
we should show (practically) zero:
Between points 1 and 2 = 0 volts Points 1, 2, and 3 are

Between points 2 and 3 = 0 volts electrically common
Between points 4 and 5 = 0 volts Points 4, 5, and 6 are
Between points 5 and 6 = 0 volts electrically common
This makes sense mathematically, too. With a 10 volt battery and a 5 Ω resistor, the circuit
current will be 2 amps. With wire resistance being zero, the voltage drop across any continuous
stretch of wire can be determined through Ohm’s Law as such:
2.7. CIRCUIT WIRING 57
E=IR
E = (2 A)(0 Ω)
E=0V
It should be obvious that the calculated voltage drop across any uninterrupted length of wire
in a circuit where wire is assumed to have zero resistance will always be zero, no matter what the
magnitude of current, since zero multiplied by anything equals zero.
Because common points in a circuit will exhibit the same relative voltage and resistance mea-
surements, wires connecting common points are often labeled with the same designation. This is
not to say that the terminal connection points are labeled the same, just the connecting wires. Take
this circuit as an example:
1 wire #2 2
wire #2
Battery 4
10 V 3
Resistor
5Ω
wire #1
6 5
wire #1
wire #1
Points 1, 2, and 3 are all common to each other, so the wire connecting point 1 to 2 is labeled
the same (wire 2) as the wire connecting point 2 to 3 (wire 2). In a real circuit, the wire stretching
from point 1 to 2 may not even be the same color or size as the wire connecting point 2 to 3, but
they should bear the exact same label. The same goes for the wires connecting points 6, 5, and 4.
Knowing that electrically common points have zero voltage drop between them is a valuable
troubleshooting principle. If I measure for voltage between points in a circuit that are supposed to
be common to each other, I should read zero. If, however, I read substantial voltage between those
two points, then I know with certainty that they cannot be directly connected together. If those
points are supposed to be electrically common but they register otherwise, then I know that there
is an ”open failure” between those points.
One final note: for most practical purposes, wire conductors can be assumed to possess zero
resistance from end to end. In reality, however, there will always be some small amount of resistance
encountered along the length of a wire, unless it’s a superconducting wire. Knowing this, we need
to bear in mind that the principles learned here about electrically common points are all valid to a
large degree, but not to an absolute degree. That is, the rule that electrically common points are
guaranteed to have zero voltage between them is more accurately stated as such: electrically common
points will have very little voltage dropped between them. That small, virtually unavoidable trace
of resistance found in any piece of connecting wire is bound to create a small voltage across the
length of it as current is conducted through. So long as you understand that these rules are based
upon ideal conditions, you won’t be perplexed when you come across some condition appearing to
be an exception to the rule.
• REVIEW:
• Connecting wires in a circuit are assumed to have zero resistance unless otherwise stated.
• Wires in a circuit can be shortened or lengthened without impacting the circuit’s function –
all that matters is that the components are attached to one another in the same sequence.
• Points directly connected together in a circuit by zero resistance (wire) are considered to be
electrically common.
• Electrically common points, with zero resistance between them, will have zero voltage dropped
between them, regardless of the magnitude of current (ideally).
• The voltage or resistance readings referenced between sets of electrically common points will
be the same.
• These rules apply to ideal conditions, where connecting wires are assumed to possess absolutely
zero resistance. In real life this will probably not be the case, but wire resistances should be
low enough so that the general principles stated here still hold.
2.8 Polarity of voltage drops

We can trace the direction that electrons will flow in the same circuit by starting at the negative
(-) terminal and following through to the positive (+) terminal of the battery, the only source of
voltage in the circuit. From this we can see that the electrons are moving counter-clockwise, from
point 6 to 5 to 4 to 3 to 2 to 1 and back to 6 again.
As the current encounters the 5 Ω resistance, voltage is dropped across the resistor’s ends. The
polarity of this voltage drop is negative (-) at point 4 with respect to positive (+) at point 3. We
can mark the polarity of the resistor’s voltage drop with these negative and positive symbols, in
accordance with the direction of current (whichever end of the resistor the current is entering is
negative with respect to the end of the resistor it is exiting:
1 2
current
+ current
Battery 4 - +
10 V - 3
Resistor
5Ω
6 5
We could make our table of voltages a little more complete by marking the polarity of the voltage
for each pair of points in this circuit:
Between points 1 (+) and 4 (-) = 10 volts

2.9. COMPUTER SIMULATION OF ELECTRIC CIRCUITS 59

While it might seem a little silly to document polarity of voltage drop in this circuit, it is an
important concept to master. It will be critically important in the analysis of more complex circuits
involving multiple resistors and/or batteries.
It should be understood that polarity has nothing to do with Ohm’s Law: there will never be
negative voltages, currents, or resistance entered into any Ohm’s Law equations! There are other
mathematical principles of electricity that do take polarity into account through the use of signs (+
or -), but not Ohm’s Law.
• REVIEW:
• The polarity of the voltage drop across any resistive component is determined by the direction
of electron flow though it: negative entering, and positive exiting.
2.9 Computer simulation of electric circuits

Computers can be powerful tools if used properly, especially in the realms of science and engineering.
Software exists for the simulation of electric circuits by computer, and these programs can be very
useful in helping circuit designers test ideas before actually building real circuits, saving much time
and money.
These same programs can be fantastic aids to the beginning student of electronics, allowing the
exploration of ideas quickly and easily with no assembly of real circuits required. Of course, there is
no substitute for actually building and testing real circuits, but computer simulations certainly
assist in the learning process by allowing the student to experiment with changes and see the
effects they have on circuits. Throughout this book, I’ll be incorporating computer printouts from
circuit simulation frequently in order to illustrate important concepts. By observing the results
of a computer simulation, a student can gain an intuitive grasp of circuit behavior without the
intimidation of abstract mathematical analysis.
To simulate circuits on computer, I make use of a particular program called SPICE, which works
by describing a circuit to the computer by means of a listing of text. In essence, this listing is a kind
of computer program in itself, and must adhere to the syntactical rules of the SPICE language. The
computer is then used to process, or ”run,” the SPICE program, which interprets the text listing
describing the circuit and outputs the results of its detailed mathematical analysis, also in text form.
Many details of using SPICE are described in volume 5 (”Reference”) of this book series for those
wanting more information. Here, I’ll just introduce the basic concepts and then apply SPICE to the
analysis of these simple circuits we’ve been reading about.
First, we need to have SPICE installed on our computer. As a free program, it is commonly
available on the internet for download, and in formats appropriate for many different operating
systems. In this book, I use one of the earlier versions of SPICE: version 2G6, for its simplicity of
use.
Next, we need a circuit for SPICE to analyze. Let’s try one of the circuits illustrated earlier in
the chapter. Here is its schematic diagram:
Battery R1 5Ω
10 V
This simple circuit consists of a battery and a resistor connected directly together. We know the
voltage of the battery (10 volts) and the resistance of the resistor (5 Ω), but nothing else about the
circuit. If we describe this circuit to SPICE, it should be able to tell us (at the very least), how
much current we have in the circuit by using Ohm’s Law (I=E/R).
SPICE cannot directly understand a schematic diagram or any other form of graphical descrip-
tion. SPICE is a text-based computer program, and demands that a circuit be described in terms
of its constituent components and connection points. Each unique connection point in a circuit is
described for SPICE by a ”node” number. Points that are electrically common to each other in the
circuit to be simulated are designated as such by sharing the same number. It might be helpful
to think of these numbers as ”wire” numbers rather than ”node” numbers, following the definition
given in the previous section. This is how the computer knows what’s connected to what: by the
sharing of common wire, or node, numbers. In our example circuit, we only have two ”nodes,” the
top wire and the bottom wire. SPICE demands there be a node 0 somewhere in the circuit, so we’ll
label our wires 0 and 1:
1 1
1 1
1 1
Battery R1 5Ω
10 V
0 0
0 0
0 0
In the above illustration, I’ve shown multiple ”1” and ”0” labels around each respective wire to
emphasize the concept of common points sharing common node numbers, but still this is a graphic
image, not a text description. SPICE needs to have the component values and node numbers given
to it in text form before any analysis may proceed.
Creating a text file in a computer involves the use of a program called a text editor. Similar to a
word processor, a text editor allows you to type text and record what you’ve typed in the form of a
file stored on the computer’s hard disk. Text editors lack the formatting ability of word processors
(no italic, bold, or underlined characters), and this is a good thing, since programs such as SPICE
wouldn’t know what to do with this extra information. If we want to create a plain-text file, with
absolutely nothing recorded except the keyboard characters we select, a text editor is the tool to
use.
If using a Microsoft operating system such as DOS or Windows, a couple of text editors are
readily available with the system. In DOS, there is the old Edit text editing program, which may
be invoked by typing edit at the command prompt. In Windows (3.x/95/98/NT/Me/2k/XP), the
Notepad text editor is your stock choice. Many other text editing programs are available, and some
are even free. I happen to use a free text editor called Vim, and run it under both Windows 95 and
Linux operating systems. It matters little which editor you use, so don’t worry if the screenshots in
this section don’t look like yours; the important information here is what you type, not which editor
you happen to use.
To describe this simple, two-component circuit to SPICE, I will begin by invoking my text editor
program and typing in a ”title” line for the circuit:
We can describe the battery to the computer by typing in a line of text starting with the letter
”v” (for ”Voltage source”), identifying which wire each terminal of the battery connects to (the node
numbers), and the battery’s voltage, like this:
This line of text tells SPICE that we have a voltage source connected between nodes 1 and 0,
direct current (DC), 10 volts. That’s all the computer needs to know regarding the battery. Now
we turn to the resistor: SPICE requires that resistors be described with a letter ”r,” the numbers of
the two nodes (connection points), and the resistance in ohms. Since this is a computer simulation,
there is no need to specify a power rating for the resistor. That’s one nice thing about ”virtual”
components: they can’t be harmed by excessive voltages or currents!
Now, SPICE will know there is a resistor connected between nodes 1 and 0 with a value of 5 Ω.
This very brief line of text tells the computer we have a resistor (”r”) connected between the same
two nodes as the battery (1 and 0), with a resistance value of 5 Ω.
If we add an .end statement to this collection of SPICE commands to indicate the end of the
circuit description, we will have all the information SPICE needs, collected in one file and ready
for processing. This circuit description, comprised of lines of text in a computer file, is technically
known as a netlist, or deck :
Once we have finished typing all the necessary SPICE commands, we need to ”save” them to a
file on the computer’s hard disk so that SPICE has something to reference to when invoked. Since
this is my first SPICE netlist, I’ll save it under the filename ”circuit1.cir” (the actual name being
arbitrary). You may elect to name your first SPICE netlist something completely different, just as
long as you don’t violate any filename rules for your operating system, such as using no more than
8+3 characters (eight characters in the name, and three characters in the extension: 12345678.123)
in DOS.
To invoke SPICE (tell it to process the contents of the circuit1.cir netlist file), we have to exit
from the text editor and access a command prompt (the ”DOS prompt” for Microsoft users) where
we can enter text commands for the computer’s operating system to obey. This ”primitive” way of
invoking a program may seem archaic to computer users accustomed to a ”point-and-click” graphical
environment, but it is a very powerful and flexible way of doing things. Remember, what you’re
doing here by using SPICE is a simple form of computer programming, and the more comfortable
you become in giving the computer text-form commands to follow – as opposed to simply clicking
on icon images using a mouse – the more mastery you will have over your computer.
Once at a command prompt, type in this command, followed by an [Enter] keystroke (this
example uses the filename circuit1.cir; if you have chosen a different filename for your netlist file,
substitute it):
spice < circuit1.cir
Here is how this looks on my computer (running the Linux operating system), just before I press
the [Enter] key:
As soon as you press the [Enter] key to issue this command, text from SPICE’s output should
scroll by on the computer screen. Here is a screenshot showing what SPICE outputs on my computer
(I’ve lengthened the ”terminal” window to show you the full text. With a normal-size terminal, the
text easily exceeds one page length):
SPICE begins with a reiteration of the netlist, complete with title line and .end statement.
About halfway through the simulation it displays the voltage at all nodes with reference to node 0.
In this example, we only have one node other than node 0, so it displays the voltage there: 10.0000
volts. Then it displays the current through each voltage source. Since we only have one voltage
source in the entire circuit, it only displays the current through that one. In this case, the source
current is 2 amps. Due to a quirk in the way SPICE analyzes current, the value of 2 amps is output
as a negative (-) 2 amps.
The last line of text in the computer’s analysis report is ”total power dissipation,” which in this
case is given as ”2.00E+01” watts: 2.00 x 101 , or 20 watts. SPICE outputs most figures in scientific
notation rather than normal (fixed-point) notation. While this may seem to be more confusing at
first, it is actually less confusing when very large or very small numbers are involved. The details of
scientific notation will be covered in the next chapter of this book.
One of the benefits of using a ”primitive” text-based program such as SPICE is that the text
files dealt with are extremely small compared to other file formats, especially graphical formats used
in other circuit simulation software. Also, the fact that SPICE’s output is plain text means you
can direct SPICE’s output to another text file where it may be further manipulated. To do this, we
re-issue a command to the computer’s operating system to invoke SPICE, this time redirecting the
output to a file I’ll call ”output.txt”:
SPICE will run ”silently” this time, without the stream of text output to the computer screen
as before. A new file, output1.txt, will be created, which you may open and change using a text
editor or word processor. For this illustration, I’ll use the same text editor (Vim) to open this file:
Now, I may freely edit this file, deleting any extraneous text (such as the ”banners” showing
date and time), leaving only the text that I feel to be pertinent to my circuit’s analysis:
Once suitably edited and re-saved under the same filename (output.txt in this example), the
text may be pasted into any kind of document, ”plain text” being a universal file format for almost
all computer systems. I can even include it directly in the text of this book – rather than as a
”screenshot” graphic image – like this:
my first circuit
v 1 0 dc 10
r 1 0 5
.end
node voltage
( 1) 10.0000
voltage source currents

name current
v -2.000E+00
total power dissipation 2.00E+01 watts
Incidentally, this is the preferred format for text output from SPICE simulations in this book
series: as real text, not as graphic screenshot images.
To alter a component value in the simulation, we need to open up the netlist file (circuit1.cir)
and make the required modifications in the text description of the circuit, then save those changes
to the same filename, and re-invoke SPICE at the command prompt. This process of editing and
processing a text file is one familiar to every computer programmer. One of the reasons I like to
teach SPICE is that it prepares the learner to think and work like a computer programmer, which
is good because computer programming is a significant area of advanced electronics work.
Earlier we explored the consequences of changing one of the three variables in an electric circuit
(voltage, current, or resistance) using Ohm’s Law to mathematically predict what would happen.
Now let’s try the same thing using SPICE to do the math for us.
If we were to triple the voltage in our last example circuit from 10 to 30 volts and keep the circuit
resistance unchanged, we would expect the current to triple as well. Let’s try this, re-naming our
netlist file so as to not over-write the first file. This way, we will have both versions of the circuit
simulation stored on the hard drive of our computer for future use. The following text listing is the
output of SPICE for this modified netlist, formatted as plain text rather than as a graphic image of
my computer screen:
second example circuit

v 1 0 dc 30
r 1 0 5
.end
node voltage
( 1) 30.0000

name current
v -6.000E+00
Just as we expected, the current tripled with the voltage increase. Current used to be 2 amps,
but now it has increased to 6 amps (-6.000 x 100 ). Note also how the total power dissipation in the
circuit has increased. It was 20 watts before, but now is 180 watts (1.8 x 10 2 ). Recalling that power
is related to the square of the voltage (Joule’s Law: P=E2 /R), this makes sense. If we triple the
circuit voltage, the power should increase by a factor of nine (32 = 9). Nine times 20 is indeed 180,
so SPICE’s output does indeed correlate with what we know about power in electric circuits.
If we want to see how this simple circuit would respond over a wide range of battery voltages,
we can invoke some of the more advanced options within SPICE. Here, I’ll use the ”.dc” analysis
option to vary the battery voltage from 0 to 100 volts in 5 volt increments, printing out the circuit
voltage and current at every step. The lines in the SPICE netlist beginning with a star symbol (”*”)
are comments. That is, they don’t tell the computer to do anything relating to circuit analysis, but
merely serve as notes for any human being reading the netlist text.
third example circuit

v 1 0
r 1 0 5
*the ".dc" statement tells spice to sweep the "v" supply
*voltage from 0 to 100 volts in 5 volt steps.
.dc v 0 100 5
.print dc v(1) i(v)
.end
The .print command in this SPICE netlist instructs SPICE to print columns of numbers cor-
responding to each step in the analysis:
v i(v)
0.000E+00 0.000E+00
5.000E+00 -1.000E+00
1.000E+01 -2.000E+00
1.500E+01 -3.000E+00
2.000E+01 -4.000E+00
2.500E+01 -5.000E+00
3.000E+01 -6.000E+00
3.500E+01 -7.000E+00
4.000E+01 -8.000E+00
4.500E+01 -9.000E+00
5.000E+01 -1.000E+01
5.500E+01 -1.100E+01
6.000E+01 -1.200E+01
6.500E+01 -1.300E+01
7.000E+01 -1.400E+01
7.500E+01 -1.500E+01
8.000E+01 -1.600E+01
8.500E+01 -1.700E+01
9.000E+01 -1.800E+01
9.500E+01 -1.900E+01
1.000E+02 -2.000E+01
If I re-edit the netlist file, changing the .print command into a .plot command, SPICE will
output a crude graph made up of text characters:
Legend: + = v#branch
------------------------------------------------------------------------
sweep v#branch-2.00e+01 -1.00e+01 0.00e+00
---------------------|------------------------|------------------------|
0.000e+00 0.000e+00 . . +
5.000e+00 -1.000e+00 . . + .
1.000e+01 -2.000e+00 . . + .
1.500e+01 -3.000e+00 . . + .
2.000e+01 -4.000e+00 . . + .
2.500e+01 -5.000e+00 . . + .
3.000e+01 -6.000e+00 . . + .
3.500e+01 -7.000e+00 . . + .
4.000e+01 -8.000e+00 . . + .
4.500e+01 -9.000e+00 . . + .
5.000e+01 -1.000e+01 . + .
5.500e+01 -1.100e+01 . + . .
6.000e+01 -1.200e+01 . + . .
6.500e+01 -1.300e+01 . + . .
7.000e+01 -1.400e+01 . + . .
7.500e+01 -1.500e+01 . + . .
8.000e+01 -1.600e+01 . + . .
8.500e+01 -1.700e+01 . + . .
9.000e+01 -1.800e+01 . + . .
9.500e+01 -1.900e+01 . + . .
1.000e+02 -2.000e+01 + . .
---------------------|------------------------|------------------------|
sweep v#branch-2.00e+01 -1.00e+01 0.00e+00
In both output formats, the left-hand column of numbers represents the battery voltage at each
interval, as it increases from 0 volts to 100 volts, 5 volts at a time. The numbers in the right-
hand column indicate the circuit current for each of those voltages. Look closely at those numbers
and you’ll see the proportional relationship between each pair: Ohm’s Law (I=E/R) holds true in
each and every case, each current value being 1/5 the respective voltage value, because the circuit
resistance is exactly 5 Ω. Again, the negative numbers for current in this SPICE analysis is more of
a quirk than anything else. Just pay attention to the absolute value of each number unless otherwise
specified.
There are even some computer programs able to interpret and convert the non-graphical data
output by SPICE into a graphical plot. One of these programs is called Nutmeg, and its output
looks something like this:
2.10. CONTRIBUTORS 71
Note how Nutmeg plots the resistor voltage v(1) (voltage between node 1 and the implied
reference point of node 0) as a line with a positive slope (from lower-left to upper-right).
Whether or not you ever become proficient at using SPICE is not relevant to its application
in this book. All that matters is that you develop an understanding for what the numbers mean
in a SPICE-generated report. In the examples to come, I’ll do my best to annotate the numerical
results of SPICE to eliminate any confusion, and unlock the power of this amazing tool to help you
understand the behavior of electric circuits.
2.10 Contributors
James Boorn (January 18, 2001): identified sentence structure error and offered correction.
Also, identified discrepancy in netlist syntax requirements between SPICE version 2g6 and version
3f5.
Ben Crowell, Ph.D. (January 13, 2001): suggestions on improving the technical accuracy of
voltage and charge definitions.
second edition.
Chapter 3
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
3.1 The importance of electrical safety

With this lesson, I hope to avoid a common mistake found in electronics textbooks of either ignoring
or not covering with sufficient detail the subject of electrical safety. I assume that whoever reads
this book has at least a passing interest in actually working with electricity, and as such the topic of
safety is of paramount importance. Those authors, editors, and publishers who fail to incorporate
this subject into their introductory texts are depriving the reader of life-saving information.
As an instructor of industrial electronics, I spend a full week with my students reviewing the
theoretical and practical aspects of electrical safety. The same textbooks I found lacking in technical
clarity I also found lacking in coverage of electrical safety, hence the creation of this chapter. Its
placement after the first two chapters is intentional: in order for the concepts of electrical safety to
make the most sense, some foundational knowledge of electricity is necessary.
Another benefit of including a detailed lesson on electrical safety is the practical context it sets
for basic concepts of voltage, current, resistance, and circuit design. The more relevant a technical
topic can be made, the more likely a student will be to pay attention and comprehend. And what
could be more relevant than application to your own personal safety? Also, with electrical power
being such an everyday presence in modern life, almost anyone can relate to the illustrations given
in such a lesson. Have you ever wondered why birds don’t get shocked while resting on power lines?
Read on and find out!
3.2 Physiological effects of electricity

Most of us have experienced some form of electric ”shock,” where electricity causes our body to
experience pain or trauma. If we are fortunate, the extent of that experience is limited to tingles or
jolts of pain from static electricity buildup discharging through our bodies. When we are working
around electric circuits capable of delivering high power to loads, electric shock becomes a much
more serious issue, and pain is the least significant result of shock.
As electric current is conducted through a material, any opposition to that flow of electrons
(resistance) results in a dissipation of energy, usually in the form of heat. This is the most basic
and easy-to-understand effect of electricity on living tissue: current makes it heat up. If the amount
73
74 CHAPTER 3. ELECTRICAL SAFETY
of heat generated is sufficient, the tissue may be burnt. The effect is physiologically the same as
damage caused by an open flame or other high-temperature source of heat, except that electricity
has the ability to burn tissue well beneath the skin of a victim, even burning internal organs.
Another effect of electric current on the body, perhaps the most significant in terms of hazard,
regards the nervous system. By ”nervous system” I mean the network of special cells in the body
called ”nerve cells” or ”neurons” which process and conduct the multitude of signals responsible for
regulation of many body functions. The brain, spinal cord, and sensory/motor organs in the body
function together to allow it to sense, move, respond, think, and remember.
Nerve cells communicate to each other by acting as ”transducers:” creating electrical signals
(very small voltages and currents) in response to the input of certain chemical compounds called
neurotransmitters, and releasing neurotransmitters when stimulated by electrical signals. If electric
current of sufficient magnitude is conducted through a living creature (human or otherwise), its
effect will be to override the tiny electrical impulses normally generated by the neurons, overloading
the nervous system and preventing both reflex and volitional signals from being able to actuate
muscles. Muscles triggered by an external (shock) current will involuntarily contract, and there’s
nothing the victim can do about it.
This problem is especially dangerous if the victim contacts an energized conductor with his or
her hands. The forearm muscles responsible for bending fingers tend to be better developed than
those muscles responsible for extending fingers, and so if both sets of muscles try to contract because
of an electric current conducted through the person’s arm, the ”bending” muscles will win, clenching
the fingers into a fist. If the conductor delivering current to the victim faces the palm of his or her
hand, this clenching action will force the hand to grasp the wire firmly, thus worsening the situation
by securing excellent contact with the wire. The victim will be completely unable to let go of the
wire.
Medically, this condition of involuntary muscle contraction is called tetanus. Electricians familiar
with this effect of electric shock often refer to an immobilized victim of electric shock as being ”froze
on the circuit.” Shock-induced tetanus can only be interrupted by stopping the current through the
victim.
Even when the current is stopped, the victim may not regain voluntary control over their muscles
for a while, as the neurotransmitter chemistry has been thrown into disarray. This principle has
been applied in ”stun gun” devices such as Tasers, which on the principle of momentarily shocking
a victim with a high-voltage pulse delivered between two electrodes. A well-placed shock has the
effect of temporarily (a few minutes) immobilizing the victim.
Electric current is able to affect more than just skeletal muscles in a shock victim, however. The
diaphragm muscle controlling the lungs, and the heart – which is a muscle in itself – can also be
”frozen” in a state of tetanus by electric current. Even currents too low to induce tetanus are often
able to scramble nerve cell signals enough that the heart cannot beat properly, sending the heart into
a condition known as fibrillation. A fibrillating heart flutters rather than beats, and is ineffective
at pumping blood to vital organs in the body. In any case, death from asphyxiation and/or cardiac
arrest will surely result from a strong enough electric current through the body. Ironically, medical
personnel use a strong jolt of electric current applied across the chest of a victim to ”jump start” a
fibrillating heart into a normal beating pattern.
That last detail leads us into another hazard of electric shock, this one peculiar to public power
systems. Though our initial study of electric circuits will focus almost exclusively on DC (Direct
Current, or electricity that moves in a continuous direction in a circuit), modern power systems
utilize alternating current, or AC. The technical reasons for this preference of AC over DC in power
3.3. SHOCK CURRENT PATH 75
systems are irrelevant to this discussion, but the special hazards of each kind of electrical power are
very important to the topic of safety.
Direct current (DC), because it moves with continuous motion through a conductor, has the
tendency to induce muscular tetanus quite readily. Alternating current (AC), because it alternately
reverses direction of motion, provides brief moments of opportunity for an afflicted muscle to relax
between alternations. Thus, from the concern of becoming ”froze on the circuit,” DC is more
dangerous than AC.
However, AC’s alternating nature has a greater tendency to throw the heart’s pacemaker neurons
into a condition of fibrillation, whereas DC tends to just make the heart stand still. Once the shock
current is halted, a ”frozen” heart has a better chance of regaining a normal beat pattern than a
fibrillating heart. This is why ”defibrillating” equipment used by emergency medics works: the jolt
of current supplied by the defibrillator unit is DC, which halts fibrillation and and gives the heart a
chance to recover.
In either case, electric currents high enough to cause involuntary muscle action are dangerous
and are to be avoided at all costs. In the next section, we’ll take a look at how such currents typically
enter and exit the body, and examine precautions against such occurrences.
• REVIEW:
• Electric current is capable of producing deep and severe burns in the body due to power
dissipation across the body’s electrical resistance.
• Tetanus is the condition where muscles involuntarily contract due to the passage of external
electric current through the body. When involuntary contraction of muscles controlling the
fingers causes a victim to be unable to let go of an energized conductor, the victim is said to
be ”froze on the circuit.”
• Diaphragm (lung) and heart muscles are similarly affected by electric current. Even currents
too small to induce tetanus can be strong enough to interfere with the heart’s pacemaker
neurons, causing the heart to flutter instead of strongly beat.
• Direct current (DC) is more likely to cause muscle tetanus than alternating current (AC),
making DC more likely to ”freeze” a victim in a shock scenario. However, AC is more likely
to cause a victim’s heart to fibrillate, which is a more dangerous condition for the victim after
the shocking current has been halted.
3.3 Shock current path

As we’ve already learned, electricity requires a complete path (circuit) to continuously flow. This
is why the shock received from static electricity is only a momentary jolt: the flow of electrons
is necessarily brief when static charges are equalized between two objects. Shocks of self-limited
duration like this are rarely hazardous.
Without two contact points on the body for current to enter and exit, respectively, there is
no hazard of shock. This is why birds can safely rest on high-voltage power lines without getting
shocked: they make contact with the circuit at only one point.
bird (not shocked)
High voltage
across source
and load
In order for electrons to flow through a conductor, there must be a voltage present to motivate
them. Voltage, as you should recall, is always relative between two points. There is no such thing
as voltage ”on” or ”at” a single point in the circuit, and so the bird contacting a single point in
the above circuit has no voltage applied across its body to establish a current through it. Yes, even
though they rest on two feet, both feet are touching the same wire, making them electrically common.
Electrically speaking, both of the bird’s feet touch the same point, hence there is no voltage between
them to motivate current through the bird’s body.
This might lend one to believe that it’s impossible to be shocked by electricity by only touching
a single wire. Like the birds, if we’re sure to touch only one wire at a time, we’ll be safe, right?
Unfortunately, this is not correct. Unlike birds, people are usually standing on the ground when
they contact a ”live” wire. Many times, one side of a power system will be intentionally connected
to earth ground, and so the person touching a single wire is actually making contact between two
points in the circuit (the wire and earth ground):
bird (not shocked)
person (SHOCKED!)
High voltage
across source
and load
path for current through the dirt

The ground symbol is that set of three horizontal bars of decreasing width located at the lower-left
of the circuit shown, and also at the foot of the person being shocked. In real life the power system
ground consists of some kind of metallic conductor buried deep in the ground for making maximum
contact with the earth. That conductor is electrically connected to an appropriate connection point
on the circuit with thick wire. The victim’s ground connection is through their feet, which are
touching the earth.
A few questions usually arise at this point in the mind of the student:
• If the presence of a ground point in the circuit provides an easy point of contact for someone
to get shocked, why have it in the circuit at all? Wouldn’t a ground-less circuit be safer?
• The person getting shocked probably isn’t bare-footed. If rubber and fabric are insulating
materials, then why aren’t their shoes protecting them by preventing a circuit from forming?
• How good of a conductor can dirt be? If you can get shocked by current through the earth,
why not use the earth as a conductor in our power circuits?
In answer to the first question, the presence of an intentional ”grounding” point in an electric
circuit is intended to ensure that one side of it is safe to come in contact with. Note that if our
victim in the above diagram were to touch the bottom side of the resistor, nothing would happen
even though their feet would still be contacting ground:
bird (not shocked)
High voltage
across source
and load person (not shocked)
no current!
Because the bottom side of the circuit is firmly connected to ground through the grounding point
on the lower-left of the circuit, the lower conductor of the circuit is made electrically common with
earth ground. Since there can be no voltage between electrically common points, there will be no
voltage applied across the person contacting the lower wire, and they will not receive a shock. For
the same reason, the wire connecting the circuit to the grounding rod/plates is usually left bare (no
insulation), so that any metal object it brushes up against will similarly be electrically common with
the earth.
Circuit grounding ensures that at least one point in the circuit will be safe to touch. But what
about leaving a circuit completely ungrounded? Wouldn’t that make any person touching just a
single wire as safe as the bird sitting on just one? Ideally, yes. Practically, no. Observe what
happens with no ground at all:
bird (not shocked)

person (not shocked)
High voltage
across source
and load
Despite the fact that the person’s feet are still contacting ground, any single point in the circuit
should be safe to touch. Since there is no complete path (circuit) formed through the person’s body
from the bottom side of the voltage source to the top, there is no way for a current to be established
through the person. However, this could all change with an accidental ground, such as a tree branch
touching a power line and providing connection to earth ground:
bird (not shocked)

person (SHOCKED!)
High voltage
across source
and load
accidental ground path through tree

(touching wire) completes the circuit
for shock current through the victim.
Such an accidental connection between a power system conductor and the earth (ground) is
called a ground fault. Ground faults may be caused by many things, including dirt buildup on power
line insulators (creating a dirty-water path for current from the conductor to the pole, and to the
ground, when it rains), ground water infiltration in buried power line conductors, and birds landing
on power lines, bridging the line to the pole with their wings. Given the many causes of ground
faults, they tend to be unpredicatable. In the case of trees, no one can guarantee which wire their
branches might touch. If a tree were to brush up against the top wire in the circuit, it would make
the top wire safe to touch and the bottom one dangerous – just the opposite of the previous scenario
where the tree contacts the bottom wire:
bird (not shocked)

person (not shocked)
High voltage
across source
and load
person (SHOCKED!)
accidental ground path through tree

(touching wire) completes the circuit
for shock current through the victim.
With a tree branch contacting the top wire, that wire becomes the grounded conductor in the
circuit, electrically common with earth ground. Therefore, there is no voltage between that wire and
ground, but full (high) voltage between the bottom wire and ground. As mentioned previously, tree
branches are only one potential source of ground faults in a power system. Consider an ungrounded
power system with no trees in contact, but this time with two people touching single wires:
bird (not shocked)
person (SHOCKED!)
High voltage
across source
and load
person (SHOCKED!)
With each person standing on the ground, contacting different points in the circuit, a path for
shock current is made through one person, through the earth, and through the other person. Even
though each person thinks they’re safe in only touching a single point in the circuit, their combined
actions create a deadly scenario. In effect, one person acts as the ground fault which makes it unsafe
for the other person. This is exactly why ungrounded power systems are dangerous: the voltage
between any point in the circuit and ground (earth) is unpredictable, because a ground fault could
appear at any point in the circuit at any time. The only character guaranteed to be safe in these
scenarios is the bird, who has no connection to earth ground at all! By firmly connecting a designated
point in the circuit to earth ground (”grounding” the circuit), at least safety can be assured at that
one point. This is more assurance of safety than having no ground connection at all.
In answer to the second question, rubber-soled shoes do indeed provide some electrical insulation
to help protect someone from conducting shock current through their feet. However, most common
shoe designs are not intended to be electrically ”safe,” their soles being too thin and not of the
right substance. Also, any moisture, dirt, or conductive salts from body sweat on the surface of or
permeated through the soles of shoes will compromise what little insulating value the shoe had to
begin with. There are shoes specifically made for dangerous electrical work, as well as thick rubber
mats made to stand on while working on live circuits, but these special pieces of gear must be in
absolutely clean, dry condition in order to be effective. Suffice it to say, normal footwear is not
enough to guarantee protection against electric shock from a power system.
Research conducted on contact resistance between parts of the human body and points of contact
(such as the ground) shows a wide range of figures (see end of chapter for information on the source
of this data):
• Hand or foot contact, insulated with rubber: 20 MΩ typical.

• Foot contact through leather shoe sole (dry): 100 kΩ to 500 kΩ
• Foot contact through leather shoe sole (wet): 5 kΩ to 20 kΩ
As you can see, not only is rubber a far better insulating material than leather, but the presence
of water in a porous substance such as leather greatly reduces electrical resistance.
In answer to the third question, dirt is not a very good conductor (at least not when it’s dry!).
It is too poor of a conductor to support continuous current for powering a load. However, as we will
see in the next section, it takes very little current to injure or kill a human being, so even the poor
conductivity of dirt is enough to provide a path for deadly current when there is sufficient voltage
available, as there usually is in power systems.
Some ground surfaces are better insulators than others. Asphalt, for instance, being oil-based,
has a much greater resistance than most forms of dirt or rock. Concrete, on the other hand, tends
to have fairly low resistance due to its intrinsic water and electrolyte (conductive chemical) content.
• REVIEW:
• Electric shock can only occur when contact is made between two points of a circuit; when
voltage is applied across a victim’s body.
• Power circuits usually have a designated point that is ”grounded:” firmly connected to metal
rods or plates buried in the dirt to ensure that one side of the circuit is always at ground
potential (zero voltage between that point and earth ground).
• A ground fault is an accidental connection between a circuit conductor and the earth (ground).
• Special, insulated shoes and mats are made to protect persons from shock via ground conduc-
tion, but even these pieces of gear must be in clean, dry condition to be effective. Normal
footwear is not good enough to provide protection from shock by insulating its wearer from
the earth.
3.4. OHM’S LAW (AGAIN!) 81
• Though dirt is a poor conductor, it can conduct enough current to injure or kill a human
being.
3.4 Ohm’s Law (again!)

A common phrase heard in reference to electrical safety goes something like this: ”It’s not voltage
that kills, it’s current! ” While there is an element of truth to this, there’s more to understand about
shock hazard than this simple adage. If voltage presented no danger, no one would ever print and
display signs saying: DANGER – HIGH VOLTAGE!
The principle that ”current kills” is essentially correct. It is electric current that burns tissue,
freezes muscles, and fibrillates hearts. However, electric current doesn’t just occur on its own: there
must be voltage available to motivate electrons to flow through a victim. A person’s body also
presents resistance to current, which must be taken into account.
Taking Ohm’s Law for voltage, current, and resistance, and expressing it in terms of current for
a given voltage and resistance, we have this equation:
Ohm’s Law
E Voltage
I= Current =
R Resistance
The amount of current through a body is equal to the amount of voltage applied between two
points on that body, divided by the electrical resistance offered by the body between those two
points. Obviously, the more voltage available to cause electrons to flow, the easier they will flow
through any given amount of resistance. Hence, the danger of high voltage: high voltage means
potential for large amounts of current through your body, which will injure or kill you. Conversely,
the more resistance a body offers to current, the slower electrons will flow for any given amount of
voltage. Just how much voltage is dangerous depends on how much total resistance is in the circuit
to oppose the flow of electrons.
Body resistance is not a fixed quantity. It varies from person to person and from time to time.
There’s even a body fat measurement technique based on a measurement of electrical resistance
between a person’s toes and fingers. Differing percentages of body fat give provide different resis-
tances: just one variable affecting electrical resistance in the human body. In order for the technique
to work accurately, the person must regulate their fluid intake for several hours prior to the test,
indicating that body hydration another factor impacting the body’s electrical resistance.
Body resistance also varies depending on how contact is made with the skin: is it from hand-to-
hand, hand-to-foot, foot-to-foot, hand-to-elbow, etc.? Sweat, being rich in salts and minerals, is an
excellent conductor of electricity for being a liquid. So is blood, with its similarly high content of
conductive chemicals. Thus, contact with a wire made by a sweaty hand or open wound will offer
much less resistance to current than contact made by clean, dry skin.
Measuring electrical resistance with a sensitive meter, I measure approximately 1 million ohms
of resistance (1 MΩ) between my two hands, holding on to the meter’s metal probes between my
fingers. The meter indicates less resistance when I squeeze the probes tightly and more resistance
when I hold them loosely. Sitting here at my computer, typing these words, my hands are clean
and dry. If I were working in some hot, dirty, industrial environment, the resistance between my
hands would likely be much less, presenting less opposition to deadly current, and a greater threat
of electrical shock.
But how much current is harmful? The answer to that question also depends on several factors.
Individual body chemistry has a significant impact on how electric current affects an individual.
Some people are highly sensitive to current, experiencing involuntary muscle contraction with shocks
from static electricity. Others can draw large sparks from discharging static electricity and hardly
feel it, much less experience a muscle spasm. Despite these differences, approximate guidelines have
been developed through tests which indicate very little current being necessary to manifest harmful
effects (again, see end of chapter for information on the source of this data). All current figures
given in milliamps (a milliamp is equal to 1/1000 of an amp):
BODILY EFFECT DIRECT CURRENT (DC) 60 Hz AC 10 kHz AC

---------------------------------------------------------------
Slight sensation Men = 1.0 mA 0.4 mA 7 mA
felt at hand(s) Women = 0.6 mA 0.3 mA 5 mA
---------------------------------------------------------------
Threshold of Men = 5.2 mA 1.1 mA 12 mA
perception Women = 3.5 mA 0.7 mA 8 mA
---------------------------------------------------------------
Painful, but Men = 62 mA 9 mA 55 mA
voluntary muscle Women = 41 mA 6 mA 37 mA
control maintained
---------------------------------------------------------------
Painful, unable Men = 76 mA 16 mA 75 mA
to let go of wires Women = 51 mA 10.5 mA 50 mA
---------------------------------------------------------------
Severe pain, Men = 90 mA 23 mA 94 mA
difficulty Women = 60 mA 15 mA 63 mA
breathing
---------------------------------------------------------------
Possible heart Men = 500 mA 100 mA
fibrillation Women = 500 mA 100 mA
after 3 seconds
---------------------------------------------------------------
”Hz” stands for the unit of Hertz, the measure of how rapidly alternating current alternates,
a measure otherwise known as frequency. So, the column of figures labeled ”60 Hz AC” refers to
current that alternates at a frequency of 60 cycles (1 cycle = period of time where electrons flow
one direction, then the other direction) per second. The last column, labeled ”10 kHz AC,” refers
to alternating current that completes ten thousand (10,000) back-and-forth cycles each and every
second.
Keep in mind that these figures are only approximate, as individuals with different body chem-
istry may react differently. It has been suggested that an across-the-chest current of only 17 milliamps
AC is enough to induce fibrillation in a human subject under certain conditions. Most of our data
regarding induced fibrillation comes from animal testing. Obviously, it is not practical to perform
tests of induced ventricular fibrillation on human subjects, so the available data is sketchy. Oh, and
in case you’re wondering, I have no idea why women tend to be more susceptible to electric currents
than men!
Suppose I were to place my two hands across the terminals of an AC voltage source at 60 Hz
(60 cycles, or alternations back-and-forth, per second). How much voltage would be necessary in
this clean, dry state of skin condition to produce a current of 20 milliamps (enough to cause me to
become unable to let go of the voltage source)? We can use Ohm’s Law (E=IR) to determine this:
E = IR
E = (20 mA)(1 MΩ)
E = 20,000 volts, or 20 kV
Bear in mind that this is a ”best case” scenario (clean, dry skin) from the standpoint of electrical
safety, and that this figure for voltage represents the amount necessary to induce tetanus. Far less
would be required to cause a painful shock! Also keep in mind that the physiological effects of any
particular amount of current can vary significantly from person to person, and that these calculations
are rough estimates only.
With water sprinkled on my fingers to simulate sweat, I was able to measure a hand-to-hand
resistance of only 17,000 ohms (17 kΩ). Bear in mind this is only with one finger of each hand
contacting a thin metal wire. Recalculating the voltage required to cause a current of 20 milliamps,
we obtain this figure:
E = IR
E = (20 mA)(17 kΩ)
E = 340 volts
In this realistic condition, it would only take 340 volts of potential from one of my hands to the
other to cause 20 milliamps of current. However, it is still possible to receive a deadly shock from
less voltage than this. Provided a much lower body resistance figure augmented by contact with a
ring (a band of gold wrapped around the circumference of one’s finger makes an excellent contact
point for electrical shock) or full contact with a large metal object such as a pipe or metal handle
of a tool, the body resistance figure could drop as low as 1,000 ohms (1 kΩ), allowing an even lower
voltage to present a potential hazard:
E = IR
E = (20 mA)(1 kΩ)
E = 20 volts
Notice that in this condition, 20 volts is enough to produce a current of 20 milliamps through a
person: enough to induce tetanus. Remember, it has been suggested a current of only 17 milliamps
may induce ventricular (heart) fibrillation. With a hand-to-hand resistance of 1000 Ω, it would only
take 17 volts to create this dangerous condition:
E = IR
E = (17 mA)(1 kΩ)
E = 17 volts
Seventeen volts is not very much as far as electrical systems are concerned. Granted, this is a
”worst-case” scenario with 60 Hz AC voltage and excellent bodily conductivity, but it does stand to
show how little voltage may present a serious threat under certain conditions.
The conditions necessary to produce 1,000 Ω of body resistance don’t have to be as extreme as
what was presented, either (sweaty skin with contact made on a gold ring). Body resistance may
decrease with the application of voltage (especially if tetanus causes the victim to maintain a tighter
grip on a conductor) so that with constant voltage a shock may increase in severity after initial
contact. What begins as a mild shock – just enough to ”freeze” a victim so they can’t let go – may
escalate into something severe enough to kill them as their body resistance decreases and current
correspondingly increases.
Research has provided an approximate set of figures for electrical resistance of human contact
points under different conditions (see end of chapter for information on the source of this data):
• Wire touched by finger: 40,000 Ω to 1,000,000 Ω dry, 4,000 Ω to 15,000 Ω wet.
• Wire held by hand: 15,000 Ω to 50,000 Ω dry, 3,000 Ω to 5,000 Ω wet.
• Metal pliers held by hand: 5,000 Ω to 10,000 Ω dry, 1,000 Ω to 3,000 Ω wet.
• Contact with palm of hand: 3,000 Ω to 8,000 Ω dry, 1,000 Ω to 2,000 Ω wet.
• 1.5 inch metal pipe grasped by one hand: 1,000 Ω to 3,000 Ω dry, 500 Ω to 1,500 Ω wet.
• 1.5 inch metal pipe grasped by two hands: 500 Ω to 1,500 kΩ dry, 250 Ω to 750 Ω wet.
• Hand immersed in conductive liquid: 200 Ω to 500 Ω.
• Foot immersed in conductive liquid: 100 Ω to 300 Ω.
Note the resistance values of the two conditions involving a 1.5 inch metal pipe. The resistance
measured with two hands grasping the pipe is exactly one-half the resistance of one hand grasping
the pipe.
2 kΩ
1.5" metal pipe

With two hands, the bodily contact area is twice as great as with one hand. This is an important
lesson to learn: electrical resistance between any contacting objects diminishes with increased contact
area, all other factors being equal. With two hands holding the pipe, electrons have two, parallel
routes through which to flow from the pipe to the body (or visa-versa).
1 kΩ
1.5" metal pipe

Two 2 kΩ contact points in "parallel"
with each other gives 1 kΩ total
pipe-to-body resistance.
As we will see in a later chapter, parallel circuit pathways always result in less overall resistance
than any single pathway considered alone.
In industry, 30 volts is generally considered to be a conservative threshold value for dangerous
voltage. The cautious person should regard any voltage above 30 volts as threatening, not relying on
normal body resistance for protection against shock. That being said, it is still an excellent idea to
keep one’s hands clean and dry, and remove all metal jewelry when working around electricity. Even
around lower voltages, metal jewelry can present a hazard by conducting enough current to burn
the skin if brought into contact between two points in a circuit. Metal rings, especially, have been
the cause of more than a few burnt fingers by bridging between points in a low-voltage, high-current
circuit.
Also, voltages lower than 30 can be dangerous if they are enough to induce an unpleasant
sensation, which may cause you to jerk and accidently come into contact across a higher voltage
or some other hazard. I recall once working on a automobile on a hot summer day. I was wearing
shorts, my bare leg contacting the chrome bumper of the vehicle as I tightened battery connections.
When I touched my metal wrench to the positive (ungrounded) side of the 12 volt battery, I could
feel a tingling sensation at the point where my leg was touching the bumper. The combination of
firm contact with metal and my sweaty skin made it possible to feel a shock with only 12 volts of
electrical potential.
Thankfully, nothing bad happened, but had the engine been running and the shock felt at my
hand instead of my leg, I might have reflexively jerked my arm into the path of the rotating fan, or
dropped the metal wrench across the battery terminals (producing large amounts of current through
the wrench with lots of accompanying sparks). This illustrates another important lesson regarding
electrical safety; that electric current itself may be an indirect cause of injury by causing you to
jump or spasm parts of your body into harm’s way.
The path current takes through the human body makes a difference as to how harmful it is.
Current will affect whatever muscles are in its path, and since the heart and lung (diaphragm)
muscles are probably the most critical to one’s survival, shock paths traversing the chest are the
most dangerous. This makes the hand-to-hand shock current path a very likely mode of injury and
fatality.
To guard against such an occurrence, it is advisable to only use on hand to work on live circuits
of hazardous voltage, keeping the other hand tucked into a pocket so as to not accidently touch
anything. Of course, it is always safer to work on a circuit when it is unpowered, but this is not
always practical or possible. For one-handed work, the right hand is generally preferred over the left
for two reasons: most people are right-handed (thus granting additional coordination when working),
and the heart is usually situated to the left of center in the chest cavity.
For those who are left-handed, this advice may not be the best. If such a person is sufficiently
uncoordinated with their right hand, they may be placing themselves in greater danger by using the
hand they’re least comfortable with, even if shock current through that hand might present more
of a hazard to their heart. The relative hazard between shock through one hand or the other is
probably less than the hazard of working with less than optimal coordination, so the choice of which
hand to work with is best left to the individual.
The best protection against shock from a live circuit is resistance, and resistance can be added
to the body through the use of insulated tools, gloves, boots, and other gear. Current in a circuit
is a function of available voltage divided by the total resistance in the path of the flow. As we
will investigate in greater detail later in this book, resistances have an additive effect when they’re
stacked up so that there’s only one path for electrons to flow:
Body resistance
Person in direct contact with voltage source:

current limited only by body resistance.
E
I=
Rbody
Now we’ll see an equivalent circuit for a person wearing insulated gloves and boots:
I
Glove resistance
Body resistance
Boot resistance
I
3.5. SAFE PRACTICES 87
Person wearing insulating gloves and boots:

current now limited by total circuit resistance.
E
I=
Rglove + Rbody + Rboot
Because electric current must pass through the boot and the body and the glove to complete
its circuit back to the battery, the combined total (sum) of these resistances opposes the flow of
electrons to a greater degree than any of the resistances considered individually.
Safety is one of the reasons electrical wires are usually covered with plastic or rubber insulation:
to vastly increase the amount of resistance between the conductor and whoever or whatever might
contact it. Unfortunately, it would be prohibitively expensive to enclose power line conductors in
sufficient insulation to provide safety in case of accidental contact, so safety is maintained by keeping
those lines far enough out of reach so that no one can accidently touch them.
• REVIEW:
• Harm to the body is a function of the amount of shock current. Higher voltage allows for
the production of higher, more dangerous currents. Resistance opposes current, making high
resistance a good protective measure against shock.
• Any voltage above 30 is generally considered to be capable of delivering dangerous shock

currents.
• Metal jewelry is definitely bad to wear when working around electric circuits. Rings, watch-
bands, necklaces, bracelets, and other such adornments provide excellent electrical contact
with your body, and can conduct current themselves enough to produce skin burns, even with
low voltages.
• Low voltages can still be dangerous even if they’re too low to directly cause shock injury. They
may be enough to startle the victim, causing them to jerk back and contact something more
dangerous in the near vicinity.
• When necessary to work on a ”live” circuit, it is best to perform the work with one hand so
as to prevent a deadly hand-to-hand (through the chest) shock current path.
3.5 Safe practices

If at all possible, shut off the power to a circuit before performing any work on it. You must secure all
sources of harmful energy before a system may be considered safe to work on. In industry, securing
a circuit, device, or system in this condition is commonly known as placing it in a Zero Energy State.
The focus of this lesson is, of course, electrical safety. However, many of these principles apply to
non-electrical systems as well.
Securing something in a Zero Energy State means ridding it of any sort of potential or stored
energy, including but not limited to:
• Dangerous voltage
• Spring pressure
• Hydraulic (liquid) pressure
• Pneumatic (air) pressure
• Suspended weight
• Chemical energy (flammable or otherwise reactive substances)
• Nuclear energy (radioactive or fissile substances)
Voltage by its very nature is a manifestation of potential energy. In the first chapter I even used
elevated liquid as an analogy for the potential energy of voltage, having the capacity (potential) to
produce current (flow), but not necessarily realizing that potential until a suitable path for flow has
been established, and resistance to flow is overcome. A pair of wires with high voltage between them
do not look or sound dangerous even though they harbor enough potential energy between them
to push deadly amounts of current through your body. Even though that voltage isn’t presently
doing anything, it has the potential to, and that potential must be neutralized before it is safe to
physically contact those wires.
All properly designed circuits have ”disconnect” switch mechanisms for securing voltage from a
circuit. Sometimes these ”disconnects” serve a dual purpose of automatically opening under excessive
current conditions, in which case we call them ”circuit breakers.” Other times, the disconnecting
switches are strictly manually-operated devices with no automatic function. In either case, they are
there for your protection and must be used properly. Please note that the disconnect device should
be separate from the regular switch used to turn the device on and off. It is a safety switch, to be
used only for securing the system in a Zero Energy State:
Disconnect On/Off
switch switch
Power Load
source
With the disconnect switch in the ”open” position as shown (no continuity), the circuit is broken
and no current will exist. There will be zero voltage across the load, and the full voltage of the
source will be dropped across the open contacts of the disconnect switch. Note how there is no
need for a disconnect switch in the lower conductor of the circuit. Because that side of the circuit
is firmly connected to the earth (ground), it is electrically common with the earth and is best left
that way. For maximum safety of personnel working on the load of this circuit, a temporary ground
connection could be established on the top side of the load, to ensure that no voltage could ever be
dropped across the load:
3.5. SAFE PRACTICES 89
Disconnect On/Off
switch switch
Power temporary Load

source ground
With the temporary ground connection in place, both sides of the load wiring are connected to
ground, securing a Zero Energy State at the load.
Since a ground connection made on both sides of the load is electrically equivalent to short-
circuiting across the load with a wire, that is another way of accomplishing the same goal of maximum
safety:
Disconnect On/Off
switch switch
Power zero voltage Load

source ensured here
temporary
shorting wire
Either way, both sides of the load will be electrically common to the earth, allowing for no voltage
(potential energy) between either side of the load and the ground people stand on. This technique of
temporarily grounding conductors in a de-energized power system is very common in maintenance
work performed on high voltage power distribution systems.
A further benefit of this precaution is protection against the possibility of the disconnect switch
being closed (turned ”on” so that circuit continuity is established) while people are still contacting the
load. The temporary wire connected across the load would create a short-circuit when the disconnect
switch was closed, immediately tripping any overcurrent protection devices (circuit breakers or fuses)
in the circuit, which would shut the power off again. Damage may very well be sustained by the
disconnect switch if this were to happen, but the workers at the load are kept safe.
It would be good to mention at this point that overcurrent devices are not intended to provide
protection against electric shock. Rather, they exist solely to protect conductors from overheating
due to excessive currents. The temporary shorting wires just described would indeed cause any
overcurrent devices in the circuit to ”trip” if the disconnect switch were to be closed, but realize
that electric shock protection is not the intended function of those devices. Their primary function
would merely be leveraged for the purpose of worker protection with the shorting wire in place.
Since it is obviously important to be able to secure any disconnecting devices in the open (off)
position and make sure they stay that way while work is being done on the circuit, there is need for
a structured safety system to be put into place. Such a system is commonly used in industry and it
is called Lock-out/Tag-out.
A lock-out/tag-out procedure works like this: all individuals working on a secured circuit have
their own personal padlock or combination lock which they set on the control lever of a disconnect
device prior to working on the system. Additionally, they must fill out and sign a tag which they
hang from their lock describing the nature and duration of the work they intend to perform on
the system. If there are multiple sources of energy to be ”locked out” (multiple disconnects, both
electrical and mechanical energy sources to be secured, etc.), the worker must use as many of his or
her locks as necessary to secure power from the system before work begins. This way, the system
is maintained in a Zero Energy State until every last lock is removed from all the disconnect and
shutoff devices, and that means every last worker gives consent by removing their own personal
locks. If the decision is made to re-energize the system and one person’s lock(s) still remain in place
after everyone present removes theirs, the tag(s) will show who that person is and what it is they’re
doing.
Even with a good lock-out/tag-out safety program in place, there is still need for diligence and
common-sense precaution. This is especially true in industrial settings where a multitude of people
may be working on a device or system at once. Some of those people might not know about proper
lock-out/tag-out procedure, or might know about it but are too complacent to follow it. Don’t
assume that everyone has followed the safety rules!
After an electrical system has been locked out and tagged with your own personal lock, you must
then double-check to see if the voltage really has been secured in a zero state. One way to check is
to see if the machine (or whatever it is that’s being worked on) will start up if the Start switch or
button is actuated. If it starts, then you know you haven’t successfully secured the electrical power
from it.
Additionally, you should always check for the presence of dangerous voltage with a measuring
device before actually touching any conductors in the circuit. To be safest, you should follow this
procedure is checking, using, and then checking your meter:
• Check to see that your meter indicates properly on a known source of voltage.
• Use your meter to test the locked-out circuit for any dangerous voltage.
• Check your meter once more on a known source of voltage to see that it still indicates as it
should.
While this may seem excessive or even paranoid, it is a proven technique for preventing electrical
shock. I once had a meter fail to indicate voltage when it should have while checking a circuit to
see if it was ”dead.” Had I not used other means to check for the presence of voltage, I might not be
alive today to write this. There’s always the chance that your voltage meter will be defective just
when you need it to check for a dangerous condition. Following these steps will help ensure that
you’re never misled into a deadly situation by a broken meter.
Finally, the electrical worker will arrive at a point in the safety check procedure where it is deemed
safe to actually touch the conductor(s). Bear in mind that after all of the precautionary steps have
taken, it is still possible (although very unlikely) that a dangerous voltage may be present. One final
precautionary measure to take at this point is to make momentary contact with the conductor(s)
with the back of the hand before grasping it or a metal tool in contact with it. Why? If, for some
reason there is still voltage present between that conductor and earth ground, finger motion from
the shock reaction (clenching into a fist) will break contact with the conductor. Please note that
3.6. EMERGENCY RESPONSE 91
this is absolutely the last step that any electrical worker should ever take before beginning work
on a power system, and should never be used as an alternative method of checking for dangerous
voltage. If you ever have reason to doubt the trustworthiness of your meter, use another meter to
obtain a ”second opinion.”
• REVIEW:
• Zero Energy State: When a circuit, device, or system has been secured so that no potential
energy exists to harm someone working on it.
• Disconnect switch devices must be present in a properly designed electrical system to allow
for convenient readiness of a Zero Energy State.
• Temporary grounding or shorting wires may be connected to a load being serviced for extra
protection to personnel working on that load.
• Lock-out/Tag-out works like this: when working on a system in a Zero Energy State, the worker
places a personal padlock or combination lock on every energy disconnect device relevant to
his or her task on that system. Also, a tag is hung on every one of those locks describing the
nature and duration of the work to be done, and who is doing it.
• Always verify that a circuit has been secured in a Zero Energy State with test equipment after
”locking it out.” Be sure to test your meter before and after checking the circuit to verify that
it is working properly.
• When the time comes to actually make contact with the conductor(s) of a supposedly dead
power system, do so first with the back of one hand, so that if a shock should occur, the muscle
reaction will pull the fingers away from the conductor.
3.6 Emergency response

Despite lock-out/tag-out procedures and multiple repetitions of electrical safety rules in industry,
accidents still do occur. The vast majority of the time, these accidents are the result of not following
proper safety procedures. But however they may occur, they still do happen, and anyone working
around electrical systems should be aware of what needs to be done for a victim of electrical shock.
If you see someone lying unconscious or ”froze on the circuit,” the very first thing to do is shut
off the power by opening the appropriate disconnect switch or circuit breaker. If someone touches
another person being shocked, there may be enough voltage dropped across the body of the victim to
shock the would-be rescuer, thereby ”freezing” two people instead of one. Don’t be a hero. Electrons
don’t respect heroism. Make sure the situation is safe for you to step into, or else you will be the
next victim, and nobody will benefit from your efforts.
One problem with this rule is that the source of power may not be known, or easily found in time
to save the victim of shock. If a shock victim’s breathing and heartbeat are paralyzed by electric
current, their survival time is very limited. If the shock current is of sufficient magnitude, their flesh
and internal organs may be quickly roasted by the power the current dissipates as it runs through
their body.
If the power disconnect switch cannot be located quickly enough, it may be possible to dislodge
the victim from the circuit they’re frozen on to by prying them or hitting them away with a dry
wooden board or piece of nonmetallic conduit, common items to be found in industrial construction
scenes. Another item that could be used to safely drag a ”frozen” victim away from contact with
power is an extension cord. By looping a cord around their torso and using it as a rope to pull them
away from the circuit, their grip on the conductor(s) may be broken. Bear in mind that the victim
will be holding on to the conductor with all their strength, so pulling them away probably won’t be
easy!
Once the victim has been safely disconnected from the source of electric power, the immediate
medical concerns for the victim should be respiration and circulation (breathing and pulse). If the
rescuer is trained in CPR, they should follow the appropriate steps of checking for breathing and
pulse, then applying CPR as necessary to keep the victim’s body from deoxygenating. The cardinal
rule of CPR is to keep going until you have been relieved by qualified personnel.
If the victim is conscious, it is best to have them lie still until qualified emergency response
personnel arrive on the scene. There is the possibility of the victim going into a state of physiological
shock – a condition of insufficient blood circulation different from electrical shock – and so they should
be kept as warm and comfortable as possible. An electrical shock insufficient to cause immediate
interruption of the heartbeat may be strong enough to cause heart irregularities or a heart attack
up to several hours later, so the victim should pay close attention to their own condition after the
incident, ideally under supervision.
• REVIEW:
• A person being shocked needs to be disconnected from the source of electrical power. Locate
the disconnecting switch/breaker and turn it off. Alternatively, if the disconnecting device
cannot be located, the victim can be pried or pulled from the circuit by an insulated object
such as a dry wood board, piece of nonmetallic conduit, or rubber electrical cord.
• Victims need immediate medical response: check for breathing and pulse, then apply CPR as
necessary to maintain oxygenation.
• If a victim is still conscious after having been shocked, they need to be closely monitored and
cared for until trained emergency response personnel arrive. There is danger of physiological
shock, so keep the victim warm and comfortable.
• Shock victims may suffer heart trouble up to several hours after being shocked. The danger of
electric shock does not end after the immediate medical attention.
3.7 Common sources of hazard

Of course there is danger of electrical shock when directly performing manual work on an electrical
power system. However, electric shock hazards exist in many other places, thanks to the widespread
use of electric power in our lives.
As we saw earlier, skin and body resistance has a lot to do with the relative hazard of electric
circuits. The higher the body’s resistance, the less likely harmful current will result from any given
amount of voltage. Conversely, the lower the body’s resistance, the more likely for injury to occur
from the application of a voltage.
The easiest way to decrease skin resistance is to get it wet. Therefore, touching electrical devices
with wet hands, wet feet, or especially in a sweaty condition (salt water is a much better conductor
3.7. COMMON SOURCES OF HAZARD 93
of electricity than fresh water) is dangerous. In the household, the bathroom is one of the more
likely places where wet people may contact electrical appliances, and so shock hazard is a definite
threat there. Good bathroom design will locate power receptacles away from bathtubs, showers,
and sinks to discourage the use of appliances nearby. Telephones that plug into a wall socket are
also sources of hazardous voltage (the ringing signal in a telephone is 48 volts AC – remember that
any voltage over 30 is considered potentially dangerous!). Appliances such as telephones and radios
should never, ever be used while sitting in a bathtub. Even battery-powered devices should be
avoided. Some battery-operated devices employ voltage-increasing circuitry capable of generating
lethal potentials.
Swimming pools are another source of trouble, since people often operate radios and other
powered appliances nearby. The National Electrical Code requires that special shock-detecting
receptacles called Ground-Fault Current Interrupting (GFI or GFCI) be installed in wet and outdoor
areas to help prevent shock incidents. More on these devices in a later section of this chapter. These
special devices have no doubt saved many lives, but they can be no substitute for common sense and
diligent precaution. As with firearms, the best ”safety” is an informed and conscientious operator.
Extension cords, so commonly used at home and in industry, are also sources of potential haz-
ard. All cords should be regularly inspected for abrasion or cracking of insulation, and repaired
immediately. One sure method of removing a damaged cord from service is to unplug it from the
receptacle, then cut off that plug (the ”male” plug) with a pair of side-cutting pliers to ensure that
no one can use it until it is fixed. This is important on jobsites, where many people share the same
equipment, and not all people there may be aware of the hazards.
Any power tool showing evidence of electrical problems should be immediately serviced as well.
I’ve heard several horror stories of people who continue to work with hand tools that periodically
shock them. Remember, electricity can kill, and the death it brings can be gruesome. Like extension
cords, a bad power tool can be removed from service by unplugging it and cutting off the plug at
the end of the cord.
Downed power lines are an obvious source of electric shock hazard and should be avoided at
all costs. The voltages present between power lines or between a power line and earth ground
are typically very high (2400 volts being one of the lowest voltages used in residential distribution
systems). If a power line is broken and the metal conductor falls to the ground, the immediate result
will usually be a tremendous amount of arcing (sparks produced), often enough to dislodge chunks
of concrete or asphalt from the road surface, and reports rivaling that of a rifle or shotgun. To come
into direct contact with a downed power line is almost sure to cause death, but other hazards exist
which are not so obvious.
When a line touches the ground, current travels between that downed conductor and the nearest
grounding point in the system, thus establishing a circuit:
downed power line
current through the earth

The earth, being a conductor (if only a poor one), will conduct current between the downed line
and the nearest system ground point, which will be some kind of conductor buried in the ground for
good contact. Being that the earth is a much poorer conductor of electricity than the metal cables
strung along the power poles, there will be substantial voltage dropped between the point of cable
contact with the ground and the grounding conductor, and little voltage dropped along the length
of the cabling (the following figures are very approximate):
10
volts
2400
volts
downed power line

2390
volts
current through the earth
If the distance between the two ground contact points (the downed cable and the system ground)
is small, there will be substantial voltage dropped along short distances between the two points.
Therefore, a person standing on the ground between those two points will be in danger of receiving
an electric shock by intercepting a voltage between their two feet!
10
volts
2400
volts
person downed power line

(SHOCKED!)
current through the earth 250 volts

2390
volts
Again, these voltage figures are very approximate, but they serve to illustrate a potential hazard:
that a person can become a victim of electric shock from a downed power line without even coming
into contact with that line!
One practical precaution a person could take if they see a power line falling towards the ground
is to only contact the ground at one point, either by running away (when you run, only one foot
contacts the ground at any given time), or if there’s nowhere to run, by standing on one foot.
Obviously, if there’s somewhere safer to run, running is the best option. By eliminating two points
of contact with the ground, there will be no chance of applying deadly voltage across the body
through both legs.
• REVIEW:
3.8. SAFE CIRCUIT DESIGN 95
• Wet conditions increase risk of electric shock by lowering skin resistance.
• Immediately replace worn or damaged extension cords and power tools. You can prevent
innocent use of a bad cord or tool by cutting the male plug off the cord (while it’s unplugged
from the receptacle, of course).
• Power lines are very dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. If you see a line about
to hit the ground, stand on one foot or run (only one foot contacting the ground) to prevent
shock from voltage dropped across the ground between the line and the system ground point.
3.8 Safe circuit design

As we saw earlier, a power system with no secure connection to earth ground is unpredictable from
a safety perspective: there’s no way to guarantee how much or how little voltage will exist between
any point in the circuit and earth ground. By grounding one side of the power system’s voltage
source, at least one point in the circuit can be assured to be electrically common with the earth
and therefore present no shock hazard. In a simple two-wire electrical power system, the conductor
connected to ground is called the neutral, and the other conductor is called the hot:
"Hot" conductor
Source Load
"Neutral" conductor
Ground point
As far as the voltage source and load are concerned, grounding makes no difference at all. It
exists purely for the sake of personnel safety, by guaranteeing that at least one point in the circuit
will be safe to touch (zero voltage to ground). The ”Hot” side of the circuit, named for its potential
for shock hazard, will be dangerous to touch unless voltage is secured by proper disconnection from
the source (ideally, using a systematic lock-out/tag-out procedure).
This imbalance of hazard between the two conductors in a simple power circuit is important to
understand. The following series of illustrations are based on common household wiring systems
(using DC voltage sources rather than AC for simplicity).
If we take a look at a simple, household electrical appliance such as a toaster with a conductive
metal case, we can see that there should be no shock hazard when it is operating properly. The
wires conducting power to the toaster’s heating element are insulated from touching the metal case
(and each other) by rubber or plastic.
Electrical
"Hot" appliance
plug
Source
120 V
"Neutral" metal case

Ground point
no voltage
between case
and ground
However, if one of the wires inside the toaster were to accidently come in contact with the metal
case, the case will be made electrically common to the wire, and touching the case will be just as
hazardous as touching the wire bare. Whether or not this presents a shock hazard depends on which
wire accidentally touches:
accidental
contact
"Hot"
plug
Source
120 V
"Neutral" voltage between

Ground point case and ground!
If the ”hot” wire contacts the case, it places the user of the toaster in danger. On the other
hand, if the neutral wire contacts the case, there is no danger of shock:
"Hot"
plug
Source accidental
contact
120 V
"Neutral"
Ground point no voltage between
case and ground!
To help ensure that the former failure is less likely than the latter, engineers try to design
appliances in such a way as to minimize hot conductor contact with the case. Ideally, of course, you
don’t want either wire accidently coming in contact with the conductive case of the appliance, but
there are usually ways to design the layout of the parts to make accidental contact less likely for one
wire than for the other. However, this preventative measure is effective only if power plug polarity
can be guaranteed. If the plug can be reversed, then the conductor more likely to contact the case
might very well be the ”hot” one:
"Hot"
plug
Source accidental
contact
120 V
"Neutral"
voltage between
Ground point case and ground!
Appliances designed this way usually come with ”polarized” plugs, one prong of the plug being
slightly narrower than the other. Power receptacles are also designed like this, one slot being
narrower than the other. Consequently, the plug cannot be inserted ”backwards,” and conductor
identity inside the appliance can be guaranteed. Remember that this has no effect whatsoever on
the basic function of the appliance: it’s strictly for the sake of user safety.
Some engineers address the safety issue simply by making the outside case of the appliance
nonconductive. Such appliances are called double-insulated, since the insulating case serves as a
second layer of insulation above and beyond that of the conductors themselves. If a wire inside the
appliance accidently comes in contact with the case, there is no danger presented to the user of the
appliance.
Other engineers tackle the problem of safety by maintaining a conductive case, but using a third
conductor to firmly connect that case to ground:
"Hot"
3-prong
plug
Source
120 V
"Neutral"
Grounded case
"Ground" ensures zero
voltage between
case and ground
Ground point
The third prong on the power cord provides a direct electrical connection from the appliance case
to earth ground, making the two points electrically common with each other. If they’re electrically
common, then there cannot be any voltage dropped between them. At least, that’s how it is supposed
to work. If the hot conductor accidently touches the metal appliance case, it will create a direct
short-circuit back to the voltage source through the ground wire, tripping any overcurrent protection
devices. The user of the appliance will remain safe.
This is why it’s so important never to cut the third prong off a power plug when trying to fit it
into a two-prong receptacle. If this is done, there will be no grounding of the appliance case to keep
the user(s) safe. The appliance will still function properly, but if there is an internal fault bringing
the hot wire in contact with the case, the results can be deadly. If a two-prong receptacle must be
used, a two- to three-prong receptacle adapter can be installed with a grounding wire attached to
the receptacle’s grounded cover screw. This will maintain the safety of the grounded appliance while
plugged in to this type of receptacle.
Electrically safe engineering doesn’t necessarily end at the load, however. A final safeguard
against electrical shock can be arranged on the power supply side of the circuit rather than the
appliance itself. This safeguard is called ground-fault detection, and it works like this:
"Hot"
I
Source
120 V I
"Neutral" no voltage
Ground point between case
and ground
In a properly functioning appliance (shown above), the current measured through the hot con-
ductor should be exactly equal to the current through the neutral conductor, because there’s only
one path for electrons to flow in the circuit. With no fault inside the appliance, there is no connection
between circuit conductors and the person touching the case, and therefore no shock.
If, however, the hot wire accidently contacts the metal case, there will be current through the
person touching the case. The presence of a shock current will be manifested as a difference of
current between the two power conductors at the receptacle:
accidental
contact
"Hot"
(more)
I
Source
120 V I
(less)
"Neutral"
Shock current
Shock current
Shock current
This difference in current between the ”hot” and ”neutral” conductors will only exist if there is
current through the ground connection, meaning that there is a fault in the system. Therefore, such
a current difference can be used as a way to detect a fault condition. If a device is set up to measure
this difference of current between the two power conductors, a detection of current imbalance can
be used to trigger the opening of a disconnect switch, thus cutting power off and preventing serious
shock:
"Hot"
I
Source
120 V I
"Neutral"
switches open automatically
if the difference between the
two currents becomes too
great.
Such devices are called Ground Fault Current Interruptors, or GFCIs for short, and they are
compact enough to be built into a power receptacle. These receptacles are easily identified by their
distinctive ”Test” and ”Reset” buttons. The big advantage with using this approach to ensure
safety is that it works regardless of the appliance’s design. Of course, using a double-insulated or
grounded appliance in addition to a GFCI receptacle would be better yet, but it’s comforting to
know that something can be done to improve safety above and beyond the design and condition of
the appliance.
• REVIEW:
• Power systems often have one side of the voltage supply connected to earth ground to ensure
safety at that point.
• The ”grounded” conductor in a power system is called the neutral conductor, while the un-
grounded conductor is called the hot.
• Grounding in power systems exists for the sake of personnel safety, not the operation of the
load(s).
• Electrical safety of an appliance or other load can be improved by good engineering: polarized
plugs, double insulation, and three-prong ”grounding” plugs are all ways that safety can be
maximized on the load side.
• Ground Fault Current Interruptors (GFCIs) work by sensing a difference in current between
the two conductors supplying power to the load. There should be no difference in current at
all. Any difference means that current must be entering or exiting the load by some means
other than the two main conductors, which is not good. A significant current difference will
automatically open a disconnecting switch mechanism, cutting power off completely.
3.9 Safe meter usage

Using an electrical meter safely and efficiently is perhaps the most valuable skill an electronics
technician can master, both for the sake of their own personal safety and for proficiency at their
trade. It can be daunting at first to use a meter, knowing that you are connecting it to live circuits
which may harbor life-threatening levels of voltage and current. This concern is not unfounded, and
it is always best to proceed cautiously when using meters. Carelessness more than any other factor
is what causes experienced technicians to have electrical accidents.
The most common piece of electrical test equipment is a meter called the multimeter. Multimeters
are so named because they have the ability to measure a multiple of variables: voltage, current,
resistance, and often many others, some of which cannot be explained here due to their complexity.
In the hands of a trained technician, the multimeter is both an efficient work tool and a safety
device. In the hands of someone ignorant and/or careless, however, the multimeter may become a
source of danger when connected to a ”live” circuit.
There are many different brands of multimeters, with multiple models made by each manufacturer
sporting different sets of features. The multimeter shown here in the following illustrations is a
”generic” design, not specific to any manufacturer, but general enough to teach the basic principles
of use:
3.9. SAFE METER USAGE 101
Multimeter
V A
V A
OFF
A COM
You will notice that the display of this meter is of the ”digital” type: showing numerical values
using four digits in a manner similar to a digital clock. The rotary selector switch (now set in the
Off position) has five different measurement positions it can be set in: two ”V” settings, two ”A”
settings, and one setting in the middle with a funny-looking ”horseshoe” symbol on it representing
”resistance.” The ”horseshoe” symbol is the Greek letter ”Omega” (Ω), which is the common symbol
for the electrical unit of ohms.
Of the two ”V” settings and two ”A” settings, you will notice that each pair is divided into
unique markers with either a pair of horizontal lines (one solid, one dashed), or a dashed line with a
squiggly curve over it. The parallel lines represent ”DC” while the squiggly curve represents ”AC.”
The ”V” of course stands for ”voltage” while the ”A” stands for ”amperage” (current). The meter
uses different techniques, internally, to measure DC than it uses to measure AC, and so it requires
the user to select which type of voltage (V) or current (A) is to be measured. Although we haven’t
discussed alternating current (AC) in any technical detail, this distinction in meter settings is an
important one to bear in mind.
There are three different sockets on the multimeter face into which we can plug our test leads.
Test leads are nothing more than specially-prepared wires used to connect the meter to the circuit
under test. The wires are coated in a color-coded (either black or red) flexible insulation to prevent
the user’s hands from contacting the bare conductors, and the tips of the probes are sharp, stiff
pieces of wire:
tip
probe
V A
V A lead
OFF plug
A COM lead
plug
probe
tip
The black test lead always plugs into the black socket on the multimeter: the one marked ”COM”
for ”common.” The red test lead plugs into either the red socket marked for voltage and resistance,
or the red socket marked for current, depending on which quantity you intend to measure with the
multimeter.
To see how this works, let’s look at a couple of examples showing the meter in use. First, we’ll
set up the meter to measure DC voltage from a battery:
V A
V A + -
OFF
9
volts
A COM
Note that the two test leads are plugged into the appropriate sockets on the meter for voltage,
and the selector switch has been set for DC ”V”. Now, we’ll take a look at an example of using the
multimeter to measure AC voltage from a household electrical power receptacle (wall socket):
V A
V A
OFF
A COM
The only difference in the setup of the meter is the placement of the selector switch: it is now
turned to AC ”V”. Since we’re still measuring voltage, the test leads will remain plugged in the
same sockets. In both of these examples, it is imperative that you not let the probe tips come in
contact with one another while they are both in contact with their respective points on the circuit.
If this happens, a short-circuit will be formed, creating a spark and perhaps even a ball of flame
if the voltage source is capable of supplying enough current! The following image illustrates the
potential for hazard:
V A
V A large spark
OFF
from short-
circuit!
A COM
This is just one of the ways that a meter can become a source of hazard if used improperly.
Voltage measurement is perhaps the most common function a multimeter is used for. It is cer-
tainly the primary measurement taken for safety purposes (part of the lock-out/tag-out procedure),
and it should be well understood by the operator of the meter. Being that voltage is always relative
between two points, the meter must be firmly connected to two points in a circuit before it will
provide a reliable measurement. That usually means both probes must be grasped by the user’s
hands and held against the proper contact points of a voltage source or circuit while measuring.
Because a hand-to-hand shock current path is the most dangerous, holding the meter probes on
two points in a high-voltage circuit in this manner is always a potential hazard. If the protective
insulation on the probes is worn or cracked, it is possible for the user’s fingers to come into contact
with the probe conductors during the time of test, causing a bad shock to occur. If it is possible to
use only one hand to grasp the probes, that is a safer option. Sometimes it is possible to ”latch” one
probe tip onto the circuit test point so that it can be let go of and the other probe set in place, using
only one hand. Special probe tip accessories such as spring clips can be attached to help facilitate
this.
Remember that meter test leads are part of the whole equipment package, and that they should
be treated with the same care and respect that the meter itself is. If you need a special accessory
for your test leads, such as a spring clip or other special probe tip, consult the product catalog of
the meter manufacturer or other test equipment manufacturer. Do not try to be creative and make
your own test probes, as you may end up placing yourself in danger the next time you use them on
a live circuit.
Also, it must be remembered that digital multimeters usually do a good job of discriminating
between AC and DC measurements, as they are set for one or the other when checking for voltage
or current. As we have seen earlier, both AC and DC voltages and currents can be deadly, so when
using a multimeter as a safety check device you should always check for the presence of both AC and
DC, even if you’re not expecting to find both! Also, when checking for the presence of hazardous
voltage, you should be sure to check all pairs of points in question.
For example, suppose that you opened up an electrical wiring cabinet to find three large conduc-
tors supplying AC power to a load. The circuit breaker feeding these wires (supposedly) has been
shut off, locked, and tagged. You double-checked the absence of power by pressing the Start button
for the load. Nothing happened, so now you move on to the third phase of your safety check: the
meter test for voltage.
First, you check your meter on a known source of voltage to see that it’s working properly. Any
nearby power receptacle should provide a convenient source of AC voltage for a test. You do so and
find that the meter indicates as it should. Next, you need to check for voltage among these three
wires in the cabinet. But voltage is measured between two points, so where do you check?
The answer is to check between all combinations of those three points. As you can see, the points
are labeled ”A”, ”B”, and ”C” in the illustration, so you would need to take your multimeter (set
in the voltmeter mode) and check between points A & B, B & C, and A & C. If you find voltage
between any of those pairs, the circuit is not in a Zero Energy State. But wait! Remember that a
multimeter will not register DC voltage when it’s in the AC voltage mode and visa-versa, so you
need to check those three pairs of points in each mode for a total of six voltage checks in order to
be complete!
However, even with all that checking, we still haven’t covered all possibilities yet. Remember
that hazardous voltage can appear between a single wire and ground (in this case, the metal frame
of the cabinet would be a good ground reference point) in a power system. So, to be perfectly safe,
we not only have to check between A & B, B & C, and A & C (in both AC and DC modes), but we
also have to check between A & ground, B & ground, and C & ground (in both AC and DC modes)!
This makes for a grand total of twelve voltage checks for this seemingly simple scenario of only three
wires. Then, of course, after we’ve completed all these checks, we need to take our multimeter and
re-test it against a known source of voltage such as a power receptacle to ensure that it’s still in
good working order.
Using a multimeter to check for resistance is a much simpler task. The test leads will be kept
plugged in the same sockets as for the voltage checks, but the selector switch will need to be turned
until it points to the ”horseshoe” resistance symbol. Touching the probes across the device whose
resistance is to be measured, the meter should properly display the resistance in ohms:
V A
carbon-composition
resistor
V A
OFF
A COM
One very important thing to remember about measuring resistance is that it must only be done
on de-energized components! When the meter is in ”resistance” mode, it uses a small internal battery
to generate a tiny current through the component to be measured. By sensing how difficult it is to
move this current through the component, the resistance of that component can be determined and
displayed. If there is any additional source of voltage in the meter-lead-component-lead-meter loop
to either aid or oppose the resistance-measuring current produced by the meter, faulty readings will
result. In a worse-case situation, the meter may even be damaged by the external voltage.
The ”resistance” mode of a multimeter is very useful in determining wire continuity as well as
making precise measurements of resistance. When there is a good, solid connection between the
probe tips (simulated by touching them together), the meter shows almost zero Ω. If the test leads
had no resistance in them, it would read exactly zero:
V A
V A
OFF
A COM
If the leads are not in contact with each other, or touching opposite ends of a broken wire, the
meter will indicate infinite resistance (usually by displaying dashed lines or the abbreviation ”O.L.”
which stands for ”open loop”):
V A
V A
OFF
A COM
By far the most hazardous and complex application of the multimeter is in the measurement of
current. The reason for this is quite simple: in order for the meter to measure current, the current
to be measured must be forced to go through the meter. This means that the meter must be made
part of the current path of the circuit rather than just be connected off to the side somewhere as is
the case when measuring voltage. In order to make the meter part of the current path of the circuit,
the original circuit must be ”broken” and the meter connected across the two points of the open
break. To set the meter up for this, the selector switch must point to either AC or DC ”A” and
the red test lead must be plugged in the red socket marked ”A”. The following illustration shows a
meter all ready to measure current and a circuit to be tested:
simple battery-lamp circuit
V A + -
9
volts
V A
OFF
A COM
Now, the circuit is broken in preparation for the meter to be connected:

lamp goes out
V A + -
9
volts
V A
OFF
A COM
The next step is to insert the meter in-line with the circuit by connecting the two probe tips to
the broken ends of the circuit, the black probe to the negative (-) terminal of the 9-volt battery and
the red probe to the loose wire end leading to the lamp:
V A + -
9
volts
V A
OFF
circuit current now has to

go through the meter
A COM
This example shows a very safe circuit to work with. 9 volts hardly constitutes a shock hazard,
and so there is little to fear in breaking this circuit open (bare handed, no less!) and connecting
the meter in-line with the flow of electrons. However, with higher power circuits, this could be
a hazardous endeavor indeed. Even if the circuit voltage was low, the normal current could be
high enough that am injurious spark would result the moment the last meter probe connection was
established.
Another potential hazard of using a multimeter in its current-measuring (”ammeter”) mode is
failure to properly put it back into a voltage-measuring configuration before measuring voltage with
it. The reasons for this are specific to ammeter design and operation. When measuring circuit
current by placing the meter directly in the path of current, it is best to have the meter offer little
or no resistance against the flow of electrons. Otherwise, any additional resistance offered by the
meter would impede the electron flow and alter the circuit’s operation. Thus, the multimeter is
designed to have practically zero ohms of resistance between the test probe tips when the red probe
has been plugged into the red ”A” (current-measuring) socket. In the voltage-measuring mode (red
lead plugged into the red ”V” socket), there are many mega-ohms of resistance between the test
probe tips, because voltmeters are designed to have close to infinite resistance (so that they don’t
draw any appreciable current from the circuit under test).
When switching a multimeter from current- to voltage-measuring mode, it’s easy to spin the
selector switch from the ”A” to the ”V” position and forget to correspondingly switch the position
of the red test lead plug from ”A” to ”V”. The result – if the meter is then connected across a
source of substantial voltage – will be a short-circuit through the meter!
SHORT-CIRCUIT!
V A
V A
OFF
A COM
To help prevent this, most multimeters have a warning feature by which they beep if ever there’s
a lead plugged in the ”A” socket and the selector switch is set to ”V”. As convenient as features like
these are, though, they are still no substitute for clear thinking and caution when using a multimeter.
All good-quality multimeters contain fuses inside that are engineered to ”blow” in the even of
excessive current through them, such as in the case illustrated in the last image. Like all overcurrent
protection devices, these fuses are primarily designed to protect the equipment (in this case, the meter
itself) from excessive damage, and only secondarily to protect the user from harm. A multimeter
can be used to check its own current fuse by setting the selector switch to the resistance position
and creating a connection between the two red sockets like this:
Indication with a good fuse Indication with a "blown" fuse
V A V A
V A V A
OFF OFF
A COM touch probe tips A COM touch probe tips

together together
A good fuse will indicate very little resistance while a blown fuse will always show ”O.L.” (or
whatever indication that model of multimeter uses to indicate no continuity). The actual number
of ohms displayed for a good fuse is of little consequence, so long as it’s an arbitrarily low figure.
So now that we’ve seen how to use a multimeter to measure voltage, resistance, and current,
what more is there to know? Plenty! The value and capabilities of this versatile test instrument will
become more evident as you gain skill and familiarity using it. There is no substitute for regular
practice with complex instruments such as these, so feel free to experiment on safe, battery-powered
circuits.
• REVIEW:
• A meter capable of checking for voltage, current, and resistance is called a multimeter,
• As voltage is always relative between two points, a voltage-measuring meter (”voltmeter”)

must be connected to two points in a circuit in order to obtain a good reading. Be careful not
to touch the bare probe tips together while measuring voltage, as this will create a short-circuit!
• Remember to always check for both AC and DC voltage when using a multimeter to check for
the presence of hazardous voltage on a circuit. Make sure you check for voltage between all
pair-combinations of conductors, including between the individual conductors and ground!
• When in the voltage-measuring (”voltmeter”) mode, multimeters have very high resistance
between their leads.
• Never try to read resistance or continuity with a multimeter on a circuit that is energized. At
best, the resistance readings you obtain from the meter will be inaccurate, and at worst the
meter may be damaged and you may be injured.
• Current measuring meters (”ammeters”) are always connected in a circuit so the electrons
have to flow through the meter.
• When in the current-measuring (”ammeter”) mode, multimeters have practically no resistance

between their leads. This is intended to allow electrons to flow through the meter with the
3.10. ELECTRIC SHOCK DATA 111
least possible difficulty. If this were not the case, the meter would add extra resistance in the
circuit, thereby affecting the current.
3.10 Electric shock data

The table of electric currents and their various bodily effects was obtained from online (Internet)
sources: the safety page of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (website: (http://web.mit.edu/safety)),
and a safety handbook published by Cooper Bussmann, Inc (website: (http://www.bussmann.com)).
In the Bussmann handbook, the table is appropriately entitled Deleterious Effects of Electric Shock,
and credited to a Mr. Charles F. Dalziel. Further research revealed Dalziel to be both a scientific
pioneer and an authority on the effects of electricity on the human body.
The table found in the Bussmann handbook differs slightly from the one available from MIT: for
the DC threshold of perception (men), the MIT table gives 5.2 mA while the Bussmann table gives
a slightly greater figure of 6.2 mA. Also, for the ”unable to let go” 60 Hz AC threshold (men), the
MIT table gives 20 mA while the Bussmann table gives a lesser figure of 16 mA. As I have yet to
obtain a primary copy of Dalziel’s research, the figures cited here are conservative: I have listed the
lowest values in my table where any data sources differ.
These differences, of course, are academic. The point here is that relatively small magnitudes of
electric current through the body can be harmful if not lethal.
Data regarding the electrical resistance of body contact points was taken from a safety page (docu-
ment 16.1) from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (website (http://www-ais.llnl.gov)),
citing Ralph H. Lee as the data source. Lee’s work was listed here in a document entitled ”Human
Electrical Sheet,” composed while he was an IEEE Fellow at E.I. duPont de Nemours & Co., and
also in an article entitled ”Electrical Safety in Industrial Plants” found in the June 1971 issue of
IEEE Spectrum magazine.
For the morbidly curious, Charles Dalziel’s experimentation conducted at the University of Cal-
ifornia (Berkeley) began with a state grant to investigate the bodily effects of sub-lethal electric
current. His testing method was as follows: healthy male and female volunteer subjects were asked
to hold a copper wire in one hand and place their other hand on a round, brass plate. A voltage was
then applied between the wire and the plate, causing electrons to flow through the subject’s arms
and chest. The current was stopped, then resumed at a higher level. The goal here was to see how
much current the subject could tolerate and still keep their hand pressed against the brass plate.
When this threshold was reached, laboratory assistants forcefully held the subject’s hand in contact
with the plate and the current was again increased. The subject was asked to release the wire they
were holding, to see at what current level involuntary muscle contraction (tetanus) prevented them
from doing so. For each subject the experiment was conducted using DC and also AC at various
frequencies. Over two dozen human volunteers were tested, and later studies on heart fibrillation
were conducted using animal subjects.
3.11 Contributors
second edition.
Chapter 4
SCIENTIFIC NOTATION AND

METRIC PREFIXES
4.1 Scientific notation

In many disciplines of science and engineering, very large and very small numerical quantities must
be managed. Some of these quantities are mind-boggling in their size, either extremely small or
extremely large. Take for example the mass of a proton, one of the constituent particles of an
atom’s nucleus:
Proton mass = 0.00000000000000000000000167 grams
Or, consider the number of electrons passing by a point in a circuit every second with a steady
electric current of 1 amp:
1 amp = 6,250,000,000,000,000,000 electrons per second
A lot of zeros, isn’t it? Obviously, it can get quite confusing to have to handle so many zero
digits in numbers such as this, even with the help of calculators and computers.
Take note of those two numbers and of the relative sparsity of non-zero digits in them. For the
mass of the proton, all we have is a ”167” preceded by 23 zeros before the decimal point. For the
number of electrons per second in 1 amp, we have ”625” followed by 16 zeros. We call the span
of non-zero digits (from first to last), plus any zero digits not merely used for placeholding, the
”significant digits” of any number.
The significant digits in a real-world measurement are typically reflective of the accuracy of that
measurement. For example, if we were to say that a car weighs 3,000 pounds, we probably don’t
mean that the car in question weighs exactly 3,000 pounds, but that we’ve rounded its weight to a
value more convenient to say and remember. That rounded figure of 3,000 has only one significant
digit: the ”3” in front – the zeros merely serve as placeholders. However, if we were to say that the
car weighed 3,005 pounds, the fact that the weight is not rounded to the nearest thousand pounds
tells us that the two zeros in the middle aren’t just placeholders, but that all four digits of the
113
114 CHAPTER 4. SCIENTIFIC NOTATION AND METRIC PREFIXES
number ”3,005” are significant to its representative accuracy. Thus, the number ”3,005” is said to
have four significant figures.
In like manner, numbers with many zero digits are not necessarily representative of a real-world
quantity all the way to the decimal point. When this is known to be the case, such a number can
be written in a kind of mathematical ”shorthand” to make it easier to deal with. This ”shorthand”
is called scientific notation.
With scientific notation, a number is written by representing its significant digits as a quantity
between 1 and 10 (or -1 and -10, for negative numbers), and the ”placeholder” zeros are accounted
for by a power-of-ten multiplier. For example:
1 amp = 6,250,000,000,000,000,000 electrons per second
. . . can be expressed as . . .
1 amp = 6.25 x 1018 electrons per second
10 to the 18th power (1018 ) means 10 multiplied by itself 18 times, or a ”1” followed by 18 zeros.
Multiplied by 6.25, it looks like ”625” followed by 16 zeros (take 6.25 and skip the decimal point 18
places to the right). The advantages of scientific notation are obvious: the number isn’t as unwieldy
when written on paper, and the significant digits are plain to identify.
But what about very small numbers, like the mass of the proton in grams? We can still use
scientific notation, except with a negative power-of-ten instead of a positive one, to shift the decimal
point to the left instead of to the right:
Proton mass = 0.00000000000000000000000167 grams
. . . can be expressed as . . .
Proton mass = 1.67 x 10−24 grams
10 to the -24th power (10−24 ) means the inverse (1/x) of 10 multiplied by itself 24 times, or a
”1” preceded by a decimal point and 23 zeros. Multiplied by 1.67, it looks like ”167” preceded by a
decimal point and 23 zeros. Just as in the case with the very large number, it is a lot easier for a
human being to deal with this ”shorthand” notation. As with the prior case, the significant digits
in this quantity are clearly expressed.
Because the significant digits are represented ”on their own,” away from the power-of-ten mul-
tiplier, it is easy to show a level of precision even when the number looks round. Taking our 3,000
pound car example, we could express the rounded number of 3,000 in scientific notation as such:
car weight = 3 x 103 pounds
If the car actually weighed 3,005 pounds (accurate to the nearest pound) and we wanted to be
able to express that full accuracy of measurement, the scientific notation figure could be written like
this:
car weight = 3.005 x 103 pounds

4.2. ARITHMETIC WITH SCIENTIFIC NOTATION 115
However, what if the car actually did weight 3,000 pounds, exactly (to the nearest pound)? If
we were to write its weight in ”normal” form (3,000 lbs), it wouldn’t necessarily be clear that this
number was indeed accurate to the nearest pound and not just rounded to the nearest thousand
pounds, or to the nearest hundred pounds, or to the nearest ten pounds. Scientific notation, on the
other hand, allows us to show that all four digits are significant with no misunderstanding:
car weight = 3.000 x 103 pounds
Since there would be no point in adding extra zeros to the right of the decimal point (placeholding
zeros being unnecessary with scientific notation), we know those zeros must be significant to the
precision of the figure.
4.2 Arithmetic with scientific notation

The benefits of scientific notation do not end with ease of writing and expression of accuracy. Such
notation also lends itself well to mathematical problems of multiplication and division. Let’s say we
wanted to know how many electrons would flow past a point in a circuit carrying 1 amp of electric
current in 25 seconds. If we know the number of electrons per second in the circuit (which we do),
then all we need to do is multiply that quantity by the number of seconds (25) to arrive at an answer
of total electrons:
(6,250,000,000,000,000,000 electrons per second) x (25 seconds) =

156,250,000,000,000,000,000 electrons passing by in 25 seconds
Using scientific notation, we can write the problem like this:
(6.25 x 1018 electrons per second) x (25 seconds)
If we take the ”6.25” and multiply it by 25, we get 156.25. So, the answer could be written as:
156.25 x 1018 electrons
However, if we want to hold to standard convention for scientific notation, we must represent the
significant digits as a number between 1 and 10. In this case, we’d say ”1.5625” multiplied by some
power-of-ten. To obtain 1.5625 from 156.25, we have to skip the decimal point two places to the
left. To compensate for this without changing the value of the number, we have to raise our power
by two notches (10 to the 20th power instead of 10 to the 18th):
What if we wanted to see how many electrons would pass by in 3,600 seconds (1 hour)? To make
our job easier, we could put the time in scientific notation as well:
(6.25 x 1018 electrons per second) x (3.6 x 103 seconds)

To multiply, we must take the two significant sets of digits (6.25 and 3.6) and multiply them
together; and we need to take the two powers-of-ten and multiply them together. Taking 6.25 times
3.6, we get 22.5. Taking 1018 times 103 , we get 1021 (exponents with common base numbers add).
So, the answer is:
. . . or more properly . . .
To illustrate how division works with scientific notation, we could figure that last problem ”back-
wards” to find out how long it would take for that many electrons to pass by at a current of 1 amp:
(2.25 x 1022 electrons) / (6.25 x 1018 electrons per second)
Just as in multiplication, we can handle the significant digits and powers-of-ten in separate steps
(remember that you subtract the exponents of divided powers-of-ten):
(2.25 / 6.25) x (1022 / 1018 )
And the answer is: 0.36 x 104 , or 3.6 x 103 , seconds. You can see that we arrived at the same
quantity of time (3600 seconds). Now, you may be wondering what the point of all this is when
we have electronic calculators that can handle the math automatically. Well, back in the days of
scientists and engineers using ”slide rule” analog computers, these techniques were indispensable.
The ”hard” arithmetic (dealing with the significant digit figures) would be performed with the slide
rule while the powers-of-ten could be figured without any help at all, being nothing more than simple
addition and subtraction.
• REVIEW:
• Significant digits are representative of the real-world accuracy of a number.
• Scientific notation is a ”shorthand” method to represent very large and very small numbers in
easily-handled form.
• When multiplying two numbers in scientific notation, you can multiply the two significant digit
figures and arrive at a power-of-ten by adding exponents.
• When dividing two numbers in scientific notation, you can divide the two significant digit
figures and arrive at a power-of-ten by subtracting exponents.
4.3. METRIC NOTATION 117
4.3 Metric notation

The metric system, besides being a collection of measurement units for all sorts of physical quantities,
is structured around the concept of scientific notation. The primary difference is that the powers-
of-ten are represented with alphabetical prefixes instead of by literal powers-of-ten. The following
number line shows some of the more common prefixes and their respective powers-of-ten:
METRIC PREFIX SCALE

T G M k m µ n p
tera giga mega kilo (none) milli micro nano pico
1012 109 106 103 100 10-3 10-6 10-9 10-12
102 101 10-1 10-2

hecto deca deci centi
h da d c
Looking at this scale, we can see that 2.5 Gigabytes would mean 2.5 x 10 9 bytes, or 2.5 billion
bytes. Likewise, 3.21 picoamps would mean 3.21 x 10−12 amps, or 3.21 1/trillionths of an amp.
Other metric prefixes exist to symbolize powers of ten for extremely small and extremely large
multipliers. On the extremely small end of the spectrum, femto (f) = 10−15 , atto (a) = 10−18 , zepto
(z) = 10−21 , and yocto (y) = 10−24 . On the extremely large end of the spectrum, Peta (P) = 1015 ,
Exa (E) = 1018 , Zetta (Z) = 1021 , and Yotta (Y) = 1024 .
Because the major prefixes in the metric system refer to powers of 10 that are multiples of 3 (from
”kilo” on up, and from ”milli” on down), metric notation differs from regular scientific notation in
that the significant digits can be anywhere between 1 and 1000, depending on which prefix is chosen.
For example, if a laboratory sample weighs 0.000267 grams, scientific notation and metric notation
would express it differently:
2.67 x 10−4 grams (scientific notation)
267 µgrams (metric notation)
The same figure may also be expressed as 0.267 milligrams (0.267 mg), although it is usually
more common to see the significant digits represented as a figure greater than 1.
In recent years a new style of metric notation for electric quantities has emerged which seeks to
avoid the use of the decimal point. Since decimal points (”.”) are easily misread and/or ”lost” due
to poor print quality, quantities such as 4.7 k may be mistaken for 47 k. The new notation replaces
the decimal point with the metric prefix character, so that ”4.7 k” is printed instead as ”4k7”. Our
last figure from the prior example, ”0.267 m”, would be expressed in the new notation as ”0m267”.
• REVIEW:
• The metric system of notation uses alphabetical prefixes to represent certain powers-of-ten
instead of the lengthier scientific notation.
4.4 Metric prefix conversions

To express a quantity in a different metric prefix that what it was originally given, all we need to
do is skip the decimal point to the right or to the left as needed. Notice that the metric prefix
”number line” in the previous section was laid out from larger to smaller, right to left. This layout
was purposely chosen to make it easier to remember which direction you need to skip the decimal
point for any given conversion.
Example problem: express 0.000023 amps in terms of microamps.
0.000023 amps (has no prefix, just plain unit of amps)
From UNITS to micro on the number line is 6 places (powers of ten) to the right, so we need to
skip the decimal point 6 places to the right:
0.000023 amps = 23. , or 23 microamps (µA)
Example problem: express 304,212 volts in terms of kilovolts.
304,212 volts (has no prefix, just plain unit of volts)
From the (none) place to kilo place on the number line is 3 places (powers of ten) to the left, so
we need to skip the decimal point 3 places to the left:
304,212. = 304.212 kilovolts (kV)
Example problem: express 50.3 Mega-ohms in terms of milli-ohms.
50.3 M ohms (mega = 106 )
From mega to milli is 9 places (powers of ten) to the right (from 10 to the 6th power to 10 to
the -3rd power), so we need to skip the decimal point 9 places to the right:
50.3 M ohms = 50,300,000,000 milli-ohms (mΩ)
• REVIEW:
• Follow the metric prefix number line to know which direction you skip the decimal point for
conversion purposes.
• A number with no decimal point shown has an implicit decimal point to the immediate right
of the furthest right digit (i.e. for the number 436 the decimal point is to the right of the 6,
as such: 436.)
4.5. HAND CALCULATOR USE 119
4.5 Hand calculator use

To enter numbers in scientific notation into a hand calculator, there is usually a button marked ”E”
or ”EE” used to enter the correct power of ten. For example, to enter the mass of a proton in grams
(1.67 x 10−24 grams) into a hand calculator, I would enter the following keystrokes:
[1] [.] [6] [7] [EE] [2] [4] [+/-]
The [+/-] keystroke changes the sign of the power (24) into a -24. Some calculators allow the
use of the subtraction key [-] to do this, but I prefer the ”change sign” [+/-] key because it’s more
consistent with the use of that key in other contexts.
If I wanted to enter a negative number in scientific notation into a hand calculator, I would have
to be careful how I used the [+/-] key, lest I change the sign of the power and not the significant
digit value. Pay attention to this example:
Number to be entered: -3.221 x 10−15 :
[3] [.] [2] [2] [1] [+/-] [EE] [1] [5] [+/-]
The first [+/-] keystroke changes the entry from 3.221 to -3.221; the second [+/-] keystroke
changes the power from 15 to -15.
Displaying metric and scientific notation on a hand calculator is a different matter. It involves
changing the display option from the normal ”fixed” decimal point mode to the ”scientific” or
”engineering” mode. Your calculator manual will tell you how to set each display mode.
These display modes tell the calculator how to represent any number on the numerical readout.
The actual value of the number is not affected in any way by the choice of display modes – only how
the number appears to the calculator user. Likewise, the procedure for entering numbers into the
calculator does not change with different display modes either. Powers of ten are usually represented
by a pair of digits in the upper-right hand corner of the display, and are visible only in the ”scientific”
and ”engineering” modes.
The difference between ”scientific” and ”engineering” display modes is the difference between
scientific and metric notation. In ”scientific” mode, the power-of-ten display is set so that the main
number on the display is always a value between 1 and 10 (or -1 and -10 for negative numbers). In
”engineering” mode, the powers-of-ten are set to display in multiples of 3, to represent the major
metric prefixes. All the user has to do is memorize a few prefix/power combinations, and his or her
calculator will be ”speaking” metric!
POWER METRIC PREFIX

----- -------------
12 ......... Tera (T)
9 .......... Giga (G)
6 .......... Mega (M)
3 .......... Kilo (k)
0 .......... UNITS (plain)
-3 ......... milli (m)
-6 ......... micro (u)
-9 ......... nano (n)
-12 ........ pico (p)
• REVIEW:
• Use the [EE] key to enter powers of ten.
• Use ”scientific” or ”engineering” to display powers of ten, in scientific or metric notation,

respectively.
4.6 Scientific notation in SPICE

The SPICE circuit simulation computer program uses scientific notation to display its output infor-
mation, and can interpret both scientific notation and metric prefixes in the circuit description files.
If you are going to be able to successfully interpret the SPICE analyses throughout this book, you
must be able to understand the notation used to express variables of voltage, current, etc. in the
program.
Let’s start with a very simple circuit composed of one voltage source (a battery) and one resistor:
24 V 5Ω
To simulate this circuit using SPICE, we first have to designate node numbers for all the distinct
points in the circuit, then list the components along with their respective node numbers so the
computer knows which component is connected to which, and how. For a circuit of this simplicity,
the use of SPICE seems like overkill, but it serves the purpose of demonstrating practical use of
scientific notation:
1 1
24 V 5Ω
0 0
Typing out a circuit description file, or netlist, for this circuit, we get this:
simple circuit
v1 1 0 dc 24
r1 1 0 5
.end
4.6. SCIENTIFIC NOTATION IN SPICE 121
The line ”v1 1 0 dc 24” describes the battery, positioned between nodes 1 and 0, with a DC
voltage of 24 volts. The line ”r1 1 0 5” describes the 5 Ω resistor placed between nodes 1 and 0.
Using a computer to run a SPICE analysis on this circuit description file, we get the following
results:
node voltage
( 1) 24.0000

name current
v1 -4.800E+00
SPICE tells us that the voltage ”at” node number 1 (actually, this means the voltage between
nodes 1 and 0, node 0 being the default reference point for all voltage measurements) is equal to
24 volts. The current through battery ”v1” is displayed as -4.800E+00 amps. This is SPICE’s
method of denoting scientific notation. What it’s really saying is ”-4.800 x 10 0 amps,” or simply
-4.800 amps. The negative value for current here is due to a quirk in SPICE and does not indicate
anything significant about the circuit itself. The ”total power dissipation” is given to us as 1.15E+02
watts, which means ”1.15 x 102 watts,” or 115 watts.
Let’s modify our example circuit so that it has a 5 kΩ (5 kilo-ohm, or 5,000 ohm) resistor instead
of a 5 Ω resistor and see what happens.
1 1
24 V 5 kΩ
0 0
Once again is our circuit description file, or ”netlist:”
simple circuit
v1 1 0 dc 24
r1 1 0 5k
.end
The letter ”k” following the number 5 on the resistor’s line tells SPICE that it is a figure of 5
kΩ, not 5 Ω. Let’s see what result we get when we run this through the computer:
node voltage
( 1) 24.0000

name current
v1 -4.800E-03
total power dissipation 1.15E-01 watts
The battery voltage, of course, hasn’t changed since the first simulation: it’s still at 24 volts.
The circuit current, on the other hand, is much less this time because we’ve made the resistor a
larger value, making it more difficult for electrons to flow. SPICE tells us that the current this time
is equal to -4.800E-03 amps, or -4.800 x 10−3 amps. This is equivalent to taking the number -4.8
and skipping the decimal point three places to the left.
Of course, if we recognize that 10−3 is the same as the metric prefix ”milli,” we could write the
figure as -4.8 milliamps, or -4.8 mA.
Looking at the ”total power dissipation” given to us by SPICE on this second simulation, we see
that it is 1.15E-01 watts, or 1.15 x 10−1 watts. The power of -1 corresponds to the metric prefix
”deci,” but generally we limit our use of metric prefixes in electronics to those associated with powers
of ten that are multiples of three (ten to the power of . . . -12, -9, -6, -3, 3, 6, 9, 12, etc.). So, if we
want to follow this convention, we must express this power dissipation figure as 0.115 watts or 115
milliwatts (115 mW) rather than 1.15 deciwatts (1.15 dW).
Perhaps the easiest way to convert a figure from scientific notation to common metric prefixes is
with a scientific calculator set to the ”engineering” or ”metric” display mode. Just set the calculator
for that display mode, type any scientific notation figure into it using the proper keystrokes (see
your owner’s manual), press the ”equals” or ”enter” key, and it should display the same figure in
engineering/metric notation.
Again, I’ll be using SPICE as a method of demonstrating circuit concepts throughout this book.
Consequently, it is in your best interest to understand scientific notation so you can easily compre-
hend its output data format.
4.7 Contributors
second edition.
Chapter 5
SERIES AND PARALLEL

CIRCUITS
5.1 What are ”series” and ”parallel” circuits?

Circuits consisting of just one battery and one load resistance are very simple to analyze, but they are
not often found in practical applications. Usually, we find circuits where more than two components
are connected together.
There are two basic ways in which to connect more than two circuit components: series and
parallel. First, an example of a series circuit:
Series
R1
1 2
+
R2
-
4 R3 3
Here, we have three resistors (labeled R1 , R2 , and R3 ), connected in a long chain from one
terminal of the battery to the other. (It should be noted that the subscript labeling – those little
numbers to the lower-right of the letter ”R” – are unrelated to the resistor values in ohms. They
serve only to identify one resistor from another.) The defining characteristic of a series circuit is that
there is only one path for electrons to flow. In this circuit the electrons flow in a counter-clockwise
direction, from point 4 to point 3 to point 2 to point 1 and back around to 4.
Now, let’s look at the other type of circuit, a parallel configuration:
123
124 CHAPTER 5. SERIES AND PARALLEL CIRCUITS
Parallel
1 2 3 4
+
R1 R2 R3
-
8 7 6 5
Again, we have three resistors, but this time they form more than one continuous path for
electrons to flow. There’s one path from 8 to 7 to 2 to 1 and back to 8 again. There’s another from
8 to 7 to 6 to 3 to 2 to 1 and back to 8 again. And then there’s a third path from 8 to 7 to 6 to 5
to 4 to 3 to 2 to 1 and back to 8 again. Each individual path (through R1 , R2 , and R3 ) is called a
branch.
The defining characteristic of a parallel circuit is that all components are connected between the
same set of electrically common points. Looking at the schematic diagram, we see that points 1, 2,
3, and 4 are all electrically common. So are points 8, 7, 6, and 5. Note that all resistors as well as
the battery are connected between these two sets of points.
And, of course, the complexity doesn’t stop at simple series and parallel either! We can have
circuits that are a combination of series and parallel, too:
Series-parallel
R1 2 3
1
+
R2 R3
-
6 5 4
In this circuit, we have two loops for electrons to flow through: one from 6 to 5 to 2 to 1 and
back to 6 again, and another from 6 to 5 to 4 to 3 to 2 to 1 and back to 6 again. Notice how both
current paths go through R1 (from point 2 to point 1). In this configuration, we’d say that R2 and
R3 are in parallel with each other, while R1 is in series with the parallel combination of R2 and R3 .
This is just a preview of things to come. Don’t worry! We’ll explore all these circuit configurations
in detail, one at a time!
The basic idea of a ”series” connection is that components are connected end-to-end in a line to
form a single path for electrons to flow:
5.2. SIMPLE SERIES CIRCUITS 125
Series connection
R1 R2 R3 R4
only one path for electrons to flow!

The basic idea of a ”parallel” connection, on the other hand, is that all components are connected
across each other’s leads. In a purely parallel circuit, there are never more than two sets of electrically
common points, no matter how many components are connected. There are many paths for electrons
to flow, but only one voltage across all components:
Parallel connection
These points are electrically common
R1 R2 R3 R4
These points are electrically common

Series and parallel resistor configurations have very different electrical properties. We’ll explore
the properties of each configuration in the sections to come.
• REVIEW:
• In a series circuit, all components are connected end-to-end, forming a single path for electrons
to flow.
• In a parallel circuit, all components are connected across each other, forming exactly two sets
of electrically common points.
• A ”branch” in a parallel circuit is a path for electric current formed by one of the load com-
ponents (such as a resistor).
5.2 Simple series circuits

Let’s start with a series circuit consisting of three resistors and a single battery:
R1
1 2
3 kΩ
+
9V 10 kΩ R2
-
5 kΩ
4 3
R3
The first principle to understand about series circuits is that the amount of current is the same
through any component in the circuit. This is because there is only one path for electrons to flow in
a series circuit, and because free electrons flow through conductors like marbles in a tube, the rate
of flow (marble speed) at any point in the circuit (tube) at any specific point in time must be equal.
From the way that the 9 volt battery is arranged, we can tell that the electrons in this circuit
will flow in a counter-clockwise direction, from point 4 to 3 to 2 to 1 and back to 4. However, we
have one source of voltage and three resistances. How do we use Ohm’s Law here?
An important caveat to Ohm’s Law is that all quantities (voltage, current, resistance, and power)
must relate to each other in terms of the same two points in a circuit. For instance, with a single-
battery, single-resistor circuit, we could easily calculate any quantity because they all applied to the
same two points in the circuit:
1 2
+
9V 3 kΩ
-
4 3
E
I=
R
9 volts
I= = 3 mA
3 kΩ
Since points 1 and 2 are connected together with wire of negligible resistance, as are points 3 and
4, we can say that point 1 is electrically common to point 2, and that point 3 is electrically common
to point 4. Since we know we have 9 volts of electromotive force between points 1 and 4 (directly
across the battery), and since point 2 is common to point 1 and point 3 common to point 4, we
must also have 9 volts between points 2 and 3 (directly across the resistor). Therefore, we can apply
Ohm’s Law (I = E/R) to the current through the resistor, because we know the voltage (E) across
the resistor and the resistance (R) of that resistor. All terms (E, I, R) apply to the same two points
in the circuit, to that same resistor, so we can use the Ohm’s Law formula with no reservation.
However, in circuits containing more than one resistor, we must be careful in how we apply
Ohm’s Law. In the three-resistor example circuit below, we know that we have 9 volts between
points 1 and 4, which is the amount of electromotive force trying to push electrons through the
series combination of R1 , R2 , and R3 . However, we cannot take the value of 9 volts and divide it by
3k, 10k or 5k Ω to try to find a current value, because we don’t know how much voltage is across
any one of those resistors, individually.
R1
1 2
3 kΩ
+
9V 10 kΩ R2
-
5 kΩ
4 3
R3
The figure of 9 volts is a total quantity for the whole circuit, whereas the figures of 3k, 10k,
and 5k Ω are individual quantities for individual resistors. If we were to plug a figure for total
voltage into an Ohm’s Law equation with a figure for individual resistance, the result would not
relate accurately to any quantity in the real circuit.
For R1 , Ohm’s Law will relate the amount of voltage across R1 with the current through R1 ,
given R1 ’s resistance, 3kΩ:
ER1
IR1 = ER1 = IR1 (3 kΩ)
3 kΩ
But, since we don’t know the voltage across R1 (only the total voltage supplied by the battery
across the three-resistor series combination) and we don’t know the current through R 1 , we can’t do
any calculations with either formula. The same goes for R2 and R3 : we can apply the Ohm’s Law
equations if and only if all terms are representative of their respective quantities between the same
two points in the circuit.
So what can we do? We know the voltage of the source (9 volts) applied across the series
combination of R1 , R2 , and R3 , and we know the resistances of each resistor, but since those
quantities aren’t in the same context, we can’t use Ohm’s Law to determine the circuit current. If
only we knew what the total resistance was for the circuit: then we could calculate total current
with our figure for total voltage (I=E/R).
This brings us to the second principle of series circuits: the total resistance of any series circuit is
equal to the sum of the individual resistances. This should make intuitive sense: the more resistors
in series that the electrons must flow through, the more difficult it will be for those electrons to
flow. In the example problem, we had a 3 kΩ, 10 kΩ, and 5 kΩ resistor in series, giving us a total
resistance of 18 kΩ:
Rtotal = R1 + R2 + R3
Rtotal = 3 kΩ + 10 kΩ + 5 kΩ
Rtotal = 18 kΩ
In essence, we’ve calculated the equivalent resistance of R1 , R2 , and R3 combined. Knowing this,
we could re-draw the circuit with a single equivalent resistor representing the series combination of
R1 , R2 , and R3 :
+
R1 + R2 + R3 =
9V
18 kΩ
-
4
Now we have all the necessary information to calculate circuit current, because we have the
voltage between points 1 and 4 (9 volts) and the resistance between points 1 and 4 (18 kΩ):
Etotal
Itotal =
Rtotal
9 volts
Itotal = = 500 µA
18 kΩ
Knowing that current is equal through all components of a series circuit (and we just determined
the current through the battery), we can go back to our original circuit schematic and note the
current through each component:
R1 3 kΩ
1 2
+ I = 500 µA
R2
9V
10 kΩ
- I = 500 µA
4 R3 5 kΩ 3
Now that we know the amount of current through each resistor, we can use Ohm’s Law to
determine the voltage drop across each one (applying Ohm’s Law in its proper context):
ER1 = IR1 R1 ER2 = IR2 R2 ER3 = IR3 R3
ER1 = (500 µA)(3 kΩ) = 1.5 V
ER2 = (500 µA)(10 kΩ) = 5 V
ER3 = (500 µA)(5 kΩ) = 2.5 V

Notice the voltage drops across each resistor, and how the sum of the voltage drops (1.5 + 5 +
2.5) is equal to the battery (supply) voltage: 9 volts. This is the third principle of series circuits:
that the supply voltage is equal to the sum of the individual voltage drops.
However, the method we just used to analyze this simple series circuit can be streamlined for
better understanding. By using a table to list all voltages, currents, and resistances in the circuit,
it becomes very easy to see which of those quantities can be properly related in any Ohm’s Law
equation:
R1 R2 R3 Total
E Volts
I Amps
R Ohms
Ohm’s Ohm’s Ohm’s Ohm’s

Law Law Law Law
The rule with such a table is to apply Ohm’s Law only to the values within each vertical column.
For instance, ER1 only with IR1 and R1 ; ER2 only with IR2 and R2 ; etc. You begin your analysis
by filling in those elements of the table that are given to you from the beginning:
R1 R2 R3 Total
E 9 Volts
I Amps
R 3k 10k 5k Ohms
As you can see from the arrangement of the data, we can’t apply the 9 volts of E T (total voltage)
to any of the resistances (R1 , R2 , or R3 ) in any Ohm’s Law formula because they’re in different
columns. The 9 volts of battery voltage is not applied directly across R 1 , R2 , or R3 . However, we
can use our ”rules” of series circuits to fill in blank spots on a horizontal row. In this case, we can use
the series rule of resistances to determine a total resistance from the sum of individual resistances:
R1 R2 R3 Total
E 9 Volts
I Amps
R 3k 10k 5k 18k Ohms
Rule of series
circuits
RT = R1 + R2 + R3
Now, with a value for total resistance inserted into the rightmost (”Total”) column, we can apply
Ohm’s Law of I=E/R to total voltage and total resistance to arrive at a total current of 500 µA:
R1 R2 R3 Total
E 9 Volts
I 500µ Amps
Ohm’s
Law
Then, knowing that the current is shared equally by all components of a series circuit (another
”rule” of series circuits), we can fill in the currents for each resistor from the current figure just
calculated:
R1 R2 R3 Total
E 9 Volts
I 500µ 500µ 500µ 500µ Amps
Rule of series
circuits
IT = I1 = I2 = I3
Finally, we can use Ohm’s Law to determine the voltage drop across each resistor, one column
at a time:
R1 R2 R3 Total
E 1.5 5 2.5 9 Volts
I 500µ 500µ 500µ 500µ Amps
Ohm’s Ohm’s Ohm’s

Law Law Law
Just for fun, we can use a computer to analyze this very same circuit automatically. It will be a
good way to verify our calculations and also become more familiar with computer analysis. First, we
have to describe the circuit to the computer in a format recognizable by the software. The SPICE
program we’ll be using requires that all electrically unique points in a circuit be numbered, and
component placement is understood by which of those numbered points, or ”nodes,” they share. For
clarity, I numbered the four corners of our example circuit 1 through 4. SPICE, however, demands
that there be a node zero somewhere in the circuit, so I’ll re-draw the circuit, changing the numbering
scheme slightly:
R1
1 2
3 kΩ
+
9V R2 10 kΩ
-
5 kΩ
0 R3 3
All I’ve done here is re-numbered the lower-left corner of the circuit 0 instead of 4. Now, I can
enter several lines of text into a computer file describing the circuit in terms SPICE will understand,
complete with a couple of extra lines of code directing the program to display voltage and current
data for our viewing pleasure. This computer file is known as the netlist in SPICE terminology:
series circuit
v1 1 0
r1 1 2 3k
r2 2 3 10k
r3 3 0 5k
.dc v1 9 9 1
.print dc v(1,2) v(2,3) v(3,0)
.end
Now, all I have to do is run the SPICE program to process the netlist and output the results:
v1 v(1,2) v(2,3) v(3) i(v1)

9.000E+00 1.500E+00 5.000E+00 2.500E+00 -5.000E-04
This printout is telling us the battery voltage is 9 volts, and the voltage drops across R 1 , R2 , and
R3 are 1.5 volts, 5 volts, and 2.5 volts, respectively. Voltage drops across any component in SPICE
are referenced by the node numbers the component lies between, so v(1,2) is referencing the voltage
between nodes 1 and 2 in the circuit, which are the points between which R 1 is located. The order
of node numbers is important: when SPICE outputs a figure for v(1,2), it regards the polarity the
same way as if we were holding a voltmeter with the red test lead on node 1 and the black test lead
on node 2.
We also have a display showing current (albeit with a negative value) at 0.5 milliamps, or 500
microamps. So our mathematical analysis has been vindicated by the computer. This figure appears
as a negative number in the SPICE analysis, due to a quirk in the way SPICE handles current
calculations.
In summary, a series circuit is defined as having only one path for electrons to flow. From this
definition, three rules of series circuits follow: all components share the same current; resistances
add to equal a larger, total resistance; and voltage drops add to equal a larger, total voltage. All of
these rules find root in the definition of a series circuit. If you understand that definition fully, then
the rules are nothing more than footnotes to the definition.
• REVIEW:
• Components in a series circuit share the same current: IT otal = I1 = I2 = . . . In
• Total resistance in a series circuit is equal to the sum of the individual resistances: R T otal =
R1 + R 2 + . . . R n
• Total voltage in a series circuit is equal to the sum of the individual voltage drops: E T otal =
E1 + E 2 + . . . E n
5.3 Simple parallel circuits

Let’s start with a parallel circuit consisting of three resistors and a single battery:
1 2 3 4
+
9V R1 R2 R3
- 10 kΩ 2 kΩ 1 kΩ
8 7 6 5
The first principle to understand about parallel circuits is that the voltage is equal across all
components in the circuit. This is because there are only two sets of electrically common points in
a parallel circuit, and voltage measured between sets of common points must always be the same at
any given time. Therefore, in the above circuit, the voltage across R1 is equal to the voltage across
R2 which is equal to the voltage across R3 which is equal to the voltage across the battery. This
equality of voltages can be represented in another table for our starting values:
5.3. SIMPLE PARALLEL CIRCUITS 133
R1 R2 R3 Total
E 9 9 9 9 Volts
I Amps
R 10k 2k 1k Ohms
Just as in the case of series circuits, the same caveat for Ohm’s Law applies: values for voltage,
current, and resistance must be in the same context in order for the calculations to work correctly.
However, in the above example circuit, we can immediately apply Ohm’s Law to each resistor to
find its current because we know the voltage across each resistor (9 volts) and the resistance of each
resistor:
ER1 ER2 ER3

IR1 = IR2 = IR3 =
R1 R2 R3
9V
IR1 = = 0.9 mA
10 kΩ
9V
IR2 = = 4.5 mA
2 kΩ
9V
IR3 = = 9 mA
1 kΩ
R1 R2 R3 Total
E 9 9 9 9 Volts
I 0.9m 4.5m 9m Amps
R 10k 2k 1k Ohms
Ohm’s Ohm’s Ohm’s

Law Law Law
At this point we still don’t know what the total current or total resistance for this parallel circuit
is, so we can’t apply Ohm’s Law to the rightmost (”Total”) column. However, if we think carefully
about what is happening it should become apparent that the total current must equal the sum of
all individual resistor (”branch”) currents:
1 2 3 4
+ IT
IR1 IR2 IR3
9V R1 R2 R3
- 10 kΩ 2 kΩ 1 kΩ
IT
8 7 6 5
As the total current exits the negative (-) battery terminal at point 8 and travels through the
circuit, some of the flow splits off at point 7 to go up through R1 , some more splits off at point 6
to go up through R2 , and the remainder goes up through R3 . Like a river branching into several
smaller streams, the combined flow rates of all streams must equal the flow rate of the whole river.
The same thing is encountered where the currents through R1 , R2 , and R3 join to flow back to the
positive terminal of the battery (+) toward point 1: the flow of electrons from point 2 to point 1
must equal the sum of the (branch) currents through R1 , R2 , and R3 .
This is the second principle of parallel circuits: the total circuit current is equal to the sum of
the individual branch currents. Using this principle, we can fill in the IT spot on our table with the
sum of IR1 , IR2 , and IR3 :
R1 R2 R3 Total
E 9 9 9 9 Volts
I 0.9m 4.5m 9m 14.4m Amps
R 10k 2k 1k Ohms
Rule of parallel
circuits
Itotal = I1 + I2 + I3
Finally, applying Ohm’s Law to the rightmost (”Total”) column, we can calculate the total circuit
resistance:
R1 R2 R3 Total
E 9 9 9 9 Volts
I 0.9m 4.5m 9m 14.4m Amps
R 10k 2k 1k 625 Ohms
Etotal 9V Ohm’s
Rtotal = = = 625 Ω
Itotal 14.4 mA Law
Please note something very important here. The total circuit resistance is only 625 Ω: less
than any one of the individual resistors. In the series circuit, where the total resistance was the
sum of the individual resistances, the total was bound to be greater than any one of the resistors
5.3. SIMPLE PARALLEL CIRCUITS 135
individually. Here in the parallel circuit, however, the opposite is true: we say that the individual
resistances diminish rather than add to make the total. This principle completes our triad of ”rules”
for parallel circuits, just as series circuits were found to have three rules for voltage, current, and
resistance. Mathematically, the relationship between total resistance and individual resistances in a
parallel circuit looks like this:
1
Rtotal =
1 1 1
+ +
R1 R2 R3
The same basic form of equation works for any number of resistors connected together in parallel,
just add as many 1/R terms on the denominator of the fraction as needed to accommodate all parallel
resistors in the circuit.
Just as with the series circuit, we can use computer analysis to double-check our calculations.
First, of course, we have to describe our example circuit to the computer in terms it can understand.
I’ll start by re-drawing the circuit:
1 2 3 4
+
9V R1 R2 R3
- 10 kΩ 2 kΩ 1 kΩ
8 7 6 5
Once again we find that the original numbering scheme used to identify points in the circuit will
have to be altered for the benefit of SPICE. In SPICE, all electrically common points must share
identical node numbers. This is how SPICE knows what’s connected to what, and how. In a simple
parallel circuit, all points are electrically common in one of two sets of points. For our example
circuit, the wire connecting the tops of all the components will have one node number and the wire
connecting the bottoms of the components will have the other. Staying true to the convention of
including zero as a node number, I choose the numbers 0 and 1:
1 1 1 1
+
9V R1 R2 R3
- 10 kΩ 2 kΩ 1 kΩ
0 0 0 0
An example like this makes the rationale of node numbers in SPICE fairly clear to understand. By
having all components share common sets of numbers, the computer ”knows” they’re all connected
in parallel with each other.
In order to display branch currents in SPICE, we need to insert zero-voltage sources in line
(in series) with each resistor, and then reference our current measurements to those sources. For
whatever reason, the creators of the SPICE program made it so that current could only be calculated
through a voltage source. This is a somewhat annoying demand of the SPICE simulation program.
With each of these ”dummy” voltage sources added, some new node numbers must be created to
connect them to their respective branch resistors:
1 1 1 1
vr1 vr2 vr3
2 3 4
+
9V R1 R2 R3
- 10 kΩ 2 kΩ 1 kΩ
0 0 0 0
NOTE: vr1, vr2, and vr3 are all
"dummy" voltage sources with
values of 0 volts each!!
The dummy voltage sources are all set at 0 volts so as to have no impact on the operation of the
circuit. The circuit description file, or netlist, looks like this:
Parallel circuit
v1 1 0
r1 2 0 10k
r2 3 0 2k
r3 4 0 1k
vr1 1 2 dc 0
vr2 1 3 dc 0
vr3 1 4 dc 0
.dc v1 9 9 1
.print dc v(2,0) v(3,0) v(4,0)
.print dc i(vr1) i(vr2) i(vr3)
.end
Running the computer analysis, we get these results (I’ve annotated the printout with descriptive
labels):
v1 v(2) v(3) v(4)

9.000E+00 9.000E+00 9.000E+00 9.000E+00
battery R1 voltage R2 voltage R3 voltage
voltage
v1 i(vr1) i(vr2) i(vr3)

5.4. CONDUCTANCE 137
9.000E+00 9.000E-04 4.500E-03 9.000E-03

battery R1 current R2 current R3 current
voltage
These values do indeed match those calculated through Ohm’s Law earlier: 0.9 mA for I R1 , 4.5
mA for IR2 , and 9 mA for IR3 . Being connected in parallel, of course, all resistors have the same
voltage dropped across them (9 volts, same as the battery).
In summary, a parallel circuit is defined as one where all components are connected between
the same set of electrically common points. Another way of saying this is that all components are
connected across each other’s terminals. From this definition, three rules of parallel circuits follow:
all components share the same voltage; resistances diminish to equal a smaller, total resistance; and
branch currents add to equal a larger, total current. Just as in the case of series circuits, all of these
rules find root in the definition of a parallel circuit. If you understand that definition fully, then the
rules are nothing more than footnotes to the definition.
• REVIEW:
• Components in a parallel circuit share the same voltage: ET otal = E1 = E2 = . . . En
• Total resistance in a parallel circuit is less than any of the individual resistances: R T otal = 1
/ (1/R1 + 1/R2 + . . . 1/Rn )
• Total current in a parallel circuit is equal to the sum of the individual branch currents: I T otal
= I1 + I2 + . . . I n .
5.4 Conductance
When students first see the parallel resistance equation, the natural question to ask is, ”Where
did that thing come from?” It is truly an odd piece of arithmetic, and its origin deserves a good
explanation.
Resistance, by definition, is the measure of friction a component presents to the flow of electrons
through it. Resistance is symbolized by the capital letter ”R” and is measured in the unit of ”ohm.”
However, we can also think of this electrical property in terms of its inverse: how easy it is for
electrons to flow through a component, rather than how difficult. If resistance is the word we use to
symbolize the measure of how difficult it is for electrons to flow, then a good word to express how
easy it is for electrons to flow would be conductance.
Mathematically, conductance is the reciprocal, or inverse, of resistance:
1
Conductance =
Resistance
The greater the resistance, the less the conductance, and visa-versa. This should make intuitive
sense, resistance and conductance being opposite ways to denote the same essential electrical prop-
erty. If two components’ resistances are compared and it is found that component ”A” has one-half
the resistance of component ”B,” then we could alternatively express this relationship by saying that
component ”A” is twice as conductive as component ”B.” If component ”A” has but one-third the
resistance of component ”B,” then we could say it is three times more conductive than component
”B,” and so on.
Carrying this idea further, a symbol and unit were created to represent conductance. The symbol
is the capital letter ”G” and the unit is the mho, which is ”ohm” spelled backwards (and you didn’t
think electronics engineers had any sense of humor!). Despite its appropriateness, the unit of the
mho was replaced in later years by the unit of siemens (abbreviated by the capital letter ”S”). This
decision to change unit names is reminiscent of the change from the temperature unit of degrees
Centigrade to degrees Celsius, or the change from the unit of frequency c.p.s. (cycles per second) to
Hertz. If you’re looking for a pattern here, Siemens, Celsius, and Hertz are all surnames of famous
scientists, the names of which, sadly, tell us less about the nature of the units than the units’ original
designations.
As a footnote, the unit of siemens is never expressed without the last letter ”s.” In other words,
there is no such thing as a unit of ”siemen” as there is in the case of the ”ohm” or the ”mho.” The
reason for this is the proper spelling of the respective scientists’ surnames. The unit for electrical
resistance was named after someone named ”Ohm,” whereas the unit for electrical conductance was
named after someone named ”Siemens,” therefore it would be improper to ”singularize” the latter
unit as its final ”s” does not denote plurality.
Back to our parallel circuit example, we should be able to see that multiple paths (branches) for
current reduces total resistance for the whole circuit, as electrons are able to flow easier through
the whole network of multiple branches than through any one of those branch resistances alone. In
terms of resistance, additional branches results in a lesser total (current meets with less opposition).
In terms of conductance, however, additional branches results in a greater total (electrons flow with
greater conductance):
Total parallel resistance is less than any one of the individual branch resistances because parallel
resistors resist less together than they would separately:
Rtotal R1 R2 R3 R4
Rtotal is less than R1, R2, R3, or R4 individually

Total parallel conductance is greater than any of the individual branch conductances because
parallel resistors conduct better together than they would separately:
Gtotal G1 G2 G3 G4
Gtotal is greater than G1, G2, G3, or G4 individually

5.5. POWER CALCULATIONS 139
To be more precise, the total conductance in a parallel circuit is equal to the sum of the individual
conductances:
Gtotal = G1 + G2 + G3 + G4
If we know that conductance is nothing more than the mathematical reciprocal (1/x) of resistance,
we can translate each term of the above formula into resistance by substituting the reciprocal of
each respective conductance:
1 1 1 1 1
= + + +
Rtotal R1 R2 R3 R4
Solving the above equation for total resistance (instead of the reciprocal of total resistance), we
can invert (reciprocate) both sides of the equation:
1
Rtotal =
1 1 1 1
+ + +
R1 R2 R3 R4
So, we arrive at our cryptic resistance formula at last! Conductance (G) is seldom used as a
practical measurement, and so the above formula is a common one to see in the analysis of parallel
circuits.
• REVIEW:
• Conductance is the opposite of resistance: the measure of how easy is it for electrons to flow
through something.
• Conductance is symbolized with the letter ”G” and is measured in units of mhos or Siemens.
• Mathematically, conductance equals the reciprocal of resistance: G = 1/R
5.5 Power calculations

When calculating the power dissipation of resistive components, use any one of the three power
equations to derive and answer from values of voltage, current, and/or resistance pertaining to each
component:
Power equations
E2
P = IE P= P = I2R
R
This is easily managed by adding another row to our familiar table of voltages, currents, and
resistances:
R1 R2 R3 Total
E Volts
I Amps
R Ohms
P Watts
Power for any particular table column can be found by the appropriate Ohm’s Law equation
(appropriate based on what figures are present for E, I, and R in that column).
An interesting rule for total power versus individual power is that it is additive for any config-
uration of circuit: series, parallel, series/parallel, or otherwise. Power is a measure of rate of work,
and since power dissipated must equal the total power applied by the source(s) (as per the Law of
Conservation of Energy in physics), circuit configuration has no effect on the mathematics.
• REVIEW:
• Power is additive in any configuration of resistive circuit: PT otal = P1 + P2 + . . . Pn
5.6 Correct use of Ohm’s Law

One of the most common mistakes made by beginning electronics students in their application of
Ohm’s Laws is mixing the contexts of voltage, current, and resistance. In other words, a student
might mistakenly use a value for I through one resistor and the value for E across a set of intercon-
nected resistors, thinking that they’ll arrive at the resistance of that one resistor. Not so! Remember
this important rule: The variables used in Ohm’s Law equations must be common to the same two
points in the circuit under consideration. I cannot overemphasize this rule. This is especially im-
portant in series-parallel combination circuits where nearby components may have different values
for both voltage drop and current.
When using Ohm’s Law to calculate a variable pertaining to a single component, be sure the
voltage you’re referencing is solely across that single component and the current you’re referencing
is solely through that single component and the resistance you’re referencing is solely for that single
component. Likewise, when calculating a variable pertaining to a set of components in a circuit, be
sure that the voltage, current, and resistance values are specific to that complete set of components
only! A good way to remember this is to pay close attention to the two points terminating the
component or set of components being analyzed, making sure that the voltage in question is across
those two points, that the current in question is the electron flow from one of those points all the
way to the other point, that the resistance in question is the equivalent of a single resistor between
those two points, and that the power in question is the total power dissipated by all components
between those two points.
The ”table” method presented for both series and parallel circuits in this chapter is a good way
to keep the context of Ohm’s Law correct for any kind of circuit configuration. In a table like the
one shown below, you are only allowed to apply an Ohm’s Law equation for the values of a single
vertical column at a time:
5.6. CORRECT USE OF OHM’S LAW 141
R1 R2 R3 Total
E Volts
I Amps
R Ohms
P Watts
Ohm’s Ohm’s Ohm’s Ohm’s

Law Law Law Law
Deriving values horizontally across columns is allowable as per the principles of series and parallel
circuits:
For series circuits:

R1 R2 R3 Total
E Add Volts
I Equal Amps
R Add Ohms
P Add Watts
Etotal = E1 + E2 + E3
Itotal = I1 = I2 = I3
Rtotal = R1 + R2 + R3
Ptotal = P1 + P2 + P3
For parallel circuits:

R1 R2 R3 Total
E Equal Volts
I Add Amps
R Diminish Ohms
P Add Watts
Etotal = E1 = E2 = E3
Itotal = I1 + I2 + I3
1
Rtotal =
1 1 1
+ +
R1 R2 R3
Ptotal = P1 + P2 + P3
Not only does the ”table” method simplify the management of all relevant quantities, it also
facilitates cross-checking of answers by making it easy to solve for the original unknown variables
through other methods, or by working backwards to solve for the initially given values from your
solutions. For example, if you have just solved for all unknown voltages, currents, and resistances
in a circuit, you can check your work by adding a row at the bottom for power calculations on each
resistor, seeing whether or not all the individual power values add up to the total power. If not,
then you must have made a mistake somewhere! While this technique of ”cross-checking” your work
is nothing new, using the table to arrange all the data for the cross-check(s) results in a minimum
of confusion.
• REVIEW:
• Apply Ohm’s Law to vertical columns in the table.
• Apply rules of series/parallel to horizontal rows in the table.
• Check your calculations by working ”backwards” to try to arrive at originally given values
(from your first calculated answers), or by solving for a quantity using more than one method
(from different given values).
5.7 Component failure analysis

The job of a technician frequently entails ”troubleshooting” (locating and correcting a problem)
in malfunctioning circuits. Good troubleshooting is a demanding and rewarding effort, requiring
a thorough understanding of the basic concepts, the ability to formulate hypotheses (proposed
explanations of an effect), the ability to judge the value of different hypotheses based on their
probability (how likely one particular cause may be over another), and a sense of creativity in
5.7. COMPONENT FAILURE ANALYSIS 143
applying a solution to rectify the problem. While it is possible to distill these skills into a scientific
methodology, most practiced troubleshooters would agree that troubleshooting involves a touch of
art, and that it can take years of experience to fully develop this art.
An essential skill to have is a ready and intuitive understanding of how component faults affect
circuits in different configurations. We will explore some of the effects of component faults in
both series and parallel circuits here, then to a greater degree at the end of the ”Series-Parallel
Combination Circuits” chapter.
Let’s start with a simple series circuit:
R1 R2 R3
100 Ω 300 Ω 50 Ω
9V
With all components in this circuit functioning at their proper values, we can mathematically
determine all currents and voltage drops:
R1 R2 R3 Total
E 2 6 1 9 Volts
I 20m 20m 20m 20m Amps
R 100 300 50 450 Ohms
Now let us suppose that R2 fails shorted. Shorted means that the resistor now acts like a straight
piece of wire, with little or no resistance. The circuit will behave as though a ”jumper” wire were
connected across R2 (in case you were wondering, ”jumper wire” is a common term for a temporary
wire connection in a circuit). What causes the shorted condition of R2 is no matter to us in this
example; we only care about its effect upon the circuit:
jumper wire
R1 R2 R3
100 Ω 300 Ω 50 Ω
9V
With R2 shorted, either by a jumper wire or by an internal resistor failure, the total circuit
resistance will decrease. Since the voltage output by the battery is a constant (at least in our ideal
simulation here), a decrease in total circuit resistance means that total circuit current must increase:
R1 R2 R3 Total
E 6 0 3 9 Volts
R 100 0 50 150 Ohms
Shorted
resistor
As the circuit current increases from 20 milliamps to 60 milliamps, the voltage drops across R 1
and R3 (which haven’t changed resistances) increase as well, so that the two resistors are dropping
the whole 9 volts. R2 , being bypassed by the very low resistance of the jumper wire, is effectively
eliminated from the circuit, the resistance from one lead to the other having been reduced to zero.
Thus, the voltage drop across R2 , even with the increased total current, is zero volts.
On the other hand, if R2 were to fail ”open” – resistance increasing to nearly infinite levels – it
would also create wide-reaching effects in the rest of the circuit:
R1 R2 R3
100 Ω 50 Ω
300 Ω
9V
R1 R2 R3 Total
E 0 9 0 9 Volts
I 0 0 0 0 Amps
R 100 50 Ohms
Open
resistor
With R2 at infinite resistance and total resistance being the sum of all individual resistances in
a series circuit, the total current decreases to zero. With zero circuit current, there is no electron
flow to produce voltage drops across R1 or R3 . R2 , on the other hand, will manifest the full supply
voltage across its terminals.
We can apply the same before/after analysis technique to parallel circuits as well. First, we
determine what a ”healthy” parallel circuit should behave like.
+
9V R1 R2 R3
- 90 Ω 45 Ω 180 Ω
R1 R2 R3 Total
E 9 9 9 9 Volts
I 100m 200m 50m 350m Amps
R 90 45 180 25.714 Ohms
Supposing that R2 opens in this parallel circuit, here’s what the effects will be:
+
9V R1 R2 R3
- 90 Ω 45 Ω 180 Ω
R1 R2 R3 Total
E 9 9 9 9 Volts
I 100m 0 50m 150m Amps
R 90 180 60 Ohms
Open
resistor
Notice that in this parallel circuit, an open branch only affects the current through that branch
and the circuit’s total current. Total voltage – being shared equally across all components in a
parallel circuit, will be the same for all resistors. Due to the fact that the voltage source’s tendency
is to hold voltage constant, its voltage will not change, and being in parallel with all the resistors,
it will hold all the resistors’ voltages the same as they were before: 9 volts. Being that voltage is
the only common parameter in a parallel circuit, and the other resistors haven’t changed resistance
value, their respective branch currents remain unchanged.
This is what happens in a household lamp circuit: all lamps get their operating voltage from
power wiring arranged in a parallel fashion. Turning one lamp on and off (one branch in that parallel
circuit closing and opening) doesn’t affect the operation of other lamps in the room, only the current
in that one lamp (branch circuit) and the total current powering all the lamps in the room:
+
120
V
-
In an ideal case (with perfect voltage sources and zero-resistance connecting wire), shorted re-
sistors in a simple parallel circuit will also have no effect on what’s happening in other branches of
the circuit. In real life, the effect is not quite the same, and we’ll see why in the following example:
+
9V R1 R2 R3
- 90 Ω 45 Ω 180 Ω
R2 "shorted" with a jumper wire
R1 R2 R3 Total
E 9 9 9 9 Volts
I 100m 50m Amps
R 90 0 180 0 Ohms
Shorted
resistor
A shorted resistor (resistance of 0 Ω) would theoretically draw infinite current from any finite
source of voltage (I=E/0). In this case, the zero resistance of R2 decreases the circuit total resistance
to zero Ω as well, increasing total current to a value of infinity. As long as the voltage source holds
steady at 9 volts, however, the other branch currents (IR1 and IR3 ) will remain unchanged.
The critical assumption in this ”perfect” scheme, however, is that the voltage supply will hold
steady at its rated voltage while supplying an infinite amount of current to a short-circuit load.
This is simply not realistic. Even if the short has a small amount of resistance (as opposed to
absolutely zero resistance), no real voltage source could arbitrarily supply a huge overload current
and maintain steady voltage at the same time. This is primarily due to the internal resistance
intrinsic to all electrical power sources, stemming from the inescapable physical properties of the
materials they’re constructed of:
Rinternal
Battery +
9V
-
These internal resistances, small as they may be, turn our simple parallel circuit into a series-
parallel combination circuit. Usually, the internal resistances of voltage sources are low enough
that they can be safely ignored, but when high currents resulting from shorted components are
encountered, their effects become very noticeable. In this case, a shorted R 2 would result in almost
all the voltage being dropped across the internal resistance of the battery, with almost no voltage
left over for resistors R1 , R2 , and R3 :
Rinternal
Battery + R1 R2 R3
9V 90 Ω 45 Ω 180 Ω
-
R2 "shorted" with a jumper wire
R1 R2 R3 Total
E low low low low Volts
I low high low high Amps
R 90 0 180 0 Ohms
Supply voltage
Shorted decrease due to
resistor voltage drop across
internal resistance
Suffice it to say, intentional direct short-circuits across the terminals of any voltage source is a
bad idea. Even if the resulting high current (heat, flashes, sparks) causes no harm to people nearby,
the voltage source will likely sustain damage, unless it has been specifically designed to handle
short-circuits, which most voltage sources are not.
Eventually in this book I will lead you through the analysis of circuits without the use of any
numbers, that is, analyzing the effects of component failure in a circuit without knowing exactly how
many volts the battery produces, how many ohms of resistance is in each resistor, etc. This section
serves as an introductory step to that kind of analysis.
Whereas the normal application of Ohm’s Law and the rules of series and parallel circuits is
performed with numerical quantities (”quantitative”), this new kind of analysis without precise
numerical figures something I like to call qualitative analysis. In other words, we will be analyzing
the qualities of the effects in a circuit rather than the precise quantities. The result, for you, will be
a much deeper intuitive understanding of electric circuit operation.
• REVIEW:
• To determine what would happen in a circuit if a component fails, re-draw that circuit with
the equivalent resistance of the failed component in place and re-calculate all values.
• The ability to intuitively determine what will happen to a circuit with any given component
fault is a crucial skill for any electronics troubleshooter to develop. The best way to learn is
to experiment with circuit calculations and real-life circuits, paying close attention to what
changes with a fault, what remains the same, and why!
• A shorted component is one whose resistance has dramatically decreased.
• An open component is one whose resistance has dramatically increased. For the record, resis-
tors tend to fail open more often than fail shorted, and they almost never fail unless physically
or electrically overstressed (physically abused or overheated).
5.8 Building simple resistor circuits
In the course of learning about electricity, you will want to construct your own circuits using resistors
and batteries. Some options are available in this matter of circuit assembly, some easier than others.
In this section, I will explore a couple of fabrication techniques that will not only help you build the
circuits shown in this chapter, but also more advanced circuits.
If all we wish to construct is a simple single-battery, single-resistor circuit, we may easily use
alligator clip jumper wires like this:
5.8. BUILDING SIMPLE RESISTOR CIRCUITS 149
Schematic
diagram
Real circuit using jumper wires
-
+
Resistor
Battery
Jumper wires with ”alligator” style spring clips at each end provide a safe and convenient method
of electrically joining components together.
If we wanted to build a simple series circuit with one battery and three resistors, the same
”point-to-point” construction technique using jumper wires could be applied:
Schematic
diagram
Real circuit using jumper wires
-
+
Battery
This technique, however, proves impractical for circuits much more complex than this, due to the
awkwardness of the jumper wires and the physical fragility of their connections. A more common
method of temporary construction for the hobbyist is the solderless breadboard, a device made of
plastic with hundreds of spring-loaded connection sockets joining the inserted ends of components
and/or 22-gauge solid wire pieces. A photograph of a real breadboard is shown here, followed by an
illustration showing a simple series circuit constructed on one:
Schematic
diagram
Real circuit using a solderless breadboard
-
+
Battery
Underneath each hole in the breadboard face is a metal spring clip, designed to grasp any inserted
wire or component lead. These metal spring clips are joined underneath the breadboard face, making
connections between inserted leads. The connection pattern joins every five holes along a vertical
column (as shown with the long axis of the breadboard situated horizontally):
Lines show common connections

underneath board between holes
Thus, when a wire or component lead is inserted into a hole on the breadboard, there are four
more holes in that column providing potential connection points to other wires and/or component
leads. The result is an extremely flexible platform for constructing temporary circuits. For example,
the three-resistor circuit just shown could also be built on a breadboard like this:
Schematic
diagram
-
+
Battery
A parallel circuit is also easy to construct on a solderless breadboard:
Schematic
diagram
-
+
Battery
Breadboards have their limitations, though. First and foremost, they are intended for temporary
construction only. If you pick up a breadboard, turn it upside-down, and shake it, any components
plugged into it are sure to loosen, and may fall out of their respective holes. Also, breadboards are
limited to fairly low-current (less than 1 amp) circuits. Those spring clips have a small contact area,
and thus cannot support high currents without excessive heating.
For greater permanence, one might wish to choose soldering or wire-wrapping. These techniques
involve fastening the components and wires to some structure providing a secure mechanical location
(such as a phenolic or fiberglass board with holes drilled in it, much like a breadboard without
the intrinsic spring-clip connections), and then attaching wires to the secured component leads.
Soldering is a form of low-temperature welding, using a tin/lead or tin/silver alloy that melts to and
electrically bonds copper objects. Wire ends soldered to component leads or to small, copper ring
”pads” bonded on the surface of the circuit board serve to connect the components together. In wire
wrapping, a small-gauge wire is tightly wrapped around component leads rather than soldered to
leads or copper pads, the tension of the wrapped wire providing a sound mechanical and electrical
junction to connect components together.
An example of a printed circuit board, or PCB, intended for hobbyist use is shown in this pho-
tograph:
This board appears copper-side-up: the side where all the soldering is done. Each hole is ringed
with a small layer of copper metal for bonding to the solder. All holes are independent of each other
on this particular board, unlike the holes on a solderless breadboard which are connected together
in groups of five. Printed circuit boards with the same 5-hole connection pattern as breadboards
can be purchased and used for hobby circuit construction, though.
Production printed circuit boards have traces of copper laid down on the phenolic or fiberglass
substrate material to form pre-engineered connection pathways which function as wires in a circuit.
An example of such a board is shown here, this unit actually a ”power supply” circuit designed to
take 120 volt alternating current (AC) power from a household wall socket and transform it into
low-voltage direct current (DC). A resistor appears on this board, the fifth component counting up
from the bottom, located in the middle-right area of the board.
A view of this board’s underside reveals the copper ”traces” connecting components together, as
well as the silver-colored deposits of solder bonding the component leads to those traces:
A soldered or wire-wrapped circuit is considered permanent: that is, it is unlikely to fall apart
accidently. However, these construction techniques are sometimes considered too permanent. If
anyone wishes to replace a component or change the circuit in any substantial way, they must invest
a fair amount of time undoing the connections. Also, both soldering and wire-wrapping require
specialized tools which may not be immediately available.
An alternative construction technique used throughout the industrial world is that of the terminal
strip. Terminal strips, alternatively called barrier strips or terminal blocks, are comprised of a length
of nonconducting material with several small bars of metal embedded within. Each metal bar has
at least one machine screw or other fastener under which a wire or component lead may be secured.
Multiple wires fastened by one screw are made electrically common to each other, as are wires
fastened to multiple screws on the same bar. The following photograph shows one style of terminal
strip, with a few wires attached.
Another, smaller terminal strip is shown in this next photograph. This type, sometimes referred
to as a ”European” style, has recessed screws to help prevent accidental shorting between terminals
by a screwdriver or other metal object:
In the following illustration, a single-battery, three-resistor circuit is shown constructed on a

terminal strip:
Series circuit constructed on a

terminal strip
-
+
If the terminal strip uses machine screws to hold the component and wire ends, nothing but
a screwdriver is needed to secure new connections or break old connections. Some terminal strips
use spring-loaded clips – similar to a breadboard’s except for increased ruggedness – engaged and
disengaged using a screwdriver as a push tool (no twisting involved). The electrical connections
established by a terminal strip are quite robust, and are considered suitable for both permanent and
temporary construction.
One of the essential skills for anyone interested in electricity and electronics is to be able to
”translate” a schematic diagram to a real circuit layout where the components may not be oriented
the same way. Schematic diagrams are usually drawn for maximum readability (excepting those few
noteworthy examples sketched to create maximum confusion!), but practical circuit construction
often demands a different component orientation. Building simple circuits on terminal strips is one
way to develop the spatial-reasoning skill of ”stretching” wires to make the same connection paths.
Consider the case of a single-battery, three-resistor parallel circuit constructed on a terminal strip:
Schematic diagram
Real circuit using a terminal strip
-
+
Progressing from a nice, neat, schematic diagram to the real circuit – especially when the resistors
to be connected are physically arranged in a linear fashion on the terminal strip – is not obvious to
many, so I’ll outline the process step-by-step. First, start with the clean schematic diagram and all
components secured to the terminal strip, with no connecting wires:
Schematic diagram
-
+
Next, trace the wire connection from one side of the battery to the first component in the
schematic, securing a connecting wire between the same two points on the real circuit. I find it
helpful to over-draw the schematic’s wire with another line to indicate what connections I’ve made
in real life:
Schematic diagram
-
+
Continue this process, wire by wire, until all connections in the schematic diagram have been
accounted for. It might be helpful to regard common wires in a SPICE-like fashion: make all
connections to a common wire in the circuit as one step, making sure each and every component
with a connection to that wire actually has a connection to that wire before proceeding to the next.
For the next step, I’ll show how the top sides of the remaining two resistors are connected together,
being common with the wire secured in the previous step:
Schematic diagram
-
+
With the top sides of all resistors (as shown in the schematic) connected together, and to the
battery’s positive (+) terminal, all we have to do now is connect the bottom sides together and to
the other side of the battery:
Schematic diagram
-
+
Typically in industry, all wires are labeled with number tags, and electrically common wires bear
the same tag number, just as they do in a SPICE simulation. In this case, we could label the wires
1 and 2:
1 1 1 1 1 1
1 1
2 2
2 2 2 2 2 2
Common wire numbers representing

electrically common points
1 2 1 2 1 2
2 1 2 1 2
1 1 1 2 1 2
-
+
Another industrial convention is to modify the schematic diagram slightly so as to indicate actual
wire connection points on the terminal strip. This demands a labeling system for the strip itself: a
”TB” number (terminal block number) for the strip, followed by another number representing each
metal bar on the strip.
1 1 1 1 1 1
1 TB1-1 TB1-6 TB1-11 1
2 TB1-5 TB1-10 TB1-15 2
2 2 2 2 2 2
Terminal strip bars labeled and

connection points referenced in diagram
1 2 1 2 1 2
TB1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
2 1 2 1 2
1 1 1 2 1 2
-
+
This way, the schematic may be used as a ”map” to locate points in a real circuit, regardless of
how tangled and complex the connecting wiring may appear to the eyes. This may seem excessive for
the simple, three-resistor circuit shown here, but such detail is absolutely necessary for construction
and maintenance of large circuits, especially when those circuits may span a great physical distance,
using more than one terminal strip located in more than one panel or box.
• REVIEW:
• A solderless breadboard is a device used to quickly assemble temporary circuits by plugging

wires and components into electrically common spring-clips arranged underneath rows of holes
in a plastic board.
• Soldering is a low-temperature welding process utilizing a lead/tin or tin/silver alloy to bond

wires and component leads together, usually with the components secured to a fiberglass board.
• Wire-wrapping is an alternative to soldering, involving small-gauge wire tightly wrapped

around component leads rather than a welded joint to connect components together.
• A terminal strip, also known as a barrier strip or terminal block is another device used to
mount components and wires to build circuits. Screw terminals or heavy spring clips attached
to metal bars provide connection points for the wire ends and component leads, these metal
bars mounted separately to a piece of nonconducting material such as plastic, bakelite, or
ceramic.
5.9 Contributors
second edition.
Ron LaPlante (October 1998): helped create ”table” method of series and parallel circuit
analysis.
Chapter 6
DIVIDER CIRCUITS AND

KIRCHHOFF’S LAWS
6.1 Voltage divider circuits
Let’s analyze a simple series circuit, determining the voltage drops across individual resistors:
R1
5 kΩ
+
45 V 10 kΩ R2
-
7.5 kΩ
R3
R1 R2 R3 Total
E 45 Volts
I Amps
R 5k 10k 7.5k Ohms
From the given values of individual resistances, we can determine a total circuit resistance,
knowing that resistances add in series:
165
166 CHAPTER 6. DIVIDER CIRCUITS AND KIRCHHOFF’S LAWS
R1 R2 R3 Total
E 45 Volts
I Amps
R 5k 10k 7.5k 22.5k Ohms
From here, we can use Ohm’s Law (I=E/R) to determine the total current, which we know will
be the same as each resistor current, currents being equal in all parts of a series circuit:
R1 R2 R3 Total
E 45 Volts
I 2m 2m 2m 2m Amps
R 5k 10k 7.5k 22.5k Ohms
Now, knowing that the circuit current is 2 mA, we can use Ohm’s Law (E=IR) to calculate
voltage across each resistor:
R1 R2 R3 Total
E 10 20 15 45 Volts
I 2m 2m 2m 2m Amps
R 5k 10k 7.5k 22.5k Ohms
It should be apparent that the voltage drop across each resistor is proportional to its resistance,
given that the current is the same through all resistors. Notice how the voltage across R 2 is double
that of the voltage across R1 , just as the resistance of R2 is double that of R1 .
If we were to change the total voltage, we would find this proportionality of voltage drops remains
constant:
R1 R2 R3 Total
E 40 80 60 180 Volts
I 8m 8m 8m 8m Amps
R 5k 10k 7.5k 22.5k Ohms
The voltage across R2 is still exactly twice that of R1 ’s drop, despite the fact that the source
voltage has changed. The proportionality of voltage drops (ratio of one to another) is strictly a
function of resistance values.
With a little more observation, it becomes apparent that the voltage drop across each resistor is
also a fixed proportion of the supply voltage. The voltage across R1 , for example, was 10 volts when
the battery supply was 45 volts. When the battery voltage was increased to 180 volts (4 times as
much), the voltage drop across R1 also increased by a factor of 4 (from 10 to 40 volts). The ratio
between R1 ’s voltage drop and total voltage, however, did not change:
6.1. VOLTAGE DIVIDER CIRCUITS 167
ER1 10 V 40 V
= = = 0.22222
Etotal 45 V 180 V
Likewise, none of the other voltage drop ratios changed with the increased supply voltage either:
ER2 20 V 80 V
= = = 0.44444
Etotal 45 V 180 V
ER3 15 V 60 V
= = = 0.33333
Etotal 45 V 180 V
For this reason a series circuit is often called a voltage divider for its ability to proportion – or
divide – the total voltage into fractional portions of constant ratio. With a little bit of algebra,
we can derive a formula for determining series resistor voltage drop given nothing more than total
voltage, individual resistance, and total resistance:
Voltage drop across any resistor En = In Rn
Etotal
Current in a series circuit Itotal =
Rtotal
Etotal
. . . Substituting for In in the first equation . . .
Rtotal
Etotal
Voltage drop across any series resistor En = Rn
Rtotal
. . . or . . .
Rn
En = Etotal
Rtotal
The ratio of individual resistance to total resistance is the same as the ratio of individual voltage
drop to total supply voltage in a voltage divider circuit. This is known as the voltage divider formula,
and it is a short-cut method for determining voltage drop in a series circuit without going through
the current calculation(s) of Ohm’s Law.
Using this formula, we can re-analyze the example circuit’s voltage drops in fewer steps:
R1
5 kΩ
+
45 V 10 kΩ R2
-
7.5 kΩ
R3
5 kΩ
ER1 = 45 V = 10 V
22.5 kΩ
10 kΩ
ER2 =45 V = 20 V
22.5 kΩ
7.5 kΩ
ER3 =45 V = 15 V
22.5 kΩ
Voltage dividers find wide application in electric meter circuits, where specific combinations of se-
ries resistors are used to ”divide” a voltage into precise proportions as part of a voltage measurement
device.
R1
Input
voltage
R2 Divided
voltage
One device frequently used as a voltage-dividing component is the potentiometer, which is a

resistor with a movable element positioned by a manual knob or lever. The movable element,
typically called a wiper, makes contact with a resistive strip of material (commonly called the
slidewire if made of resistive metal wire) at any point selected by the manual control:
1
Potentiometer
wiper contact
2
The wiper contact is the left-facing arrow symbol drawn in the middle of the vertical resistor
element. As it is moved up, it contacts the resistive strip closer to terminal 1 and further away from
terminal 2, lowering resistance to terminal 1 and raising resistance to terminal 2. As it is moved
down, the opposite effect results. The resistance as measured between terminals 1 and 2 is constant
for any wiper position.
1 1
less resistance
more resistance
more resistance
less resistance
2 2
Shown here are internal illustrations of two potentiometer types, rotary and linear:
Terminals
Rotary potentiometer
construction
Wiper
Resistive strip
Linear potentiometer construction
Wiper
Resistive strip
Terminals
Some linear potentiometers are actuated by straight-line motion of a lever or slide button. Others,
like the one depicted in the previous illustration, are actuated by a turn-screw for fine adjustment
ability. The latter units are sometimes referred to as trimpots, because they work well for applications
requiring a variable resistance to be ”trimmed” to some precise value. It should be noted that not
all linear potentiometers have the same terminal assignments as shown in this illustration. With
some, the wiper terminal is in the middle, between the two end terminals.
The following photograph shows a real, rotary potentiometer with exposed wiper and slidewire
for easy viewing. The shaft which moves the wiper has been turned almost fully clockwise so that
the wiper is nearly touching the left terminal end of the slidewire:
Here is the same potentiometer with the wiper shaft moved almost to the full-counterclockwise
position, so that the wiper is near the other extreme end of travel:
If a constant voltage is applied between the outer terminals (across the length of the slidewire),
the wiper position will tap off a fraction of the applied voltage, measurable between the wiper contact
and either of the other two terminals. The fractional value depends entirely on the physical position
of the wiper:
Using a potentiometer as a variable voltage divider
more voltage less voltage
Just like the fixed voltage divider, the potentiometer’s voltage division ratio is strictly a function
of resistance and not of the magnitude of applied voltage. In other words, if the potentiometer
knob or lever is moved to the 50 percent (exact center) position, the voltage dropped between
wiper and either outside terminal would be exactly 1/2 of the applied voltage, no matter what that
voltage happens to be, or what the end-to-end resistance of the potentiometer is. In other words, a
potentiometer functions as a variable voltage divider where the voltage division ratio is set by wiper
position.
This application of the potentiometer is a very useful means of obtaining a variable voltage from
a fixed-voltage source such as a battery. If a circuit you’re building requires a certain amount of
voltage that is less than the value of an available battery’s voltage, you may connect the outer
terminals of a potentiometer across that battery and ”dial up” whatever voltage you need between
the potentiometer wiper and one of the outer terminals for use in your circuit:
Adjust potentiometer
to obtain desired
voltage
Battery
+
V
-
Circuit requiring
less voltage than
what the battery
provides
When used in this manner, the name potentiometer makes perfect sense: they meter (control)
the potential (voltage) applied across them by creating a variable voltage-divider ratio. This use of
the three-terminal potentiometer as a variable voltage divider is very popular in circuit design.
Shown here are several small potentiometers of the kind commonly used in consumer electronic
equipment and by hobbyists and students in constructing circuits:
The smaller units on the very left and very right are designed to plug into a solderless breadboard
or be soldered into a printed circuit board. The middle units are designed to be mounted on a flat
panel with wires soldered to each of the three terminals.
6.2. KIRCHHOFF’S VOLTAGE LAW (KVL) 173
Here are three more potentiometers, more specialized than the set just shown:
The large ”Helipot” unit is a laboratory potentiometer designed for quick and easy connection
to a circuit. The unit in the lower-left corner of the photograph is the same type of potentiometer,
just without a case or 10-turn counting dial. Both of these potentiometers are precision units, using
multi-turn helical-track resistance strips and wiper mechanisms for making small adjustments. The
unit on the lower-right is a panel-mount potentiometer, designed for rough service in industrial
applications.
• REVIEW:
• Series circuits proportion, or divide, the total supply voltage among individual voltage drops,
the proportions being strictly dependent upon resistances: ERn = ET otal (Rn / RT otal )
• A potentiometer is a variable-resistance component with three connection points, frequently

used as an adjustable voltage divider.
6.2 Kirchhoff ’s Voltage Law (KVL)
Let’s take another look at our example series circuit, this time numbering the points in the circuit
for voltage reference:
R1
2 3
+ -
5 kΩ
+ +
45 V 10 kΩ R2
- -
7.5 k Ω
- +
1 4
R3
If we were to connect a voltmeter between points 2 and 1, red test lead to point 2 and black test
lead to point 1, the meter would register +45 volts. Typically the ”+” sign is not shown, but rather
implied, for positive readings in digital meter displays. However, for this lesson the polarity of the
voltage reading is very important and so I will show positive numbers explicitly:
E2-1 = +45 V
When a voltage is specified with a double subscript (the characters ”2-1” in the notation ”E 2−1 ”),
it means the voltage at the first point (2) as measured in reference to the second point (1). A voltage
specified as ”Ecg ” would mean the voltage as indicated by a digital meter with the red test lead on
point ”c” and the black test lead on point ”g”: the voltage at ”c” in reference to ”g”.
V A
The meaning of
Ecd
V A
OFF
A COM
Black Red
... ...
d c
If we were to take that same voltmeter and measure the voltage drop across each resistor, stepping
around the circuit in a clockwise direction with the red test lead of our meter on the point ahead
and the black test lead on the point behind, we would obtain the following readings:
E3-2 = -10 V
E4-3 = -20 V
E1-4 = -15 V
E3-2
-10
VΩ
A COM
E2-1 R1
2 3 E4-3
+45 + -
5 kΩ -20
+ +
VΩ
A COM
45 V 10 kΩ R2 VΩ
A COM
- -
7.5 k Ω
- +
1 4
R3
-15
VΩ
A COM
E1-4
We should already be familiar with the general principle for series circuits stating that individual
voltage drops add up to the total applied voltage, but measuring voltage drops in this manner and
paying attention to the polarity (mathematical sign) of the readings reveals another facet of this
principle: that the voltages measured as such all add up to zero:
E2-1 = +45 V voltage from point 2to point 1

E3-2 = -10 V voltage from point 3to point 2
+ E1-4 = -15 V voltage from point 1to point 4
0V
This principle is known as Kirchhoff ’s Voltage Law (discovered in 1847 by Gustav R. Kirchhoff,
a German physicist), and it can be stated as such:
”The algebraic sum of all voltages in a loop must equal zero”
By algebraic, I mean accounting for signs (polarities) as well as magnitudes. By loop, I mean any
path traced from one point in a circuit around to other points in that circuit, and finally back to the
initial point. In the above example the loop was formed by following points in this order: 1-2-3-4-1.
It doesn’t matter which point we start at or which direction we proceed in tracing the loop; the
voltage sum will still equal zero. To demonstrate, we can tally up the voltages in loop 3-2-1-4-3 of
the same circuit:
+ E3-4 = +20 V voltage from point 3to point 4
0V
This may make more sense if we re-draw our example series circuit so that all components are
represented in a straight line:
current
2 R1 3 R2 4 R3 1 2
+5 kΩ - + - + - -
+
10 kΩ 7.5 kΩ 45 V
current
It’s still the same series circuit, just with the components arranged in a different form. Notice the
polarities of the resistor voltage drops with respect to the battery: the battery’s voltage is negative
on the left and positive on the right, whereas all the resistor voltage drops are oriented the other
way: positive on the left and negative on the right. This is because the resistors are resisting the
flow of electrons being pushed by the battery. In other words, the ”push” exerted by the resistors
against the flow of electrons must be in a direction opposite the source of electromotive force.
Here we see what a digital voltmeter would indicate across each component in this circuit, black
lead on the left and red lead on the right, as laid out in horizontal fashion:
current
2 R1 3 R2 4 R3 1 2
+ - + - + - -
+
5 kΩ 10 kΩ 7.5 kΩ 45 V
-10 -20 -15 +45
VΩ VΩ VΩ VΩ
A COM A COM A COM A COM
-10 V -20 V -15 V +45 V

E3-2 E4-3 E1-4 E2-1
If we were to take that same voltmeter and read voltage across combinations of components,
starting with only R1 on the left and progressing across the whole string of components, we will see
how the voltages add algebraically (to zero):
current
2 R1 3 R2 4 R3 1 2
+ - + - + - -
+
5 kΩ 10 kΩ 7.5 kΩ 45 V
-10 -20 -15 +45
VΩ VΩ VΩ VΩ
A COM A COM A COM A COM
E3-2 E4-3 E1-4 E2-1

-30
-30 V
VΩ
A COM
E4-2
-45
-45 V
VΩ
A COM
E1-2
0
0V
VΩ
A COM
E2-2
The fact that series voltages add up should be no mystery, but we notice that the polarity of
these voltages makes a lot of difference in how the figures add. While reading voltage across R 1 ,
R1 −−R2 , and R1 −−R2 −−R3 (I’m using a ”double-dash” symbol ”−−” to represent the series
connection between resistors R1 , R2 , and R3 ), we see how the voltages measure successively larger
(albeit negative) magnitudes, because the polarities of the individual voltage drops are in the same
orientation (positive left, negative right). The sum of the voltage drops across R 1 , R2 , and R3 equals
45 volts, which is the same as the battery’s output, except that the battery’s polarity is opposite
that of the resistor voltage drops (negative left, positive right), so we end up with 0 volts measured
across the whole string of components.
That we should end up with exactly 0 volts across the whole string should be no mystery, either.
Looking at the circuit, we can see that the far left of the string (left side of R 1 : point number 2) is
directly connected to the far right of the string (right side of battery: point number 2), as necessary
to complete the circuit. Since these two points are directly connected, they are electrically common
to each other. And, as such, the voltage between those two electrically common points must be zero.
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (sometimes denoted as KVL for short) will work for any circuit config-
uration at all, not just simple series. Note how it works for this parallel circuit:
1 2 3 4
+ + + +
6V R1 R2 R3
- - - -
8 7 6 5
Being a parallel circuit, the voltage across every resistor is the same as the supply voltage: 6
volts. Tallying up voltages around loop 2-3-4-5-6-7-2, we get:
E3-2 = 0V voltage from point 3to point 2

+ E2-7 = +6 V voltage from point 2to point 7
E2-2 = 0 V
Note how I label the final (sum) voltage as E2−2 . Since we began our loop-stepping sequence at
point 2 and ended at point 2, the algebraic sum of those voltages will be the same as the voltage
measured between the same point (E2−2 ), which of course must be zero.
The fact that this circuit is parallel instead of series has nothing to do with the validity of
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law. For that matter, the circuit could be a ”black box” – its component
configuration completely hidden from our view, with only a set of exposed terminals for us to
measure voltage between – and KVL would still hold true:
+ 5V -
-
8V
+ + +
+ 8V 3V
10 V - -
-
+
11 V
-
2V +
-
Try any order of steps from any terminal in the above diagram, stepping around back to the
original terminal, and you’ll find that the algebraic sum of the voltages always equals zero.
Furthermore, the ”loop” we trace for KVL doesn’t even have to be a real current path in the
closed-circuit sense of the word. All we have to do to comply with KVL is to begin and end at
the same point in the circuit, tallying voltage drops and polarities as we go between the next and
the last point. Consider this absurd example, tracing ”loop” 2-3-6-3-2 in the same parallel resistor
circuit:
1 2 3 4
+ + + +
6V R1 R2 R3
- - - -
8 7 6 5

+ E2-3 = 0V voltage from point 2to point 3
E2-2 = 0V
KVL can be used to determine an unknown voltage in a complex circuit, where all other voltages
around a particular ”loop” are known. Take the following complex circuit (actually two series circuits
joined by a single wire at the bottom) as an example:
1 2 5 6
+ -
15 V 13 V
+ - + -
35 V 25 V
3 4
- + - +
20 V 12 V
- +
7 8 9 10
To make the problem simpler, I’ve omitted resistance values and simply given voltage drops
across each resistor. The two series circuits share a common wire between them (wire 7-8-9-10),
making voltage measurements between the two circuits possible. If we wanted to determine the
voltage between points 4 and 3, we could set up a KVL equation with the voltage between those
points as the unknown:
E4-3 + E9-4 + E8-9 + E3-8 = 0
E4-3 + 12 + 0 + 20 = 0
E4-3 + 32 = 0
E4-3 = -32 V
1 2 5 6
+ -
15 V ??? 13 V
+ - + -
35 V VΩ
25 V
3 A COM
4
- + - +
20 V 12 V
- +
7 8 9 10
Measuring voltage from point 4 to point 3 (unknown amount)
E4-3
1 2 5 6
+ -
15 V 13 V
+ - + -
35 V 25 V
3 4
- + +12 - +
20 V 12 V
VΩ
- A COM
+
7 8 9 10
Measuring voltage from point 9 to point 4 (+12 volts)
E4-3 + 12
1 2 5 6
+ -
15 V 13 V
+ - + -
35 V 0 25 V
3 4
- + - +
VΩ
A COM
20 V 12 V
- +
7 8 9 10
Measuring voltage from point 8 to point 9 (0 volts)
E4-3 + 12 + 0
1 2 5 6
+ -
15 V 13 V
+ - + -
35 V +20 25 V
3 4
- + - +
VΩ
A COM
20 V 12 V
- +
7 8 9 10
Measuring voltage from point 3 to point 8 (+20 volts)
E4-3 + 12 + 0 + 20 = 0
Stepping around the loop 3-4-9-8-3, we write the voltage drop figures as a digital voltmeter would
register them, measuring with the red test lead on the point ahead and black test lead on the point
behind as we progress around the loop. Therefore, the voltage from point 9 to point 4 is a positive
(+) 12 volts because the ”red lead” is on point 9 and the ”black lead” is on point 4. The voltage
from point 3 to point 8 is a positive (+) 20 volts because the ”red lead” is on point 3 and the ”black
lead” is on point 8. The voltage from point 8 to point 9 is zero, of course, because those two points
are electrically common.
Our final answer for the voltage from point 4 to point 3 is a negative (-) 32 volts, telling us that
point 3 is actually positive with respect to point 4, precisely what a digital voltmeter would indicate
with the red lead on point 4 and the black lead on point 3:
1 2 5 6
+ -
15 V -32 13 V
+ - + -
35 V VΩ
25 V
3 A COM
4
- + - +
20 V 12 V
- +
7 8 9 10
E4-3 = -32
In other words, the initial placement of our ”meter leads” in this KVL problem was ”backwards.”
Had we generated our KVL equation starting with E3−4 instead of E4−3 , stepping around the same
loop with the opposite meter lead orientation, the final answer would have been E 3−4 = +32 volts:
1 2 5 6
+ -
15 V +32 13 V
+ - + -
35 V VΩ
25 V
3 A COM
4
- + - +
20 V 12 V
- +
7 8 9 10
E3-4 = +32
It is important to realize that neither approach is ”wrong.” In both cases, we arrive at the correct
assessment of voltage between the two points, 3 and 4: point 3 is positive with respect to point 4,
and the voltage between them is 32 volts.
• REVIEW:
• Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL): ”The algebraic sum of all voltages in a loop must equal zero”
6.3 Current divider circuits
Let’s analyze a simple parallel circuit, determining the branch currents through individual resistors:
+ + + +
6V R1 R2 R3
- - 1 kΩ - 3 kΩ - 2 kΩ
Knowing that voltages across all components in a parallel circuit are the same, we can fill in our
voltage/current/resistance table with 6 volts across the top row:
R1 R2 R3 Total
E 6 6 6 6 Volts
I Amps
R 1k 3k 2k Ohms
Using Ohm’s Law (I=E/R) we can calculate each branch current:
R1 R2 R3 Total
E 6 6 6 6 Volts
I 6m 2m 3m Amps
R 1k 3k 2k Ohms
Knowing that branch currents add up in parallel circuits to equal the total current, we can arrive
at total current by summing 6 mA, 2 mA, and 3 mA:
R1 R2 R3 Total
E 6 6 6 6 Volts
I 6m 2m 3m 11m Amps
R 1k 3k 2k Ohms
The final step, of course, is to figure total resistance. This can be done with Ohm’s Law (R=E/I)
in the ”total” column, or with the parallel resistance formula from individual resistances. Either
way, we’ll get the same answer:
6.3. CURRENT DIVIDER CIRCUITS 185
R1 R2 R3 Total
E 6 6 6 6 Volts
I 6m 2m 3m 11m Amps
R 1k 3k 2k 545.45 Ohms
Once again, it should be apparent that the current through each resistor is related to its resistance,
given that the voltage across all resistors is the same. Rather than being directly proportional, the
relationship here is one of inverse proportion. For example, the current through R 1 is half as much
as the current through R3 , which has twice the resistance of R1 .
If we were to change the supply voltage of this circuit, we find that (surprise!) these proportional
ratios do not change:
R1 R2 R3 Total
E 24 24 24 24 Volts
R 1k 3k 2k 545.45 Ohms
The current through R1 is still exactly twice that of R2 , despite the fact that the source volt-
age has changed. The proportionality between different branch currents is strictly a function of
resistance.
Also reminiscent of voltage dividers is the fact that branch currents are fixed proportions of the
total current. Despite the fourfold increase in supply voltage, the ratio between any branch current
and the total current remains unchanged:
IR1 6 mA 24 mA
= = = 0.54545
Itotal 11 mA 44 mA
IR2 2 mA 8 mA
= = = 0.18182
Itotal 11 mA 44 mA
IR3 3 mA 12 mA
= = = 0.27273
Itotal 11 mA 44 mA
For this reason a parallel circuit is often called a current divider for its ability to proportion – or
divide – the total current into fractional parts. With a little bit of algebra, we can derive a formula
for determining parallel resistor current given nothing more than total current, individual resistance,
and total resistance:
En
Current through any resistor In =
Rn
Voltage in a parallel circuit Etotal = En = Itotal Rtotal
. . . Substituting Itotal Rtotal for En in the first equation . . .
Itotal Rtotal
Current through any parallel resistor In =
Rn
. . . or . . .
Rtotal
In = Itotal
Rn
The ratio of total resistance to individual resistance is the same ratio as individual (branch)
current to total current. This is known as the current divider formula, and it is a short-cut method
for determining branch currents in a parallel circuit when the total current is known.
Using the original parallel circuit as an example, we can re-calculate the branch currents using
this formula, if we start by knowing the total current and total resistance:
545.45 Ω
IR1 = 11 mA = 6 mA
1 kΩ
545.45 Ω
IR2 = 11 mA = 2 mA
3 kΩ
545.45 Ω
IR3 = 11 mA = 3 mA
2 kΩ
If you take the time to compare the two divider formulae, you’ll see that they are remarkably
similar. Notice, however, that the ratio in the voltage divider formula is R n (individual resistance)
divided by RT otal , and how the ratio in the current divider formula is RT otal divided by Rn :
6.4. KIRCHHOFF’S CURRENT LAW (KCL) 187
Voltage divider Current divider

formula formula
Rn Rtotal
En = Etotal In = Itotal
Rtotal Rn
It is quite easy to confuse these two equations, getting the resistance ratios backwards. One way
to help remember the proper form is to keep in mind that both ratios in the voltage and current
divider equations must equal less than one. After all these are divider equations, not multiplier
equations! If the fraction is upside-down, it will provide a ratio greater than one, which is incorrect.
Knowing that total resistance in a series (voltage divider) circuit is always greater than any of
the individual resistances, we know that the fraction for that formula must be R n over RT otal .
Conversely, knowing that total resistance in a parallel (current divider) circuit is always less then
any of the individual resistances, we know that the fraction for that formula must be R T otal over
Rn .
Current divider circuits also find application in electric meter circuits, where a fraction of a
measured current is desired to be routed through a sensitive detection device. Using the current
divider formula, the proper shunt resistor can be sized to proportion just the right amount of current
for the device in any given instance:
Itotal Rshunt Itotal
fraction of total
current
sensitive device
• REVIEW:
• Parallel circuits proportion, or ”divide,” the total circuit current among individual branch
currents, the proportions being strictly dependent upon resistances: In = IT otal (RT otal / Rn )
6.4 Kirchhoff ’s Current Law (KCL)

Let’s take a closer look at that last parallel example circuit:
1 2 3 4
Itotal
+ + + +
6V IR1 R1 IR2 R2 IR3 R3
- - 1 kΩ - 3 kΩ - 2 kΩ
Itotal
8 7 6 5
Solving for all values of voltage and current in this circuit:
R1 R2 R3 Total
E 6 6 6 6 Volts
I 6m 2m 3m 11m Amps
R 1k 3k 2k 545.45 Ohms
At this point, we know the value of each branch current and of the total current in the circuit.
We know that the total current in a parallel circuit must equal the sum of the branch currents,
but there’s more going on in this circuit than just that. Taking a look at the currents at each wire
junction point (node) in the circuit, we should be able to see something else:
IR1 + IR2 + IR3 IR2 + IR3 IR3

1 2 3 4
Itotal
+ + + +
6V IR1 R1 IR2 R2 IR3 R3
- - 1 kΩ - 3 kΩ - 2 kΩ
Itotal
8 IR1 + IR2 + IR3 7 IR2 + IR3 6 IR3 5
At each node on the negative ”rail” (wire 8-7-6-5) we have current splitting off the main flow to
each successive branch resistor. At each node on the positive ”rail” (wire 1-2-3-4) we have current
merging together to form the main flow from each successive branch resistor. This fact should be
fairly obvious if you think of the water pipe circuit analogy with every branch node acting as a ”tee”
fitting, the water flow splitting or merging with the main piping as it travels from the output of the
water pump toward the return reservoir or sump.
If we were to take a closer look at one particular ”tee” node, such as node 3, we see that the
current entering the node is equal in magnitude to the current exiting the node:
IR2 + IR3 IR3

3
+
IR2 R2
- 3 kΩ
From the right and from the bottom, we have two currents entering the wire connection labeled
as node 3. To the left, we have a single current exiting the node equal in magnitude to the sum
of the two currents entering. To refer to the plumbing analogy: so long as there are no leaks in
the piping, what flow enters the fitting must also exit the fitting. This holds true for any node
(”fitting”), no matter how many flows are entering or exiting. Mathematically, we can express this
general relationship as such:
Iexiting = Ientering
Mr. Kirchhoff decided to express it in a slightly different form (though mathematically equiva-
lent), calling it Kirchhoff ’s Current Law (KCL):
Ientering + (-Iexiting) = 0
Summarized in a phrase, Kirchhoff’s Current Law reads as such:
”The algebraic sum of all currents entering and exiting a node must equal
zero”
That is, if we assign a mathematical sign (polarity) to each current, denoting whether they enter
(+) or exit (-) a node, we can add them together to arrive at a total of zero, guaranteed.
Taking our example node (number 3), we can determine the magnitude of the current exiting
from the left by setting up a KCL equation with that current as the unknown value:
I2 + I3 + I = 0
2 mA + 3 mA + I = 0
. . . solving for I . . .
I = -2 mA - 3 mA
I = -5 mA
The negative (-) sign on the value of 5 milliamps tells us that the current is exiting the node, as
opposed to the 2 milliamp and 3 milliamp currents, which must were both positive (and therefore
entering the node). Whether negative or positive denotes current entering or exiting is entirely
arbitrary, so long as they are opposite signs for opposite directions and we stay consistent in our
notation, KCL will work.
Together, Kirchhoff’s Voltage and Current Laws are a formidable pair of tools useful in analyzing
electric circuits. Their usefulness will become all the more apparent in a later chapter (”Network
Analysis”), but suffice it to say that these Laws deserve to be memorized by the electronics student
every bit as much as Ohm’s Law.
• REVIEW:
• Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL): ”The algebraic sum of all currents entering and exiting a
node must equal zero”
6.5 Contributors
second edition.
analysis.
Chapter 7
SERIES-PARALLEL
COMBINATION CIRCUITS
7.1 What is a series-parallel circuit?
With simple series circuits, all components are connected end-to-end to form only one path for
electrons to flow through the circuit:
Series
R1
1 2
+
R2
-
4 R3 3
With simple parallel circuits, all components are connected between the same two sets of elec-
trically common points, creating multiple paths for electrons to flow from one end of the battery to
the other:
191
192 CHAPTER 7. SERIES-PARALLEL COMBINATION CIRCUITS
Parallel
1 2 3 4
+
R1 R2 R3
-
8 7 6 5
With each of these two basic circuit configurations, we have specific sets of rules describing
voltage, current, and resistance relationships.
• Series Circuits:
• Voltage drops add to equal total voltage.
• All components share the same (equal) current.
• Resistances add to equal total resistance.
• Parallel Circuits:
• All components share the same (equal) voltage.
• Branch currents add to equal total current.
• Resistances diminish to equal total resistance.
However, if circuit components are series-connected in some parts and parallel in others, we won’t
be able to apply a single set of rules to every part of that circuit. Instead, we will have to identify
which parts of that circuit are series and which parts are parallel, then selectively apply series and
parallel rules as necessary to determine what is happening. Take the following circuit, for instance:
7.1. WHAT IS A SERIES-PARALLEL CIRCUIT? 193
A series-parallel combination circuit
100 Ω R1 R2 250 Ω
24 V
350 Ω R3 R4 200 Ω
R1 R2 R3 R4 Total
E 24 Volts
I Amps
R 100 250 350 200 Ohms
This circuit is neither simple series nor simple parallel. Rather, it contains elements of both.
The current exits the bottom of the battery, splits up to travel through R3 and R4 , rejoins, then
splits up again to travel through R1 and R2 , then rejoins again to return to the top of the battery.
There exists more than one path for current to travel (not series), yet there are more than two sets
of electrically common points in the circuit (not parallel).
Because the circuit is a combination of both series and parallel, we cannot apply the rules for
voltage, current, and resistance ”across the table” to begin analysis like we could when the circuits
were one way or the other. For instance, if the above circuit were simple series, we could just add up
R1 through R4 to arrive at a total resistance, solve for total current, and then solve for all voltage
drops. Likewise, if the above circuit were simple parallel, we could just solve for branch currents,
add up branch currents to figure the total current, and then calculate total resistance from total
voltage and total current. However, this circuit’s solution will be more complex.
The table will still help us manage the different values for series-parallel combination circuits,
but we’ll have to be careful how and where we apply the different rules for series and parallel. Ohm’s
Law, of course, still works just the same for determining values within a vertical column in the table.
If we are able to identify which parts of the circuit are series and which parts are parallel, we can
analyze it in stages, approaching each part one at a time, using the appropriate rules to determine
the relationships of voltage, current, and resistance. The rest of this chapter will be devoted to
showing you techniques for doing this.
• REVIEW:
• The rules of series and parallel circuits must be applied selectively to circuits containing both
types of interconnections.
7.2 Analysis technique

The goal of series-parallel resistor circuit analysis is to be able to determine all voltage drops,
currents, and power dissipations in a circuit. The general strategy to accomplish this goal is as
follows:
• Step 1: Assess which resistors in a circuit are connected together in simple series or simple
parallel.
• Step 2: Re-draw the circuit, replacing each of those series or parallel resistor combinations
identified in step 1 with a single, equivalent-value resistor. If using a table to manage variables,
make a new table column for each resistance equivalent.
• Step 3: Repeat steps 1 and 2 until the entire circuit is reduced to one equivalent resistor.
• Step 4: Calculate total current from total voltage and total resistance (I=E/R).
• Step 5: Taking total voltage and total current values, go back to last step in the circuit
reduction process and insert those values where applicable.
• Step 6: From known resistances and total voltage / total current values from step 5, use Ohm’s
Law to calculate unknown values (voltage or current) (E=IR or I=E/R).
• Step 7: Repeat steps 5 and 6 until all values for voltage and current are known in the original
circuit configuration. Essentially, you will proceed step-by-step from the simplified version of
the circuit back into its original, complex form, plugging in values of voltage and current where
appropriate until all values of voltage and current are known.
• Step 8: Calculate power dissipations from known voltage, current, and/or resistance values.
This may sound like an intimidating process, but it’s much easier understood through example
than through description.
7.2. ANALYSIS TECHNIQUE 195
100 Ω R1 R2 250 Ω
24 V
350 Ω R3 R4 200 Ω
R1 R2 R3 R4 Total
E 24 Volts
I Amps
R 100 250 350 200 Ohms
In the example circuit above, R1 and R2 are connected in a simple parallel arrangement, as
are R3 and R4 . Having been identified, these sections need to be converted into equivalent single
resistors, and the circuit re-drawn:
71.429 Ω R1 // R2
24 V
127.27 Ω R3 // R4
The double slash (//) symbols represent ”parallel” to show that the equivalent resistor values
were calculated using the 1/(1/R) formula. The 71.429 Ω resistor at the top of the circuit is the
equivalent of R1 and R2 in parallel with each other. The 127.27 Ω resistor at the bottom is the
equivalent of R3 and R4 in parallel with each other.
Our table can be expanded to include these resistor equivalents in their own columns:
R1 R2 R3 R4 R1 // R2 R3 // R4 Total
E 24 Volts
I Amps
R 100 250 350 200 71.429 127.27 Ohms
It should be apparent now that the circuit has been reduced to a simple series configuration
with only two (equivalent) resistances. The final step in reduction is to add these two resistances
to come up with a total circuit resistance. When we add those two equivalent resistances, we get a
resistance of 198.70 Ω. Now, we can re-draw the circuit as a single equivalent resistance and add the
total resistance figure to the rightmost column of our table. Note that the ”Total” column has been
relabeled (R1 //R2 −−R3 //R4 ) to indicate how it relates electrically to the other columns of figures.
The ”−−” symbol is used here to represent ”series,” just as the ”//” symbol is used to represent
”parallel.”
24 V 198.70 Ω R1 // R2 -- R3 // R4
R1 // R2
--
R3 // R4
R1 R2 R3 R4 R1 // R2 R3 // R4 Total
E 24 Volts
I Amps
R 100 250 350 200 71.429 127.27 198.70 Ohms
Now, total circuit current can be determined by applying Ohm’s Law (I=E/R) to the ”Total”
column in the table:
R1 // R2
--
R3 // R4
R1 R2 R3 R4 R1 // R2 R3 // R4 Total
E 24 Volts
I 120.78m Amps
R 100 250 350 200 71.429 127.27 198.70 Ohms
Back to our equivalent circuit drawing, our total current value of 120.78 milliamps is shown as
the only current here:
I = 120.78 mA
24 V 198.70 Ω R1 // R2 -- R3 // R4
I = 120.78 mA
Now we start to work backwards in our progression of circuit re-drawings to the original config-
uration. The next step is to go to the circuit where R1 //R2 and R3 //R4 are in series:
I = 120.78 mA
71.429 Ω R1 // R2
24 V I = 120.78 mA
127.27 Ω R3 // R4
I = 120.78 mA
Since R1 //R2 and R3 //R4 are in series with each other, the current through those two sets of
equivalent resistances must be the same. Furthermore, the current through them must be the same
as the total current, so we can fill in our table with the appropriate current values, simply copying
the current figure from the Total column to the R1 //R2 and R3 //R4 columns:
R1 // R2
--
R3 // R4
R1 R2 R3 R4 R1 // R2 R3 // R4 Total
E 24 Volts
I 120.78m 120.78m 120.78m Amps
R 100 250 350 200 71.429 127.27 198.70 Ohms
Now, knowing the current through the equivalent resistors R1 //R2 and R3 //R4 , we can apply
Ohm’s Law (E=IR) to the two right vertical columns to find voltage drops across them:
I = 120.78 mA
+
71.429 Ω R1 //R2 8.6275 V
-
24 V I = 120.78 mA
+
127.27 Ω R3 // R4 15.373 V
-
I = 120.78 mA
R1 // R2
--
R3 // R4
R1 R2 R3 R4 R1 // R2 R3 // R4 Total
E 8.6275 15.373 24 Volts
I 120.78m 120.78m 120.78m Amps
R 100 250 350 200 71.429 127.27 198.70 Ohms
Because we know R1 //R2 and R3 //R4 are parallel resistor equivalents, and we know that voltage
drops in parallel circuits are the same, we can transfer the respective voltage drops to the appropriate
columns on the table for those individual resistors. In other words, we take another step backwards
in our drawing sequence to the original configuration, and complete the table accordingly:
I = 120.78 mA
+
100 Ω R1 R2 250 Ω 8.6275 V
-
24 V
+
350 Ω R3 R4 200 Ω 15.373 V
-
I = 120.78 mA
R1 // R2
--
R3 // R4
R1 R2 R3 R4 R1 // R2 R3 // R4 Total
E 8.6275 8.6275 15.373 15.373 8.6275 15.373 24 Volts
I 120.78m 120.78m 120.78m Amps
R 100 250 350 200 71.429 127.27 198.70 Ohms
Finally, the original section of the table (columns R1 through R4 ) is complete with enough values
to finish. Applying Ohm’s Law to the remaining vertical columns (I=E/R), we can determine the
currents through R1 , R2 , R3 , and R4 individually:
R1 // R2
--
R3 // R4
R1 R2 R3 R4 R1 // R2 R3 // R4 Total
E 8.6275 8.6275 15.373 15.373 8.6275 15.373 24 Volts
I 86.275m 34.510m 43.922m 76.863m 120.78m 120.78m 120.78m Amps
R 100 250 350 200 71.429 127.27 198.70 Ohms
Having found all voltage and current values for this circuit, we can show those values in the
schematic diagram as such:
I = 120.78 mA
R2 +
100 Ω R1 250 Ω 8.6275 V
-
34.510 mA
24 V 86.275 mA
R4 +
350 Ω R3 200 Ω 15.373 V
-
76.863 mA
43.922 mA
I = 120.78 mA
As a final check of our work, we can see if the calculated current values add up as they should
to the total. Since R1 and R2 are in parallel, their combined currents should add up to the total
of 120.78 mA. Likewise, since R3 and R4 are in parallel, their combined currents should also add
up to the total of 120.78 mA. You can check for yourself to verify that these figures do add up as
expected.
A computer simulation can also be used to verify the accuracy of these figures. The following
SPICE analysis will show all resistor voltages and currents (note the current-sensing vi1, vi2, . .
. ”dummy” voltage sources in series with each resistor in the netlist, necessary for the SPICE
computer program to track current through each path). These voltage sources will be set to have
values of zero volts each so they will not affect the circuit in any way.
1 1
1 1
vi1 vi2
2 3
100 Ω R1 R2 250 Ω
24 V 4
4 4
vi3 vi4
5 6
350 Ω R3 R4 200 Ω
0 0
0 0
NOTE: voltage sources vi1,
vi2, vi3, and vi4 are "dummy"
sources set at zero volts each.
series-parallel circuit
v1 1 0
vi1 1 2 dc 0
vi2 1 3 dc 0
r1 2 4 100
r2 3 4 250
vi3 4 5 dc 0
vi4 4 6 dc 0
r3 5 0 350
r4 6 0 200
.dc v1 24 24 1
.print dc v(2,4) v(3,4) v(5,0) v(6,0)
.print dc i(vi1) i(vi2) i(vi3) i(vi4)
.end
I’ve annotated SPICE’s output figures to make them more readable, denoting which voltage and
current figures belong to which resistors.
v1 v(2,4) v(3,4) v(5) v(6)

2.400E+01 8.627E+00 8.627E+00 1.537E+01 1.537E+01
Battery R1 voltage R2 voltage R3 voltage R4 voltage
voltage
v1 i(vi1) i(vi2) i(vi3) i(vi4)

2.400E+01 8.627E-02 3.451E-02 4.392E-02 7.686E-02
Battery R1 current R2 current R3 current R4 current
voltage
As you can see, all the figures do agree with the our calculated values.
• REVIEW:
• To analyze a series-parallel combination circuit, follow these steps:
• Reduce the original circuit to a single equivalent resistor, re-drawing the circuit in each step of
reduction as simple series and simple parallel parts are reduced to single, equivalent resistors.
• Solve for total resistance.
• Solve for total current (I=E/R).
• Determine equivalent resistor voltage drops and branch currents one stage at a time, working
backwards to the original circuit configuration again.
7.3 Re-drawing complex schematics

Typically, complex circuits are not arranged in nice, neat, clean schematic diagrams for us to follow.
They are often drawn in such a way that makes it difficult to follow which components are in series
and which are in parallel with each other. The purpose of this section is to show you a method useful
for re-drawing circuit schematics in a neat and orderly fashion. Like the stage-reduction strategy
for solving series-parallel combination circuits, it is a method easier demonstrated than described.
Let’s start with the following (convoluted) circuit diagram. Perhaps this diagram was originally
drawn this way by a technician or engineer. Perhaps it was sketched as someone traced the wires
and connections of a real circuit. In any case, here it is in all its ugliness:
R1 R2
R3
R4
With electric circuits and circuit diagrams, the length and routing of wire connecting components
in a circuit matters little. (Actually, in some AC circuits it becomes critical, and very long wire
lengths can contribute unwanted resistance to both AC and DC circuits, but in most cases wire length
7.3. RE-DRAWING COMPLEX SCHEMATICS 203
is irrelevant.) What this means for us is that we can lengthen, shrink, and/or bend connecting wires
without affecting the operation of our circuit.
The strategy I have found easiest to apply is to start by tracing the current from one terminal
of the battery around to the other terminal, following the loop of components closest to the battery
and ignoring all other wires and components for the time being. While tracing the path of the loop,
mark each resistor with the appropriate polarity for voltage drop.
In this case, I’ll begin my tracing of this circuit at the negative terminal of the battery and finish
at the positive terminal, in the same general direction as the electrons would flow. When tracing
this direction, I will mark each resistor with the polarity of negative on the entering side and positive
on the exiting side, for that is how the actual polarity will be as electrons (negative in charge) enter
and exit a resistor:
Polarity of voltage drop

- +
Direction of electron flow
R2
R1
+
+ -
- - R3 +
R4
Any components encountered along this short loop are drawn vertically in order:
+
R1
-
+
-
+
R3
-
Now, proceed to trace any loops of components connected around components that were just
traced. In this case, there’s a loop around R1 formed by R2 , and another loop around R3 formed by
R4 :
R2 loops aroundR1
R2
R1
+
+ -
- - R3 +
R4
R4 loops aroundR3
Tracing those loops, I draw R2 and R4 in parallel with R1 and R3 (respectively) on the vertical
diagram. Noting the polarity of voltage drops across R3 and R1 , I mark R4 and R2 likewise:
+ +
R1 R2
- -
+
-
+ +
R3 R4
- -
Now we have a circuit that is very easily understood and analyzed. In this case, it is identical
to the four-resistor series-parallel configuration we examined earlier in the chapter.
Let’s look at another example, even uglier than the one before:
R2
R3
R4
R1
R5
R6
R7
The first loop I’ll trace is from the negative (-) side of the battery, through R 6 , through R1 , and
back to the positive (+) end of the battery:
R2
R3
R4
R1
+ - R5
+
+
R6
- -
R7
Re-drawing vertically and keeping track of voltage drop polarities along the way, our equivalent
circuit starts out looking like this:
+
R1
-
+
-
+
R6
-
Next, we can proceed to follow the next loop around one of the traced resistors (R 6 ), in this
case, the loop formed by R5 and R7 . As before, we start at the negative end of R6 and proceed to
the positive end of R6 , marking voltage drop polarities across R7 and R5 as we go:
R2
R3
R4
R1
+ - R5
+ -
+
+
R6 R5 and R7
- - + loop around
R6
- R7
Now we add the R5 −−R7 loop to the vertical drawing. Notice how the voltage drop polarities
across R7 and R5 correspond with that of R6 , and how this is the same as what we found tracing
R7 and R5 in the original circuit:
+
R1
-
+
+
- R5
+ -
R6 +
- R7
-
We repeat the process again, identifying and tracing another loop around an already-traced
resistor. In this case, the R3 −−R4 loop around R5 looks like a good loop to trace next:
- R3 and R4
R2 + loop around
R3 R5
R4
+
-
R1
+ - R5
+ -
+
+
R6
- - +
- R7
Adding the R3 −−R4 loop to the vertical drawing, marking the correct polarities as well:
+
R1
-
+
- +
R3
+ -
R5 +
+ -
R4
R6 -
-
+
R7
-
With only one remaining resistor left to trace, then next step is obvious: trace the loop formed
by R2 around R3 :
R2 loops aroundR3
- R2 -
+
R3
+ R4
+
-
R1
+ - R5
+ -
+
+
R6
- - +
- R7
Adding R2 to the vertical drawing, and we’re finished! The result is a diagram that’s very easy
to understand compared to the original:
+
R1
-
+
- + +
R3 R2
+ - -
R5 +
+ -
R4
R6 -
-
+
R7
-
This simplified layout greatly eases the task of determining where to start and how to proceed
in reducing the circuit down to a single equivalent (total) resistance. Notice how the circuit has
been re-drawn, all we have to do is start from the right-hand side and work our way left, reducing
simple-series and simple-parallel resistor combinations one group at a time until we’re done.
In this particular case, we would start with the simple parallel combination of R 2 and R3 , reducing
it to a single resistance. Then, we would take that equivalent resistance (R 2 //R3 ) and the one in
series with it (R4 ), reducing them to another equivalent resistance (R2 //R3 −−R4 ). Next, we would
proceed to calculate the parallel equivalent of that resistance (R2 //R3 −−R4 ) with R5 , then in series
with R7 , then in parallel with R6 , then in series with R1 to give us a grand total resistance for the
circuit as a whole.
From there we could calculate total current from total voltage and total resistance (I=E/R), then
”expand” the circuit back into its original form one stage at a time, distributing the appropriate
values of voltage and current to the resistances as we go.
• REVIEW:
• Wires in diagrams and in real circuits can be lengthened, shortened, and/or moved without
affecting circuit operation.
• To simplify a convoluted circuit schematic, follow these steps:
• Trace current from one side of the battery to the other, following any single path (”loop”) to
the battery. Sometimes it works better to start with the loop containing the most components,
but regardless of the path taken the result will be accurate. Mark polarity of voltage drops
across each resistor as you trace the loop. Draw those components you encounter along this
loop in a vertical schematic.
• Mark traced components in the original diagram and trace remaining loops of components in
the circuit. Use polarity marks across traced components as guides for what connects where.
Document new components in loops on the vertical re-draw schematic as well.
• Repeat last step as often as needed until all components in original diagram have been traced.
7.4 Component failure analysis

”I consider that I understand an equation when I can predict the properties of its
solutions, without actually solving it.”
P.A.M Dirac, physicist
There is a lot of truth to that quote from Dirac. With a little modification, I can extend his
wisdom to electric circuits by saying, ”I consider that I understand a circuit when I can predict the
approximate effects of various changes made to it without actually performing any calculations.”
At the end of the series and parallel circuits chapter, we briefly considered how circuits could
be analyzed in a qualitative rather than quantitative manner. Building this skill is an important
step towards becoming a proficient troubleshooter of electric circuits. Once you have a thorough
understanding of how any particular failure will affect a circuit (i.e. you don’t have to perform any
arithmetic to predict the results), it will be much easier to work the other way around: pinpointing
the source of trouble by assessing how a circuit is behaving.
Also shown at the end of the series and parallel circuits chapter was how the table method works
just as well for aiding failure analysis as it does for the analysis of healthy circuits. We may take
this technique one step further and adapt it for total qualitative analysis. By ”qualitative” I mean
working with symbols representing ”increase,” ”decrease,” and ”same” instead of precise numerical
figures. We can still use the principles of series and parallel circuits, and the concepts of Ohm’s Law,
we’ll just use symbolic qualities instead of numerical quantities. By doing this, we can gain more of
an intuitive ”feel” for how circuits work rather than leaning on abstract equations, attaining Dirac’s
definition of ”understanding.”
Enough talk. Let’s try this technique on a real circuit example and see how it works:
R1 R2
R3
R4
This is the first ”convoluted” circuit we straightened out for analysis in the last section. Since
you already know how this particular circuit reduces to series and parallel sections, I’ll skip the
process and go straight to the final form:
+ +
R1 R2
- -
+
-
+ +
R3 R4
- -
R3 and R4 are in parallel with each other; so are R1 and R2 . The parallel equivalents of R3 //R4
and R1 //R2 are in series with each other. Expressed in symbolic form, the total resistance for this
circuit is as follows:
RT otal = (R1 //R2 )−−(R3 //R4 )
First, we need to formulate a table with all the necessary rows and columns for this circuit:
R1 R2 R3 R4 R1 // R2 R3 // R4 Total
E Volts
I Amps
R Ohms
Next, we need a failure scenario. Let’s suppose that resistor R2 were to fail shorted. We will
assume that all other components maintain their original values. Because we’ll be analyzing this
circuit qualitatively rather than quantitatively, we won’t be inserting any real numbers into the table.
For any quantity unchanged after the component failure, we’ll use the word ”same” to represent ”no
change from before.” For any quantity that has changed as a result of the failure, we’ll use a down
arrow for ”decrease” and an up arrow for ”increase.” As usual, we start by filling in the spaces of
the table for individual resistances and total voltage, our ”given” values:
R1 R2 R3 R4 R1 // R2 R3 // R4 Total
E same Volts
I Amps
R same same same Ohms
The only ”given” value different from the normal state of the circuit is R2 , which we said was
failed shorted (abnormally low resistance). All other initial values are the same as they were before,
as represented by the ”same” entries. All we have to do now is work through the familiar Ohm’s
Law and series-parallel principles to determine what will happen to all the other circuit values.
First, we need to determine what happens to the resistances of parallel subsections R 1 //R2 and
R3 //R4 . If neither R3 nor R4 have changed in resistance value, then neither will their parallel
combination. However, since the resistance of R2 has decreased while R1 has stayed the same, their
parallel combination must decrease in resistance as well:
R1 R2 R3 R4 R1 // R2 R3 // R4 Total
E same Volts
I Amps
R same same same same Ohms
Now, we need to figure out what happens to the total resistance. This part is easy: when we’re
dealing with only one component change in the circuit, the change in total resistance will be in
the same direction as the change of the failed component. This is not to say that the magnitude
of change between individual component and total circuit will be the same, merely the direction of
change. In other words, if any single resistor decreases in value, then the total circuit resistance must
also decrease, and visa-versa. In this case, since R2 is the only failed component, and its resistance
has decreased, the total resistance must decrease:
R1 R2 R3 R4 R1 // R2 R3 // R4 Total
E same Volts
I Amps
Now we can apply Ohm’s Law (qualitatively) to the Total column in the table. Given the fact
that total voltage has remained the same and total resistance has decreased, we can conclude that
total current must increase (I=E/R).
In case you’re not familiar with the qualitative assessment of an equation, it works like this.
First, we write the equation as solved for the unknown quantity. In this case, we’re trying to solve
for current, given voltage and resistance:
E
I=
R
Now that our equation is in the proper form, we assess what change (if any) will be experienced
by ”I,” given the change(s) to ”E” and ”R”:
E (same)
I=
R
If the denominator of a fraction decreases in value while the numerator stays the same, then the
overall value of the fraction must increase:
E (same)
I=
R
Therefore, Ohm’s Law (I=E/R) tells us that the current (I) will increase. We’ll mark this
conclusion in our table with an ”up” arrow:
R1 R2 R3 R4 R1 // R2 R3 // R4 Total
E same Volts
I Amps
With all resistance places filled in the table and all quantities determined in the Total column, we
can proceed to determine the other voltages and currents. Knowing that the total resistance in this
table was the result of R1 //R2 and R3 //R4 in series, we know that the value of total current will
be the same as that in R1 //R2 and R3 //R4 (because series components share the same current).
Therefore, if total current increased, then current through R1 //R2 and R3 //R4 must also have
increased with the failure of R2 :
R1 R2 R3 R4 R1 // R2 R3 // R4 Total
E same Volts
I Amps
Fundamentally, what we’re doing here with a qualitative usage of Ohm’s Law and the rules of
series and parallel circuits is no different from what we’ve done before with numerical figures. In fact,
it’s a lot easier because you don’t have to worry about making an arithmetic or calculator keystroke
error in a calculation. Instead, you’re just focusing on the principles behind the equations. From our
table above, we can see that Ohm’s Law should be applicable to the R1 //R2 and R3 //R4 columns.
For R3 //R4 , we figure what happens to the voltage, given an increase in current and no change in
resistance. Intuitively, we can see that this must result in an increase in voltage across the parallel
combination of R3 //R4 :
R1 R2 R3 R4 R1 // R2 R3 // R4 Total
E same Volts
I Amps
But how do we apply the same Ohm’s Law formula (E=IR) to the R1 //R2 column, where we
have resistance decreasing and current increasing? It’s easy to determine if only one variable is
changing, as it was with R3 //R4 , but with two variables moving around and no definite numbers
to work with, Ohm’s Law isn’t going to be much help. However, there is another rule we can apply
horizontally to determine what happens to the voltage across R1 //R2 : the rule for voltage in series
circuits. If the voltages across R1 //R2 and R3 //R4 add up to equal the total (battery) voltage and
we know that the R3 //R4 voltage has increased while total voltage has stayed the same, then the
voltage across R1 //R2 must have decreased with the change of R2 ’s resistance value:
R1 R2 R3 R4 R1 // R2 R3 // R4 Total
E same Volts
I Amps
Now we’re ready to proceed to some new columns in the table. Knowing that R 3 and R4
comprise the parallel subsection R3 //R4 , and knowing that voltage is shared equally between parallel
components, the increase in voltage seen across the parallel combination R 3 //R4 must also be seen
across R3 and R4 individually:
R1 R2 R3 R4 R1 // R2 R3 // R4 Total
E same Volts
I Amps
The same goes for R1 and R2 . The voltage decrease seen across the parallel combination of R1
and R2 will be seen across R1 and R2 individually:
R1 R2 R3 R4 R1 // R2 R3 // R4 Total
E same Volts
I Amps
Applying Ohm’s Law vertically to those columns with unchanged (”same”) resistance values, we
can tell what the current will do through those components. Increased voltage across an unchanged
resistance leads to increased current. Conversely, decreased voltage across an unchanged resistance
leads to decreased current:
R1 R2 R3 R4 R1 // R2 R3 // R4 Total
E same Volts
I Amps
Once again we find ourselves in a position where Ohm’s Law can’t help us: for R 2 , both voltage
and resistance have decreased, but without knowing how much each one has changed, we can’t use
the I=E/R formula to qualitatively determine the resulting change in current. However, we can
still apply the rules of series and parallel circuits horizontally. We know that the current through
the R1 //R2 parallel combination has increased, and we also know that the current through R 1 has
decreased. One of the rules of parallel circuits is that total current is equal to the sum of the
individual branch currents. In this case, the current through R1 //R2 is equal to the current through
R1 added to the current through R2 . If current through R1 //R2 has increased while current through
R1 has decreased, current through R2 must have increased:
R1 R2 R3 R4 R1 // R2 R3 // R4 Total
E same Volts
I Amps
And with that, our table of qualitative values stands completed. This particular exercise may
look laborious due to all the detailed commentary, but the actual process can be performed very
quickly with some practice. An important thing to realize here is that the general procedure is little
different from quantitative analysis: start with the known values, then proceed to determining total
resistance, then total current, then transfer figures of voltage and current as allowed by the rules of
series and parallel circuits to the appropriate columns.
7.5. BUILDING SERIES-PARALLEL RESISTOR CIRCUITS 215
A few general rules can be memorized to assist and/or to check your progress when proceeding
with such an analysis:
• For any single component failure (open or shorted), the total resistance will always change in
the same direction (either increase or decrease) as the resistance change of the failed component.
• When a component fails shorted, its resistance always decreases. Also, the current through it
will increase, and the voltage across it may drop. I say ”may” because in some cases it will
remain the same (case in point: a simple parallel circuit with an ideal power source).
• When a component fails open, its resistance always increases. The current through that
component will decrease to zero, because it is an incomplete electrical path (no continuity).
This may result in an increase of voltage across it. The same exception stated above applies
here as well: in a simple parallel circuit with an ideal voltage source, the voltage across an
open-failed component will remain unchanged.
7.5 Building series-parallel resistor circuits
Once again, when building battery/resistor circuits, the student or hobbyist is faced with several
different modes of construction. Perhaps the most popular is the solderless breadboard : a platform
for constructing temporary circuits by plugging components and wires into a grid of interconnected
points. A breadboard appears to be nothing but a plastic frame with hundreds of small holes in it.
Underneath each hole, though, is a spring clip which connects to other spring clips beneath other
holes. The connection pattern between holes is simple and uniform:
Lines show common connections

underneath board between holes
Suppose we wanted to construct the following series-parallel combination circuit on a breadboard:

100 Ω R1 R2 250 Ω
24 V
350 Ω R3 R4 200 Ω
The recommended way to do so on a breadboard would be to arrange the resistors in approxi-

mately the same pattern as seen in the schematic, for ease of relation to the schematic. If 24 volts
is required and we only have 6-volt batteries available, four may be connected in series to achieve
the same effect:
- - - -
+ + + +
6 volts 6 volts 6 volts 6 volts

R2 R4
R1 R3
This is by no means the only way to connect these four resistors together to form the circuit
shown in the schematic. Consider this alternative layout:
- - - -
+ + + +
R2 R4
R1 R3
If greater permanence is desired without resorting to soldering or wire-wrapping, one could choose
to construct this circuit on a terminal strip (also called a barrier strip, or terminal block ). In this
method, components and wires are secured by mechanical tension underneath screws or heavy clips
attached to small metal bars. The metal bars, in turn, are mounted on a nonconducting body to
keep them electrically isolated from each other.
Building a circuit with components secured to a terminal strip isn’t as easy as plugging com-
ponents into a breadboard, principally because the components cannot be physically arranged to
resemble the schematic layout. Instead, the builder must understand how to ”bend” the schematic’s
representation into the real-world layout of the strip. Consider one example of how the same four-
resistor circuit could be built on a terminal strip:
- - - -
+ + + +
R1 R2 R3 R4
Another terminal strip layout, simpler to understand and relate to the schematic, involves an-
choring parallel resistors (R1 //R2 and R3 //R4 ) to the same two terminal points on the strip like
this:
- - - -
+ + + +
R2 R4
R1 R3
Building more complex circuits on a terminal strip involves the same spatial-reasoning skills, but
of course requires greater care and planning. Take for instance this complex circuit, represented in
schematic form:
R2
R3
R4
R1
R5
R6
R7
The terminal strip used in the prior example barely has enough terminals to mount all seven
resistors required for this circuit! It will be a challenge to determine all the necessary wire connections
between resistors, but with patience it can be done. First, begin by installing and labeling all resistors
on the strip. The original schematic diagram will be shown next to the terminal strip circuit for
reference:
R2
R3
R4
R1
R5
-
+
R6
R7
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7
Next, begin connecting components together wire by wire as shown in the schematic. Over-draw
connecting lines in the schematic to indicate completion in the real circuit. Watch this sequence of
illustrations as each individual wire is identified in the schematic, then added to the real circuit:
R2
R3
Step 1: R4
R1
R5
-
+
R6
R7
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7
R2
R3
Step 2: R4
R1
R5
-
+
R6
R7
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7
R2
R3
Step 3: R4
R1
R5
-
+
R6
R7
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7
R2
R3
Step 4: R4
R1
R5
-
+
R6
R7
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7
R2
R3
Step 5: R4
R1
R5
-
+
R6
R7
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7
R2
R3
Step 6: R4
R1
R5
-
+
R6
R7
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7
R2
R3
Step 7: R4
R1
R5
-
+
R6
R7
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7
R2
R3
Step 8: R4
R1
R5
-
+
R6
R7
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7
R2
R3
Step 9: R4
R1
R5
-
+
R6
R7
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7
R2
R3
Step 10: R4
R1
R5
-
+
R6
R7
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7
R2
R3
Step 11: R4
R1
R5
-
+
R6
R7
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7
Although there are minor variations possible with this terminal strip circuit, the choice of con-
nections shown in this example sequence is both electrically accurate (electrically identical to the
schematic diagram) and carries the additional benefit of not burdening any one screw terminal on
the strip with more than two wire ends, a good practice in any terminal strip circuit.
An example of a ”variant” wire connection might be the very last wire added (step 11), which
I placed between the left terminal of R2 and the left terminal of R3 . This last wire completed
the parallel connection between R2 and R3 in the circuit. However, I could have placed this wire
instead between the left terminal of R2 and the right terminal of R1 , since the right terminal of
R1 is already connected to the left terminal of R3 (having been placed there in step 9) and so is
electrically common with that one point. Doing this, though, would have resulted in three wires
secured to the right terminal of R1 instead of two, which is a faux pax in terminal strip etiquette.
Would the circuit have worked this way? Certainly! It’s just that more than two wires secured at a
single terminal makes for a ”messy” connection: one that is aesthetically unpleasing and may place
undue stress on the screw terminal.
Another variation would be to reverse the terminal connections for resistor R 7 . As shown in the
last diagram, the voltage polarity across R7 is negative on the left and positive on the right (- , +),
whereas all the other resistor polarities are positive on the left and negative on the right (+ , -):
R2
R3
R4
R1
R5
-
+
R6
R7
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7
While this poses no electrical problem, it might cause confusion for anyone measuring resistor
voltage drops with a voltmeter, especially an analog voltmeter which will ”peg” downscale when
subjected to a voltage of the wrong polarity. For the sake of consistency, it might be wise to arrange
all wire connections so that all resistor voltage drop polarities are the same, like this:
R2
R3
R4
R1
R5
-
+
R6
R7
Wires moved
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7
Though electrons do not care about such consistency in component layout, people do. This
illustrates an important aspect of any engineering endeavor: the human factor. Whenever a design
may be modified for easier comprehension and/or easier maintenance – with no sacrifice of functional
performance – it should be done so.
• REVIEW:
• Circuits built on terminal strips can be difficult to lay out, but when built they are robust
enough to be considered permanent, yet easy to modify.
• It is bad practice to secure more than two wire ends and/or component leads under a single
terminal screw or clip on a terminal strip. Try to arrange connecting wires so as to avoid this
condition.
• Whenever possible, build your circuits with clarity and ease of understanding in mind. Even
though component and wiring layout is usually of little consequence in DC circuit function, it
matters significantly for the sake of the person who has to modify or troubleshoot it later.
7.6 Contributors
Tony Armstrong (January 23, 2003): Suggested reversing polarity on resistor R 7 in last ter-
minal strip circuit.
second edition.
analysis.
Chapter 8
DC METERING CIRCUITS
8.1 What is a meter?

A meter is any device built to accurately detect and display an electrical quantity in a form readable
by a human being. Usually this ”readable form” is visual: motion of a pointer on a scale, a series of
lights arranged to form a ”bargraph,” or some sort of display composed of numerical figures. In the
analysis and testing of circuits, there are meters designed to accurately measure the basic quantities
of voltage, current, and resistance. There are many other types of meters as well, but this chapter
primarily covers the design and operation of the basic three.
Most modern meters are ”digital” in design, meaning that their readable display is in the form
of numerical digits. Older designs of meters are mechanical in nature, using some kind of pointer
device to show quantity of measurement. In either case, the principles applied in adapting a display
unit to the measurement of (relatively) large quantities of voltage, current, or resistance are the
same.
The display mechanism of a meter is often referred to as a movement, borrowing from its me-
chanical nature to move a pointer along a scale so that a measured value may be read. Though
modern digital meters have no moving parts, the term ”movement” may be applied to the same
basic device performing the display function.
The design of digital ”movements” is beyond the scope of this chapter, but mechanical meter
movement designs are very understandable. Most mechanical movements are based on the principle
of electromagnetism: that electric current through a conductor produces a magnetic field perpen-
dicular to the axis of electron flow. The greater the electric current, the stronger the magnetic field
produced. If the magnetic field formed by the conductor is allowed to interact with another magnetic
field, a physical force will be generated between the two sources of fields. If one of these sources is
free to move with respect to the other, it will do so as current is conducted through the wire, the
motion (usually against the resistance of a spring) being proportional to strength of current.
The first meter movements built were known as galvanometers, and were usually designed with
maximum sensitivity in mind. A very simple galvanometer may be made from a magnetized needle
(such as the needle from a magnetic compass) suspended from a string, and positioned within a coil
of wire. Current through the wire coil will produce a magnetic field which will deflect the needle
from pointing in the direction of earth’s magnetic field. An antique string galvanometer is shown in
229
230 CHAPTER 8. DC METERING CIRCUITS
the following photograph:
Such instruments were useful in their time, but have little place in the modern world except
as proof-of-concept and elementary experimental devices. They are highly susceptible to motion
of any kind, and to any disturbances in the natural magnetic field of the earth. Now, the term
”galvanometer” usually refers to any design of electromagnetic meter movement built for exceptional
sensitivity, and not necessarily a crude device such as that shown in the photograph. Practical
electromagnetic meter movements can be made now where a pivoting wire coil is suspended in a
strong magnetic field, shielded from the majority of outside influences. Such an instrument design
is generally known as a permanent-magnet, moving coil, or PMMC movement:
8.1. WHAT IS A METER? 231
Permanent magnet, moving coil (PMMC) meter movement
50
0 100
"needle"
magnet magnet
wire coil
current through wire coil
causes needle to deflect
meter terminal
connections
In the picture above, the meter movement ”needle” is shown pointing somewhere around 35
percent of full-scale, zero being full to the left of the arc and full-scale being completely to the right
of the arc. An increase in measured current will drive the needle to point further to the right and
a decrease will cause the needle to drop back down toward its resting point on the left. The arc
on the meter display is labeled with numbers to indicate the value of the quantity being measured,
whatever that quantity is. In other words, if it takes 50 microamps of current to drive the needle
fully to the right (making this a ”50 µA full-scale movement”), the scale would have 0 µA written
at the very left end and 50 µA at the very right, 25 µA being marked in the middle of the scale. In
all likelihood, the scale would be divided into much smaller graduating marks, probably every 5 or
1 µA, to allow whoever is viewing the movement to infer a more precise reading from the needle’s
position.
The meter movement will have a pair of metal connection terminals on the back for current to
enter and exit. Most meter movements are polarity-sensitive, one direction of current driving the
needle to the right and the other driving it to the left. Some meter movements have a needle that is
spring-centered in the middle of the scale sweep instead of to the left, thus enabling measurements
of either polarity:
A "zero-center" meter movement
-100 100
Common polarity-sensitive movements include the D’Arsonval and Weston designs, both PMMC-
type instruments. Current in one direction through the wire will produce a clockwise torque on the
needle mechanism, while current the other direction will produce a counter-clockwise torque.
Some meter movements are polarity-insensitive, relying on the attraction of an unmagnetized,
movable iron vane toward a stationary, current-carrying wire to deflect the needle. Such meters
are ideally suited for the measurement of alternating current (AC). A polarity-sensitive movement
would just vibrate back and forth uselessly if connected to a source of AC.
While most mechanical meter movements are based on electromagnetism (electron flow through
a conductor creating a perpendicular magnetic field), a few are based on electrostatics: that is, the
attractive or repulsive force generated by electric charges across space. This is the same phenomenon
exhibited by certain materials (such as wax and wool) when rubbed together. If a voltage is applied
between two conductive surfaces across an air gap, there will be a physical force attracting the
two surfaces together capable of moving some kind of indicating mechanism. That physical force is
directly proportional to the voltage applied between the plates, and inversely proportional to the
square of the distance between the plates. The force is also irrespective of polarity, making this a
polarity-insensitive type of meter movement:
Electrostatic meter movement
force
Voltage to be measured
8.1. WHAT IS A METER? 233
Unfortunately, the force generated by the electrostatic attraction is very small for common
voltages. In fact, it is so small that such meter movement designs are impractical for use in general
test instruments. Typically, electrostatic meter movements are used for measuring very high voltages
(many thousands of volts). One great advantage of the electrostatic meter movement, however, is
the fact that it has extremely high resistance, whereas electromagnetic movements (which depend
on the flow of electrons through wire to generate a magnetic field) are much lower in resistance. As
we will see in greater detail to come, greater resistance (resulting in less current drawn from the
circuit under test) makes for a better voltmeter.
A much more common application of electrostatic voltage measurement is seen in an device

known as a Cathode Ray Tube, or CRT. These are special glass tubes, very similar to television
viewscreen tubes. In the cathode ray tube, a beam of electrons traveling in a vacuum are deflected
from their course by voltage between pairs of metal plates on either side of the beam. Because
electrons are negatively charged, they tend to be repelled by the negative plate and attracted to the
positive plate. A reversal of voltage polarity across the two plates will result in a deflection of the
electron beam in the opposite direction, making this type of meter ”movement” polarity-sensitive:
voltage to be measured
electron "gun" view-

- (vacuum) screen
electrons
electrons
plates +
light
The electrons, having much less mass than metal plates, are moved by this electrostatic force
very quickly and readily. Their deflected path can be traced as the electrons impinge on the glass
end of the tube where they strike a coating of phosphorus chemical, emitting a glow of light seen
outside of the tube. The greater the voltage between the deflection plates, the further the electron
beam will be ”bent” from its straight path, and the further the glowing spot will be seen from center
on the end of the tube.
A photograph of a CRT is shown here:

In a real CRT, as shown in the above photograph, there are two pairs of deflection plates rather
than just one. In order to be able to sweep the electron beam around the whole area of the screen
rather than just in a straight line, the beam must be deflected in more than one dimension.
Although these tubes are able to accurately register small voltages, they are bulky and require
electrical power to operate (unlike electromagnetic meter movements, which are more compact and
actuated by the power of the measured signal current going through them). They are also much
more fragile than other types of electrical metering devices. Usually, cathode ray tubes are used
in conjunction with precise external circuits to form a larger piece of test equipment known as an
oscilloscope, which has the ability to display a graph of voltage over time, a tremendously useful
tool for certain types of circuits where voltage and/or current levels are dynamically changing.
Whatever the type of meter or size of meter movement, there will be a rated value of voltage
or current necessary to give full-scale indication. In electromagnetic movements, this will be the
”full-scale deflection current” necessary to rotate the needle so that it points to the exact end of
the indicating scale. In electrostatic movements, the full-scale rating will be expressed as the value
of voltage resulting in the maximum deflection of the needle actuated by the plates, or the value of
voltage in a cathode-ray tube which deflects the electron beam to the edge of the indicating screen.
In digital ”movements,” it is the amount of voltage resulting in a ”full-count” indication on the
numerical display: when the digits cannot display a larger quantity.
The task of the meter designer is to take a given meter movement and design the necessary
external circuitry for full-scale indication at some specified amount of voltage or current. Most
meter movements (electrostatic movements excepted) are quite sensitive, giving full-scale indication
at only a small fraction of a volt or an amp. This is impractical for most tasks of voltage and current
measurement. What the technician often requires is a meter capable of measuring high voltages and
currents.
By making the sensitive meter movement part of a voltage or current divider circuit, the move-
ment’s useful measurement range may be extended to measure far greater levels than what could be
indicated by the movement alone. Precision resistors are used to create the divider circuits necessary
to divide voltage or current appropriately. One of the lessons you will learn in this chapter is how
to design these divider circuits.
8.2. VOLTMETER DESIGN 235
• REVIEW:
• A ”movement” is the display mechanism of a meter.
• Electromagnetic movements work on the principle of a magnetic field being generated by
electric current through a wire. Examples of electromagnetic meter movements include the
D’Arsonval, Weston, and iron-vane designs.
• Electrostatic movements work on the principle of physical force generated by an electric field
between two plates.
• Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT’s) use an electrostatic field to bend the path of an electron beam,
providing indication of the beam’s position by light created when the beam strikes the end of
the glass tube.
8.2 Voltmeter design

As was stated earlier, most meter movements are sensitive devices. Some D’Arsonval movements
have full-scale deflection current ratings as little as 50 µA, with an (internal) wire resistance of
less than 1000 Ω. This makes for a voltmeter with a full-scale rating of only 50 millivolts (50 µA
X 1000 Ω)! In order to build voltmeters with practical (higher voltage) scales from such sensitive
movements, we need to find some way to reduce the measured quantity of voltage down to a level
the movement can handle.
Let’s start our example problems with a D’Arsonval meter movement having a full-scale deflection
rating of 1 mA and a coil resistance of 500 Ω:
500 Ω F.S = 1 mA
- +
black test red test

lead lead
Using Ohm’s Law (E=IR), we can determine how much voltage will drive this meter movement
directly to full scale:
E=IR
E = (1 mA)(500 Ω)
E = 0.5 volts
If all we wanted was a meter that could measure 1/2 of a volt, the bare meter movement we have
here would suffice. But to measure greater levels of voltage, something more is needed. To get an
effective voltmeter meter range in excess of 1/2 volt, we’ll need to design a circuit allowing only a
precise proportion of measured voltage to drop across the meter movement. This will extend the
meter movement’s range to being able to measure higher voltages than before. Correspondingly, we
will need to re-label the scale on the meter face to indicate its new measurement range with this
proportioning circuit connected.
But how do we create the necessary proportioning circuit? Well, if our intention is to allow this
meter movement to measure a greater voltage than it does now, what we need is a voltage divider
circuit to proportion the total measured voltage into a lesser fraction across the meter movement’s
connection points. Knowing that voltage divider circuits are built from series resistances, we’ll
connect a resistor in series with the meter movement (using the movement’s own internal resistance
as the second resistance in the divider):
500 Ω F.S. = 1 mA
Rmultiplier
- +
black test red test

lead lead
The series resistor is called a ”multiplier” resistor because it multiplies the working range of
the meter movement as it proportionately divides the measured voltage across it. Determining the
required multiplier resistance value is an easy task if you’re familiar with series circuit analysis.
For example, let’s determine the necessary multiplier value to make this 1 mA, 500 Ω movement
read exactly full-scale at an applied voltage of 10 volts. To do this, we first need to set up an E/I/R
table for the two series components:
Movement Rmultiplier Total

E Volts
I Amps
R Ohms
Knowing that the movement will be at full-scale with 1 mA of current going through it, and that
we want this to happen at an applied (total series circuit) voltage of 10 volts, we can fill in the table
as such:
E 10 Volts
I 1m 1m 1m Amps
R 500 Ohms
There are a couple of ways to determine the resistance value of the multiplier. One way is to
determine total circuit resistance using Ohm’s Law in the ”total” column (R=E/I), then subtract
the 500 Ω of the movement to arrive at the value for the multiplier:
E 10 Volts
I 1m 1m 1m Amps
R 500 9.5k 10k Ohms
Another way to figure the same value of resistance would be to determine voltage drop across the
movement at full-scale deflection (E=IR), then subtract that voltage drop from the total to arrive
at the voltage across the multiplier resistor. Finally, Ohm’s Law could be used again to determine
resistance (R=E/I) for the multiplier:
E 0.5 9.5 10 Volts
I 1m 1m 1m Amps
R 500 9.5k 10k Ohms
Either way provides the same answer (9.5 kΩ), and one method could be used as verification for
the other, to check accuracy of work.
Meter movement ranged for 10 volts full-scale
500 Ω F.S. = 1 mA
- + Rmultiplier
9.5 kΩ
black test red test

lead 10 V lead
- +
10 volts gives full-scale

deflection of needle
With exactly 10 volts applied between the meter test leads (from some battery or precision power
supply), there will be exactly 1 mA of current through the meter movement, as restricted by the
”multiplier” resistor and the movement’s own internal resistance. Exactly 1/2 volt will be dropped
across the resistance of the movement’s wire coil, and the needle will be pointing precisely at full-
scale. Having re-labeled the scale to read from 0 to 10 V (instead of 0 to 1 mA), anyone viewing the
scale will interpret its indication as ten volts. Please take note that the meter user does not have
to be aware at all that the movement itself is actually measuring just a fraction of that ten volts
from the external source. All that matters to the user is that the circuit as a whole functions to
accurately display the total, applied voltage.
This is how practical electrical meters are designed and used: a sensitive meter movement is built
to operate with as little voltage and current as possible for maximum sensitivity, then it is ”fooled”
by some sort of divider circuit built of precision resistors so that it indicates full-scale when a much
larger voltage or current is impressed on the circuit as a whole. We have examined the design of
a simple voltmeter here. Ammeters follow the same general rule, except that parallel-connected
”shunt” resistors are used to create a current divider circuit as opposed to the series-connected
voltage divider ”multiplier” resistors used for voltmeter designs.
Generally, it is useful to have multiple ranges established for an electromechanical meter such
as this, allowing it to read a broad range of voltages with a single movement mechanism. This is
accomplished through the use of a multi-pole switch and several multiplier resistors, each one sized
for a particular voltage range:
A multi-range voltmeter
500 Ω F.S. = 1 mA
- +
R1
range selector R2
switch R3
R4
black test red test

lead lead
The five-position switch makes contact with only one resistor at a time. In the bottom (full
clockwise) position, it makes contact with no resistor at all, providing an ”off” setting. Each resistor
is sized to provide a particular full-scale range for the voltmeter, all based on the particular rating
of the meter movement (1 mA, 500 Ω). The end result is a voltmeter with four different full-scale
ranges of measurement. Of course, in order to make this work sensibly, the meter movement’s scale
must be equipped with labels appropriate for each range.
With such a meter design, each resistor value is determined by the same technique, using a known
total voltage, movement full-scale deflection rating, and movement resistance. For a voltmeter with
ranges of 1 volt, 10 volts, 100 volts, and 1000 volts, the multiplier resistances would be as follows:
500 Ω F.S. = 1 mA
- +
1000 V R1 R1 = 999.5 kΩ
range selector 100 V R2 R2 = 99.5 kΩ
switch R3
10 V R3 = 9.5 kΩ
1V R4 R4 = 500 Ω
off
black test red test

lead lead
Note the multiplier resistor values used for these ranges, and how odd they are. It is highly
unlikely that a 999.5 kΩ precision resistor will ever be found in a parts bin, so voltmeter designers
often opt for a variation of the above design which uses more common resistor values:
500 Ω F.S. = 1 mA
- +
R1 R2 R3 R4
1000 V
range selector 100 V
switch
10 V
1V
off R1 = 900 kΩ
R2 = 90 kΩ
black test red test R3 = 9 kΩ
lead lead R4 = 500 Ω
With each successively higher voltage range, more multiplier resistors are pressed into service by
the selector switch, making their series resistances add for the necessary total. For example, with
the range selector switch set to the 1000 volt position, we need a total multiplier resistance value of
999.5 kΩ. With this meter design, that’s exactly what we’ll get:
RT otal = R4 + R3 + R2 + R1
RT otal = 900 kΩ + 90 kΩ + 9 kΩ + 500 Ω
RT otal = 999.5 kΩ
The advantage, of course, is that the individual multiplier resistor values are more common (900k,
90k, 9k) than some of the odd values in the first design (999.5k, 99.5k, 9.5k). From the perspective
of the meter user, however, there will be no discernible difference in function.
• REVIEW:
• Extended voltmeter ranges are created for sensitive meter movements by adding series ”mul-
tiplier” resistors to the movement circuit, providing a precise voltage division ratio.
8.3 Voltmeter impact on measured circuit
Every meter impacts the circuit it is measuring to some extent, just as any tire-pressure gauge
changes the measured tire pressure slightly as some air is let out to operate the gauge. While some
impact is inevitable, it can be minimized through good meter design.
Since voltmeters are always connected in parallel with the component or components under
test, any current through the voltmeter will contribute to the overall current in the tested circuit,
potentially affecting the voltage being measured. A perfect voltmeter has infinite resistance, so that
it draws no current from the circuit under test. However, perfect voltmeters only exist in the pages
of textbooks, not in real life! Take the following voltage divider circuit as an extreme example of
how a realistic voltmeter might impact the circuit it’s measuring:
250 MΩ
24 V
+
250 MΩ V voltmeter
-
With no voltmeter connected to the circuit, there should be exactly 12 volts across each 250 MΩ
resistor in the series circuit, the two equal-value resistors dividing the total voltage (24 volts) exactly
in half. However, if the voltmeter in question has a lead-to-lead resistance of 10 MΩ (a common
amount for a modern digital voltmeter), its resistance will create a parallel subcircuit with the lower
resistor of the divider when connected:
8.3. VOLTMETER IMPACT ON MEASURED CIRCUIT 241
250 MΩ
24 V
+ voltmeter
250 MΩ V (10 MΩ)
-
This effectively reduces the lower resistance from 250 MΩ to 9.615 MΩ (250 MΩ and 10 MΩ in
parallel), drastically altering voltage drops in the circuit. The lower resistor will now have far less
voltage across it than before, and the upper resistor far more.
23.1111 V 250 MΩ
24 V
0.8889 V 9.615 MΩ
(250 MΩ // 10 MΩ)
A voltage divider with resistance values of 250 MΩ and 9.615 MΩ will divide 24 volts into
portions of 23.1111 volts and 0.8889 volts, respectively. Since the voltmeter is part of that 9.615
MΩ resistance, that is what it will indicate: 0.8889 volts.
Now, the voltmeter can only indicate the voltage it’s connected across. It has no way of ”knowing”
there was a potential of 12 volts dropped across the lower 250 MΩ resistor before it was connected
across it. The very act of connecting the voltmeter to the circuit makes it part of the circuit, and
the voltmeter’s own resistance alters the resistance ratio of the voltage divider circuit, consequently
affecting the voltage being measured.
Imagine using a tire pressure gauge that took so great a volume of air to operate that it would
deflate any tire it was connected to. The amount of air consumed by the pressure gauge in the act
of measurement is analogous to the current taken by the voltmeter movement to move the needle.
The less air a pressure gauge requires to operate, the less it will deflate the tire under test. The less
current drawn by a voltmeter to actuate the needle, the less it will burden the circuit under test.
This effect is called loading, and it is present to some degree in every instance of voltmeter
usage. The scenario shown here is worst-case, with a voltmeter resistance substantially lower than
the resistances of the divider resistors. But there always will be some degree of loading, causing
the meter to indicate less than the true voltage with no meter connected. Obviously, the higher the
voltmeter resistance, the less loading of the circuit under test, and that is why an ideal voltmeter
has infinite internal resistance.
Voltmeters with electromechanical movements are typically given ratings in ”ohms per volt” of
range to designate the amount of circuit impact created by the current draw of the movement.
Because such meters rely on different values of multiplier resistors to give different measurement
ranges, their lead-to-lead resistances will change depending on what range they’re set to. Digital
voltmeters, on the other hand, often exhibit a constant resistance across their test leads regardless
of range setting (but not always!), and as such are usually rated simply in ohms of input resistance,
rather than ”ohms per volt” sensitivity.
What ”ohms per volt” means is how many ohms of lead-to-lead resistance for every volt of range
setting on the selector switch. Let’s take our example voltmeter from the last section as an example:
500 Ω F.S. = 1 mA
- +
1000 V R1 R1 = 999.5 kΩ
range selector 100 V R2 R2 = 99.5 kΩ
switch R3
10 V R3 = 9.5 kΩ
1V R4 R4 = 500 Ω
off
black test red test

lead lead
On the 1000 volt scale, the total resistance is 1 MΩ (999.5 kΩ + 500Ω), giving 1,000,000 Ω per
1000 volts of range, or 1000 ohms per volt (1 kΩ/V). This ohms-per-volt ”sensitivity” rating remains
constant for any range of this meter:
100 kΩ
100 volt range = 1000 Ω/V sensitivity
100 V
10 kΩ
10 V
1 kΩ
1V
The astute observer will notice that the ohms-per-volt rating of any meter is determined by a
single factor: the full-scale current of the movement, in this case 1 mA. ”Ohms per volt” is the
mathematical reciprocal of ”volts per ohm,” which is defined by Ohm’s Law as current (I=E/R).
Consequently, the full-scale current of the movement dictates the Ω/volt sensitivity of the meter,
regardless of what ranges the designer equips it with through multiplier resistors. In this case, the
meter movement’s full-scale current rating of 1 mA gives it a voltmeter sensitivity of 1000 Ω/V
regardless of how we range it with multiplier resistors.
To minimize the loading of a voltmeter on any circuit, the designer must seek to minimize the
current draw of its movement. This can be accomplished by re-designing the movement itself for
maximum sensitivity (less current required for full-scale deflection), but the tradeoff here is typically
ruggedness: a more sensitive movement tends to be more fragile.
Another approach is to electronically boost the current sent to the movement, so that very little
current needs to be drawn from the circuit under test. This special electronic circuit is known as an
amplifier, and the voltmeter thus constructed is an amplified voltmeter.
Amplified voltmeter
red test
lead
Amplifier
black test
lead Battery
The internal workings of an amplifier are too complex to be discussed at this point, but suffice
it to say that the circuit allows the measured voltage to control how much battery current is sent to
the meter movement. Thus, the movement’s current needs are supplied by a battery internal to the
voltmeter and not by the circuit under test. The amplifier still loads the circuit under test to some
degree, but generally hundreds or thousands of times less than the meter movement would by itself.
Before the advent of semiconductors known as ”field-effect transistors,” vacuum tubes were used
as amplifying devices to perform this boosting. Such vacuum-tube voltmeters, or (VTVM’s) were
once very popular instruments for electronic test and measurement. Here is a photograph of a very
old VTVM, with the vacuum tube exposed!
Now, solid-state transistor amplifier circuits accomplish the same task in digital meter designs.
While this approach (of using an amplifier to boost the measured signal current) works well, it
vastly complicates the design of the meter, making it nearly impossible for the beginning electronics
student to comprehend its internal workings.
A final, and ingenious, solution to the problem of voltmeter loading is that of the potentiometric
or null-balance instrument. It requires no advanced (electronic) circuitry or sensitive devices like
transistors or vacuum tubes, but it does require greater technician involvement and skill. In a
potentiometric instrument, a precision adjustable voltage source is compared against the measured
voltage, and a sensitive device called a null detector is used to indicate when the two voltages are
equal. In some circuit designs, a precision potentiometer is used to provide the adjustable voltage,
hence the label potentiometric. When the voltages are equal, there will be zero current drawn from
the circuit under test, and thus the measured voltage should be unaffected. It is easy to show how
this works with our last example, the high-resistance voltage divider circuit:
Potentiometric voltage measurement
R1 250 MΩ
24 V "null" detector
1 2
null
R2 250 MΩ adjustable
voltage
source
The ”null detector” is a sensitive device capable of indicating the presence of very small voltages.
If an electromechanical meter movement is used as the null detector, it will have a spring-centered
needle that can deflect in either direction so as to be useful for indicating a voltage of either polarity.
As the purpose of a null detector is to accurately indicate a condition of zero voltage, rather than
to indicate any specific (nonzero) quantity as a normal voltmeter would, the scale of the instrument
used is irrelevant. Null detectors are typically designed to be as sensitive as possible in order to
more precisely indicate a ”null” or ”balance” (zero voltage) condition.
An extremely simple type of null detector is a set of audio headphones, the speakers within acting
as a kind of meter movement. When a DC voltage is initially applied to a speaker, the resulting
current through it will move the speaker cone and produce an audible ”click.” Another ”click” sound
will be heard when the DC source is disconnected. Building on this principle, a sensitive null detector
may be made from nothing more than headphones and a momentary contact switch:
Headphones
Pushbutton
switch
Test
leads
If a set of ”8 ohm” headphones are used for this purpose, its sensitivity may be greatly increased
by connecting it to a device called a transformer. The transformer exploits principles of electro-
magnetism to ”transform” the voltage and current levels of electrical energy pulses. In this case,
the type of transformer used is a step-down transformer, and it converts low-current pulses (cre-
ated by closing and opening the pushbutton switch while connected to a small voltage source) into
higher-current pulses to more efficiently drive the speaker cones inside the headphones. An ”audio
output” transformer with an impedance ratio of 1000:8 is ideal for this purpose. The transformer
also increases detector sensitivity by accumulating the energy of a low-current signal in a magnetic
field for sudden release into the headphone speakers when the switch is opened. Thus, it will produce
louder ”clicks” for detecting smaller signals:
Audio output
transformer Headphones
Test 1 kΩ 8Ω
leads
Connected to the potentiometric circuit as a null detector, the switch/transformer/headphone

arrangement is used as such:
Push button to
test for balance
R1 250 MΩ
24 V
1 2
R2 250 MΩ adjustable
voltage
source
The purpose of any null detector is to act like a laboratory balance scale, indicating when the two
voltages are equal (absence of voltage between points 1 and 2) and nothing more. The laboratory
scale balance beam doesn’t actually weight anything; rather, it simply indicates equality between
the unknown mass and the pile of standard (calibrated) masses.
unknown mass mass standards
Likewise, the null detector simply indicates when the voltage between points 1 and 2 are equal,
which (according to Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law) will be when the adjustable voltage source (the battery
symbol with a diagonal arrow going through it) is precisely equal in voltage to the drop across R 2 .
To operate this instrument, the technician would manually adjust the output of the precision
voltage source until the null detector indicated exactly zero (if using audio headphones as the null
detector, the technician would repeatedly press and release the pushbutton switch, listening for
silence to indicate that the circuit was ”balanced”), and then note the source voltage as indicated
by a voltmeter connected across the precision voltage source, that indication being representative of
the voltage across the lower 250 MΩ resistor:
R1 250 MΩ
24 V "null" detector
1 2
null
R2 250 MΩ adjustable +
voltage V
source -
Adjust voltage source until null detector registers zero.

Then, read voltmeter indication for voltage across R2.
The voltmeter used to directly measure the precision source need not have an extremely high
Ω/V sensitivity, because the source will supply all the current it needs to operate. So long as there
is zero voltage across the null detector, there will be zero current between points 1 and 2, equating
to no loading of the divider circuit under test.
It is worthy to reiterate the fact that this method, properly executed, places almost zero load
upon the measured circuit. Ideally, it places absolutely no load on the tested circuit, but to achieve
this ideal goal the null detector would have to have absolutely zero voltage across it, which would
require an infinitely sensitive null meter and a perfect balance of voltage from the adjustable voltage
source. However, despite its practical inability to achieve absolute zero loading, a potentiometric
circuit is still an excellent technique for measuring voltage in high-resistance circuits. And unlike the
electronic amplifier solution, which solves the problem with advanced technology, the potentiometric
method achieves a hypothetically perfect solution by exploiting a fundamental law of electricity
(KVL).
• REVIEW:
• An ideal voltmeter has infinite resistance.
• Too low of an internal resistance in a voltmeter will adversely affect the circuit being measured.
• Vacuum tube voltmeters (VTVM’s), transistor voltmeters, and potentiometric circuits are all
means of minimizing the load placed on a measured circuit. Of these methods, the potentio-
metric (”null-balance”) technique is the only one capable of placing zero load on the circuit.
• A null detector is a device built for maximum sensitivity to small voltages or currents. It is
used in potentiometric voltmeter circuits to indicate the absence of voltage between two points,
thus indicating a condition of balance between an adjustable voltage source and the voltage
being measured.
8.4 Ammeter design
A meter designed to measure electrical current is popularly called an ”ammeter” because the unit
of measurement is ”amps.”
In ammeter designs, external resistors added to extend the usable range of the movement are
connected in parallel with the movement rather than in series as is the case for voltmeters. This is
because we want to divide the measured current, not the measured voltage, going to the movement,
and because current divider circuits are always formed by parallel resistances.
Taking the same meter movement as the voltmeter example, we can see that it would make a
very limited instrument by itself, full-scale deflection occurring at only 1 mA:
As is the case with extending a meter movement’s voltage-measuring ability, we would have to
correspondingly re-label the movement’s scale so that it read differently for an extended current
range. For example, if we wanted to design an ammeter to have a full-scale range of 5 amps using
the same meter movement as before (having an intrinsic full-scale range of only 1 mA), we would
have to re-label the movement’s scale to read 0 A on the far left and 5 A on the far right, rather than
0 mA to 1 mA as before. Whatever extended range provided by the parallel-connected resistors, we
would have to represent graphically on the meter movement face.
8.4. AMMETER DESIGN 249
500 Ω F.S = 1 mA
- +
black test red test

lead lead
Using 5 amps as an extended range for our sample movement, let’s determine the amount of
parallel resistance necessary to ”shunt,” or bypass, the majority of current so that only 1 mA will
go through the movement with a total current of 5 A:
500 Ω F.S. = 1 mA
- +
Rshunt
black test red test

lead lead
Movement Rshunt Total

E Volts
I 1m 5 Amps
R 500 Ohms
From our given values of movement current, movement resistance, and total circuit (measured)
current, we can determine the voltage across the meter movement (Ohm’s Law applied to the center
column, E=IR):

E 0.5 Volts
I 1m 5 Amps
R 500 Ohms
Knowing that the circuit formed by the movement and the shunt is of a parallel configuration,
we know that the voltage across the movement, shunt, and test leads (total) must be the same:

E 0.5 0.5 0.5 Volts
I 1m 5 Amps
R 500 Ohms
We also know that the current through the shunt must be the difference between the total current
(5 amps) and the current through the movement (1 mA), because branch currents add in a parallel
configuration:

E 0.5 0.5 0.5 Volts
I 1m 4.999 5 Amps
R 500 Ohms
Then, using Ohm’s Law (R=E/I) in the right column, we can determine the necessary shunt
resistance:

E 0.5 0.5 0.5 Volts
I 1m 4.999 5 Amps
R 500 100.02m Ohms
Of course, we could have calculated the same value of just over 100 milli-ohms (100 mΩ) for the
shunt by calculating total resistance (R=E/I; 0.5 volts/5 amps = 100 mΩ exactly), then working
the parallel resistance formula backwards, but the arithmetic would have been more challenging:
1
Rshunt =
1 1
-
100m 500
Rshunt = 100.02 mΩ
In real life, the shunt resistor of an ammeter will usually be encased within the protective metal
housing of the meter unit, hidden from sight. Note the construction of the ammeter in the following
photograph:
This particular ammeter is an automotive unit manufactured by Stewart-Warner. Although the

D’Arsonval meter movement itself probably has a full scale rating in the range of milliamps, the
meter as a whole has a range of +/- 60 amps. The shunt resistor providing this high current range
is enclosed within the metal housing of the meter. Note also with this particular meter that the
needle centers at zero amps and can indicate either a ”positive” current or a ”negative” current.
Connected to the battery charging circuit of an automobile, this meter is able to indicate a charging
condition (electrons flowing from generator to battery) or a discharging condition (electrons flowing
from battery to the rest of the car’s loads).
As is the case with multiple-range voltmeters, ammeters can be given more than one usable range
by incorporating several shunt resistors switched with a multi-pole switch:
A multirange ammeter
500 Ω F.S. = 1 mA
- +
R1
range selector R2
switch
R3
R4
black test red test

lead lead
Notice that the range resistors are connected through the switch so as to be in parallel with the
meter movement, rather than in series as it was in the voltmeter design. The five-position switch
makes contact with only one resistor at a time, of course. Each resistor is sized accordingly for a
different full-scale range, based on the particular rating of the meter movement (1 mA, 500 Ω).
With such a meter design, each resistor value is determined by the same technique, using a known
total current, movement full-scale deflection rating, and movement resistance. For an ammeter with
ranges of 100 mA, 1 A, 10 A, and 100 A, the shunt resistances would be as such:
500 Ω F.S. = 1 mA
- +
100 A R1 R1 = 5.00005 mΩ
range selector 10 A R2 R2 = 50.005 mΩ
switch 1A R3 R3 = 500.5005 mΩ
100 mA R4 R4 = 5.05051 Ω
off
black test red test

lead lead
Notice that these shunt resistor values are very low! 5.00005 mΩ is 5.00005 milli-ohms, or
0.00500005 ohms! To achieve these low resistances, ammeter shunt resistors often have to be custom-
made from relatively large-diameter wire or solid pieces of metal.
One thing to be aware of when sizing ammeter shunt resistors is the factor of power dissipation.
Unlike the voltmeter, an ammeter’s range resistors have to carry large amounts of current. If those
shunt resistors are not sized accordingly, they may overheat and suffer damage, or at the very least
lose accuracy due to overheating. For the example meter above, the power dissipations at full-scale
indication are (the double-squiggly lines represent ”approximately equal to” in mathematics):
E2 (0.5 V)2
PR1 = = 50 W
R1 5.00005 mΩ
E2 (0.5 V)2
PR2 = = 5W
R2 50.005 mΩ
E2 (0.5 V)2
PR3 = = 0.5 W
R3 500.5 mΩ
E2 (0.5 V)2
PR4 = = 49.5 mW
R4 5.05 Ω
An 1/8 watt resistor would work just fine for R4 , a 1/2 watt resistor would suffice for R3 and a 5
watt for R2 (although resistors tend to maintain their long-term accuracy better if not operated near
their rated power dissipation, so you might want to over-rate resistors R 2 and R3 ), but precision 50
watt resistors are rare and expensive components indeed. A custom resistor made from metal stock
or thick wire may have to be constructed for R1 to meet both the requirements of low resistance
and high power rating.
Sometimes, shunt resistors are used in conjunction with voltmeters of high input resistance to
measure current. In these cases, the current through the voltmeter movement is small enough to be
considered negligible, and the shunt resistance can be sized according to how many volts or millivolts
of drop will be produced per amp of current:
current to be
measured
+
Rshunt V voltmeter
-
current to be
measured
If, for example, the shunt resistor in the above circuit were sized at precisely 1 Ω, there would be
1 volt dropped across it for every amp of current through it. The voltmeter indication could then be
taken as a direct indication of current through the shunt. For measuring very small currents, higher
values of shunt resistance could be used to generate more voltage drop per given unit of current,
thus extending the usable range of the (volt)meter down into lower amounts of current. The use
of voltmeters in conjunction with low-value shunt resistances for the measurement of current is
something commonly seen in industrial applications.
The use of a shunt resistor along with a voltmeter to measure current can be a useful trick for
simplifying the task of frequent current measurements in a circuit. Normally, to measure current
through a circuit with an ammeter, the circuit would have to be broken (interrupted) and the
ammeter inserted between the separated wire ends, like this:
+
A
-
Load
If we have a circuit where current needs to be measured often, or we would just like to make
the process of current measurement more convenient, a shunt resistor could be placed between
those points and left their permanently, current readings taken with a voltmeter as needed without
interrupting continuity in the circuit:
+
V
-
Rshunt
Load
Of course, care must be taken in sizing the shunt resistor low enough so that it doesn’t adversely
affect the circuit’s normal operation, but this is generally not difficult to do. This technique might
also be useful in computer circuit analysis, where we might want to have the computer display current
through a circuit in terms of a voltage (with SPICE, this would allow us to avoid the idiosyncrasy
of reading negative current values):
Rshunt
1 2
1Ω
12 V Rload
15 kΩ
0 0
shunt resistor example circuit

v1 1 0
rshunt 1 2 1
rload 2 0 15k
.dc v1 12 12 1
.print dc v(1,2)
.end
v1 v(1,2)
1.200E+01 7.999E-04
We would interpret the voltage reading across the shunt resistor (between circuit nodes 1 and 2
in the SPICE simulation) directly as amps, with 7.999E-04 being 0.7999 mA, or 799.9 µA. Ideally,
12 volts applied directly across 15 kΩ would give us exactly 0.8 mA, but the resistance of the shunt
lessens that current just a tiny bit (as it would in real life). However, such a tiny error is generally
8.5. AMMETER IMPACT ON MEASURED CIRCUIT 255
well within acceptable limits of accuracy for either a simulation or a real circuit, and so shunt
resistors can be used in all but the most demanding applications for accurate current measurement.
• REVIEW:
• Ammeter ranges are created by adding parallel ”shunt” resistors to the movement circuit,
providing a precise current division.
• Shunt resistors may have high power dissipations, so be careful when choosing parts for such
meters!
• Shunt resistors can be used in conjunction with high-resistance voltmeters as well as low-
resistance ammeter movements, producing accurate voltage drops for given amounts of current.
Shunt resistors should be selected for as low a resistance value as possible to minimize their
impact upon the circuit under test.
8.5 Ammeter impact on measured circuit

Just like voltmeters, ammeters tend to influence the amount of current in the circuits they’re con-
nected to. However, unlike the ideal voltmeter, the ideal ammeter has zero internal resistance, so as
to drop as little voltage as possible as electrons flow through it. Note that this ideal resistance value
is exactly opposite as that of a voltmeter. With voltmeters, we want as little current to be drawn
as possible from the circuit under test. With ammeters, we want as little voltage to be dropped as
possible while conducting current.
Here is an extreme example of an ammeter’s effect upon a circuit:
R1 3Ω R2 1.5 Ω
2V
666.7 mA 1.333 A
+
Rinternal
A
- 0.5 Ω
With the ammeter disconnected from this circuit, the current through the 3 Ω resistor would be
666.7 mA, and the current through the 1.5 Ω resistor would be 1.33 amps. If the ammeter had an
internal resistance of 1/2 Ω, and it were inserted into one of the branches of this circuit, though, its
resistance would seriously affect the measured branch current:
R1 3Ω R2 1.5 Ω
2V
571.43 mA +R 1.333 A
internal
A
0.5 Ω
-
Having effectively increased the left branch resistance from 3 Ω to 3.5 Ω, the ammeter will read
571.43 mA instead of 666.7 mA. Placing the same ammeter in the right branch would affect the
current to an even greater extent:
R1 3Ω R2 1.5 Ω
2V 1A
+ R
internal
666.7 mA A
0.5 Ω
-
Now the right branch current is 1 amp instead of 1.333 amps, due to the increase in resistance
created by the addition of the ammeter into the current path.
When using standard ammeters that connect in series with the circuit being measured, it might
not be practical or possible to redesign the meter for a lower input (lead-to-lead) resistance. However,
if we were selecting a value of shunt resistor to place in the circuit for a current measurement based
on voltage drop, and we had our choice of a wide range of resistances, it would be best to choose the
lowest practical resistance for the application. Any more resistance than necessary and the shunt
may impact the circuit adversely by adding excessive resistance in the current path.
One ingenious way to reduce the impact that a current-measuring device has on a circuit is to
use the circuit wire as part of the ammeter movement itself. All current-carrying wires produce
a magnetic field, the strength of which is in direct proportion to the strength of the current. By
building an instrument that measures the strength of that magnetic field, a no-contact ammeter can
be produced. Such a meter is able to measure the current through a conductor without even having
to make physical contact with the circuit, much less break continuity or insert additional resistance.
8.5. AMMETER IMPACT ON MEASURED CIRCUIT 257
magnetic field
encircling the
current-carrying
conductor
clamp-on
ammeter
current to be
measured
Ammeters of this design are made, and are called ”clamp-on” meters because they have ”jaws”
which can be opened and then secured around a circuit wire. Clamp-on ammeters make for quick
and safe current measurements, especially on high-power industrial circuits. Because the circuit
under test has had no additional resistance inserted into it by a clamp-on meter, there is no error
induced in taking a current measurement.
magnetic field
encircling the
current-carrying
conductor
clamp-on
ammeter
current to be
measured
The actual movement mechanism of a clamp-on ammeter is much the same as for an iron-vane
instrument, except that there is no internal wire coil to generate the magnetic field. More modern
designs of clamp-on ammeters utilize a small magnetic field detector device called a Hall-effect sensor
to accurately determine field strength. Some clamp-on meters contain electronic amplifier circuitry
to generate a small voltage proportional to the current in the wire between the jaws, that small
voltage connected to a voltmeter for convenient readout by a technician. Thus, a clamp-on unit can
be an accessory device to a voltmeter, for current measurement.
A less accurate type of magnetic-field-sensing ammeter than the clamp-on style is shown in the
following photograph:
The operating principle for this ammeter is identical to the clamp-on style of meter: the circular
magnetic field surrounding a current-carrying conductor deflects the meter’s needle, producing an
indication on the scale. Note how there are two current scales on this particular meter: +/- 75 amps
and +/- 400 amps. These two measurement scales correspond to the two sets of notches on the back
of the meter. Depending on which set of notches the current-carrying conductor is laid in, a given
strength of magnetic field will have a different amount of effect on the needle. In effect, the two
different positions of the conductor relative to the movement act as two different range resistors in
a direct-connection style of ammeter.
• REVIEW:
• An ideal ammeter has zero resistance.
• A ”clamp-on” ammeter measures current through a wire by measuring the strength of the
magnetic field around it rather than by becoming part of the circuit, making it an ideal
ammeter.
• Clamp-on meters make for quick and safe current measurements, because there is no conductive
contact between the meter and the circuit.
8.6 Ohmmeter design

Though mechanical ohmmeter (resistance meter) designs are rarely used today, having largely been
superseded by digital instruments, their operation is nonetheless intriguing and worthy of study.
8.6. OHMMETER DESIGN 259
The purpose of an ohmmeter, of course, is to measure the resistance placed between its leads.
This resistance reading is indicated through a mechanical meter movement which operates on electric
current. The ohmmeter must then have an internal source of voltage to create the necessary current
to operate the movement, and also have appropriate ranging resistors to allow just the right amount
of current through the movement at any given resistance.
Starting with a simple movement and battery circuit, let’s see how it would function as an
ohmmeter:
A simple ohmmeter
500 Ω F.S. = 1 mA
9V
- +
black test red test

lead lead
When there is infinite resistance (no continuity between test leads), there is zero current through
the meter movement, and the needle points toward the far left of the scale. In this regard, the
ohmmeter indication is ”backwards” because maximum indication (infinity) is on the left of the
scale, while voltage and current meters have zero at the left of their scales.
If the test leads of this ohmmeter are directly shorted together (measuring zero Ω), the meter
movement will have a maximum amount of current through it, limited only by the battery voltage
and the movement’s internal resistance:
500 Ω F.S. = 1 mA
9V
- +
18 mA
black test red test
lead lead
With 9 volts of battery potential and only 500 Ω of movement resistance, our circuit current will
be 18 mA, which is far beyond the full-scale rating of the movement. Such an excess of current will
likely damage the meter.
Not only that, but having such a condition limits the usefulness of the device. If full left-of-scale
on the meter face represents an infinite amount of resistance, then full right-of-scale should represent
zero. Currently, our design ”pegs” the meter movement hard to the right when zero resistance is
attached between the leads. We need a way to make it so that the movement just registers full-scale
when the test leads are shorted together. This is accomplished by adding a series resistance to the
meter’s circuit:
500 Ω F.S. = 1 mA
9V R
- +
black test red test

lead lead
To determine the proper value for R, we calculate the total circuit resistance needed to limit
current to 1 mA (full-scale deflection on the movement) with 9 volts of potential from the battery,
then subtract the movement’s internal resistance from that figure:
E 9V
Rtotal = =
I 1 mA
Rtotal = 9 kΩ
R = Rtotal - 500 Ω = 8.5 kΩ
Now that the right value for R has been calculated, we’re still left with a problem of meter range.
On the left side of the scale we have ”infinity” and on the right side we have zero. Besides being
”backwards” from the scales of voltmeters and ammeters, this scale is strange because it goes from
nothing to everything, rather than from nothing to a finite value (such as 10 volts, 1 amp, etc.). One
might pause to wonder, ”what does middle-of-scale represent? What figure lies exactly between zero
and infinity?” Infinity is more than just a very big amount: it is an incalculable quantity, larger than
any definite number ever could be. If half-scale indication on any other type of meter represents 1/2
of the full-scale range value, then what is half of infinity on an ohmmeter scale?
The answer to this paradox is a logarithmic scale. Simply put, the scale of an ohmmeter does
not smoothly progress from zero to infinity as the needle sweeps from right to left. Rather, the scale
starts out ”expanded” at the right-hand side, with the successive resistance values growing closer
and closer to each other toward the left side of the scale:
8.6. OHMMETER DESIGN 261
An ohmmeter’s logarithmic scale
300
1.5k 750 150 100
15k 75
0
Infinity cannot be approached in a linear (even) fashion, because the scale would never get
there! With a logarithmic scale, the amount of resistance spanned for any given distance on the
scale increases as the scale progresses toward infinity, making infinity an attainable goal.
We still have a question of range for our ohmmeter, though. What value of resistance between
the test leads will cause exactly 1/2 scale deflection of the needle? If we know that the movement has
a full-scale rating of 1 mA, then 0.5 mA (500 µA) must be the value needed for half-scale deflection.
Following our design with the 9 volt battery as a source we get:
E 9V
Rtotal = =
I 500 µA
Rtotal = 18 kΩ
With an internal movement resistance of 500 Ω and a series range resistor of 8.5 kΩ, this leaves
9 kΩ for an external (lead-to-lead) test resistance at 1/2 scale. In other words, the test resistance
giving 1/2 scale deflection in an ohmmeter is equal in value to the (internal) series total resistance
of the meter circuit.
Using Ohm’s Law a few more times, we can determine the test resistance value for 1/4 and 3/4
scale deflection as well:
1/4 scale deflection (0.25 mA of meter current):

E 9V
Rtotal = =
I 250 µA
Rtotal = 36 kΩ
Rtest = Rtotal - Rinternal
Rtest = 36 kΩ - 9 kΩ
Rtest = 27 kΩ
3/4 scale deflection (0.75 mA of meter current):
E 9V
Rtotal = =
I 750 µA
Rtotal = 12 kΩ
Rtest = Rtotal - Rinternal
Rtest = 12 kΩ - 9 kΩ
Rtest = 3 kΩ
So, the scale for this ohmmeter looks something like this:
9k
27k 3k
0
8.7. HIGH VOLTAGE OHMMETERS 263
One major problem with this design is its reliance upon a stable battery voltage for accurate
resistance reading. If the battery voltage decreases (as all chemical batteries do with age and use),
the ohmmeter scale will lose accuracy. With the series range resistor at a constant value of 8.5 kΩ
and the battery voltage decreasing, the meter will no longer deflect full-scale to the right when the
test leads are shorted together (0 Ω). Likewise, a test resistance of 9 kΩ will fail to deflect the needle
to exactly 1/2 scale with a lesser battery voltage.
There are design techniques used to compensate for varying battery voltage, but they do not
completely take care of the problem and are to be considered approximations at best. For this
reason, and for the fact of the logarithmic scale, this type of ohmmeter is never considered to be a
precision instrument.
One final caveat needs to be mentioned with regard to ohmmeters: they only function correctly
when measuring resistance that is not being powered by a voltage or current source. In other words,
you cannot measure resistance with an ohmmeter on a ”live” circuit! The reason for this is simple:
the ohmmeter’s accurate indication depends on the only source of voltage being its internal battery.
The presence of any voltage across the component to be measured will interfere with the ohmmeter’s
operation. If the voltage is large enough, it may even damage the ohmmeter.
• REVIEW:
• Ohmmeters contain internal sources of voltage to supply power in taking resistance measure-
ments.
• An analog ohmmeter scale is ”backwards” from that of a voltmeter or ammeter, the movement
needle reading zero resistance at full-scale and infinite resistance at rest.
• Analog ohmmeters also have logarithmic scales, ”expanded” at the low end of the scale and
”compressed” at the high end to be able to span from zero to infinite resistance.
• Analog ohmmeters are not precision instruments.
• Ohmmeters should never be connected to an energized circuit (that is, a circuit with its own
source of voltage). Any voltage applied to the test leads of an ohmmeter will invalidate its
reading.
8.7 High voltage ohmmeters

Most ohmmeters of the design shown in the previous section utilize a battery of relatively low
voltage, usually nine volts or less. This is perfectly adequate for measuring resistances under several
mega-ohms (MΩ), but when extremely high resistances need to be measured, a 9 volt battery is
insufficient for generating enough current to actuate an electromechanical meter movement.
Also, as discussed in an earlier chapter, resistance is not always a stable (linear) quantity. This
is especially true of non-metals. Recall the graph of current over voltage for a small air gap (less
than an inch):
I
(current)
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400
E
(voltage)
ionization potential
While this is an extreme example of nonlinear conduction, other substances exhibit similar in-
sulating/conducting properties when exposed to high voltages. Obviously, an ohmmeter using a
low-voltage battery as a source of power cannot measure resistance at the ionization potential of
a gas, or at the breakdown voltage of an insulator. If such resistance values need to be measured,
nothing but a high-voltage ohmmeter will suffice.
The most direct method of high-voltage resistance measurement involves simply substituting a
higher voltage battery in the same basic design of ohmmeter investigated earlier:
Simple high-voltage ohmmeter
- +
black test red test

lead lead
Knowing, however, that the resistance of some materials tends to change with applied voltage,
it would be advantageous to be able to adjust the voltage of this ohmmeter to obtain resistance
measurements under different conditions:
- +
black test red test

lead lead
Unfortunately, this would create a calibration problem for the meter. If the meter movement
deflects full-scale with a certain amount of current through it, the full-scale range of the meter in
ohms would change as the source voltage changed. Imagine connecting a stable resistance across the
test leads of this ohmmeter while varying the source voltage: as the voltage is increased, there will
be more current through the meter movement, hence a greater amount of deflection. What we really
need is a meter movement that will produce a consistent, stable deflection for any stable resistance
value measured, regardless of the applied voltage.
Accomplishing this design goal requires a special meter movement, one that is peculiar to
megohmmeters, or meggers, as these instruments are known.
"Megger" movement
Magnet
1 1
2 3
2
Magnet 3
The numbered, rectangular blocks in the above illustration are cross-sectional representations of
wire coils. These three coils all move with the needle mechanism. There is no spring mechanism
to return the needle to a set position. When the movement is unpowered, the needle will randomly
”float.” The coils are electrically connected like this:
High voltage
2 3
Red Black
Test leads
With infinite resistance between the test leads (open circuit), there will be no current through
coil 1, only through coils 2 and 3. When energized, these coils try to center themselves in the gap
between the two magnet poles, driving the needle fully to the right of the scale where it points to
”infinity.”
1 Magnet
2 1
Magnet
3
Current through coils 2 and 3;

no current through coil 1
Any current through coil 1 (through a measured resistance connected between the test leads)
tends to drive the needle to the left of scale, back to zero. The internal resistor values of the meter
movement are calibrated so that when the test leads are shorted together, the needle deflects exactly
to the 0 Ω position.
Because any variations in battery voltage will affect the torque generated by both sets of coils
(coils 2 and 3, which drive the needle to the right, and coil 1, which drives the needle to the left),
those variations will have no effect of the calibration of the movement. In other words, the accuracy
of this ohmmeter movement is unaffected by battery voltage: a given amount of measured resistance
will produce a certain needle deflection, no matter how much or little battery voltage is present.
The only effect that a variation in voltage will have on meter indication is the degree to which
the measured resistance changes with applied voltage. So, if we were to use a megger to measure the
resistance of a gas-discharge lamp, it would read very high resistance (needle to the far right of the
scale) for low voltages and low resistance (needle moves to the left of the scale) for high voltages.
This is precisely what we expect from a good high-voltage ohmmeter: to provide accurate indication
of subject resistance under different circumstances.
For maximum safety, most meggers are equipped with hand-crank generators for producing the
high DC voltage (up to 1000 volts). If the operator of the meter receives a shock from the high
voltage, the condition will be self-correcting, as he or she will naturally stop cranking the generator!
Sometimes a ”slip clutch” is used to stabilize generator speed under different cranking conditions,
so as to provide a fairly stable voltage whether it is cranked fast or slow. Multiple voltage output
levels from the generator are available by the setting of a selector switch.
A simple hand-crank megger is shown in this photograph:
Some meggers are battery-powered to provide greater precision in output voltage. For safety
reasons these meggers are activated by a momentary-contact pushbutton switch, so the switch cannot
be left in the ”on” position and pose a significant shock hazard to the meter operator.
Real meggers are equipped with three connection terminals, labeled Line, Earth, and Guard.
The schematic is quite similar to the simplified version shown earlier:
High voltage
2 3
Guard Line Earth
Resistance is measured between the Line and Earth terminals, where current will travel through
coil 1. The ”Guard” terminal is provided for special testing situations where one resistance must be
isolated from another. Take for instance this scenario where the insulation resistance is to be tested
in a two-wire cable:
cable Cable
sheath
conductor
conductor
insulation
To measure insulation resistance from a conductor to the outside of the cable, we need to connect
the ”Line” lead of the megger to one of the conductors and connect the ”Earth” lead of the megger
to a wire wrapped around the sheath of the cable:
wire wrapped
around
cable sheath
E
L
G
In this configuration the megger should read the resistance between one conductor and the outside
sheath. Or will it? If we draw a schematic diagram showing all insulation resistances as resistor
symbols, what we have looks like this:
sheath
Rc1-s Rc2-s
Rc1-c2
conductor1 conductor2
Line Earth
Megger
Rather than just measure the resistance of the second conductor to the sheath (R c2−s ), what we’ll
actually measure is that resistance in parallel with the series combination of conductor-to-conductor
resistance (Rc1−c2 ) and the first conductor to the sheath (Rc1−s ). If we don’t care about this fact,
we can proceed with the test as configured. If we desire to measure only the resistance between the
second conductor and the sheath (Rc2−s ), then we need to use the megger’s ”Guard” terminal:
wire wrapped
around
cable sheath
Megger with "Guard"

connected
E
L
G
Now the circuit schematic looks like this:
sheath
Rc1-s Rc2-s
Rc1-c2
conductor1 conductor2
Line Earth
Guard Megger
Connecting the ”Guard” terminal to the first conductor places the two conductors at almost equal
potential. With little or no voltage between them, the insulation resistance is nearly infinite, and thus
there will be no current between the two conductors. Consequently, the megger’s resistance indication
will be based exclusively on the current through the second conductor’s insulation, through the
8.8. MULTIMETERS 271
cable sheath, and to the wire wrapped around, not the current leaking through the first conductor’s
insulation.
Meggers are field instruments: that is, they are designed to be portable and operated by a
technician on the job site with as much ease as a regular ohmmeter. They are very useful for checking
high-resistance ”short” failures between wires caused by wet or degraded insulation. Because they
utilize such high voltages, they are not as affected by stray voltages (voltages less than 1 volt
produced by electrochemical reactions between conductors, or ”induced” by neighboring magnetic
fields) as ordinary ohmmeters.
For a more thorough test of wire insulation, another high-voltage ohmmeter commonly called a
hi-pot tester is used. These specialized instruments produce voltages in excess of 1 kV, and may be
used for testing the insulating effectiveness of oil, ceramic insulators, and even the integrity of other
high-voltage instruments. Because they are capable of producing such high voltages, they must be
operated with the utmost care, and only by trained personnel.
It should be noted that hi-pot testers and even meggers (in certain conditions) are capable
of damaging wire insulation if incorrectly used. Once an insulating material has been subjected
to breakdown by the application of an excessive voltage, its ability to electrically insulate will be
compromised. Again, these instruments are to be used only by trained personnel.
8.8 Multimeters
Seeing as how a common meter movement can be made to function as a voltmeter, ammeter, or
ohmmeter simply by connecting it to different external resistor networks, it should make sense that
a multi-purpose meter (”multimeter”) could be designed in one unit with the appropriate switch(es)
and resistors.
For general purpose electronics work, the multimeter reigns supreme as the instrument of choice.
No other device is able to do so much with so little an investment in parts and elegant simplicity
of operation. As with most things in the world of electronics, the advent of solid-state components
like transistors has revolutionized the way things are done, and multimeter design is no exception
to this rule. However, in keeping with this chapter’s emphasis on analog (”old-fashioned”) meter
technology, I’ll show you a few pre-transistor meters.
The unit shown above is typical of a handheld analog multimeter, with ranges for voltage,
current, and resistance measurement. Note the many scales on the face of the meter movement for
the different ranges and functions selectable by the rotary switch. The wires for connecting this
instrument to a circuit (the ”test leads”) are plugged into the two copper jacks (socket holes) at the
bottom-center of the meter face marked ”- TEST +”, black and red.
This multimeter (Barnett brand) takes a slightly different design approach than the previous
unit. Note how the rotary selector switch has fewer positions than the previous meter, but also how
there are many more jacks into which the test leads may be plugged into. Each one of those jacks
is labeled with a number indicating the respective full-scale range of the meter.
Lastly, here is a picture of a digital multimeter. Note that the familiar meter movement has been
replaced by a blank, gray-colored display screen. When powered, numerical digits appear in that
screen area, depicting the amount of voltage, current, or resistance being measured. This particular
brand and model of digital meter has a rotary selector switch and four jacks into which test leads
can be plugged. Two leads – one red and one black – are shown plugged into the meter.
A close examination of this meter will reveal one ”common” jack for the black test lead and
three others for the red test lead. The jack into which the red lead is shown inserted is labeled
for voltage and resistance measurement, while the other two jacks are labeled for current (A, mA,
and µA) measurement. This is a wise design feature of the multimeter, requiring the user to move
a test lead plug from one jack to another in order to switch from the voltage measurement to the
current measurement function. It would be hazardous to have the meter set in current measurement
mode while connected across a significant source of voltage because of the low input resistance, and
making it necessary to move a test lead plug rather than just flip the selector switch to a different
position helps ensure that the meter doesn’t get set to measure current unintentionally.
Note that the selector switch still has different positions for voltage and current measurement,
so in order for the user to switch between these two modes of measurement they must switch the
position of the red test lead and move the selector switch to a different position.
Also note that neither the selector switch nor the jacks are labeled with measurement ranges.
In other words, there are no ”100 volt” or ”10 volt” or ”1 volt” ranges (or any equivalent range
steps) on this meter. Rather, this meter is ”autoranging,” meaning that it automatically picks the
appropriate range for the quantity being measured. Autoranging is a feature only found on digital
meters, but not all digital meters.
No two models of multimeters are designed to operate exactly the same, even if they’re manu-
factured by the same company. In order to fully understand the operation of any multimeter, the
owner’s manual must be consulted.
Here is a schematic for a simple analog volt/ammeter:
- +
Off
Rmultiplier1 A
Rshunt
Rmultiplier2 V
Rmultiplier3 V
V
"Common" A V
jack
In the switch’s three lower (most counter-clockwise) positions, the meter movement is connected
to the Common and V jacks through one of three different series range resistors (R multiplier1
through Rmultiplier3 ), and so acts as a voltmeter. In the fourth position, the meter movement is
connected in parallel with the shunt resistor, and so acts as an ammeter for any current entering the
common jack and exiting the A jack. In the last (furthest clockwise) position, the meter movement
is disconnected from either red jack, but short-circuited through the switch. This short-circuiting
creates a dampening effect on the needle, guarding against mechanical shock damage when the meter
is handled and moved.
If an ohmmeter function is desired in this multimeter design, it may be substituted for one of
the three voltage ranges as such:
- +
Off
Rmultiplier1 A
Rshunt
Rmultiplier2 V
V
Ω
RΩ
"Common" A VΩ
jack
With all three fundamental functions available, this multimeter may also be known as a volt-
ohm-milliammeter.
Obtaining a reading from an analog multimeter when there is a multitude of ranges and only one
meter movement may seem daunting to the new technician. On an analog multimeter, the meter
movement is marked with several scales, each one useful for at least one range setting. Here is a
close-up photograph of the scale from the Barnett multimeter shown earlier in this section:
Note that there are three types of scales on this meter face: a green scale for resistance at the
top, a set of black scales for DC voltage and current in the middle, and a set of blue scales for AC
voltage and current at the bottom. Both the DC and AC scales have three sub-scales, one ranging
0 to 2.5, one ranging 0 to 5, and one ranging 0 to 10. The meter operator must choose whichever
scale best matches the range switch and plug settings in order to properly interpret the meter’s
indication.
This particular multimeter has several basic voltage measurement ranges: 2.5 volts, 10 volts, 50
volts, 250 volts, 500 volts, and 1000 volts. With the use of the voltage range extender unit at the
top of the multimeter, voltages up to 5000 volts can be measured. Suppose the meter operator chose
to switch the meter into the ”volt” function and plug the red test lead into the 10 volt jack. To
interpret the needle’s position, he or she would have to read the scale ending with the number ”10”.
If they moved the red test plug into the 250 volt jack, however, they would read the meter indication
on the scale ending with ”2.5”, multiplying the direct indication by a factor of 100 in order to find
what the measured voltage was.
If current is measured with this meter, another jack is chosen for the red plug to be inserted into
and the range is selected via a rotary switch. This close-up photograph shows the switch set to the
2.5 mA position:
8.9. KELVIN (4-WIRE) RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT 277
Note how all current ranges are power-of-ten multiples of the three scale ranges shown on the
meter face: 2.5, 5, and 10. In some range settings, such as the 2.5 mA for example, the meter
indication may be read directly on the 0 to 2.5 scale. For other range settings (250 µA, 50 mA, 100
mA, and 500 mA), the meter indication must be read off the appropriate scale and then multiplied
by either 10 or 100 to obtain the real figure. The highest current range available on this meter
is obtained with the rotary switch in the 2.5/10 amp position. The distinction between 2.5 amps
and 10 amps is made by the red test plug position: a special ”10 amp” jack next to the regular
current-measuring jack provides an alternative plug setting to select the higher range.
Resistance in ohms, of course, is read by a logarithmic scale at the top of the meter face. It is
”backward,” just like all battery-operated analog ohmmeters, with zero at the right-hand side of the
face and infinity at the left-hand side. There is only one jack provided on this particular multimeter
for ”ohms,” so different resistance-measuring ranges must be selected by the rotary switch. Notice
on the switch how five different ”multiplier” settings are provided for measuring resistance: Rx1,
Rx10, Rx100, Rx1000, and Rx10000. Just as you might suspect, the meter indication is given by
multiplying whatever needle position is shown on the meter face by the power-of-ten multiplying
factor set by the rotary switch.
8.9 Kelvin (4-wire) resistance measurement
Suppose we wished to measure the resistance of some component located a significant distance
away from our ohmmeter. Such a scenario would be problematic, because an ohmmeter measures
all resistance in the circuit loop, which includes the resistance of the wires (R wire ) connecting the
ohmmeter to the component being measured (Rsubject ):
Rwire
Ohmmeter
Ω Rsubject
Rwire
Ohmmeter indicates Rwire + Rsubject + Rwire
Usually, wire resistance is very small (only a few ohms per hundreds of feet, depending primarily
on the gauge (size) of the wire), but if the connecting wires are very long, and/or the component to
be measured has a very low resistance anyway, the measurement error introduced by wire resistance
will be substantial.
An ingenious method of measuring the subject resistance in a situation like this involves the use
of both an ammeter and a voltmeter. We know from Ohm’s Law that resistance is equal to voltage
divided by current (R = E/I). Thus, we should be able to determine the resistance of the subject
component if we measure the current going through it and the voltage dropped across it:
Ammeter Rwire
A
Voltmeter
V Rsubject
Rwire
Voltmeter indication
Rsubject =
Ammeter indication
Current is the same at all points in the circuit, because it is a series loop. Because we’re only
measuring voltage dropped across the subject resistance (and not the wires’ resistances), though,
the calculated resistance is indicative of the subject component’s resistance (R subject ) alone.
Our goal, though, was to measure this subject resistance from a distance, so our voltmeter must
be located somewhere near the ammeter, connected across the subject resistance by another pair of
wires containing resistance:
Ammeter Rwire
A
Voltmeter Rwire
V Rsubject
Rwire
Rwire
Rsubject =
Ammeter indication
At first it appears that we have lost any advantage of measuring resistance this way, because
the voltmeter now has to measure voltage through a long pair of (resistive) wires, introducing
stray resistance back into the measuring circuit again. However, upon closer inspection it is seen
that nothing is lost at all, because the voltmeter’s wires carry miniscule current. Thus, those long
lengths of wire connecting the voltmeter across the subject resistance will drop insignificant amounts
of voltage, resulting in a voltmeter indication that is very nearly the same as if it were connected
directly across the subject resistance:
Ammeter Rwire
A
Voltmeter Rwire
V Rsubject
Rwire
Rwire
Any voltage dropped across the main current-carrying wires will not be measured by the volt-
meter, and so do not factor into the resistance calculation at all. Measurement accuracy may be
improved even further if the voltmeter’s current is kept to a minimum, either by using a high-quality
(low full-scale current) movement and/or a potentiometric (null-balance) system.
This method of measurement which avoids errors caused by wire resistance is called the Kelvin,
or 4-wire method. Special connecting clips called Kelvin clips are made to facilitate this kind of
connection across a subject resistance:
Kelvin clips
clip
C
P 4-wire cable
Rsubject
P
C clip
In regular, ”alligator” style clips, both halves of the jaw are electrically common to each other,
usually joined at the hinge point. In Kelvin clips, the jaw halves are insulated from each other at
the hinge point, only contacting at the tips where they clasp the wire or terminal of the subject
being measured. Thus, current through the ”C” (”current”) jaw halves does not go through the ”P”
(”potential,” or voltage) jaw halves, and will not create any error-inducing voltage drop along their
length:
C clip
A
4-wire cable
P
V Rsubject
P
C clip
Rsubject =
Ammeter indication
The same principle of using different contact points for current conduction and voltage mea-
surement is used in precision shunt resistors for measuring large amounts of current. As discussed
previously, shunt resistors function as current measurement devices by dropping a precise amount
of voltage for every amp of current through them, the voltage drop being measured by a voltmeter.
In this sense, a precision shunt resistor ”converts” a current value into a proportional voltage value.
Thus, current may be accurately measured by measuring voltage dropped across the shunt:
current to be
measured
+
Rshunt V voltmeter
-
current to be
measured
Current measurement using a shunt resistor and voltmeter is particularly well-suited for appli-
cations involving particularly large magnitudes of current. In such applications, the shunt resistor’s
resistance will likely be in the order of milliohms or microohms, so that only a modest amount
of voltage will be dropped at full current. Resistance this low is comparable to wire connection
resistance, which means voltage measured across such a shunt must be done so in such a way as
to avoid detecting voltage dropped across the current-carrying wire connections, lest huge measure-
ment errors be induced. In order that the voltmeter measure only the voltage dropped by the shunt
resistance itself, without any stray voltages originating from wire or connection resistance, shunts
are usually equipped with four connection terminals:
Measured current
Voltmeter
Shunt
Measured current
In metrological (metrology = ”the science of measurement”) applications, where accuracy is of

paramount importance, highly precise ”standard” resistors are also equipped with four terminals:
two for carrying the measured current, and two for conveying the resistor’s voltage drop to the volt-
meter. This way, the voltmeter only measures voltage dropped across the precision resistance itself,
without any stray voltages dropped across current-carrying wires or wire-to-terminal connection
resistances.
The following photograph shows a precision standard resistor of 1 Ω value immersed in a

temperature-controlled oil bath with a few other standard resistors. Note the two large, outer
terminals for current, and the two small connection terminals for voltage:
Here is another, older (pre-World War II) standard resistor of German manufacture. This unit
has a resistance of 0.001 Ω, and again the four terminal connection points can be seen as black
knobs (metal pads underneath each knob for direct metal-to-metal connection with the wires), two
large knobs for securing the current-carrying wires, and two smaller knobs for securing the voltmeter
(”potential”) wires:
Appreciation is extended to the Fluke Corporation in Everett, Washington for allowing me

to photograph these expensive and somewhat rare standard resistors in their primary standards
laboratory.
It should be noted that resistance measurement using both an ammeter and a voltmeter is subject
to compound error. Because the accuracy of both instruments factors in to the final result, the overall
measurement accuracy may be worse than either instrument considered alone. For instance, if the
ammeter is accurate to +/- 1% and the voltmeter is also accurate to +/- 1%, any measurement
dependent on the indications of both instruments may be inaccurate by as much as +/- 2%.
Greater accuracy may be obtained by replacing the ammeter with a standard resistor, used as
a current-measuring shunt. There will still be compound error between the standard resistor and
the voltmeter used to measure voltage drop, but this will be less than with a voltmeter + ammeter
arrangement because typical standard resistor accuracy far exceeds typical ammeter accuracy. Using
Kelvin clips to make connection with the subject resistance, the circuit looks something like this:
C clip
P
Rsubject
P
C clip
Rstandard
All current-carrying wires in the above circuit are shown in ”bold,” to easily distinguish them
from wires connecting the voltmeter across both resistances (Rsubject and Rstandard ). Ideally, a
potentiometric voltmeter is used to ensure as little current through the ”potential” wires as possible.
8.10 Bridge circuits

No text on electrical metering could be called complete without a section on bridge circuits. These
ingenious circuits make use of a null-balance meter to compare two voltages, just like the laboratory
balance scale compares two weights and indicates when they’re equal. Unlike the ”potentiometer”
circuit used to simply measure an unknown voltage, bridge circuits can be used to measure all kinds
of electrical values, not the least of which being resistance.
The standard bridge circuit, often called a Wheatstone bridge, looks something like this:
Ra R1
1 2
null
Rb R2
8.10. BRIDGE CIRCUITS 285
When the voltage between point 1 and the negative side of the battery is equal to the voltage
between point 2 and the negative side of the battery, the null detector will indicate zero and the
bridge is said to be ”balanced.” The bridge’s state of balance is solely dependent on the ratios of
Ra /Rb and R1 /R2 , and is quite independent of the supply voltage (battery). To measure resistance
with a Wheatstone bridge, an unknown resistance is connected in the place of R a or Rb , while the
other three resistors are precision devices of known value. Either of the other three resistors can be
replaced or adjusted until the bridge is balanced, and when balance has been reached the unknown
resistor value can be determined from the ratios of the known resistances.
A requirement for this to be a measurement system is to have a set of variable resistors available
whose resistances are precisely known, to serve as reference standards. For example, if we connect
a bridge circuit to measure an unknown resistance Rx , we will have to know the exact values of the
other three resistors at balance to determine the value of Rx :
Ra R1 Bridge circuit is
balanced when:
1 2 Ra R1
null =
Rx R2
Rx R2
Each of the four resistances in a bridge circuit are referred to as arms. The resistor in series
with the unknown resistance Rx (this would be Ra in the above schematic) is commonly called the
rheostat of the bridge, while the other two resistors are called the ratio arms of the bridge.
Accurate and stable resistance standards, thankfully, are not that difficult to construct. In fact,
they were some of the first electrical ”standard” devices made for scientific purposes. Here is a
photograph of an antique resistance standard unit:
This resistance standard shown here is variable in discrete steps: the amount of resistance between
the connection terminals could be varied with the number and pattern of removable copper plugs
inserted into sockets.
Wheatstone bridges are considered a superior means of resistance measurement to the series
battery-movement-resistor meter circuit discussed in the last section. Unlike that circuit, with
all its nonlinearities (logarithmic scale) and associated inaccuracies, the bridge circuit is linear (the
mathematics describing its operation are based on simple ratios and proportions) and quite accurate.
Given standard resistances of sufficient precision and a null detector device of sufficient sensitivity,
resistance measurement accuracies of at least +/- 0.05% are attainable with a Wheatstone bridge.
It is the preferred method of resistance measurement in calibration laboratories due to its high
accuracy.
There are many variations of the basic Wheatstone bridge circuit. Most DC bridges are used
to measure resistance, while bridges powered by alternating current (AC) may be used to measure
different electrical quantities like inductance, capacitance, and frequency.
An interesting variation of the Wheatstone bridge is the Kelvin Double bridge, used for measuring
very low resistances (typically less than 1/10 of an ohm). Its schematic diagram is as such:
Kelvin Double bridge
Ra
RM
Rm
null
Rn
RN
Rx
Ra and Rx are low-value resistances
The low-value resistors are represented by thick-line symbols, and the wires connecting them to
the voltage source (carrying high current) are likewise drawn thickly in the schematic. This oddly-
configured bridge is perhaps best understood by beginning with a standard Wheatstone bridge set up
for measuring low resistance, and evolving it step-by-step into its final form in an effort to overcome
certain problems encountered in the standard Wheatstone configuration.
If we were to use a standard Wheatstone bridge to measure low resistance, it would look some-
thing like this:
Ra RM
null
RN
Rx
When the null detector indicates zero voltage, we know that the bridge is balanced and that the
ratios Ra /Rx and RM /RN are mathematically equal to each other. Knowing the values of Ra , RM ,
and RN therefore provides us with the necessary data to solve for Rx . . . almost.
We have a problem, in that the connections and connecting wires between R a and Rx possess
resistance as well, and this stray resistance may be substantial compared to the low resistances of
Ra and Rx . These stray resistances will drop substantial voltage, given the high current through
them, and thus will affect the null detector’s indication and thus the balance of the bridge:
Ewire
Ra RM
Ewire
ERa
null
Ewire ERx
RN
Rx
Ewire
Stray Ewire voltages will corrupt

the accuracy of Rx’s measurement
Since we don’t want to measure these stray wire and connection resistances, but only measure
Rx , we must find some way to connect the null detector so that it won’t be influenced by voltage
dropped across them. If we connect the null detector and RM /RN ratio arms directly across the
ends of Ra and Rx , this gets us closer to a practical solution:
Ewire
Ra
RM
Ewire
null
Ewire
RN
Rx
Ewire
Now, only the two Ewire voltages

are part of the null detector loop
Now the top two Ewire voltage drops are of no effect to the null detector, and do not influence
the accuracy of Rx ’s resistance measurement. However, the two remaining Ewire voltage drops will
cause problems, as the wire connecting the lower end of Ra with the top end of Rx is now shunting
across those two voltage drops, and will conduct substantial current, introducing stray voltage drops
along its own length as well.
Knowing that the left side of the null detector must connect to the two near ends of R a and Rx
in order to avoid introducing those Ewire voltage drops into the null detector’s loop, and that any
direct wire connecting those ends of Ra and Rx will itself carry substantial current and create more
stray voltage drops, the only way out of this predicament is to make the connecting path between
the lower end of Ra and the upper end of Rx substantially resistive:
Ewire
Ra
RM
Ewire
null
Ewire
RN
Rx
Ewire
We can manage the stray voltage drops between Ra and Rx by sizing the two new resistors so
that their ratio from upper to lower is the same ratio as the two ratio arms on the other side of the
null detector. This is why these resistors were labeled Rm and Rn in the original Kelvin Double
bridge schematic: to signify their proportionality with RM and RN :
Kelvin Double bridge
Ra
RM
Rm
null
Rn
RN
Rx
Ra and Rx are low-value resistances

With ratio Rm /Rn set equal to ratio RM /RN , rheostat arm resistor Ra is adjusted until the null
detector indicates balance, and then we can say that Ra /Rx is equal to RM /RN , or simply find Rx
by the following equation:
RN
Rx = Ra
RM
The actual balance equation of the Kelvin Double bridge is as follows (R wire is the resistance of
the thick, connecting wire between the low-resistance standard Ra and the test resistance Rx ):
Rx RN RN
Ra
=
RM
+
Rwire
Ra ( Rm
Rm + Rn + Rwire )( RM
-
Rn
Rm )
So long as the ratio between RM and RN is equal to the ratio between Rm and Rn , the balance
equation is no more complex than that of a regular Wheatstone bridge, with R x /Ra equal to RN /RM ,
because the last term in the equation will be zero, canceling the effects of all resistances except R x ,
Ra , RM , and RN .
In many Kelvin Double bridge circuits, RM =Rm and RN =Rn . However, the lower the resistances
of Rm and Rn , the more sensitive the null detector will be, because there is less resistance in series
with it. Increased detector sensitivity is good, because it allows smaller imbalances to be detected,
and thus a finer degree of bridge balance to be attained. Therefore, some high-precision Kelvin
Double bridges use Rm and Rn values as low as 1/100 of their ratio arm counterparts (RM and RN ,
respectively). Unfortunately, though, the lower the values of Rm and Rn , the more current they will
carry, which will increase the effect of any junction resistances present where R m and Rn connect to
the ends of Ra and Rx . As you can see, high instrument accuracy demands that all error-producing
factors be taken into account, and often the best that can be achieved is a compromise minimizing
two or more different kinds of errors.
• REVIEW:
• Bridge circuits rely on sensitive null-voltage meters to compare two voltages for equality.
• A Wheatstone bridge can be used to measure resistance by comparing unknown resistor against
precision resistors of known value, much like a laboratory scale measures an unknown weight
by comparing it against known standard weights.
• A Kelvin Double bridge is a variant of the Wheatstone bridge used for measuring very low re-
sistances. Its additional complexity over the basic Wheatstone design is necessary for avoiding
errors otherwise incurred by stray resistances along the current path between the low-resistance
standard and the resistance being measured.
8.11 Wattmeter design

Power in an electric circuit is the product (multiplication) of voltage and current, so any meter
designed to measure power must account for both of these variables.
A special meter movement designed especially for power measurement is called the dynamometer
movement, and is similar to a D’Arsonval or Weston movement in that a lightweight coil of wire is
attached to the pointer mechanism. However, unlike the D’Arsonval or Weston movement, another
(stationary) coil is used instead of a permanent magnet to provide the magnetic field for the moving
coil to react against. The moving coil is generally energized by the voltage in the circuit, while
the stationary coil is generally energized by the current in the circuit. A dynamometer movement
connected in a circuit looks something like this:
Electrodynamometer movement
Load
The top (horizontal) coil of wire measures load current while the bottom (vertical) coil measures
load voltage. Just like the lightweight moving coils of voltmeter movements, the (moving) voltage
coil of a dynamometer is typically connected in series with a range resistor so that full load voltage
is not applied to it. Likewise, the (stationary) current coil of a dynamometer may have precision
shunt resistors to divide the load current around it. With custom-built dynamometer movements,
shunt resistors are less likely to be needed because the stationary coil can be constructed with as
heavy of wire as needed without impacting meter response, unlike the moving coil which must be
constructed of lightweight wire for minimum inertia.
8.12. CREATING CUSTOM CALIBRATION RESISTANCES 293
Electrodynamometer movement
Rshunt
voltage
current coil (moving)
coil
(stationary)
Rmultiplier
• REVIEW:
• Wattmeters are often designed around dynamometer meter movements, which employ both
voltage and current coils to move a needle.
8.12 Creating custom calibration resistances
Often in the course of designing and building electrical meter circuits, it is necessary to have precise
resistances to obtain the desired range(s). More often than not, the resistance values required cannot
be found in any manufactured resistor unit and therefore must be built by you.
One solution to this dilemma is to make your own resistor out of a length of special high-resistance
wire. Usually, a small ”bobbin” is used as a form for the resulting wire coil, and the coil is wound
in such a way as to eliminate any electromagnetic effects: the desired wire length is folded in half,
and the looped wire wound around the bobbin so that current through the wire winds clockwise
around the bobbin for half the wire’s length, then counter-clockwise for the other half. This is known
as a bifilar winding. Any magnetic fields generated by the current are thus canceled, and external
magnetic fields cannot induce any voltage in the resistance wire coil:
Before winding coil Completed resistor
Bobbin
Special
resistance
wire
As you might imagine, this can be a labor-intensive process, especially if more than one resistor
must be built! Another, easier solution to the dilemma of a custom resistance is to connect multiple
fixed-value resistors together in series-parallel fashion to obtain the desired value of resistance. This
solution, although potentially time-intensive in choosing the best resistor values for making the first
resistance, can be duplicated much faster for creating multiple custom resistances of the same value:
R1
R2 R3
R4
Rtotal
A disadvantage of either technique, though, is the fact that both result in a fixed resistance value.
In a perfect world where meter movements never lose magnetic strength of their permanent magnets,
where temperature and time have no effect on component resistances, and where wire connections
maintain zero resistance forever, fixed-value resistors work quite well for establishing the ranges of
precision instruments. However, in the real world, it is advantageous to have the ability to calibrate,
or adjust, the instrument in the future.
It makes sense, then, to use potentiometers (connected as rheostats, usually) as variable resis-
tances for range resistors. The potentiometer may be mounted inside the instrument case so that
only a service technician has access to change its value, and the shaft may be locked in place with
thread-fastening compound (ordinary nail polish works well for this!) so that it will not move if
subjected to vibration.
However, most potentiometers provide too large a resistance span over their mechanically-short
movement range to allow for precise adjustment. Suppose you desired a resistance of 8.335 kΩ +/-
1 Ω, and wanted to use a 10 kΩ potentiometer (rheostat) to obtain it. A precision of 1 Ω out of a
span of 10 kΩ is 1 part in 10,000, or 1/100 of a percent! Even with a 10-turn potentiometer, it will
be very difficult to adjust it to any value this finely. Such a feat would be nearly impossible using
8.12. CREATING CUSTOM CALIBRATION RESISTANCES 295
a standard 3/4 turn potentiometer. So how can we get the resistance value we need and still have
room for adjustment?
The solution to this problem is to use a potentiometer as part of a larger resistance network
which will create a limited adjustment range. Observe the following example:
8 kΩ 1 kΩ
Rtotal
8 kΩ to 9 kΩ
adjustable range
Here, the 1 kΩ potentiometer, connected as a rheostat, provides by itself a 1 kΩ span (a range of
0 Ω to 1 kΩ). Connected in series with an 8 kΩ resistor, this offsets the total resistance by 8,000 Ω,
giving an adjustable range of 8 kΩ to 9 kΩ. Now, a precision of +/- 1 Ω represents 1 part in 1000,
or 1/10 of a percent of potentiometer shaft motion. This is ten times better, in terms of adjustment
sensitivity, than what we had using a 10 kΩ potentiometer.
If we desire to make our adjustment capability even more precise – so we can set the resistance at
8.335 kΩ with even greater precision – we may reduce the span of the potentiometer by connecting
a fixed-value resistor in parallel with it:
1 kΩ
8 kΩ 1 kΩ
Rtotal
8 kΩ to 8.5 kΩ
adjustable range
Now, the calibration span of the resistor network is only 500 Ω, from 8 kΩ to 8.5 kΩ. This makes
a precision of +/- 1 Ω equal to 1 part in 500, or 0.2 percent. The adjustment is now half as sensitive
as it was before the addition of the parallel resistor, facilitating much easier calibration to the
target value. The adjustment will not be linear, unfortunately (halfway on the potentiometer’s shaft
position will not result in 8.25 kΩ total resistance, but rather 8.333 kΩ). Still, it is an improvement in
terms of sensitivity, and it is a practical solution to our problem of building an adjustable resistance
for a precision instrument!
8.13 Contributors
second edition.
Chapter 9
ELECTRICAL
INSTRUMENTATION SIGNALS
9.1 Analog and digital signals

Instrumentation is a field of study and work centering on measurement and control of physical pro-
cesses. These physical processes include pressure, temperature, flow rate, and chemical consistency.
An instrument is a device that measures and/or acts to control any kind of physical process. Due
to the fact that electrical quantities of voltage and current are easy to measure, manipulate, and
transmit over long distances, they are widely used to represent such physical variables and transmit
the information to remote locations.
A signal is any kind of physical quantity that conveys information. Audible speech is certainly
a kind of signal, as it conveys the thoughts (information) of one person to another through the
physical medium of sound. Hand gestures are signals, too, conveying information by means of light.
This text is another kind of signal, interpreted by your English-trained mind as information about
electric circuits. In this chapter, the word signal will be used primarily in reference to an electrical
quantity of voltage or current that is used to represent or signify some other physical quantity.
An analog signal is a kind of signal that is continuously variable, as opposed to having a limited
number of steps along its range (called digital ). A well-known example of analog vs. digital is that
of clocks: analog being the type with pointers that slowly rotate around a circular scale, and digital
being the type with decimal number displays or a ”second-hand” that jerks rather than smoothly
rotates. The analog clock has no physical limit to how finely it can display the time, as its ”hands”
move in a smooth, pauseless fashion. The digital clock, on the other hand, cannot convey any unit
of time smaller than what its display will allow for. The type of clock with a ”second-hand” that
jerks in 1-second intervals is a digital device with a minimum resolution of one second.
Both analog and digital signals find application in modern electronics, and the distinctions be-
tween these two basic forms of information is something to be covered in much greater detail later
in this book. For now, I will limit the scope of this discussion to analog signals, since the systems
using them tend to be of simpler design.
With many physical quantities, especially electrical, analog variability is easy to come by. If such
a physical quantity is used as a signal medium, it will be able to represent variations of information
297
298 CHAPTER 9. ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENTATION SIGNALS
with almost unlimited resolution.

In the early days of industrial instrumentation, compressed air was used as a signaling medium
to convey information from measuring instruments to indicating and controlling devices located
remotely. The amount of air pressure corresponded to the magnitude of whatever variable was
being measured. Clean, dry air at approximately 20 pounds per square inch (PSI) was supplied
from an air compressor through tubing to the measuring instrument and was then regulated by that
instrument according to the quantity being measured to produce a corresponding output signal. For
example, a pneumatic (air signal) level ”transmitter” device set up to measure height of water (the
”process variable”) in a storage tank would output a low air pressure when the tank was empty, a
medium pressure when the tank was partially full, and a high pressure when the tank was completely
full.
Storage tank
pipe or tube
Water
20 PSI compressed
air supply
air flow
LT
analog air pressure
signal
water "level transmitter" LI water "level indicator"
(LT) (LI)
pipe or tube
The ”water level indicator” (LI) is nothing more than a pressure gauge measuring the air pressure
in the pneumatic signal line. This air pressure, being a signal, is in turn a representation of the
water level in the tank. Any variation of level in the tank can be represented by an appropriate
variation in the pressure of the pneumatic signal. Aside from certain practical limits imposed by
the mechanics of air pressure devices, this pneumatic signal is infinitely variable, able to represent
any degree of change in the water’s level, and is therefore analog in the truest sense of the word.
Crude as it may appear, this kind of pneumatic signaling system formed the backbone of many
industrial measurement and control systems around the world, and still sees use today due to its
simplicity, safety, and reliability. Air pressure signals are easily transmitted through inexpensive
tubes, easily measured (with mechanical pressure gauges), and are easily manipulated by mechanical
devices using bellows, diaphragms, valves, and other pneumatic devices. Air pressure signals are not
only useful for measuring physical processes, but for controlling them as well. With a large enough
piston or diaphragm, a small air pressure signal can be used to generate a large mechanical force,
which can be used to move a valve or other controlling device. Complete automatic control systems
have been made using air pressure as the signal medium. They are simple, reliable, and relatively
easy to understand. However, the practical limits for air pressure signal accuracy can be too limiting
in some cases, especially when the compressed air is not clean and dry, and when the possibility for
tubing leaks exist.
With the advent of solid-state electronic amplifiers and other technological advances, electrical
9.1. ANALOG AND DIGITAL SIGNALS 299
quantities of voltage and current became practical for use as analog instrument signaling media.
Instead of using pneumatic pressure signals to relay information about the fullness of a water storage
tank, electrical signals could relay that same information over thin wires (instead of tubing) and not
require the support of such expensive equipment as air compressors to operate:
Storage tank
Water 24 V
+ -
LT
water "level transmitter" analog electric LI water "level indicator"

(LT) current signal
(LI)
Analog electronic signals are still the primary kinds of signals used in the instrumentation world
today (January of 2001), but it is giving way to digital modes of communication in many appli-
cations (more on that subject later). Despite changes in technology, it is always good to have a
thorough understanding of fundamental principles, so the following information will never really
become obsolete.
One important concept applied in many analog instrumentation signal systems is that of ”live
zero,” a standard way of scaling a signal so that an indication of 0 percent can be discriminated from
the status of a ”dead” system. Take the pneumatic signal system as an example: if the signal pressure
range for transmitter and indicator was designed to be 0 to 12 PSI, with 0 PSI representing 0 percent
of process measurement and 12 PSI representing 100 percent, a received signal of 0 percent could be
a legitimate reading of 0 percent measurement or it could mean that the system was malfunctioning
(air compressor stopped, tubing broken, transmitter malfunctioning, etc.). With the 0 percent point
represented by 0 PSI, there would be no easy way to distinguish one from the other.
If, however, we were to scale the instruments (transmitter and indicator) to use a scale of 3
to 15 PSI, with 3 PSI representing 0 percent and 15 PSI representing 100 percent, any kind of a
malfunction resulting in zero air pressure at the indicator would generate a reading of -25 percent
(0 PSI), which is clearly a faulty value. The person looking at the indicator would then be able to
immediately tell that something was wrong.
Not all signal standards have been set up with live zero baselines, but the more robust signals
standards (3-15 PSI, 4-20 mA) have, and for good reason.
• REVIEW:
• A signal is any kind of detectable quantity used to communicate information.
• An analog signal is a signal that can be continuously, or infinitely, varied to represent any
small amount of change.
• Pneumatic, or air pressure, signals used to be used predominately in industrial instrumentation

signal systems. This has been largely superseded by analog electrical signals such as voltage
and current.
• A live zero refers to an analog signal scale using a non-zero quantity to represent 0 percent of
real-world measurement, so that any system malfunction resulting in a natural ”rest” state of
zero signal pressure, voltage, or current can be immediately recognized.
9.2 Voltage signal systems

The use of variable voltage for instrumentation signals seems a rather obvious option to explore.
Let’s see how a voltage signal instrument might be used to measure and relay information about
water tank level:
Level transmitter
Level indicator
potentiometer
moved by float
+
V
two-conductor cable -
float
The ”transmitter” in this diagram contains its own precision regulated source of voltage, and the
potentiometer setting is varied by the motion of a float inside the water tank following the water
level. The ”indicator” is nothing more than a voltmeter with a scale calibrated to read in some unit
height of water (inches, feet, meters) instead of volts.
As the water tank level changes, the float will move. As the float moves, the potentiometer wiper
will correspondingly be moved, dividing a different proportion of the battery voltage to go across the
two-conductor cable and on to the level indicator. As a result, the voltage received by the indicator
will be representative of the level of water in the storage tank.
This elementary transmitter/indicator system is reliable and easy to understand, but it has its
limitations. Perhaps greatest is the fact that the system accuracy can be influenced by excessive
cable resistance. Remember that real voltmeters draw small amounts of current, even though it is
ideal for a voltmeter not to draw any current at all. This being the case, especially for the kind of
heavy, rugged analog meter movement likely used for an industrial-quality system, there will be a
small amount of current through the 2-conductor cable wires. The cable, having a small amount of
resistance along its length, will consequently drop a small amount of voltage, leaving less voltage
across the indicator’s leads than what is across the leads of the transmitter. This loss of voltage,
however small, constitutes an error in measurement:
9.3. CURRENT SIGNAL SYSTEMS 301
Level transmitter
Level indicator
potentiometer
moved by float
voltage drop
+
+ - V
output -
- +
voltage drop
float Due to voltage drops along

cable conductors, there will be
slightly less voltage across the
indicator (meter) than there is
at the output of the transmitter.
Resistor symbols have been added to the wires of the cable to show what is happening in a real
system. Bear in mind that these resistances can be minimized with heavy-gauge wire (at additional
expense) and/or their effects mitigated through the use of a high-resistance (null-balance?) voltmeter
for an indicator (at additional complexity).
Despite this inherent disadvantage, voltage signals are still used in many applications because of
their extreme design simplicity. One common signal standard is 0-10 volts, meaning that a signal of
0 volts represents 0 percent of measurement, 10 volts represents 100 percent of measurement, 5 volts
represents 50 percent of measurement, and so on. Instruments designed to output and/or accept
this standard signal range are available for purchase from major manufacturers. A more common
voltage range is 1-5 volts, which makes use of the ”live zero” concept for circuit fault indication.
• REVIEW:
• DC voltage can be used as an analog signal to relay information from one location to another.
• A major disadvantage of voltage signaling is the possibility that the voltage at the indicator
(voltmeter) will be less than the voltage at the signal source, due to line resistance and indicator
current draw. This drop in voltage along the conductor length constitutes a measurement error
from transmitter to indicator.
9.3 Current signal systems

It is possible through the use of electronic amplifiers to design a circuit outputting a constant amount
of current rather than a constant amount of voltage. This collection of components is collectively
known as a current source, and its symbol looks like this:
-
current source
+
A current source generates as much or as little voltage as needed across its leads to produce a
constant amount of current through it. This is just the opposite of a voltage source (an ideal battery),
which will output as much or as little current as demanded by the external circuit in maintaining its
output voltage constant. Following the ”conventional flow” symbology typical of electronic devices,
the arrow points against the direction of electron motion. Apologies for this confusing notation:
another legacy of Benjamin Franklin’s false assumption of electron flow!
electron flow
-
current source
+
electron flow
Current in this circuit remains

constant, regardless of circuit
resistance. Only voltage will
change!
Current sources can be built as variable devices, just like voltage sources, and they can be designed
to produce very precise amounts of current. If a transmitter device were to be constructed with a
variable current source instead of a variable voltage source, we could design an instrumentation
signal system based on current instead of voltage:
Level transmitter
Level indicator
voltage drop
+
+ - A
-
- +
float position changes voltage drop Being a simple series

output of current source circuit, current is equal
at all points, regardless
of any voltage drops!
float
The internal workings of the transmitter’s current source need not be a concern at this point, only
the fact that its output varies in response to changes in the float position, just like the potentiometer
setup in the voltage signal system varied voltage output according to float position.
Notice now how the indicator is an ammeter rather than a voltmeter (the scale calibrated in
inches, feet, or meters of water in the tank, as always). Because the circuit is a series configuration
(accounting for the cable resistances), current will be precisely equal through all components. With
or without cable resistance, the current at the indicator is exactly the same as the current at the
transmitter, and therefore there is no error incurred as there might be with a voltage signal system.
9.3. CURRENT SIGNAL SYSTEMS 303
This assurance of zero signal degradation is a decided advantage of current signal systems over
voltage signal systems.
The most common current signal standard in modern use is the 4 to 20 milliamp (4-20 mA) loop,
with 4 milliamps representing 0 percent of measurement, 20 milliamps representing 100 percent, 12
milliamps representing 50 percent, and so on. A convenient feature of the 4-20 mA standard is its
ease of signal conversion to 1-5 volt indicating instruments. A simple 250 ohm precision resistor
connected in series with the circuit will produce 1 volt of drop at 4 milliamps, 5 volts of drop at 20
milliamps, etc:
Indicator (1-5 V instrument)
+
V
-
+ -
250 Ω
+
4 - 20 mA current signal A
-
Transmitter Indicator
(4-20 mA instrument)
----------------------------------------
| Percent of | 4-20 mA | 1-5 V |
| measurement | signal | signal |
----------------------------------------
| 0 | 4.0 mA | 1.0 V |
----------------------------------------
| 10 | 5.6 mA | 1.4 V |
----------------------------------------
| 20 | 7.2 mA | 1.8 V |
----------------------------------------
| 25 | 8.0 mA | 2.0 V |
----------------------------------------
| 30 | 8.8 mA | 2.2 V |
----------------------------------------
| 40 | 10.4 mA | 2.6 V |
----------------------------------------
| 50 | 12.0 mA | 3.0 V |
----------------------------------------
| 60 | 13.6 mA | 3.4 V |
----------------------------------------
| 70 | 15.2 mA | 3.8 V |
----------------------------------------
| 75 | 16.0 mA | 4.0 V |
---------------------------------------
| 80 | 16.8 mA | 4.2 V |
----------------------------------------
| 90 | 18.4 mA | 4.6 V |
----------------------------------------
| 100 | 20.0 mA | 5.0 V |
----------------------------------------
The current loop scale of 4-20 milliamps has not always been the standard for current instruments:
for a while there was also a 10-50 milliamp standard, but that standard has since been obsoleted.
One reason for the eventual supremacy of the 4-20 milliamp loop was safety: with lower circuit
voltages and lower current levels than in 10-50 mA system designs, there was less chance for personal
shock injury and/or the generation of sparks capable of igniting flammable atmospheres in certain
industrial environments.
• REVIEW:
• A current source is a device (usually constructed of several electronic components) that outputs
a constant amount of current through a circuit, much like a voltage source (ideal battery)
outputting a constant amount of voltage to a circuit.
• A current ”loop” instrumentation circuit relies on the series circuit principle of current being
equal through all components to insure no signal error due to wiring resistance.
• The most common analog current signal standard in modern use is the ”4 to 20 milliamp
current loop.”
9.4 Tachogenerators
An electromechanical generator is a device capable of producing electrical power from mechanical
energy, usually the turning of a shaft. When not connected to a load resistance, generators will gen-
erate voltage roughly proportional to shaft speed. With precise construction and design, generators
can be built to produce very precise voltages for certain ranges of shaft speeds, thus making them
well-suited as measurement devices for shaft speed in mechanical equipment. A generator specially
designed and constructed for this use is called a tachometer or tachogenerator. Often, the word
”tach” (pronounced ”tack”) is used rather than the whole word.
Tachogenerator
voltmeter with + shaft
scale calibrated
in RPM (Revolutions V
Per Minute) -
By measuring the voltage produced by a tachogenerator, you can easily determine the rotational
speed of whatever it’s mechanically attached to. One of the more common voltage signal ranges
9.5. THERMOCOUPLES 305
used with tachogenerators is 0 to 10 volts. Obviously, since a tachogenerator cannot produce voltage
when it’s not turning, the zero cannot be ”live” in this signal standard. Tachogenerators can be
purchased with different ”full-scale” (10 volt) speeds for different applications. Although a voltage
divider could theoretically be used with a tachogenerator to extend the measurable speed range in
the 0-10 volt scale, it is not advisable to significantly overspeed a precision instrument like this, or
its life will be shortened.
Tachogenerators can also indicate the direction of rotation by the polarity of the output voltage.
When a permanent-magnet style DC generator’s rotational direction is reversed, the polarity of
its output voltage will switch. In measurement and control systems where directional indication is
needed, tachogenerators provide an easy way to determine that.
Tachogenerators are frequently used to measure the speeds of electric motors, engines, and the
equipment they power: conveyor belts, machine tools, mixers, fans, etc.
9.5 Thermocouples
An interesting phenomenon applied in the field of instrumentation is the Seebeck effect, which is the
production of a small voltage across the length of a wire due to a difference in temperature along
that wire. This effect is most easily observed and applied with a junction of two dissimilar metals
in contact, each metal producing a different Seebeck voltage along its length, which translates to
a voltage between the two (unjoined) wire ends. Most any pair of dissimilar metals will produce
a measurable voltage when their junction is heated, some combinations of metals producing more
voltage per degree of temperature than others:
Seebeck voltage
iron wire
+ small voltage between wires;
junction more voltage produced as
(heated) junction temperature increases.
copper wire -
Seebeck voltage
The Seebeck effect is fairly linear; that is, the voltage produced by a heated junction of two wires
is directly proportional to the temperature. This means that the temperature of the metal wire
junction can be determined by measuring the voltage produced. Thus, the Seebeck effect provides
for us an electric method of temperature measurement.
When a pair of dissimilar metals are joined together for the purpose of measuring temperature,
the device formed is called a thermocouple. Thermocouples made for instrumentation use metals
of high purity for an accurate temperature/voltage relationship (as linear and as predictable as
possible).
Seebeck voltages are quite small, in the tens of millivolts for most temperature ranges. This
makes them somewhat difficult to measure accurately. Also, the fact that any junction between
dissimilar metals will produce temperature-dependent voltage creates a problem when we try to
connect the thermocouple to a voltmeter, completing a circuit:
a second iron/copper
junction is formed!
+ iron wire + - copper wire +

junction V
- copper wire copper wire -
The second iron/copper junction formed by the connection between the thermocouple and the
meter on the top wire will produce a temperature-dependent voltage opposed in polarity to the
voltage produced at the measurement junction. This means that the voltage between the voltmeter’s
copper leads will be a function of the difference in temperature between the two junctions, and not
the temperature at the measurement junction alone. Even for thermocouple types where copper is
not one of the dissimilar metals, the combination of the two metals joining the copper leads of the
measuring instrument forms a junction equivalent to the measurement junction:
These two junctions in series form

the equivalent of a single iron/constantan
junction in opposition to the measurement
junction on the left.
iron/copper
iron wire copper wire
measurement + +
junction V
- constantan wire copper wire -
constantan/copper
This second junction is called the reference or cold junction, to distinguish it from the junction
at the measuring end, and there is no way to avoid having one in a thermocouple circuit. In
some applications, a differential temperature measurement between two points is required, and this
inherent property of thermocouples can be exploited to make a very simple measurement system.
iron wire iron wire

junction + + junction
#1 - V - #2
copper wire copper wire
However, in most applications the intent is to measure temperature at a single point only, and
in these cases the second junction becomes a liability to function.
Compensation for the voltage generated by the reference junction is typically performed by
a special circuit designed to measure temperature there and produce a corresponding voltage to
counter the reference junction’s effects. At this point you may wonder, ”If we have to resort to
some other form of temperature measurement just to overcome an idiosyncrasy with thermocouples,
then why bother using thermocouples to measure temperature at all? Why not just use this other
form of temperature measurement, whatever it may be, to do the job?” The answer is this: because
the other forms of temperature measurement used for reference junction compensation are not as
robust or versatile as a thermocouple junction, but do the job of measuring room temperature at
the reference junction site quite well. For example, the thermocouple measurement junction may be
inserted into the 1800 degree (F) flue of a foundry holding furnace, while the reference junction sits
a hundred feet away in a metal cabinet at ambient temperature, having its temperature measured
by a device that could never survive the heat or corrosive atmosphere of the furnace.
The voltage produced by thermocouple junctions is strictly dependent upon temperature. Any
current in a thermocouple circuit is a function of circuit resistance in opposition to this voltage
(I=E/R). In other words, the relationship between temperature and Seebeck voltage is fixed, while
the relationship between temperature and current is variable, depending on the total resistance of
the circuit. With heavy enough thermocouple conductors, currents upwards of hundreds of amps can
be generated from a single pair of thermocouple junctions! (I’ve actually seen this in a laboratory
experiment, using heavy bars of copper and copper/nickel alloy to form the junctions and the circuit
conductors.)
For measurement purposes, the voltmeter used in a thermocouple circuit is designed to have a
very high resistance so as to avoid any error-inducing voltage drops along the thermocouple wire.
The problem of voltage drop along the conductor length is even more severe here than with the DC
voltage signals discussed earlier, because here we only have a few millivolts of voltage produced by
the junction. We simply cannot spare to have even a single millivolt of drop along the conductor
lengths without incurring serious temperature measurement errors.
Ideally, then, current in a thermocouple circuit is zero. Early thermocouple indicating instru-
ments made use of null-balance potentiometric voltage measurement circuitry to measure the junc-
tion voltage. The early Leeds & Northrup ”Speedomax” line of temperature indicator/recorders
were a good example of this technology. More modern instruments use semiconductor amplifier
circuits to allow the thermocouple’s voltage signal to drive an indication device with little or no
current drawn in the circuit.
Thermocouples, however, can be built from heavy-gauge wire for low resistance, and connected in
such a way so as to generate very high currents for purposes other than temperature measurement.
One such purpose is electric power generation. By connecting many thermocouples in series, alter-
nating hot/cold temperatures with each junction, a device called a thermopile can be constructed
to produce substantial amounts of voltage and current:
output voltage
copper wire
-
+ iron wire
copper wire +
- -
+ iron wire
copper wire + "Thermopile"
- -
+ iron wire
copper wire +
- -
+ iron wire
copper wire +
- -
+ iron wire
copper wire +
-
With the left and right sets of junctions at the same temperature, the voltage at each junction will
be equal and the opposing polarities would cancel to a final voltage of zero. However, if the left set
of junctions were heated and the right set cooled, the voltage at each left junction would be greater
than each right junction, resulting in a total output voltage equal to the sum of all junction pair
differentials. In a thermopile, this is exactly how things are set up. A source of heat (combustion,
strong radioactive substance, solar heat, etc.) is applied to one set of junctions, while the other set
is bonded to a heat sink of some sort (air- or water-cooled). Interestingly enough, as electrons flow
through an external load circuit connected to the thermopile, heat energy is transferred from the hot
junctions to the cold junctions, demonstrating another thermo-electric phenomenon: the so-called
Peltier Effect (electric current transferring heat energy).
Another application for thermocouples is in the measurement of average temperature between

several locations. The easiest way to do this is to connect several thermocouples in parallel with
each other. Each millivoltage signal produced by each thermocouple will tend to average out at the
parallel junction point, the voltage differences between the junctions’ potentials dropped along the
resistances of the thermocouple wire lengths:
+ iron wire copper wire +

junction V
#1 - constantan wire copper wire -
+ iron wire
junction
#2 - constantan wire
reference junctions
+ iron wire
junction
+ iron wire
junction
Unfortunately, though, the accurate averaging of these Seebeck voltage potentials relies on each
thermocouple’s wire resistances being equal. If the thermocouples are located at different places and
their wires join in parallel at a single location, equal wire length will be unlikely. The thermocouple
having the greatest wire length from point of measurement to parallel connection point will tend to
have the greatest resistance, and will therefore have the least effect on the average voltage produced.
To help compensate for this, additional resistance can be added to each of the parallel ther-
mocouple circuit branches to make their respective resistances more equal. Without custom-sizing
resistors for each branch (to make resistances precisely equal between all the thermocouples), it is
acceptable to simply install resistors with equal values, significantly higher than the thermocou-
ple wires’ resistances so that those wire resistances will have a much smaller impact on the total
branch resistance. These resistors are called swamping resistors, because their relatively high values
overshadow or ”swamp” the resistances of the thermocouple wires themselves:
iron wire Rswamp copper wire

+ +
junction V
#1 - constantan wire copper wire -
iron wire Rswamp
+
junction
#2 - The meter will register
constantan wire a more realistic average
Rswamp of all junction temperatures
+ iron wire with the "swamping"
junction resistors in place.
iron wire Rswamp
+
junction
Because thermocouple junctions produce such low voltages, it is imperative that wire connections
be very clean and tight for accurate and reliable operation. Also, the location of the reference junction
(the place where the dissimilar-metal thermocouple wires join to standard copper) must be kept close
to the measuring instrument, to ensure that the instrument can accurately compensate for reference
junction temperature. Despite these seemingly restrictive requirements, thermocouples remain one
of the most robust and popular methods of industrial temperature measurement in modern use.
• REVIEW:
• The Seebeck Effect is the production of a voltage between two dissimilar, joined metals that is
proportional to the temperature of that junction.
• In any thermocouple circuit, there are two equivalent junctions formed between dissimilar
metals. The junction placed at the site of intended measurement is called the measurement
junction, while the other (single or equivalent) junction is called the reference junction.
• Two thermocouple junctions can be connected in opposition to each other to generate a voltage
signal proportional to differential temperature between the two junctions. A collection of
junctions so connected for the purpose of generating electricity is called a thermopile.
• When electrons flow through the junctions of a thermopile, heat energy is transferred from
one set of junctions to the other. This is known as the Peltier Effect.
• Multiple thermocouple junctions can be connected in parallel with each other to generate a
voltage signal representing the average temperature between the junctions. ”Swamping” resis-
tors may be connected in series with each thermocouple to help maintain equality between the
junctions, so the resultant voltage will be more representative of a true average temperature.
• It is imperative that current in a thermocouple circuit be kept as low as possible for good
measurement accuracy. Also, all related wire connections should be clean and tight. Mere
millivolts of drop at any place in the circuit will cause substantial measurement errors.
9.6 pH measurement
A very important measurement in many liquid chemical processes (industrial, pharmaceutical, man-
ufacturing, food production, etc.) is that of pH: the measurement of hydrogen ion concentration in
a liquid solution. A solution with a low pH value is called an ”acid,” while one with a high pH is
called a ”caustic.” The common pH scale extends from 0 (strong acid) to 14 (strong caustic), with
7 in the middle representing pure water (neutral):
The pH scale
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Acid Caustic
Neutral
9.6. PH MEASUREMENT 311
pH is defined as follows: the lower-case letter ”p” in pH stands for the negative common (base
ten) logarithm, while the upper-case letter ”H” stands for the element hydrogen. Thus, pH is a
logarithmic measurement of the number of moles of hydrogen ions (H+ ) per liter of solution. Inci-
dentally, the ”p” prefix is also used with other types of chemical measurements where a logarithmic
scale is desired, pCO2 (Carbon Dioxide) and pO2 (Oxygen) being two such examples.
The logarithmic pH scale works like this: a solution with 10−12 moles of H+ ions per liter has
a pH of 12; a solution with 10−3 moles of H+ ions per liter has a pH of 3. While very uncommon,
there is such a thing as an acid with a pH measurement below 0 and a caustic with a pH above 14.
Such solutions, understandably, are quite concentrated and extremely reactive.
While pH can be measured by color changes in certain chemical powders (the ”litmus strip”
being a familiar example from high school chemistry classes), continuous process monitoring and
control of pH requires a more sophisticated approach. The most common approach is the use of a
specially-prepared electrode designed to allow hydrogen ions in the solution to migrate through a
selective barrier, producing a measurable potential (voltage) difference proportional to the solution’s
pH:
Voltage produced between

electrodes is proportional
to the pH of the solution
electrodes
liquid solution
The design and operational theory of pH electrodes is a very complex subject, explored only
briefly here. What is important to understand is that these two electrodes generate a voltage
directly proportional to the pH of the solution. At a pH of 7 (neutral), the electrodes will produce
0 volts between them. At a low pH (acid) a voltage will be developed of one polarity, and at a high
pH (caustic) a voltage will be developed of the opposite polarity.
An unfortunate design constraint of pH electrodes is that one of them (called the measurement
electrode) must be constructed of special glass to create the ion-selective barrier needed to screen
out hydrogen ions from all the other ions floating around in the solution. This glass is chemically
doped with lithium ions, which is what makes it react electrochemically to hydrogen ions. Of course,
glass is not exactly what you would call a ”conductor;” rather, it is an extremely good insulator.
This presents a major problem if our intent is to measure voltage between the two electrodes. The
circuit path from one electrode contact, through the glass barrier, through the solution, to the other
electrode, and back through the other electrode’s contact, is one of extremely high resistance.
The other electrode (called the reference electrode) is made from a chemical solution of neutral
(7) pH buffer solution (usually potassium chloride) allowed to exchange ions with the process solution
through a porous separator, forming a relatively low resistance connection to the test liquid. At
first, one might be inclined to ask: why not just dip a metal wire into the solution to get an electrical
connection to the liquid? The reason this will not work is because metals tend to be highly reactive
in ionic solutions and can produce a significant voltage across the interface of metal-to-liquid contact.
The use of a wet chemical interface with the measured solution is necessary to avoid creating such
a voltage, which of course would be falsely interpreted by any measuring device as being indicative
of pH.
Here is an illustration of the measurement electrode’s construction. Note the thin, lithium-doped
glass membrane across which the pH voltage is generated:
wire connection point
MEASUREMENT
ELECTRODE glass body
seal
silver
wire
+ -
- + + -
+ -
bulb filled with silver chloride + -
potassium chloride tip
"buffer" solution + +
- + + -
+ very thin glass bulb,
-
- + + + + - chemically "doped" with
- - - - lithium ions so as to react
with hydrogen ions outside
voltage produced the bulb.
across thickness of
glass membrane
Here is an illustration of the reference electrode’s construction. The porous junction shown at
the bottom of the electrode is where the potassium chloride buffer and process liquid interface with
each other:
wire connection point
REFERENCE
ELECTRODE glass or plastic body
silver
wire
filled with silver chloride

potassium chloride tip
"buffer" solution
porous junction
The measurement electrode’s purpose is to generate the voltage used to measure the solution’s
pH. This voltage appears across the thickness of the glass, placing the silver wire on one side of
the voltage and the liquid solution on the other. The reference electrode’s purpose is to provide
the stable, zero-voltage connection to the liquid solution so that a complete circuit can be made
to measure the glass electrode’s voltage. While the reference electrode’s connection to the test
liquid may only be a few kilo-ohms, the glass electrode’s resistance may range from ten to nine
hundred mega-ohms, depending on electrode design! Being that any current in this circuit must
travel through both electrodes’ resistances (and the resistance presented by the test liquid itself),
these resistances are in series with each other and therefore add to make an even greater total.
An ordinary analog or even digital voltmeter has much too low of an internal resistance to
measure voltage in such a high-resistance circuit. The equivalent circuit diagram of a typical pH
probe circuit illustrates the problem:
Rmeasurement electrode
400 MΩ
voltage + precision voltmeter
produced by V
electrodes
-
Rreference electrode
3 kΩ
Even a very small circuit current traveling through the high resistances of each component in the
circuit (especially the measurement electrode’s glass membrane), will produce relatively substantial
voltage drops across those resistances, seriously reducing the voltage seen by the meter. Making
matters worse is the fact that the voltage differential generated by the measurement electrode is
very small, in the millivolt range (ideally 59.16 millivolts per pH unit at room temperature). The
meter used for this task must be very sensitive and have an extremely high input resistance.
The most common solution to this measurement problem is to use an amplified meter with an
extremely high internal resistance to measure the electrode voltage, so as to draw as little current
through the circuit as possible. With modern semiconductor components, a voltmeter with an input
resistance of up to 1017 Ω can be built with little difficulty. Another approach, seldom seen in
contemporary use, is to use a potentiometric ”null-balance” voltage measurement setup to measure
this voltage without drawing any current from the circuit under test. If a technician desired to
check the voltage output between a pair of pH electrodes, this would probably be the most practical
means of doing so using only standard benchtop metering equipment:
Rmeasurement electrode
null
400 MΩ
voltage precision +
produced by variable V
electrodes voltage
source -
Rreference electrode
3 kΩ
As usual, the precision voltage supply would be adjusted by the technician until the null detector
registered zero, then the voltmeter connected in parallel with the supply would be viewed to obtain a
voltage reading. With the detector ”nulled” (registering exactly zero), there should be zero current in
the pH electrode circuit, and therefore no voltage dropped across the resistances of either electrode,
giving the real electrode voltage at the voltmeter terminals.
Wiring requirements for pH electrodes tend to be even more severe than thermocouple wiring,
demanding very clean connections and short distances of wire (10 yards or less, even with gold-
plated contacts and shielded cable) for accurate and reliable measurement. As with thermocouples,
however, the disadvantages of electrode pH measurement are offset by the advantages: good accuracy
and relative technical simplicity.
Few instrumentation technologies inspire the awe and mystique commanded by pH measurement,
because it is so widely misunderstood and difficult to troubleshoot. Without elaborating on the exact
chemistry of pH measurement, a few words of wisdom can be given here about pH measurement
systems:
• All pH electrodes have a finite life, and that lifespan depends greatly on the type and severity
of service. In some applications, a pH electrode life of one month may be considered long, and
in other applications the same electrode(s) may be expected to last for over a year.
• Because the glass (measurement) electrode is responsible for generating the pH-proportional
voltage, it is the one to be considered suspect if the measurement system fails to generate
sufficient voltage change for a given change in pH (approximately 59 millivolts per pH unit),
or fails to respond quickly enough to a fast change in test liquid pH.
• If a pH measurement system ”drifts,” creating offset errors, the problem likely lies with the
reference electrode, which is supposed to provide a zero-voltage connection with the measured
solution.
• Because pH measurement is a logarithmic representation of ion concentration, there is an
incredible range of process conditions represented in the seemingly simple 0-14 pH scale. Also,
due to the nonlinear nature of the logarithmic scale, a change of 1 pH at the top end (say, from
12 to 13 pH) does not represent the same quantity of chemical activity change as a change of
1 pH at the bottom end (say, from 2 to 3 pH). Control system engineers and technicians must
be aware of this dynamic if there is to be any hope of controlling process pH at a stable value.
• The following conditions are hazardous to measurement (glass) electrodes: high temperatures,
extreme pH levels (either acidic or alkaline), high ionic concentration in the liquid, abrasion,
hydrofluoric acid in the liquid (HF acid dissolves glass!), and any kind of material coating on
the surface of the glass.
• Temperature changes in the measured liquid affect both the response of the measurement
electrode to a given pH level (ideally at 59 mV per pH unit), and the actual pH of the liquid.
Temperature measurement devices can be inserted into the liquid, and the signals from those
devices used to compensate for the effect of temperature on pH measurement, but this will
only compensate for the measurement electrode’s mV/pH response, not the actual pH change
of the process liquid!
Advances are still being made in the field of pH measurement, some of which hold great promise
for overcoming traditional limitations of pH electrodes. One such technology uses a device called a
field-effect transistor to electrostatically measure the voltage produced by a ion-permeable membrane
rather than measure the voltage with an actual voltmeter circuit. While this technology harbors
limitations of its own, it is at least a pioneering concept, and may prove more practical at a later
date.
• REVIEW:
• pH is a representation of hydrogen ion activity in a liquid. It is the negative logarithm of the
amount of hydrogen ions (in moles) per liter of liquid. Thus: 10−11 moles of hydrogen ions in
1 liter of liquid = 11 pH. 10−5.3 moles of hydrogen ions in 1 liter of liquid = 5.3 pH.
• The basic pH scale extends from 0 (strong acid) to 7 (neutral, pure water) to 14 (strong
caustic). Chemical solutions with pH levels below zero and above 14 are possible, but rare.
• pH can be measured by measuring the voltage produced between two special electrodes im-
mersed in the liquid solution.
• One electrode, made of a special glass, is called the measurement electrode. It’s job it to
generate a small voltage proportional to pH (ideally 59.16 mV per pH unit).
• The other electrode (called the reference electrode) uses a porous junction between the mea-
sured liquid and a stable, neutral pH buffer solution (usually potassium chloride) to create a
zero-voltage electrical connection to the liquid. This provides a point of continuity for a com-
plete circuit so that the voltage produced across the thickness of the glass in the measurement
electrode can be measured by an external voltmeter.
• The extremely high resistance of the measurement electrode’s glass membrane mandates the
use of a voltmeter with extremely high internal resistance, or a null-balance voltmeter, to
measure the voltage.
9.7 Strain gauges

If a strip of conductive metal is stretched, it will become skinnier and longer, both changes resulting
in an increase of electrical resistance end-to-end. Conversely, if a strip of conductive metal is placed
under compressive force (without buckling), it will broaden and shorten. If these stresses are kept
within the elastic limit of the metal strip (so that the strip does not permanently deform), the strip
can be used as a measuring element for physical force, the amount of applied force inferred from
measuring its resistance.
Such a device is called a strain gauge. Strain gauges are frequently used in mechanical engineering
research and development to measure the stresses generated by machinery. Aircraft component
testing is one area of application, tiny strain-gauge strips glued to structural members, linkages, and
any other critical component of an airframe to measure stress. Most strain gauges are smaller than
a postage stamp, and they look something like this:
Tension causes
resistance increase Bonded strain gauge
Gauge insensitive Resistance measured

to lateral forces between these points
Compression causes
resistance decrease
A strain gauge’s conductors are very thin: if made of round wire, about 1/1000 inch in diameter.
Alternatively, strain gauge conductors may be thin strips of metallic film deposited on a noncon-
ducting substrate material called the carrier. The latter form of strain gauge is represented in the
previous illustration. The name ”bonded gauge” is given to strain gauges that are glued to a larger
9.7. STRAIN GAUGES 317
structure under stress (called the test specimen). The task of bonding strain gauges to test speci-
mens may appear to be very simple, but it is not. ”Gauging” is a craft in its own right, absolutely
essential for obtaining accurate, stable strain measurements. It is also possible to use an unmounted
gauge wire stretched between two mechanical points to measure tension, but this technique has its
limitations.
Typical strain gauge resistances range from 30 Ω to 3 kΩ (unstressed). This resistance may
change only a fraction of a percent for the full force range of the gauge, given the limitations
imposed by the elastic limits of the gauge material and of the test specimen. Forces great enough
to induce greater resistance changes would permanently deform the test specimen and/or the gauge
conductors themselves, thus ruining the gauge as a measurement device. Thus, in order to use the
strain gauge as a practical instrument, we must measure extremely small changes in resistance with
high accuracy.
Such demanding precision calls for a bridge measurement circuit. Unlike the Wheatstone bridge
shown in the last chapter using a null-balance detector and a human operator to maintain a state
of balance, a strain gauge bridge circuit indicates measured strain by the degree of imbalance, and
uses a precision voltmeter in the center of the bridge to provide an accurate measurement of that
imbalance:
Quarter-bridge strain gauge circuit
R1 R2
V
strain gauge
R3
Typically, the rheostat arm of the bridge (R2 in the diagram) is set at a value equal to the strain
gauge resistance with no force applied. The two ratio arms of the bridge (R 1 and R3 ) are set equal
to each other. Thus, with no force applied to the strain gauge, the bridge will be symmetrically
balanced and the voltmeter will indicate zero volts, representing zero force on the strain gauge. As
the strain gauge is either compressed or tensed, its resistance will decrease or increase, respectively,
thus unbalancing the bridge and producing an indication at the voltmeter. This arrangement, with
a single element of the bridge changing resistance in response to the measured variable (mechanical
force), is known as a quarter-bridge circuit.
As the distance between the strain gauge and the three other resistances in the bridge circuit may
be substantial, wire resistance has a significant impact on the operation of the circuit. To illustrate
the effects of wire resistance, I’ll show the same schematic diagram, but add two resistor symbols in
series with the strain gauge to represent the wires:
R1 R2
V Rwire1 Rgauge
R3
Rwire2
The strain gauge’s resistance (Rgauge ) is not the only resistance being measured: the wire resis-
tances Rwire1 and Rwire2 , being in series with Rgauge , also contribute to the resistance of the lower
half of the rheostat arm of the bridge, and consequently contribute to the voltmeter’s indication.
This, of course, will be falsely interpreted by the meter as physical strain on the gauge.
While this effect cannot be completely eliminated in this configuration, it can be minimized with
the addition of a third wire, connecting the right side of the voltmeter directly to the upper wire of
the strain gauge:
Three-wire, quarter-bridge
strain gauge circuit
R1 R2
V Rwire1 Rgauge
R3 Rwire3
Rwire2
Because the third wire carries practically no current (due to the voltmeter’s extremely high
internal resistance), its resistance will not drop any substantial amount of voltage. Notice how the
resistance of the top wire (Rwire1 ) has been ”bypassed” now that the voltmeter connects directly to
the top terminal of the strain gauge, leaving only the lower wire’s resistance (R wire2 ) to contribute
any stray resistance in series with the gauge. Not a perfect solution, of course, but twice as good as
the last circuit!

There is a way, however, to reduce wire resistance error far beyond the method just described,
and also help mitigate another kind of measurement error due to temperature. An unfortunate
characteristic of strain gauges is that of resistance change with changes in temperature. This is
a property common to all conductors, some more than others. Thus, our quarter-bridge circuit
as shown (either with two or with three wires connecting the gauge to the bridge) works as a
thermometer just as well as it does a strain indicator. If all we want to do is measure strain, this is
not good. We can transcend this problem, however, by using a ”dummy” strain gauge in place of
R2 , so that both elements of the rheostat arm will change resistance in the same proportion when
temperature changes, thus canceling the effects of temperature change:
Quarter-bridge strain gauge circuit

with temperature compensation
strain gauge
(unstressed)
R1
R3
strain gauge
(stressed)
Resistors R1 and R3 are of equal resistance value, and the strain gauges are identical to one
another. With no applied force, the bridge should be in a perfectly balanced condition and the
voltmeter should register 0 volts. Both gauges are bonded to the same test specimen, but only one
is placed in a position and orientation so as to be exposed to physical strain (the active gauge). The
other gauge is isolated from all mechanical stress, and acts merely as a temperature compensation
device (the ”dummy” gauge). If the temperature changes, both gauge resistances will change by
the same percentage, and the bridge’s state of balance will remain unaffected. Only a differential
resistance (difference of resistance between the two strain gauges) produced by physical force on the
test specimen can alter the balance of the bridge.
Wire resistance doesn’t impact the accuracy of the circuit as much as before, because the wires
connecting both strain gauges to the bridge are approximately equal length. Therefore, the upper
and lower sections of the bridge’s rheostat arm contain approximately the same amount of stray
resistance, and their effects tend to cancel:
strain gauge
(unstressed)
Rwire1
R1
Rwire3
V
R3 Rwire2
strain gauge
(stressed)
Even though there are now two strain gauges in the bridge circuit, only one is responsive to
mechanical strain, and thus we would still refer to this arrangement as a quarter-bridge. However,
if we were to take the upper strain gauge and position it so that it is exposed to the opposite force
as the lower gauge (i.e. when the upper gauge is compressed, the lower gauge will be stretched, and
visa-versa), we will have both gauges responding to strain, and the bridge will be more responsive to
applied force. This utilization is known as a half-bridge. Since both strain gauges will either increase
or decrease resistance by the same proportion in response to changes in temperature, the effects
of temperature change remain canceled and the circuit will suffer minimal temperature-induced
measurement error:
Half-bridge strain gauge circuit
strain gauge
(stressed)
R1
R3
strain gauge
(stressed)
An example of how a pair of strain gauges may be bonded to a test specimen so as to yield this
effect is illustrated here:
(+)
Strain gauge #1 R Rgauge#1
Test specimen V
Strain gauge #2 R Rgauge#2
(-)
Bridge balanced
With no force applied to the test specimen, both strain gauges have equal resistance and the
bridge circuit is balanced. However, when a downward force is applied to the free end of the specimen,
it will bend downward, stretching gauge #1 and compressing gauge #2 at the same time:
(+)
FORCE R Rgauge#1
Strain gauge #1
Test specimen + V -
R Rgauge#2
Strain gauge #2
(-)
Bridge unbalanced
In applications where such complementary pairs of strain gauges can be bonded to the test
specimen, it may be advantageous to make all four elements of the bridge ”active” for even greater
sensitivity. This is called a full-bridge circuit:
Full-bridge strain gauge circuit
strain gauge strain gauge

(stressed) (stressed)
strain gauge strain gauge

(stressed) (stressed)
Both half-bridge and full-bridge configurations grant greater sensitivity over the quarter-bridge
circuit, but often it is not possible to bond complementary pairs of strain gauges to the test specimen.
Thus, the quarter-bridge circuit is frequently used in strain measurement systems.
When possible, the full-bridge configuration is the best to use. This is true not only because it is
more sensitive than the others, but because it is linear while the others are not. Quarter-bridge and
half-bridge circuits provide an output (imbalance) signal that is only approximately proportional to
applied strain gauge force. Linearity, or proportionality, of these bridge circuits is best when the
amount of resistance change due to applied force is very small compared to the nominal resistance
of the gauge(s). With a full-bridge, however, the output voltage is directly proportional to applied
force, with no approximation (provided that the change in resistance caused by the applied force is
equal for all four strain gauges!).
Unlike the Wheatstone and Kelvin bridges, which provide measurement at a condition of perfect
balance and therefore function irrespective of source voltage, the amount of source (or ”excitation”)
voltage matters in an unbalanced bridge like this. Therefore, strain gauge bridges are rated in
millivolts of imbalance produced per volt of excitation, per unit measure of force. A typical example
for a strain gauge of the type used for measuring force in industrial environments is 15 mV/V at
1000 pounds. That is, at exactly 1000 pounds applied force (either compressive or tensile), the
bridge will be unbalanced by 15 millivolts for every volt of excitation voltage. Again, such a figure
is precise if the bridge circuit is full-active (four active strain gauges, one in each arm of the bridge),
but only approximate for half-bridge and quarter-bridge arrangements.
Strain gauges may be purchased as complete units, with both strain gauge elements and bridge
resistors in one housing, sealed and encapsulated for protection from the elements, and equipped with
mechanical fastening points for attachment to a machine or structure. Such a package is typically
called a load cell.
Like many of the other topics addressed in this chapter, strain gauge systems can become quite
complex, and a full dissertation on strain gauges would be beyond the scope of this book.
• REVIEW:
• A strain gauge is a thin strip of metal designed to measure mechanical load by changing
resistance when stressed (stretched or compressed within its elastic limit).
• Strain gauge resistance changes are typically measured in a bridge circuit, to allow for pre-
cise measurement of the small resistance changes, and to provide compensation for resistance
variations due to temperature.
9.8 Contributors
second edition.
Chapter 10
DC NETWORK ANALYSIS
10.1 What is network analysis?
Generally speaking, network analysis is any structured technique used to mathematically analyze
a circuit (a ”network” of interconnected components). Quite often the technician or engineer will
encounter circuits containing multiple sources of power or component configurations which defy
simplification by series/parallel analysis techniques. In those cases, he or she will be forced to use
other means. This chapter presents a few techniques useful in analyzing such complex circuits.
To illustrate how even a simple circuit can defy analysis by breakdown into series and parallel
portions, take start with this series-parallel circuit:
R1 R3
B1 R2
To analyze the above circuit, one would first find the equivalent of R2 and R3 in parallel, then
add R1 in series to arrive at a total resistance. Then, taking the voltage of battery B 1 with that total
circuit resistance, the total current could be calculated through the use of Ohm’s Law (I=E/R), then
that current figure used to calculate voltage drops in the circuit. All in all, a fairly simple procedure.
However, the addition of just one more battery could change all of that:
325
326 CHAPTER 10. DC NETWORK ANALYSIS
R1 R3
B1 R2 B2
Resistors R2 and R3 are no longer in parallel with each other, because B2 has been inserted
into R3 ’s branch of the circuit. Upon closer inspection, it appears there are no two resistors in this
circuit directly in series or parallel with each other. This is the crux of our problem: in series-parallel
analysis, we started off by identifying sets of resistors that were directly in series or parallel with
each other, and then reduce them to single, equivalent resistances. If there are no resistors in a
simple series or parallel configuration with each other, then what can we do?
It should be clear that this seemingly simple circuit, with only three resistors, is impossible
to reduce as a combination of simple series and simple parallel sections: it is something different
altogether. However, this is not the only type of circuit defying series/parallel analysis:
R1 R2
R3
R4 R5
Here we have a bridge circuit, and for the sake of example we will suppose that it is not balanced
(ratio R1 /R4 not equal to ratio R2 /R5 ). If it were balanced, there would be zero current through
R3 , and it could be approached as a series/parallel combination circuit (R1 −−R4 // R2 −−R5 ).
However, any current through R3 makes a series/parallel analysis impossible. R1 is not in series
with R4 because there’s another path for electrons to flow through R3 . Neither is R2 in series with
R5 for the same reason. Likewise, R1 is not in parallel with R2 because R3 is separating their bottom
leads. Neither is R4 in parallel with R5 . Aaarrggghhhh!
Although it might not be apparent at this point, the heart of the problem is the existence of
multiple unknown quantities. At least in a series/parallel combination circuit, there was a way to
find total resistance and total voltage, leaving total current as a single unknown value to calculate
(and then that current was used to satisfy previously unknown variables in the reduction process
until the entire circuit could be analyzed). With these problems, more than one parameter (variable)
is unknown at the most basic level of circuit simplification.
With the two-battery circuit, there is no way to arrive at a value for ”total resistance,” because
there are two sources of power to provide voltage and current (we would need two ”total” resistances
in order to proceed with any Ohm’s Law calculations). With the unbalanced bridge circuit, there
10.2. BRANCH CURRENT METHOD 327
is such a thing as total resistance across the one battery (paving the way for a calculation of total
current), but that total current immediately splits up into unknown proportions at each end of the
bridge, so no further Ohm’s Law calculations for voltage (E=IR) can be carried out.
So what can we do when we’re faced with multiple unknowns in a circuit? The answer is initially
found in a mathematical process known as simultaneous equations or systems of equations, whereby
multiple unknown variables are solved by relating them to each other in multiple equations. In a
scenario with only one unknown (such as every Ohm’s Law equation we’ve dealt with thus far),
there only needs to be a single equation to solve for the single unknown:
E =IR ( E is unknown; I and R are known )
. . . or . . .
E
I= ( I is unknown; E and R are known )
R
. . . or . . .
E
R= ( R is unknown; E and I are known )
I
However, when we’re solving for multiple unknown values, we need to have the same number of
equations as we have unknowns in order to reach a solution. There are several methods of solving
simultaneous equations, all rather intimidating and all too complex for explanation in this chapter.
However, many scientific and programmable calculators are able to solve for simultaneous unknowns,
so it is recommended to use such a calculator when first learning how to analyze these circuits.
This is not as scary as it may seem at first. Trust me!
Later on we’ll see that some clever people have found tricks to avoid having to use simultaneous
equations on these types of circuits. We call these tricks network theorems, and we will explore a
few later in this chapter.
• REVIEW:
• Some circuit configurations (”networks”) cannot be solved by reduction according to se-
ries/parallel circuit rules, due to multiple unknown values.
• Mathematical techniques to solve for multiple unknowns (called ”simultaneous equations” or
”systems”) can be applied to basic Laws of circuits to solve networks.
10.2 Branch current method

The first and most straightforward network analysis technique is called the Branch Current Method.
In this method, we assume directions of currents in a network, then write equations describing their
relationships to each other through Kirchhoff’s and Ohm’s Laws. Once we have one equation for
every unknown current, we can solve the simultaneous equations and determine all currents, and
therefore all voltage drops in the network.
Let’s use this circuit to illustrate the method:

R1 R3
4Ω 1Ω
B1 28 V 2Ω R2 7V B2
The first step is to choose a node (junction of wires) in the circuit to use as a point of reference
for our unknown currents. I’ll choose the node joining the right of R1 , the top of R2 , and the left of
R3 .
chosen node
R1 R3
4Ω 1Ω
B1 28 V 2Ω R2 7V B2
At this node, guess which directions the three wires’ currents take, labeling the three currents
as I1 , I2 , and I3 , respectively. Bear in mind that these directions of current are speculative at
this point. Fortunately, if it turns out that any of our guesses were wrong, we will know when
we mathematically solve for the currents (any ”wrong” current directions will show up as negative
numbers in our solution).
R1 R3
4Ω I1 I3 1Ω
+ I2 +
B1 28 V 2Ω R2 7V B2
- -
Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL) tells us that the algebraic sum of currents entering and exiting a
node must equal zero, so we can relate these three currents (I1 , I2 , and I3 ) to each other in a single
equation. For the sake of convention, I’ll denote any current entering the node as positive in sign,
and any current exiting the node as negative in sign:
Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL)

applied to currents at node
- I1 + I2 - I3 = 0
The next step is to label all voltage drop polarities across resistors according to the assumed
directions of the currents. Remember that the ”upstream” end of a resistor will always be negative,
and the ”downstream” end of a resistor positive with respect to each other, since electrons are
negatively charged:
R1 R3
+ - - +
4Ω I1 I3 1Ω
+ I2 +
+
B1 28 V 2Ω R2 7V B2
- - -
The battery polarities, of course, remain as they were according to their symbology (short end
negative, long end positive). It is okay if the polarity of a resistor’s voltage drop doesn’t match with
the polarity of the nearest battery, so long as the resistor voltage polarity is correctly based on the
assumed direction of current through it. In some cases we may discover that current will be forced
backwards through a battery, causing this very effect. The important thing to remember here is to
base all your resistor polarities and subsequent calculations on the directions of current(s) initially
assumed. As stated earlier, if your assumption happens to be incorrect, it will be apparent once
the equations have been solved (by means of a negative solution). The magnitude of the solution,
however, will still be correct.
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL) tells us that the algebraic sum of all voltages in a loop must
equal zero, so we can create more equations with current terms (I1 , I2 , and I3 ) for our simultaneous
equations. To obtain a KVL equation, we must tally voltage drops in a loop of the circuit, as though
we were measuring with a real voltmeter. I’ll choose to trace the left loop of this circuit first, starting
from the upper-left corner and moving counter-clockwise (the choice of starting points and directions
is arbitrary). The result will look like this:
Voltmeter indicates: -28 V
R1 R3
+ - - +
black
+ + +
V 28 V R2 7V
- - -
red
Voltmeter indicates: 0V
R1 R3
+ - - +
+ + +
28 V R2 7V
- black red - -
V
Voltmeter indicates: a positive voltage

+ ER2
R1 R3
+ - - +
red
+ + +
28 V V R2 7V
- - -
black
Voltmeter indicates: a positive voltage

+ ER2
R1 R3
+ - - +
+ red V black + +
28 V R2 7V
- - -
Having completed our trace of the left loop, we add these voltage indications together for a sum
of zero:
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL)
applied to voltage drops in left loop
- 28 + 0 + ER2 + ER1 = 0
Of course, we don’t yet know what the voltage is across R1 or R2 , so we can’t insert those values
into the equation as numerical figures at this point. However, we do know that all three voltages
must algebraically add to zero, so the equation is true. We can go a step further and express
the unknown voltages as the product of the corresponding unknown currents (I 1 and I2 ) and their
respective resistors, following Ohm’s Law (E=IR), as well as eliminate the 0 term:
- 28 + ER2 + ER1 = 0
Ohm’s Law: E = IR
. . . Substituting IR for E in the KVL equation . . .
- 28 + I2R2 + I1R1 = 0
Since we know what the values of all the resistors are in ohms, we can just substitute those
figures into the equation to simplify things a bit:
- 28 + 2I2 + 4I1 = 0
You might be wondering why we went through all the trouble of manipulating this equation from
its initial form (-28 + ER2 + ER1 ). After all, the last two terms are still unknown, so what advantage
is there to expressing them in terms of unknown voltages or as unknown currents (multiplied by
resistances)? The purpose in doing this is to get the KVL equation expressed using the same
unknown variables as the KCL equation, for this is a necessary requirement for any simultaneous
equation solution method. To solve for three unknown currents (I1 , I2 , and I3 ), we must have three
equations relating these three currents (not voltages!) together.
Applying the same steps to the right loop of the circuit (starting at the chosen node and moving
counter-clockwise), we get another KVL equation:
Voltmeter indicates: a negative voltage

- ER2
R1 R3
+ - - +
black
+ + +
28 V R2 V 7V
- - -
red
Voltmeter indicates: 0 V
R1 R3
+ - - +
+ + +
28 V R2 7V
- - V -
black red
Voltmeter indicates: + 7 V
R1 R3
+ - - +
red
+ + +
28 V R2 7V V
- - -
black
Voltmeter indicates: a negative voltage

- ER3
R1 R3
+ - - +
+ + red V black +
28 V R2 7V
- - -
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL)

applied to voltage drops in right loop
- ER2 + 0 + 7 - ER3 = 0
Knowing now that the voltage across each resistor can be and should be expressed as the product
of the corresponding current and the (known) resistance of each resistor, we can re-write the equation
as such:
- 2I2 + 7 - 1I3 = 0
Now we have a mathematical system of three equations (one KCL equation and two KVL equa-
tions) and three unknowns:
- I1 + I2 - I3 = 0 Kirchhoff’s Current Law
- 28 + 2I2 + 4I1 = 0 Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law
- 2I2 + 7 - 1I3 = 0 Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law

For some methods of solution (especially any method involving a calculator), it is helpful to
express each unknown term in each equation, with any constant value to the right of the equal sign,
and with any ”unity” terms expressed with an explicit coefficient of 1. Re-writing the equations
again, we have:
- 1I1 + 1I2 - 1I3 = 0 Kirchhoff’s Current Law
4I1 + 2I2 + 0I3 = 28 Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law
0I1 - 2I2 - 1I3 = -7 Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law
All three variables represented

in all three equations
Using whatever solution techniques are available to us, we should arrive at a solution for the
three unknown current values:
Solutions:
I1 = 5 A
I2 = 4 A
I3 = -1 A
So, I1 is 5 amps, I2 is 4 amps, and I3 is a negative 1 amp. But what does ”negative” current
mean? In this case, it means that our assumed direction for I3 was opposite of its real direction.
Going back to our original circuit, we can re-draw the current arrow for I3 (and re-draw the polarity
of R3 ’s voltage drop to match):
R1 R3
+ - + -
4Ω I1 5 A I3 1 A 1 Ω
+ + +
B1 28 V I2 R2 7V B2
4A 2Ω
- - -
Notice how current is being pushed backwards through battery 2 (electrons flowing ”up”) due
to the higher voltage of battery 1 (whose current is pointed ”down” as it normally would)! Despite
the fact that battery B2 ’s polarity is trying to push electrons down in that branch of the circuit,
electrons are being forced backwards through it due to the superior voltage of battery B 1 . Does
this mean that the stronger battery will always ”win” and the weaker battery always get current
forced through it backwards? No! It actually depends on both the batteries’ relative voltages and
the resistor values in the circuit. The only sure way to determine what’s going on is to take the time
to mathematically analyze the network.
Now that we know the magnitude of all currents in this circuit, we can calculate voltage drops
across all resistors with Ohm’s Law (E=IR):
ER1 = I1R1 = (5 A)(4 Ω) = 20 V
ER2 = I2R2 = (4 A)(2 Ω) = 8 V
ER3 = I3R3 = (1 A)(1 Ω) = 1 V

Let us now analyze this network using SPICE to verify our voltage figures. We could analyze
current as well with SPICE, but since that requires the insertion of extra components into the circuit,
and because we know that if the voltages are all the same and all the resistances are the same, the
currents must all be the same, I’ll opt for the less complex analysis. Here’s a re-drawing of our
circuit, complete with node numbers for SPICE to reference:
R1 2 R3
1 3
4Ω 1Ω
B1 28 V 2Ω R2 7V B2
0 0 0
network analysis example

v1 1 0
v2 3 0 dc 7
r1 1 2 4
r2 2 0 2
r3 2 3 1
.dc v1 28 28 1
.print dc v(1,2) v(2,0) v(2,3)
.end
v1 v(1,2) v(2) v(2,3)

2.800E+01 2.000E+01 8.000E+00 1.000E+00
Sure enough, the voltage figures all turn out to be the same: 20 volts across R 1 (nodes 1 and 2),
8 volts across R2 (nodes 2 and 0), and 1 volt across R3 (nodes 2 and 3). Take note of the signs of
all these voltage figures: they’re all positive values! SPICE bases its polarities on the order in which
nodes are listed, the first node being positive and the second node negative. For example, a figure
of positive (+) 20 volts between nodes 1 and 2 means that node 1 is positive with respect to node
2. If the figure had come out negative in the SPICE analysis, we would have known that our actual
polarity was ”backwards” (node 1 negative with respect to node 2). Checking the node orders in
the SPICE listing, we can see that the polarities all match what we determined through the Branch
Current method of analysis.
• REVIEW:
• Steps to follow for the ”Branch Current” method of analysis:
• (1) Choose a node and assume directions of currents.
• (2) Write a KCL equation relating currents at the node.
• (3) Label resistor voltage drop polarities based on assumed currents.
• (4) Write KVL equations for each loop of the circuit, substituting the product IR for E in each
resistor term of the equations.
• (5) Solve for unknown branch currents (simultaneous equations).
• (6) If any solution is negative, then the assumed direction of current for that solution is wrong!
• (7) Solve for voltage drops across all resistors (E=IR).
10.3 Mesh current method

The Mesh Current Method is quite similar to the Branch Current method in that it uses simultaneous
equations, Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law, and Ohm’s Law to determine unknown currents in a network.
It differs from the Branch Current method in that it does not use Kirchhoff’s Current Law, and it
is usually able to solve a circuit with less unknown variables and less simultaneous equations, which
is especially nice if you’re forced to solve without a calculator.
Let’s see how this method works on the same example problem:
R1 R3
4Ω 1Ω
B1 28 V 2Ω R2 7V B2
The first step in the Mesh Current method is to identify ”loops” within the circuit encompassing
all components. In our example circuit, the loop formed by B1 , R1 , and R2 will be the first while
the loop formed by B2 , R2 , and R3 will be the second. The strangest part of the Mesh Current
method is envisioning circulating currents in each of the loops. In fact, this method gets its name
from the idea of these currents meshing together between loops like sets of spinning gears:
R1 R3
B1 I1 R2 I2 B2
The choice of each current’s direction is entirely arbitrary, just as in the Branch Current method,
but the resulting equations are easier to solve if the currents are going the same direction through
intersecting components (note how currents I1 and I2 are both going ”up” through resistor R2 , where
they ”mesh,” or intersect). If the assumed direction of a mesh current is wrong, the answer for that
current will have a negative value.
10.3. MESH CURRENT METHOD 337
The next step is to label all voltage drop polarities across resistors according to the assumed
directions of the mesh currents. Remember that the ”upstream” end of a resistor will always be
negative, and the ”downstream” end of a resistor positive with respect to each other, since electrons
are negatively charged. The battery polarities, of course, are dictated by their symbol orientations in
the diagram, and may or may not ”agree” with the resistor polarities (assumed current directions):
R1 R3
+ - - +
4Ω 1Ω
+ + +
B1 28 V I1 R2 I2 7V B2
2Ω
- - -
Using Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law, we can now step around each of these loops, generating equations
representative of the component voltage drops and polarities. As with the Branch Current method,
we will denote a resistor’s voltage drop as the product of the resistance (in ohms) and its respective
mesh current (that quantity being unknown at this point). Where two currents mesh together, we
will write that term in the equation with resistor current being the sum of the two meshing currents.
Tracing the left loop of the circuit, starting from the upper-left corner and moving counter-
clockwise (the choice of starting points and directions is ultimately irrelevant), counting polarity as
if we had a voltmeter in hand, red lead on the point ahead and black lead on the point behind, we
get this equation:
- 28 + 2(I1 + I2) + 4I1 = 0

Notice that the middle term of the equation uses the sum of mesh currents I 1 and I2 as the
current through resistor R2 . This is because mesh currents I1 and I2 are going the same direction
through R2 , and thus complement each other. Distributing the coefficient of 2 to the I1 and I2 terms,
and then combining I1 terms in the equation, we can simplify as such:
- 28 + 2(I1 + I2) + 4I1 = 0 Original form of equation
. . . distributing to terms within parentheses . . .
- 28 + 2I1 + 2I2 + 4I1 = 0
. . . combining like terms . . .
- 28 + 6I1 + 2I2 = 0 Simplified form of equation

At this time we have one equation with two unknowns. To be able to solve for two unknown
mesh currents, we must have two equations. If we trace the other loop of the circuit, we can obtain
another KVL equation and have enough data to solve for the two currents. Creature of habit that
I am, I’ll start at the upper-left hand corner of the right loop and trace counter-clockwise:
- 2(I1 + I2) + 7 - 1I2 = 0
Simplifying the equation as before, we end up with:
- 2I1 - 3I2 + 7 = 0
Now, with two equations, we can use one of several methods to mathematically solve for the
unknown currents I1 and I2 :
- 28 + 6I1 + 2I2 = 0
- 2I1 - 3I2 + 7 = 0
. . . rearranging equations for easier solution . . .
6I1 + 2I2 = 28
-2I1 - 3I2 = -7
Solutions:
I1 = 5 A
I2 = -1 A
Knowing that these solutions are values for mesh currents, not branch currents, we must go back
to our diagram to see how they fit together to give currents through all components:
R1 R3
+ - - +
4Ω 1Ω
+ + +
B1 28 V I1 R2 I2 7V B2
2Ω
- - -
5A -1 A
The solution of -1 amp for I2 means that our initially assumed direction of current was incorrect.
In actuality, I2 is flowing in a counter-clockwise direction at a value of (positive) 1 amp:
R1 R3
+ - + -
4Ω 1Ω
+ + +
B1 28 V I1 R2 I2 7V B2
2Ω
- - -
5A 1A
This change of current direction from what was first assumed will alter the polarity of the voltage
drops across R2 and R3 due to current I2 . From here, we can say that the current through R1 is 5
amps, with the voltage drop across R1 being the product of current and resistance (E=IR), 20 volts
(positive on the left and negative on the right). Also, we can safely say that the current through R 3
is 1 amp, with a voltage drop of 1 volt (E=IR), positive on the left and negative on the right. But
what is happening at R2 ?
Mesh current I1 is going ”up” through R2 , while mesh current I2 is going ”down” through R2 .
To determine the actual current through R2 , we must see how mesh currents I1 and I2 interact (in
this case they’re in opposition), and algebraically add them to arrive at a final value. Since I 1 is
going ”up” at 5 amps, and I2 is going ”down” at 1 amp, the real current through R2 must be a
value of 4 amps, going ”up:”
R1 R3
+ - + -
4Ω I1 5 A I2 1 A 1 Ω
+ + +
B1 28 V I1 - I2 R2 7V B2
2Ω
- 4A - -
A current of 4 amps through R2 ’s resistance of 2 Ω gives us a voltage drop of 8 volts (E=IR),

positive on the top and negative on the bottom.
The primary advantage of Mesh Current analysis is that it generally allows for the solution of a
large network with fewer unknown values and fewer simultaneous equations. Our example problem
took three equations to solve the Branch Current method and only two equations using the Mesh
Current method. This advantage is much greater as networks increase in complexity:
R1 R3 R5
B1 R2 R4 B2
To solve this network using Branch Currents, we’d have to establish five variables to account for
each and every unique current in the circuit (I1 through I5 ). This would require five equations for
solution, in the form of two KCL equations and three KVL equations (two equations for KCL at the
nodes, and three equations for KVL in each loop):
node 1 node 2
R1 R3 R5
+ - + - - +
I1 I3 I5
+ + + +
B1 I2 R2 I4 R4 B2
- - - -
- I1 + I2 + I3 = 0 Kirchhoff’s Current Law at node 1
- I3 + I4 - I5 = 0 Kirchhoff’s Current Law at node 2
- EB1 + I2R2 + I1R1 = 0 Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law in left loop
- I2R2 + I4R4 + I3R3 = 0 Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law in middle loop
- I4R4 + EB2 - I5R5 = 0 Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law in right loop

I suppose if you have nothing better to do with your time than to solve for five unknown variables
with five equations, you might not mind using the Branch Current method of analysis for this circuit.
For those of us who have better things to do with our time, the Mesh Current method is a whole
lot easier, requiring only three unknowns and three equations to solve:
R1 R3 R5
+ - - + + -
+ + - +
B1 I1 R2 I2 R4 I3 B2
- - + -
- EB1 + R2(I1 + I2) + I1R1 = 0 Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law

in left loop
- R2(I2 + I1) - R4(I2 + I3) - I2R3 = 0 Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law

in middle loop
R4(I3 + I2) + EB2 + I3R5 = 0 Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law

in right loop
Less equations to work with is a decided advantage, especially when performing simultaneous
equation solution by hand (without a calculator).
Another type of circuit that lends itself well to Mesh Current is the unbalanced Wheatstone
Bridge. Take this circuit, for example:
R1 R2
150 Ω 50 Ω
+ R3
24 V
- 100 Ω
R4 R5
300 Ω 250 Ω
Since the ratios of R1 /R4 and R2 /R5 are unequal, we know that there will be voltage across
resistor R3 , and some amount of current through it. As discussed at the beginning of this chapter,
this type of circuit is irreducible by normal series-parallel analysis, and may only be analyzed by
some other method.
We could apply the Branch Current method to this circuit, but it would require six currents (I 1
through I6 ), leading to a very large set of simultaneous equations to solve. Using the Mesh Current
method, though, we may solve for all currents and voltages with much fewer variables.
The first step in the Mesh Current method is to draw just enough mesh currents to account for
all components in the circuit. Looking at our bridge circuit, it should be obvious where to place two
of these currents:
R1 R2
150 Ω I1 50 Ω
+ R3
24 V
- 100 Ω
I2
R4 R5
300 Ω 250 Ω
The directions of these mesh currents, of course, is arbitrary. However, two mesh currents is not
enough in this circuit, because neither I1 nor I2 goes through the battery. So, we must add a third
mesh current, I3 :
R1 R2
150 Ω I1 50 Ω
+ R3
24 V I3
- 100 Ω
I2
R4 R5
300 Ω 250 Ω
Here, I have chosen I3 to loop from the bottom side of the battery, through R4 , through R1 , and
back to the top side of the battery. This is not the only path I could have chosen for I 3 , but it seems
the simplest.
Now, we must label the resistor voltage drop polarities, following each of the assumed currents’
directions:
R1 R2
+
150 Ω + I1 - 50 Ω
-
+ - +
R3
I3 + -
24 V + -
- 100 Ω
- +
+
I
R4 - + 2 - R5
300 Ω 250 Ω
Notice something very important here: at resistor R4 , the polarities for the respective mesh
currents do not agree. This is because those mesh currents (I2 and I3 ) are going through R4 in
different directions. Normally, we try to avoid this when establishing our mesh current directions,
but in a bridge circuit it is unavoidable: two of the mesh currents will inevitably clash through a
component. This does not preclude the use of the Mesh Current method of analysis, but it does
complicate it a bit.
Generating a KVL equation for the top loop of the bridge, starting from the top node and tracing
in a clockwise direction:
50I1 + 100(I1 + I2) + 150(I1 + I3) = 0 Original form of equation
50I1 + 100I1 + 100I2 + 150I1 + 150I3 = 0
300I1 + 100I2 + 150I3 = 0 Simplified form of equation

In this equation, we represent the common directions of currents by their sums through common
resistors. For example, resistor R3 , with a value of 100 Ω, has its voltage drop represented in the
above KVL equation by the expression 100(I1 + I2 ), since both currents I1 and I2 go through R3
from right to left. The same may be said for resistor R1 , with its voltage drop expression shown
as 150(I1 + I3 ), since both I1 and I3 go from bottom to top through that resistor, and thus work
together to generate its voltage drop.
Generating a KVL equation for the bottom loop of the bridge will not be so easy, since we have
two currents going against each other through resistor R4 . Here is how I do it (starting at the
right-hand node, and tracing counter-clockwise):
100(I1 + I2) + 300(I2 - I3) + 250I2 = 0 Original form of equation
100I1 + 100I2 + 300I2 - 300I3 + 250I2 = 0
100I1 + 650I2 - 300I3 = 0 Simplified form of equation
Note how the second term in the equation’s original form has resistor R4 ’s value of 300 Ω
multiplied by the difference between I2 and I3 (I2 - I3 ). This is how we represent the combined
effect of two mesh currents going in opposite directions through the same component. Choosing the
appropriate mathematical signs is very important here: 300(I2 - I3 ) does not mean the same thing
as 300(I3 - I2 ). I chose to write 300(I2 - I3 ) because I was thinking first of I2 ’s effect (creating a
positive voltage drop, measuring with an imaginary voltmeter across R 4 , red lead on the bottom
and black lead on the top), and secondarily of I3 ’s effect (creating a negative voltage drop, red lead
on the bottom and black lead on the top). If I had thought in terms of I3 ’s effect first and I2 ’s effect
secondarily, holding my imaginary voltmeter leads in the same positions (red on bottom and black
on top), the expression would have been -300(I3 - I2 ). Note that this expression is mathematically
equivalent to the first one: +300(I2 - I3 ).
Well, that takes care of two equations, but I still need a third equation to complete my simul-
taneous equation set of three variables, three equations. This third equation must also include the
battery’s voltage, which up to this point does not appear in either two of the previous KVL equa-
tions. To generate this equation, I will trace a loop again with my imaginary voltmeter starting from
the battery’s bottom (negative) terminal, stepping clockwise (again, the direction in which I step is
arbitrary, and does not need to be the same as the direction of the mesh current in that loop):
24 - 150(I3 + I1) - 300(I3 - I2) = 0 Original form of equation
24 - 150I3 - 150I1 - 300I3 + 300I2 = 0
-150I1 + 300I2 - 450I3 = -24 Simplified form of equation
Solving for I1 , I2 , and I3 using whatever simultaneous equation method we prefer:

300I1 + 100I2 + 150I3 = 0

100I1 + 650I2 - 300I3 = 0
-150I1 + 300I2 - 450I3 = -24
Solutions:
I1 = -93.793 mA
I2 = 77.241 mA
I3 = 136.092 mA
The negative value arrived at for I1 tells us that the assumed direction for that mesh current
was incorrect. Thus, the actual current values through each resistor is as such:
I3 > I1 > I2
IR1 IR2
I1
IR3
I3
I2
IR4 IR5
IR1 = I3 - I1 = 136.092 mA - 93.793 mA = 42.299 mA

IR2 = I1 = 93.793 mA
IR3 = I1 - I2 = 93.793 mA - 77.241 mA = 16.552 mA
IR4 = I3 - I2 = 136.092 mA - 77.241 mA = 58.851 mA
IR5 = I2 = 77.241 mA
Calculating voltage drops across each resistor:

IR1 IR2
150 Ω + + 50 Ω
+ - -
IR3
24 V - +
- + 100 Ω +
IR4 IR5
300 Ω - - 250 Ω
ER1 = IR1R1 = (42.299 mA)(150 Ω) = 6.3448 V

ER2 = IR2R2 = (93.793 mA)(50 Ω) = 4.6897 V
ER3 = IR3R3 = (16.552 mA)(100 Ω) = 1.6552 V
ER4 = IR4R4 = (58.851 mA)(300 Ω) = 17.6552 V
ER5 = IR5R5 = (77.241 mA)(250 Ω) = 19.3103 V
A SPICE simulation will confirm the accuracy of our voltage calculations:
1 1
R1 R2
150 Ω 50 Ω
+ R3
24 V 2 3
- 100 Ω
R4 R5
300 Ω 250 Ω
0 0
unbalanced wheatstone bridge

v1 1 0
r1 1 2 150
r2 1 3 50
r3 2 3 100
r4 2 0 300
10.4. INTRODUCTION TO NETWORK THEOREMS 347
r5 3 0 250
.dc v1 24 24 1
.print dc v(1,2) v(1,3) v(3,2) v(2,0) v(3,0)
.end
v1 v(1,2) v(1,3) v(3,2) v(2) v(3)

2.400E+01 6.345E+00 4.690E+00 1.655E+00 1.766E+01 1.931E+01
• REVIEW:
• Steps to follow for the ”Mesh Current” method of analysis:
• (1) Draw mesh currents in loops of circuit, enough to account for all components.
• (2) Label resistor voltage drop polarities based on assumed directions of mesh currents.
• (3) Write KVL equations for each loop of the circuit, substituting the product IR for E in
each resistor term of the equation. Where two mesh currents intersect through a component,
express the current as the algebraic sum of those two mesh currents (i.e. I 1 + I2 ) if the currents
go in the same direction through that component. If not, express the current as the difference
(i.e. I1 - I2 ).
• (4) Solve for unknown mesh currents (simultaneous equations).
• (5) If any solution is negative, then the assumed current direction is wrong!
• (6) Algebraically add mesh currents to find current in components sharing multiple mesh
currents.
• (7) Solve for voltage drops across all resistors (E=IR).
10.4 Introduction to network theorems

Anyone who’s studied geometry should be familiar with the concept of a theorem: a relatively
simple rule used to solve a problem, derived from a more intensive analysis using fundamental rules
of mathematics. At least hypothetically, any problem in math can be solved just by using the
simple rules of arithmetic (in fact, this is how modern digital computers carry out the most complex
mathematical calculations: by repeating many cycles of additions and subtractions!), but human
beings aren’t as consistent or as fast as a digital computer. We need ”shortcut” methods in order
to avoid procedural errors.
In electric network analysis, the fundamental rules are Ohm’s Law and Kirchhoff’s Laws. While
these humble laws may be applied to analyze just about any circuit configuration (even if we have
to resort to complex algebra to handle multiple unknowns), there are some ”shortcut” methods of
analysis to make the math easier for the average human.
As with any theorem of geometry or algebra, these network theorems are derived from funda-
mental rules. In this chapter, I’m not going to delve into the formal proofs of any of these theorems.
If you doubt their validity, you can always empirically test them by setting up example circuits and
calculating values using the ”old” (simultaneous equation) methods versus the ”new” theorems, to
see if the answers coincide. They always should!
10.5 Millman’s Theorem

In Millman’s Theorem, the circuit is re-drawn as a parallel network of branches, each branch con-
taining a resistor or series battery/resistor combination. Millman’s Theorem is applicable only to
those circuits which can be re-drawn accordingly. Here again is our example circuit used for the last
two analysis methods:
R1 R3
4Ω 1Ω
B1 28 V 2Ω R2 7V B2
And here is that same circuit, re-drawn for the sake of applying Millman’s Theorem:
R1 4Ω R3 1Ω
R2 2Ω
+ +
B1 28 V B3 7V
- -
By considering the supply voltage within each branch and the resistance within each branch,
Millman’s Theorem will tell us the voltage across all branches. Please note that I’ve labeled the
battery in the rightmost branch as ”B3 ” to clearly denote it as being in the third branch, even
though there is no ”B2 ” in the circuit!
Millman’s Theorem is nothing more than a long equation, applied to any circuit drawn as a set
of parallel-connected branches, each branch with its own voltage source and series resistance:
Millman’s Theorem Equation
EB1 EB2 EB3

+ +
R1 R2 R3
= Voltage across all branches
1 1 1
+ +
R1 R2 R3
Substituting actual voltage and resistance figures from our example circuit for the variable terms
of this equation, we get the following expression:
10.5. MILLMAN’S THEOREM 349
28 V 0V 7V
+ +
4Ω 2Ω 1Ω
=8V
1 1 1
+ +
4Ω 2Ω 1Ω
The final answer of 8 volts is the voltage seen across all parallel branches, like this:
- +
R1 20 V R3 1V
+ + - +
R2 8V 8V
+ - + -
B1 28 V B3 7V
- -
The polarity of all voltages in Millman’s Theorem are referenced to the same point. In the
example circuit above, I used the bottom wire of the parallel circuit as my reference point, and so
the voltages within each branch (28 for the R1 branch, 0 for the R2 branch, and 7 for the R3 branch)
were inserted into the equation as positive numbers. Likewise, when the answer came out to 8 volts
(positive), this meant that the top wire of the circuit was positive with respect to the bottom wire
(the original point of reference). If both batteries had been connected backwards (negative ends up
and positive ends down), the voltage for branch 1 would have been entered into the equation as a
-28 volts, the voltage for branch 3 as -7 volts, and the resulting answer of -8 volts would have told
us that the top wire was negative with respect to the bottom wire (our initial point of reference).
To solve for resistor voltage drops, the Millman voltage (across the parallel network) must be
compared against the voltage source within each branch, using the principle of voltages adding in
series to determine the magnitude and polarity of voltage across each resistor:
ER1 = 8 V - 28 V = -20 V (negative on top)
ER2 = 8 V - 0 V = 8 V (positive on top)
ER3 = 8 V - 7 V = 1 V (positive on top)
To solve for branch currents, each resistor voltage drop can be divided by its respective resistance
(I=E/R):
20 V
IR1 = =5A
4Ω
8V
IR2 = =4A
2Ω
1V
IR3 = =1A
1Ω
The direction of current through each resistor is determined by the polarity across each resistor,
not by the polarity across each battery, as current can be forced backwards through a battery, as is
the case with B3 in the example circuit. This is important to keep in mind, since Millman’s Theorem
doesn’t provide as direct an indication of ”wrong” current direction as does the Branch Current or
Mesh Current methods. You must pay close attention to the polarities of resistor voltage drops as
given by Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law, determining direction of currents from that.
IR1 IR3
5A 1A
- +
4A
R1 20 V R3 1V
IR2 +
+ -
R2 8V
+ - +
B1 28 V B3 7V
- -
Millman’s Theorem is very convenient for determining the voltage across a set of parallel branches,
where there are enough voltage sources present to preclude solution via regular series-parallel reduc-
tion method. It also is easy in the sense that it doesn’t require the use of simultaneous equations.
However, it is limited in that it only applied to circuits which can be re-drawn to fit this form.
It cannot be used, for example, to solve an unbalanced bridge circuit. And, even in cases where
Millman’s Theorem can be applied, the solution of individual resistor voltage drops can be a bit
daunting to some, the Millman’s Theorem equation only providing a single figure for branch voltage.
As you will see, each network analysis method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Each
method is a tool, and there is no tool that is perfect for all jobs. The skilled technician, however,
carries these methods in his or her mind like a mechanic carries a set of tools in his or her tool box.
The more tools you have equipped yourself with, the better prepared you will be for any eventuality.
• REVIEW:
• Millman’s Theorem treats circuits as a parallel set of series-component branches.
• All voltages entered and solved for in Millman’s Theorem are polarity-referenced at the same
point in the circuit (typically the bottom wire of the parallel network).
10.6. SUPERPOSITION THEOREM 351
10.6 Superposition Theorem

Superposition theorem is one of those strokes of genius that takes a complex subject and simplifies
it in a way that makes perfect sense. A theorem like Millman’s certainly works well, but it is not
quite obvious why it works so well. Superposition, on the other hand, is obvious.
The strategy used in the Superposition Theorem is to eliminate all but one source of power within
a network at a time, using series/parallel analysis to determine voltage drops (and/or currents) within
the modified network for each power source separately. Then, once voltage drops and/or currents
have been determined for each power source working separately, the values are all ”superimposed”
on top of each other (added algebraically) to find the actual voltage drops/currents with all sources
active. Let’s look at our example circuit again and apply Superposition Theorem to it:
R1 R3
4Ω 1Ω
B1 28 V 2Ω R2 7V B2
Since we have two sources of power in this circuit, we will have to calculate two sets of values
for voltage drops and/or currents, one for the circuit with only the 28 volt battery in effect. . .
R1 R3
4Ω 1Ω
B1 28 V R2 2Ω
. . . and one for the circuit with only the 7 volt battery in effect:
R1 R3
4Ω 1Ω
R2 2Ω B2 7V
When re-drawing the circuit for series/parallel analysis with one source, all other voltage sources
are replaced by wires (shorts), and all current sources with open circuits (breaks). Since we only
have voltage sources (batteries) in our example circuit, we will replace every inactive source during
analysis with a wire.
Analyzing the circuit with only the 28 volt battery, we obtain the following values for voltage
and current:
R1 + R2//R3
R1 R2 R3 R2//R3 Total
E 24 4 4 4 28 Volts
I 6 2 4 6 6 Amps
R 4 2 1 0.667 4.667 Ohms
R1 6A 4A R3
+ - + -
24 V 4V
2A
+ +
B1 28 V R2 4V
- -
Analyzing the circuit with only the 7 volt battery, we obtain another set of values for voltage
and current:
R3 + R1//R2
R1 R2 R3 R1//R2 Total
E 4 4 3 4 7 Volts
I 1 2 3 3 3 Amps
R 4 2 1 1.333 2.333 Ohms
R1 1A 3A R3
- + - +
4V 3V
2A
+ +
R2 4 V B2 7V
- -
10.6. SUPERPOSITION THEOREM 353
When superimposing these values of voltage and current, we have to be very careful to consider
polarity (voltage drop) and direction (electron flow), as the values have to be added algebraically.
With 28 V With 7 V
battery battery With both batteries
24 V 4V 20 V
+ - - + + -
ER1
ER1 ER1 24 V - 4 V = 20 V
+ + +
ER2 4V ER2 4V ER2 8V
- - -
4V+4V=8V
4V 3V 1V
+ - - + + -
ER3
ER3 ER3 4V-3V=1V
Applying these superimposed voltage figures to the circuit, the end result looks something like
this:
R1 R3
+ - + -
20 V 1V
+ + +
B1 28 V R2 8V 7V B2
- - -
Currents add up algebraically as well, and can either be superimposed as done with the resistor
voltage drops, or simply calculated from the final voltage drops and respective resistances (I=E/R).
Either way, the answers will be the same. Here I will show the superposition method applied to
current:
With 28 V With 7 V
battery battery With both batteries
6A 1A 5A
IR1
IR1 IR1 6A-1A=5A
IR2 2A IR2 2A IR2 4A
2A+2A=4A
4A 3A 1A
IR3
IR3 IR3
4A-3A=1A
Once again applying these superimposed figures to our circuit:
R1 R3
5A 1A
+ +
B1 28 V 4A R2 B2 7V
- -
Quite simple and elegant, don’t you think? It must be noted, though, that the Superposition
Theorem works only for circuits that are reducible to series/parallel combinations for each of the
power sources at a time (thus, this theorem is useless for analyzing an unbalanced bridge circuit),
and it only works where the underlying equations are linear (no mathematical powers or roots). The
requisite of linearity means that Superposition Theorem is only applicable for determining voltage
and current, not power!!! Power dissipations, being nonlinear functions, do not algebraically add to
an accurate total when only one source is considered at a time. The need for linearity also means
this Theorem cannot be applied in circuits where the resistance of a component changes with voltage
or current. Hence, networks containing components like lamps (incandescent or gas-discharge) or
varistors could not be analyzed.
Another prerequisite for Superposition Theorem is that all components must be ”bilateral,”
meaning that they behave the same with electrons flowing either direction through them. Resistors
have no polarity-specific behavior, and so the circuits we’ve been studying so far all meet this
criterion.
The Superposition Theorem finds use in the study of alternating current (AC) circuits, and
10.7. THEVENIN’S THEOREM 355
semiconductor (amplifier) circuits, where sometimes AC is often mixed (superimposed) with DC.
Because AC voltage and current equations (Ohm’s Law) are linear just like DC, we can use Su-
perposition to analyze the circuit with just the DC power source, then just the AC power source,
combining the results to tell what will happen with both AC and DC sources in effect. For now,
though, Superposition will suffice as a break from having to do simultaneous equations to analyze a
circuit.
• REVIEW:
• The Superposition Theorem states that a circuit can be analyzed with only one source of power
at a time, the corresponding component voltages and currents algebraically added to find out
what they’ll do with all power sources in effect.
• To negate all but one power source for analysis, replace any source of voltage (batteries) with
a wire; replace any current source with an open (break).
10.7 Thevenin’s Theorem

Thevenin’s Theorem states that it is possible to simplify any linear circuit, no matter how complex,
to an equivalent circuit with just a single voltage source and series resistance connected to a load.
The qualification of ”linear” is identical to that found in the Superposition Theorem, where all
the underlying equations must be linear (no exponents or roots). If we’re dealing with passive
components (such as resistors, and later, inductors and capacitors), this is true. However, there
are some components (especially certain gas-discharge and semiconductor components) which are
nonlinear: that is, their opposition to current changes with voltage and/or current. As such, we
would call circuits containing these types of components, nonlinear circuits.
Thevenin’s Theorem is especially useful in analyzing power systems and other circuits where one
particular resistor in the circuit (called the ”load” resistor) is subject to change, and re-calculation
of the circuit is necessary with each trial value of load resistance, to determine voltage across it and
current through it. Let’s take another look at our example circuit:
R1 R3
4Ω 1Ω
B1 28 V 2Ω R2 7V B2
Let’s suppose that we decide to designate R2 as the ”load” resistor in this circuit. We already
have four methods of analysis at our disposal (Branch Current, Mesh Current, Millman’s Theorem,
and Superposition Theorem) to use in determining voltage across R2 and current through R2 , but
each of these methods are time-consuming. Imagine repeating any of these methods over and over
again to find what would happen if the load resistance changed (changing load resistance is very
common in power systems, as multiple loads get switched on and off as needed. the total resistance
of their parallel connections changing depending on how many are connected at a time). This could
potentially involve a lot of work!
Thevenin’s Theorem makes this easy by temporarily removing the load resistance from the orig-
inal circuit and reducing what’s left to an equivalent circuit composed of a single voltage source and
series resistance. The load resistance can then be re-connected to this ”Thevenin equivalent circuit”
and calculations carried out as if the whole network were nothing but a simple series circuit:
R1 R3
4Ω 1Ω
B1 28 V R2 (Load) B2 7V
2Ω
. . . after Thevenin conversion . . .
Thevenin Equivalent Circuit
RThevenin
EThevenin R2 (Load)
2Ω
The ”Thevenin Equivalent Circuit” is the electrical equivalent of B1 , R1 , R3 , and B2 as seen

from the two points where our load resistor (R2 ) connects.
The Thevenin equivalent circuit, if correctly derived, will behave exactly the same as the original
circuit formed by B1 , R1 , R3 , and B2 . In other words, the load resistor (R2 ) voltage and current
should be exactly the same for the same value of load resistance in the two circuits. The load
resistor R2 cannot ”tell the difference” between the original network of B1 , R1 , R3 , and B2 , and the
Thevenin equivalent circuit of ET hevenin , and RT hevenin , provided that the values for ET hevenin and
RT hevenin have been calculated correctly.
The advantage in performing the ”Thevenin conversion” to the simpler circuit, of course, is
that it makes load voltage and load current so much easier to solve than in the original network.
Calculating the equivalent Thevenin source voltage and series resistance is actually quite easy. First,
the chosen load resistor is removed from the original circuit, replaced with a break (open circuit):
10.7. THEVENIN’S THEOREM 357
R1 R3
4Ω 1Ω
Load resistor
B1 28 V removed B2 7V
Next, the voltage between the two points where the load resistor used to be attached is deter-
mined. Use whatever analysis methods are at your disposal to do this. In this case, the original
circuit with the load resistor removed is nothing more than a simple series circuit with opposing
batteries, and so we can determine the voltage across the open load terminals by applying the rules
of series circuits, Ohm’s Law, and Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law:
R1 R3 Total
E 16.8 4.2 21 Volts
I 4.2 4.2 4.2 Amps
R 4 1 5 Ohms
R1 4 Ω R3 1 Ω
+ - + -
16.8 V 4.2 V
+ + +
B1 28 V 11.2 V B2 7V
- - -
4.2 A 4.2 A
The voltage between the two load connection points can be figured from the one of the battery’s
voltage and one of the resistor’s voltage drops, and comes out to 11.2 volts. This is our ”Thevenin
voltage” (ET hevenin ) in the equivalent circuit:
RThevenin
EThevenin 11.2 V R2 (Load)

2Ω
To find the Thevenin series resistance for our equivalent circuit, we need to take the original
circuit (with the load resistor still removed), remove the power sources (in the same style as we did
with the Superposition Theorem: voltage sources replaced with wires and current sources replaced
with breaks), and figure the resistance from one load terminal to the other:
R1 R3
4Ω 1Ω
0.8 Ω
With the removal of the two batteries, the total resistance measured at this location is equal
to R1 and R3 in parallel: 0.8 Ω. This is our ”Thevenin resistance” (RT hevenin ) for the equivalent
circuit:
RThevenin
0.8 Ω

2Ω
10.8. NORTON’S THEOREM 359
With the load resistor (2 Ω) attached between the connection points, we can determine voltage
across it and current through it as though the whole network were nothing more than a simple series
circuit:
RThevenin RLoad Total
E 3.2 8 11.2 Volts
I 4 4 4 Amps
R 0.8 2 2.8 Ohms
Notice that the voltage and current figures for R2 (8 volts, 4 amps) are identical to those found
using other methods of analysis. Also notice that the voltage and current figures for the Thevenin
series resistance and the Thevenin source (total ) do not apply to any component in the original,
complex circuit. Thevenin’s Theorem is only useful for determining what happens to a single resistor
in a network: the load.
The advantage, of course, is that you can quickly determine what would happen to that single
resistor if it were of a value other than 2 Ω without having to go through a lot of analysis again.
Just plug in that other value for the load resistor into the Thevenin equivalent circuit and a little
bit of series circuit calculation will give you the result.
• REVIEW:
• Thevenin’s Theorem is a way to reduce a network to an equivalent circuit composed of a single
voltage source, series resistance, and series load.
• Steps to follow for Thevenin’s Theorem:
• (1) Find the Thevenin source voltage by removing the load resistor from the original circuit
and calculating voltage across the open connection points where the load resistor used to be.
• (2) Find the Thevenin resistance by removing all power sources in the original circuit (voltage
sources shorted and current sources open) and calculating total resistance between the open
connection points.
• (3) Draw the Thevenin equivalent circuit, with the Thevenin voltage source in series with
the Thevenin resistance. The load resistor re-attaches between the two open points of the
equivalent circuit.
• (4) Analyze voltage and current for the load resistor following the rules for series circuits.
10.8 Norton’s Theorem

Norton’s Theorem states that it is possible to simplify any linear circuit, no matter how complex,
to an equivalent circuit with just a single current source and parallel resistance connected to a load.
Just as with Thevenin’s Theorem, the qualification of ”linear” is identical to that found in the
Superposition Theorem: all underlying equations must be linear (no exponents or roots).
Contrasting our original example circuit against the Norton equivalent: it looks something like
this:
R1 R3
4Ω 1Ω
B1 28 V R2 (Load) B2 7V
2Ω
. . . after Norton conversion . . .

Norton Equivalent Circuit
INorton RNorton R2 (Load)

2Ω
Remember that a current source is a component whose job is to provide a constant amount of
current, outputting as much or as little voltage necessary to maintain that constant current.
As with Thevenin’s Theorem, everything in the original circuit except the load resistance has
been reduced to an equivalent circuit that is simpler to analyze. Also similar to Thevenin’s Theorem
are the steps used in Norton’s Theorem to calculate the Norton source current (I N orton ) and Norton
resistance (RN orton ).
As before, the first step is to identify the load resistance and remove it from the original circuit:
R1 R3
4Ω 1Ω
Load resistor
B1 28 V removed B2 7V
Then, to find the Norton current (for the current source in the Norton equivalent circuit), place
a direct wire (short) connection between the load points and determine the resultant current. Note
that this step is exactly opposite the respective step in Thevenin’s Theorem, where we replaced the
load resistor with a break (open circuit):
10.8. NORTON’S THEOREM 361
R1 R3
4Ω 1Ω
7A 7A
+ +
B1 28 V 14 A B2 7V
- -
Ishort = IR1 + IR2
With zero voltage dropped between the load resistor connection points, the current through R 1
is strictly a function of B1 ’s voltage and R1 ’s resistance: 7 amps (I=E/R). Likewise, the current
through R3 is now strictly a function of B2 ’s voltage and R3 ’s resistance: 7 amps (I=E/R). The
total current through the short between the load connection points is the sum of these two currents:
7 amps + 7 amps = 14 amps. This figure of 14 amps becomes the Norton source current (I N orton )
in our equivalent circuit:
INorton RNorton R2 (Load)

2Ω
14 A
Remember, the arrow notation for a current source points in the direction opposite that of
electron flow. Again, apologies for the confusion. For better or for worse, this is standard electronic
symbol notation. Blame Mr. Franklin again!
To calculate the Norton resistance (RN orton ), we do the exact same thing as we did for calculating
Thevenin resistance (RT hevenin ): take the original circuit (with the load resistor still removed),
remove the power sources (in the same style as we did with the Superposition Theorem: voltage
sources replaced with wires and current sources replaced with breaks), and figure total resistance
from one load connection point to the other:
R1 R3
4Ω 1Ω
0.8 Ω
Now our Norton equivalent circuit looks like this:
INorton RNorton 0.8 Ω R2 (Load)

2Ω
14 A
If we re-connect our original load resistance of 2 Ω, we can analyze the Norton circuit as a simple
parallel arrangement:
RNorton RLoad Total

E 8 8 8 Volts
I 10 4 14 Amps
R 0.8 2 571.43m Ohms
As with the Thevenin equivalent circuit, the only useful information from this analysis is the
voltage and current values for R2 ; the rest of the information is irrelevant to the original circuit.
However, the same advantages seen with Thevenin’s Theorem apply to Norton’s as well: if we wish
to analyze load resistor voltage and current over several different values of load resistance, we can use
the Norton equivalent circuit again and again, applying nothing more complex than simple parallel
circuit analysis to determine what’s happening with each trial load.
• REVIEW:
• Norton’s Theorem is a way to reduce a network to an equivalent circuit composed of a single

current source, parallel resistance, and parallel load.
• Steps to follow for Norton’s Theorem:

10.9. THEVENIN-NORTON EQUIVALENCIES 363
• (1) Find the Norton source current by removing the load resistor from the original circuit and
calculating current through a short (wire) jumping across the open connection points where
the load resistor used to be.
• (2) Find the Norton resistance by removing all power sources in the original circuit (voltage
sources shorted and current sources open) and calculating total resistance between the open
connection points.
• (3) Draw the Norton equivalent circuit, with the Norton current source in parallel with the
Norton resistance. The load resistor re-attaches between the two open points of the equivalent
circuit.
• (4) Analyze voltage and current for the load resistor following the rules for parallel circuits.
10.9 Thevenin-Norton equivalencies

Since Thevenin’s and Norton’s Theorems are two equally valid methods of reducing a complex
network down to something simpler to analyze, there must be some way to convert a Thevenin
equivalent circuit to a Norton equivalent circuit, and visa-versa (just what you were dying to know,
right?). Well, the procedure is very simple.
You may have noticed that the procedure for calculating Thevenin resistance is identical to
the procedure for calculating Norton resistance: remove all power sources and determine resistance
between the open load connection points. As such, Thevenin and Norton resistances for the same
original network must be equal. Using the example circuits from the last two sections, we can see
that the two resistances are indeed equal:
RThevenin
0.8 Ω

2Ω
INorton RNorton 0.8 Ω R2 (Load)

2Ω
14 A
RThevenin = RNorton
Considering the fact that both Thevenin and Norton equivalent circuits are intended to behave
the same as the original network in suppling voltage and current to the load resistor (as seen from
the perspective of the load connection points), these two equivalent circuits, having been derived
from the same original network should behave identically.
This means that both Thevenin and Norton equivalent circuits should produce the same voltage
across the load terminals with no load resistor attached. With the Thevenin equivalent, the open-
circuited voltage would be equal to the Thevenin source voltage (no circuit current present to drop
voltage across the series resistor), which is 11.2 volts in this case. With the Norton equivalent circuit,
all 14 amps from the Norton current source would have to flow through the 0.8 Ω Norton resistance,
producing the exact same voltage, 11.2 volts (E=IR). Thus, we can say that the Thevenin voltage
is equal to the Norton current times the Norton resistance:
EThevenin = INortonRNorton
So, if we wanted to convert a Norton equivalent circuit to a Thevenin equivalent circuit, we could
use the same resistance and calculate the Thevenin voltage with Ohm’s Law.
Conversely, both Thevenin and Norton equivalent circuits should generate the same amount of
current through a short circuit across the load terminals. With the Norton equivalent, the short-
circuit current would be exactly equal to the Norton source current, which is 14 amps in this case.
With the Thevenin equivalent, all 11.2 volts would be applied across the 0.8 Ω Thevenin resistance,
producing the exact same current through the short, 14 amps (I=E/R). Thus, we can say that the
Norton current is equal to the Thevenin voltage divided by the Thevenin resistance:
EThevenin
INorton =
RThevenin
This equivalence between Thevenin and Norton circuits can be a useful tool in itself, as we shall
see in the next section.
• REVIEW:
• Thevenin and Norton resistances are equal.

10.10. MILLMAN’S THEOREM REVISITED 365
• Thevenin voltage is equal to Norton current times Norton resistance.
• Norton current is equal to Thevenin voltage divided by Thevenin resistance.
10.10 Millman’s Theorem revisited

You may have wondered where we got that strange equation for the determination of ”Millman
Voltage” across parallel branches of a circuit where each branch contains a series resistance and
voltage source:
EB1 EB2 EB3

+ +
R1 R2 R3
= Voltage across all branches
1 1 1
+ +
R1 R2 R3
Parts of this equation seem familiar to equations we’ve seen before. For instance, the denominator
of the large fraction looks conspicuously like the denominator of our parallel resistance equation.
And, of course, the E/R terms in the numerator of the large fraction should give figures for current,
Ohm’s Law being what it is (I=E/R).
Now that we’ve covered Thevenin and Norton source equivalencies, we have the tools necessary to
understand Millman’s equation. What Millman’s equation is actually doing is treating each branch
(with its series voltage source and resistance) as a Thevenin equivalent circuit and then converting
each one into equivalent Norton circuits.
R1 4Ω R3 1Ω
R2 2Ω
+ +
B1 28 V B3 7V
- -
Thus, in the circuit above, battery B1 and resistor R1 are seen as a Thevenin source to be
converted into a Norton source of 7 amps (28 volts / 4 Ω) in parallel with a 4 Ω resistor. The
rightmost branch will be converted into a 7 amp current source (7 volts / 1 Ω) and 1 Ω resistor in
parallel. The center branch, containing no voltage source at all, will be converted into a Norton
source of 0 amps in parallel with a 2 Ω resistor:
7A 4Ω 0A 2Ω 7A 1Ω
Since current sources directly add their respective currents in parallel, the total circuit current
will be 7 + 0 + 7, or 14 amps. This addition of Norton source currents is what’s being represented
in the numerator of the Millman equation:
EB1 EB2 EB3 EB1 EB2 EB3

Itotal = + + + +
R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3
1 1 1
+ +
R1 R2 R3
All the Norton resistances are in parallel with each other as well in the equivalent circuit, so
they diminish to create a total resistance. This diminishing of source resistances is what’s being
represented in the denominator of the Millman’s equation:
EB1 EB2 EB3

+ +
1 R1 R2 R3
Rtotal =
1 1 1 1 1 1
+ + + +
R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3
In this case, the resistance total will be equal to 571.43 milliohms (571.43 mΩ). We can re-draw
our equivalent circuit now as one with a single Norton current source and Norton resistance:
14 A 571.43 mΩ
Ohm’s Law can tell us the voltage across these two components now (E=IR):
Etotal = (14 A)(571.43 mΩ)
Etotal = 8 V
10.11. MAXIMUM POWER TRANSFER THEOREM 367
+
14 A 571.43 mΩ 8V
-
Let’s summarize what we know about the circuit thus far. We know that the total current in
this circuit is given by the sum of all the branch voltages divided by their respective currents. We
also know that the total resistance is found by taking the reciprocal of all the branch resistance
reciprocals. Furthermore, we should be well aware of the fact that total voltage across all the
branches can be found by multiplying total current by total resistance (E=IR). All we need to
do is put together the two equations we had earlier for total circuit current and total resistance,
multiplying them to find total voltage:
Ohm’s Law: IxR =E

(total current) x (total resistance) = (total voltage)
EB1 EB2 EB3 1

+ + x = (total voltage)
R1 R2 R3 1 1 1
+ +
R1 R2 R3
. . . or . . .
EB1 EB2 EB3

+ +
R1 R2 R3
= (total voltage)
1 1 1
+ +
R1 R2 R3
The Millman’s equation is nothing more than a Thevenin-to-Norton conversion matched together
with the parallel resistance formula to find total voltage across all the branches of the circuit. So,
hopefully some of the mystery is gone now!
10.11 Maximum Power Transfer Theorem

The Maximum Power Transfer Theorem is not so much a means of analysis as it is an aid to system
design. Simply stated, the maximum amount of power will be dissipated by a load resistance when
that load resistance is equal to the Thevenin/Norton resistance of the network supplying the power.
If the load resistance is lower or higher than the Thevenin/Norton resistance of the source network,
its dissipated power will be less than maximum.
This is essentially what is aimed for in stereo system design, where speaker ”impedance” is
matched to amplifier ”impedance” for maximum sound power output. Impedance, the overall op-
position to AC and DC current, is very similar to resistance, and must be equal between source and
load for the greatest amount of power to be transferred to the load. A load impedance that is too
high will result in low power output. A load impedance that is too low will not only result in low
power output, but possibly overheating of the amplifier due to the power dissipated in its internal
(Thevenin or Norton) impedance.
Taking our Thevenin equivalent example circuit, the Maximum Power Transfer Theorem tells
us that the load resistance resulting in greatest power dissipation is equal in value to the Thevenin
resistance (in this case, 0.8 Ω):
RThevenin
0.8 Ω
EThevenin 11.2 V RLoad 0.8 Ω
With this value of load resistance, the dissipated power will be 39.2 watts:

E 5.6 5.6 11.2 Volts
I 7 7 7 Amps
R 0.8 0.8 1.6 Ohms
P 39.2 39.2 78.4 Watts
If we were to try a lower value for the load resistance (0.5 Ω instead of 0.8 Ω, for example), our
power dissipated by the load resistance would decrease:

E 6.892 4.308 11.2 Volts
I 8.615 8.615 8.615 Amps
R 0.8 0.5 1.3 Ohms
P 59.38 37.11 96.49 Watts
Power dissipation increased for both the Thevenin resistance and the total circuit, but it decreased
for the load resistor. Likewise, if we increase the load resistance (1.1 Ω instead of 0.8 Ω, for example),
power dissipation will also be less than it was at 0.8 Ω exactly:
10.12. ∆-Y AND Y-∆ CONVERSIONS 369

E 4.716 6.484 11.2 Volts
I 5.895 5.895 5.895 Amps
R 0.8 1.1 1.9 Ohms
P 27.80 38.22 66.02 Watts
If you were designing a circuit for maximum power dissipation at the load resistance, this theorem
would be very useful. Having reduced a network down to a Thevenin voltage and resistance (or
Norton current and resistance), you simply set the load resistance equal to that Thevenin or Norton
equivalent (or visa-versa) to ensure maximum power dissipation at the load. Practical applications
of this might include stereo amplifier design (seeking to maximize power delivered to speakers) or
electric vehicle design (seeking to maximize power delivered to drive motor).
• REVIEW:
• The Maximum Power Transfer Theorem states that the maximum amount of power will be
dissipated by a load resistance if it is equal to the Thevenin or Norton resistance of the network
supplying power.
10.12 ∆-Y and Y-∆ conversions
In many circuit applications, we encounter components connected together in one of two ways to
form a three-terminal network: the ”Delta,” or ∆ (also known as the ”Pi,” or π) configuration, and
the ”Y” (also known as the ”T”) configuration.
Delta (∆) network Wye (Y) network
A RAC C A C
RA RC
RAB RBC
RB
B
B
Pi (π) network Tee (T) network

RAC RA RC
A C A C
RAB RBC RB
B B
It is possible to calculate the proper values of resistors necessary to form one kind of network (∆
or Y) that behaves identically to the other kind, as analyzed from the terminal connections alone.
That is, if we had two separate resistor networks, one ∆ and one Y, each with its resistors hidden
from view, with nothing but the three terminals (A, B, and C) exposed for testing, the resistors
could be sized for the two networks so that there would be no way to electrically determine one
network apart from the other. In other words, equivalent ∆ and Y networks behave identically.
There are several equations used to convert one network to the other:
To convert a Delta (∆) to a Wye (Y) To convert a Wye (Y) to a Delta (∆)
RAB RAC RARB + RARC + RBRC

RA = RAB =
RAB + RAC + RBC RC
RAB RBC RARB + RARC + RBRC

RB = RBC =
RAB + RAC + RBC RA
RAC RBC RARB + RARC + RBRC

RC = RAC =
RAB + RAC + RBC RB
∆ and Y networks are seen frequently in 3-phase AC power systems (a topic covered in volume
II of this book series), but even then they’re usually balanced networks (all resistors equal in value)
and conversion from one to the other need not involve such complex calculations. When would the
average technician ever need to use these equations?
A prime application for ∆-Y conversion is in the solution of unbalanced bridge circuits, such as
the one below:
R1 R2
12 Ω 18 Ω
R3
10 V
6Ω
R4 R5
18 Ω 12 Ω
Solution of this circuit with Branch Current or Mesh Current analysis is fairly involved, and
neither the Millman nor Superposition Theorems are of any help, since there’s only one source of
power. We could use Thevenin’s or Norton’s Theorem, treating R3 as our load, but what fun would
that be?
If we were to treat resistors R1 , R2 , and R3 as being connected in a ∆ configuration (Rab , Rac ,

and Rbc , respectively) and generate an equivalent Y network to replace them, we could turn this
bridge circuit into a (simpler) series/parallel combination circuit:
Selecting Delta (∆) network to convert:
A
RAB RAC
12 Ω 18 Ω
RBC
10 V B C
6Ω
R4 R5
18 Ω 12 Ω
After the ∆-Y conversion . . .

∆ converted to a Y
A
RA
RB RC
10 V B C
R4 R5
18 Ω 12 Ω
If we perform our calculations correctly, the voltages between points A, B, and C will be the
same in the converted circuit as in the original circuit, and we can transfer those values back to the
original bridge configuration.
(12 Ω)(18 Ω) 216
RA = = = 6Ω
(12 Ω) + (18 Ω) + (6 Ω) 36
(12 Ω)(6 Ω) 72
RB = = = 2Ω
(12 Ω) + (18 Ω) + (6 Ω) 36
(18 Ω)(6 Ω) 108

RC = = = 3Ω
(12 Ω) + (18 Ω) + (6 Ω) 36
6Ω RA
RB RC
2Ω 3Ω
10 V B C
R4 R5
18 Ω 12 Ω
Resistors R4 and R5 , of course, remain the same at 18 Ω and 12 Ω, respectively. Analyzing the
circuit now as a series/parallel combination, we arrive at the following figures:
RA RB RC R4 R5
E 4.118 588.24m 1.176 5.294 4.706 Volts
I 686.27m 294.12m 392.16m 294.12m 392.16m Amps
R 6 2 3 18 12 Ohms
RB + R4
//
RB + R4 RC + R5 RC + R5 Total
E 5.882 5.882 5.882 10 Volts
I 294.12m 392.16m 686.27m 686.27m Amps
R 20 15 8.571 14.571 Ohms
We must use the voltage drops figures from the table above to determine the voltages between
points A, B, and C, seeing how the add up (or subtract, as is the case with voltage between points
B and C):
+
+ RA 4.118 V +
4.706 V - 5.294 V
- -
0.588 + + 1.176
V V
+ RB RC -
-
10 V B +0.588 - C
V
- + +
R4 R5
5.294 - 4.706
V - V
EA-B = 4.706 V
EA-C = 5.294 V
EB-C = 588.24 mV
Now that we know these voltages, we can transfer them to the same points A, B, and C in the
original bridge circuit:
4.706 5.294
V V
R1 R2
R3
10 V
0.588 V
R4 R5
5.294 4.706
V V
Voltage drops across R4 and R5 , of course, are exactly the same as they were in the converted
circuit.
At this point, we could take these voltages and determine resistor currents through the repeated
use of Ohm’s Law (I=E/R):
4.706 V
IR1 = = 392.16 mA
12 Ω
5.294 V
IR2 = = 294.12 mA
18 Ω
588.24 mV
IR3 = = 98.04 mA
6Ω
5.294 V
IR4 = = 294.12 mA
18 Ω
4.706 V
IR5 = = 392.16 mA
12 Ω
A quick simulation with SPICE will serve to verify our work:
1 1
R1 R2
12 Ω 18 Ω
R3
10 V 2 3
6Ω
R4 R5
18 Ω 12 Ω
0 0
unbalanced bridge circuit

v1 1 0
r1 1 2 12
r2 1 3 18
r3 2 3 6
r4 2 0 18
r5 3 0 12
.dc v1 10 10 1
.print dc v(1,2) v(1,3) v(2,3) v(2,0) v(3,0)
.end
v1 v(1,2) v(1,3) v(2,3) v(2) v(3)

1.000E+01 4.706E+00 5.294E+00 5.882E-01 5.294E+00 4.706E+00
The voltage figures, as read from left to right, represent voltage drops across the five respective
resistors, R1 through R5 . I could have shown currents as well, but since that would have required
insertion of ”dummy” voltage sources in the SPICE netlist, and since we’re primarily interested in
validating the ∆-Y conversion equations and not Ohm’s Law, this will suffice.
• REVIEW:
• ”Delta” (∆) networks are also known as ”Pi” (π) networks.
• ”Y” networks are also known as ”T” networks.
• ∆ and Y networks can be converted to their equivalent counterparts with the proper resistance
equations. By ”equivalent,” I mean that the two networks will be electrically identical as
measured from the three terminals (A, B, and C).
• A bridge circuit can be simplified to a series/parallel circuit by converting half of it from a ∆

to a Y network. After voltage drops between the original three connection points (A, B, and
C) have been solved for, those voltages can be transferred back to the original bridge circuit,
across those same equivalent points.
10.13 Contributors
Dejan Budimir (January 2003): Suggested clarifications for explaining the Mesh Current
method of circuit analysis.
Bill Heath (December 2002): Pointed out several typographical errors.
second edition.
Chapter 11
BATTERIES AND POWER

SYSTEMS
11.1 Electron activity in chemical reactions
So far in our discussions on electricity and electric circuits, we have not discussed in any detail how
batteries function. Rather, we have simply assumed that they produce constant voltage through
some sort of mysterious process. Here, we will explore that process to some degree and cover some
of the practical considerations involved with real batteries and their use in power systems.
In the first chapter of this book, the concept of an atom was discussed, as being the basic
building-block of all material objects. Atoms, in turn, however, are composed of even smaller pieces
of matter called particles. Electrons, protons, and neutrons are the basic types of particles found in
atoms. Each of these particle types plays a distinct role in the behavior of an atom. While electrical
activity involves the motion of electrons, the chemical identity of an atom (which largely determines
how conductive the material will be) is determined by the number of protons in the nucleus (center).
377
378 CHAPTER 11. BATTERIES AND POWER SYSTEMS
e e = electron
P = proton
N = neutron
N
P P
e N P e
N P
N P P
N N
The protons in an atom’s nucleus are extremely difficult to dislodge, and so the chemical identity
of any atom is very stable. One of the goals of the ancient alchemists (to turn lead into gold) was
foiled by this sub-atomic stability. All efforts to alter this property of an atom by means of heat.
light, or friction were met with failure. The electrons of an atom, however, are much more easily
dislodged. As we have already seen, friction is one way in which electrons can be transferred from
one atom to another (glass and silk, wax and wool), and so is heat (generating voltage by heating a
junction of dissimilar metals, as in the case of thermocouples).
Electrons can do much more than just move around and between atoms: they can also serve to
link different atoms together. This linking of atoms by electrons is called a chemical bond. A crude
(and simplified) representation of such a bond between two atoms might look like this:
11.1. ELECTRON ACTIVITY IN CHEMICAL REACTIONS 379
e
e e
N N
P P P P
e N P e N P
N P N P
N P P P
N N N P
N N
e e
e
e
e
There are several types of chemical bonds, the one shown above being representative of a covalent
bond, where electrons are shared between atoms. Because chemical bonds are based on links formed
by electrons, these bonds are only as strong as the immobility of the electrons forming them. That
is to say, chemical bonds can be created or broken by the same forces that force electrons to move:
heat, light, friction, etc.
When atoms are joined by chemical bonds, they form materials with unique properties known
as molecules. The dual-atom picture shown above is an example of a simple molecule formed
by two atoms of the same type. Most molecules are unions of different types of atoms. Even
molecules formed by atoms of the same type can have radically different physical properties. Take the
element carbon, for instance: in one form, graphite, carbon atoms link together to form flat ”plates”
which slide against one another very easily, giving graphite its natural lubricating properties. In
another form, diamond, the same carbon atoms link together in a different configuration, this time
in the shapes of interlocking pyramids, forming a material of exceeding hardness. In yet another
form, Fullerene, dozens of carbon atoms form each molecule, which looks something like a soccer
ball. Fullerene molecules are very fragile and lightweight. The airy soot formed by excessively rich
combustion of acetylene gas (as in the initial ignition of an oxy-acetylene welding/cutting torch) is
composed of many tiny Fullerene molecules.
When alchemists succeeded in changing the properties of a substance by heat, light, friction, or
mixture with other substances, they were really observing changes in the types of molecules formed
by atoms breaking and forming bonds with other atoms. Chemistry is the modern counterpart to
alchemy, and concerns itself primarily with the properties of these chemical bonds and the reactions
associated with them.
A type of chemical bond of particular interest to our study of batteries is the so-called ionic
bond, and it differs from the covalent bond in that one atom of the molecule possesses an excess
of electrons while another atom lacks electrons, the bonds between them being a result of the
electrostatic attraction between the two unlike charges. Consequently, ionic bonds, when broken
or formed, result in electrons moving from one place to another. This motion of electrons in ionic
bonding can be harnessed to generate an electric current. A device constructed to do just this
is called a voltaic cell, or cell for short, usually consisting of two metal electrodes immersed in a
chemical mixture (called an electrolyte) designed to facilitate a chemical reaction:
Voltaic cell
+ -
electrodes
electrolyte solution
The two electrodes are made of different materials,

both of which chemically react with the electrolyte
in some form of ionic bonding.
In the common ”lead-acid” cell (the kind commonly used in automobiles), the negative electrode
is made of lead (Pb) and the positive is made of lead peroxide (Pb02 ), both metallic substances.
The electrolyte solution is a dilute sulfuric acid (H2 SO4 + H2 O). If the electrodes of the cell are
connected to an external circuit, such that electrons have a place to flow from one to the other,
negatively charged oxygen ions (O) from the positive electrode (PbO2 ) will ionically bond with
positively charged hydrogen ions (H) to form molecules water (H2 O). This creates a deficiency of
electrons in the lead peroxide (PbO2 ) electrode, giving it a positive electrical charge. The sulfate
ions (SO4 ) left over from the disassociation of the hydrogen ions (H) from the sulfuric acid (H 2 SO4 )
will join with the lead (Pb) in each electrode to form lead sulfate (PbSO4 ):
11.1. ELECTRON ACTIVITY IN CHEMICAL REACTIONS 381
Lead-acid cell discharging

load
+ -
I
+ -
PbO2 electrode Pb electrode
electrons
electrolyte:
H2SO4 + H2O
At (+) electrode: PbO2 + H2SO4 PbSO4 + H2O + O

At (-) electrode: Pb + H2SO4 PbSO4 + 2H
This process of the cell providing electrical energy to supply a load is called discharging, since
it is depleting its internal chemical reserves. Theoretically, after all of the sulfuric acid has been
exhausted, the result will be two electrodes of lead sulfate (PbSO4 ) and an electrolyte solution of
pure water (H2 O), leaving no more capacity for additional ionic bonding. In this state, the cell is
said to be fully discharged. In a lead-acid cell, the state of charge can be determined by an analysis
of acid strength. This is easily accomplished with a device called a hydrometer, which measures the
specific gravity (density) of the electrolyte. Sulfuric acid is denser than water, so the greater the
charge of a cell, the greater the acid concentration, and thus a denser electrolyte solution.
There is no single chemical reaction representative of all voltaic cells, so any detailed discussion of
chemistry is bound to have limited application. The important thing to understand is that electrons
are motivated to and/or from the cell’s electrodes via ionic reactions between the electrode molecules
and the electrolyte molecules. The reaction is enabled when there is an external path for electric
current, and ceases when that path is broken.
Being that the motivation for electrons to move through a cell is chemical in nature, the amount
of voltage (electromotive force) generated by any cell will be specific to the particular chemical
reaction for that cell type. For instance, the lead-acid cell just described has a nominal voltage
of 2.2 volts per cell, based on a fully ”charged” cell (acid concentration strong) in good physical
condition. There are other types of cells with different specific voltage outputs. The Edison cell,
for example, with a positive electrode made of nickel oxide, a negative electrode made of iron, and
an electrolyte solution of potassium hydroxide (a caustic, not acid, substance) generates a nominal
voltage of only 1.2 volts, due to the specific differences in chemical reaction with those electrode and
electrolyte substances.
The chemical reactions of some types of cells can be reversed by forcing electric current backwards
through the cell (in the negative electrode and out the positive electrode). This process is called
charging. Any such (rechargeable) cell is called a secondary cell. A cell whose chemistry cannot be
reversed by a reverse current is called a primary cell.
When a lead-acid cell is charged by an external current source, the chemical reactions experienced
during discharge are reversed:
Lead-acid cell charging
+ -
Gen
I
+ -
PbO2 electrode Pb electrode
electrons
electrolyte:
H2SO4 + H2O
At (+) electrode: PbSO4 + H2O + O PbO2 + H2SO4

At (-) electrode: PbSO4 + 2H Pb + H2SO4
• REVIEW:
• Atoms bound together by electrons are called molecules.
• Ionic bonds are molecular unions formed when an electron-deficient atom (a positive ion) joins
with an electron-excessive atom (a negative ion).
• Chemical reactions involving ionic bonds result in the transfer of electrons between atoms.
This transfer can be harnessed to form an electric current.
• A cell is a device constructed to harness such chemical reactions to generate electric current.
• A cell is said to be discharged when its internal chemical reserves have been depleted through
use.
• A secondary cell’s chemistry can be reversed (recharged) by forcing current backwards through
it.
• A primary cell cannot be practically recharged.

11.2. BATTERY CONSTRUCTION 383
• Lead-acid cell charge can be assessed with an instrument called a hydrometer, which mea-
sures the density of the electrolyte liquid. The denser the electrolyte, the stronger the acid
concentration, and the greater charge state of the cell.
11.2 Battery construction

The word battery simply means a group of similar components. In military vocabulary, a ”battery”
refers to a cluster of guns. In electricity, a ”battery” is a set of voltaic cells designed to provide
greater voltage and/or current than is possible with one cell alone.
The symbol for a cell is very simple, consisting of one long line and one short line, parallel to
each other, with connecting wires:
Cell
+
-
The symbol for a battery is nothing more than a couple of cell symbols stacked in series:
Battery
+
-
As was stated before, the voltage produced by any particular kind of cell is determined strictly
by the chemistry of that cell type. The size of the cell is irrelevant to its voltage. To obtain greater
voltage than the output of a single cell, multiple cells must be connected in series. The total voltage
of a battery is the sum of all cell voltages. A typical automotive lead-acid battery has six cells, for
a nominal voltage output of 6 x 2.2 or 13.2 volts:
2.2 V 2.2 V 2.2 V 2.2 V 2.2 V 2.2 V

- + - + - + - + - + - +
13.2 V
- +
The cells in an automotive battery are contained within the same hard rubber housing, connected
together with thick, lead bars instead of wires. The electrodes and electrolyte solutions for each cell
are contained in separate, partitioned sections of the battery case. In large batteries, the electrodes
commonly take the shape of thin metal grids or plates, and are often referred to as plates instead of
electrodes.
For the sake of convenience, battery symbols are usually limited to four lines, alternating
long/short, although the real battery it represents may have many more cells than that. On occasion,
however, you might come across a symbol for a battery with unusually high voltage, intentionally
drawn with extra lines. The lines, of course, are representative of the individual cell plates:
symbol for a battery with

an unusually high voltage
-
If the physical size of a cell has no impact on its voltage, then what does it affect? The answer
is resistance, which in turn affects the maximum amount of current that a cell can provide. Every
voltaic cell contains some amount of internal resistance due to the electrodes and the electrolyte.
The larger a cell is constructed, the greater the electrode contact area with the electrolyte, and thus
the less internal resistance it will have.
Although we generally consider a cell or battery in a circuit to be a perfect source of voltage
(absolutely constant), the current through it dictated solely by the external resistance of the circuit
to which it is attached, this is not entirely true in real life. Since every cell or battery contains some
internal resistance, that resistance must affect the current in any given circuit:
Real battery
Ideal battery (with internal resistance)
8.333 A
10 A
0.2 Ω
10 V 1Ω
1Ω
Eload = 10 V
10 V Eload = 8.333 V
The real battery shown above within the dotted lines has an internal resistance of 0.2 Ω, which
affects its ability to supply current to the load resistance of 1 Ω. The ideal battery on the left has no
internal resistance, and so our Ohm’s Law calculations for current (I=E/R) give us a perfect value
of 10 amps for current with the 1 ohm load and 10 volt supply. The real battery, with its built-in
resistance further impeding the flow of electrons, can only supply 8.333 amps to the same resistance
load.
The ideal battery, in a short circuit with 0 Ω resistance, would be able to supply an infinite
amount of current. The real battery, on the other hand, can only supply 50 amps (10 volts / 0.2 Ω)
to a short circuit of 0 Ω resistance, due to its internal resistance. The chemical reaction inside the
cell may still be providing exactly 10 volts, but voltage is dropped across that internal resistance
as electrons flow through the battery, which reduces the amount of voltage available at the battery
terminals to the load.
Since we live in an imperfect world, with imperfect batteries, we need to understand the impli-
cations of factors such as internal resistance. Typically, batteries are placed in applications where
their internal resistance is negligible compared to that of the circuit load (where their short-circuit
current far exceeds their usual load current), and so the performance is very close to that of an ideal
voltage source.
If we need to construct a battery with lower resistance than what one cell can provide (for greater
11.2. BATTERY CONSTRUCTION 385
current capacity), we will have to connect the cells together in parallel:
0.2 Ω 0.2 Ω 0.2 Ω 0.2 Ω 0.2 Ω
2.2 V 2.2 V 2.2 V 2.2 V 2.2 V
equivalent to +
0.04 Ω
2.2 V
-
Essentially, what we have done here is determine the Thevenin equivalent of the five cells in
parallel (an equivalent network of one voltage source and one series resistance). The equivalent
network has the same source voltage but a fraction of the resistance of any individual cell in the
original network. The overall effect of connecting cells in parallel is to decrease the equivalent
internal resistance, just as resistors in parallel diminish in total resistance. The equivalent internal
resistance of this battery of 5 cells is 1/5 that of each individual cell. The overall voltage stays the
same: 2.2 volts. If this battery of cells were powering a circuit, the current through each cell would
be 1/5 of the total circuit current, due to the equal split of current through equal-resistance parallel
branches.
• REVIEW:
• A battery is a cluster of cells connected together for greater voltage and/or current capacity.
• Cells connected together in series (polarities aiding) results in greater total voltage.
• Physical cell size impacts cell resistance, which in turn impacts the ability for the cell to supply
current to a circuit. Generally, the larger the cell, the less its internal resistance.
• Cells connected together in parallel results in less total resistance, and potentially greater total
current.
11.3 Battery ratings

Because batteries create electron flow in a circuit by exchanging electrons in ionic chemical reactions,
and there is a limited number of molecules in any charged battery available to react, there must
be a limited amount of total electrons that any battery can motivate through a circuit before its
energy reserves are exhausted. Battery capacity could be measured in terms of total number of
electrons, but this would be a huge number. We could use the unit of the coulomb (equal to 6.25 x
1018 electrons, or 6,250,000,000,000,000,000 electrons) to make the quantities more practical to work
with, but instead a new unit, the amp-hour, was made for this purpose. Since 1 amp is actually a
flow rate of 1 coulomb of electrons per second, and there are 3600 seconds in an hour, we can state
a direct proportion between coulombs and amp-hours: 1 amp-hour = 3600 coulombs. Why make up
a new unit when an old would have done just fine? To make your lives as students and technicians
more difficult, of course!
A battery with a capacity of 1 amp-hour should be able to continuously supply a current of
1 amp to a load for exactly 1 hour, or 2 amps for 1/2 hour, or 1/3 amp for 3 hours, etc., before
becoming completely discharged. In an ideal battery, this relationship between continuous current
and discharge time is stable and absolute, but real batteries don’t behave exactly as this simple linear
formula would indicate. Therefore, when amp-hour capacity is given for a battery, it is specified at
either a given current, given time, or assumed to be rated for a time period of 8 hours (if no limiting
factor is given).
For example, an average automotive battery might have a capacity of about 70 amp-hours, spec-
ified at a current of 3.5 amps. This means that the amount of time this battery could continuously
supply a current of 3.5 amps to a load would be 20 hours (70 amp-hours / 3.5 amps). But let’s
suppose that a lower-resistance load were connected to that battery, drawing 70 amps continuously.
Our amp-hour equation tells us that the battery should hold out for exactly 1 hour (70 amp-hours
/ 70 amps), but this might not be true in real life. With higher currents, the battery will dissipate
more heat across its internal resistance, which has the effect of altering the chemical reactions taking
place within. Chances are, the battery would fully discharge some time before the calculated time
of 1 hour under this greater load.
Conversely, if a very light load (1 mA) were to be connected to the battery, our equation would
tell us that the battery should provide power for 70,000 hours, or just under 8 years (70 amp-hours
/ 1 milliamp), but the odds are that much of the chemical energy in a real battery would have been
drained due to other factors (evaporation of electrolyte, deterioration of electrodes, leakage current
within battery) long before 8 years had elapsed. Therefore, we must take the amp-hour relationship
as being an ideal approximation of battery life, the amp-hour rating trusted only near the specified
current or timespan given by the manufacturer. Some manufacturers will provide amp-hour derating
factors specifying reductions in total capacity at different levels of current and/or temperature.
For secondary cells, the amp-hour rating provides a rule for necessary charging time at any given
level of charge current. For example, the 70 amp-hour automotive battery in the previous example
should take 10 hours to charge from a fully-discharged state at a constant charging current of 7
amps (70 amp-hours / 7 amps).
Approximate amp-hour capacities of some common batteries are given here:
• Typical automotive battery: 70 amp-hours @ 3.5 A (secondary cell)
• D-size carbon-zinc battery: 4.5 amp-hours @ 100 mA (primary cell)

11.3. BATTERY RATINGS 387
• 9 volt carbon-zinc battery: 400 milliamp-hours @ 8 mA (primary cell)
As a battery discharges, not only does it diminish its internal store of energy, but its internal
resistance also increases (as the electrolyte becomes less and less conductive), and its open-circuit
cell voltage decreases (as the chemicals become more and more dilute). The most deceptive change
that a discharging battery exhibits is increased resistance. The best check for a battery’s condition
is a voltage measurement under load, while the battery is supplying a substantial current through
a circuit. Otherwise, a simple voltmeter check across the terminals may falsely indicate a healthy
battery (adequate voltage) even though the internal resistance has increased considerably. What
constitutes a ”substantial current” is determined by the battery’s design parameters. A voltmeter
check revealing too low of a voltage, of course, would positively indicate a discharged battery:
Fully charged battery:
Scenario for a fully charged battery
0.1 Ω + Voltmeter indication: 0.1 Ω + Voltmeter indication:

V 100 Ω V
13.2 V 13.187 V
13.2 V - 13.2 V -
No load Under load
Now, if the battery discharges a bit . . .
Scenario for a slightly discharged battery
5Ω 5Ω
+ Voltmeter indication: + Voltmeter indication:
V 13.0 V 100 Ω V 12.381 V
13.0 V - 13.0 V -
No load Under load
. . . and discharges a bit further . . .
Scenario for a moderately discharged battery
20 Ω + Voltmeter indication: 20 Ω + Voltmeter indication:

V 100 Ω V
11.5 V 9.583 V
11.5 V - 11.5 V -
No load Under load
. . . and a bit further until it’s dead.

Scenario for a dead battery
50 Ω + Voltmeter indication: 50 Ω + Voltmeter indication:

V 7.5 V 100 Ω V 5V
7.5 V - 7.5 V -
No load Under load
Notice how much better the battery’s true condition is revealed when its voltage is checked under
load as opposed to without a load. Does this mean that it’s pointless to check a battery with just
a voltmeter (no load)? Well, no. If a simple voltmeter check reveals only 7.5 volts for a 13.2 volt
battery, then you know without a doubt that it’s dead. However, if the voltmeter were to indicate
12.5 volts, it may be near full charge or somewhat depleted – you couldn’t tell without a load check.
Bear in mind also that the resistance used to place a battery under load must be rated for the
amount of power expected to be dissipated. For checking large batteries such as an automobile (12
volt nominal) lead-acid battery, this may mean a resistor with a power rating of several hundred
watts.
• REVIEW:
• The amp-hour is a unit of battery energy capacity, equal to the amount of continuous current
multiplied by the discharge time, that a battery can supply before exhausting its internal store
of chemical energy.
Amp-hour rating
Continuous current (in Amps) =
Charge/discharge time (in hours)
Amp-hour rating
Charge/discharge time (in hours) =
Continuous current (in Amps)
•
• An amp-hour battery rating is only an approximation of the battery’s charge capacity, and
should be trusted only at the current level or time specified by the manufacturer. Such a rating
cannot be extrapolated for very high currents or very long times with any accuracy.
• Discharged batteries lose voltage and increase in resistance. The best check for a dead battery
is a voltage test under load.
11.4 Special-purpose batteries

Back in the early days of electrical measurement technology, a special type of battery known as a
mercury standard cell was popularly used as a voltage calibration standard. The output of a mercury
cell was 1.0183 to 1.0194 volts DC (depending on the specific design of cell), and was extremely stable
over time. Advertised drift was around 0.004 percent of rated voltage per year. Mercury standard
cells were sometimes known as Weston cells or cadmium cells.
11.4. SPECIAL-PURPOSE BATTERIES 389
Mercury "standard" cell

glass bulb
CdSO4
+ cadmium -
sulphate
solution
wire
wire
cork washer cork washer
mercurous cadmium
sulphate sulphate
solution
Hg2SO4 CdSO4
mercury cadmium amalgam

Unfortunately, mercury cells were rather intolerant of any current drain and could not even
be measured with an analog voltmeter without compromising accuracy. Manufacturers typically
called for no more than 0.1 mA of current through the cell, and even that figure was considered
a momentary, or surge maximum! Consequently, standard cells could only be measured with a
potentiometric (null-balance) device where current drain is almost zero. Short-circuiting a mercury
cell was prohibited, and once short-circuited, the cell could never be relied upon again as a standard
device.
Mercury standard cells were also susceptible to slight changes in voltage if physically or thermally
disturbed. Two different types of mercury standard cells were developed for different calibration
purposes: saturated and unsaturated. Saturated standard cells provided the greatest voltage sta-
bility over time, at the expense of thermal instability. In other words, their voltage drifted very
little with the passage of time (just a few microvolts over the span of a decade!), but tended to vary
with changes in temperature (tens of microvolts per degree Celsius). These cells functioned best
in temperature-controlled laboratory environments where long-term stability is paramount. Unsat-
urated cells provided thermal stability at the expense of stability over time, the voltage remaining
virtually constant with changes in temperature but decreasing steadily by about 100 µV every year.
These cells functioned best as ”field” calibration devices where ambient temperature is not precisely
controlled. Nominal voltage for a saturated cell was 1.0186 volts, and 1.019 volts for an unsaturated
cell.
Modern semiconductor voltage (zener diode regulator) references have superseded standard cell
batteries as laboratory and field voltage standards.
A fascinating device closely related to primary-cell batteries is the fuel cell, so-called because
it harnesses the chemical reaction of combustion to generate an electric current. The process of
chemical oxidation (oxygen ionically bonding with other elements) is capable of producing an electron
flow between two electrodes just as well as any combination of metals and electrolytes. A fuel cell
can be thought of as a battery with an externally supplied chemical energy source.
Hydrogen/Oxygen fuel cell
- load +
electrodes
- +
hydrogen in oxygen in
H2 e- H+ O2
H2 H+ O2
-
H2 e O2
electrolyte
H2 O2
- H+
H2 e O2
H+
H2 O2
e-
membranes
water out
To date, the most successful fuel cells constructed are those which run on hydrogen and oxygen,
although much research has been done on cells using hydrocarbon fuels. While ”burning” hydrogen,
a fuel cell’s only waste byproducts are water and a small amount of heat. When operating on carbon-
containing fuels, carbon dioxide is also released as a byproduct. Because the operating temperature
of modern fuel cells is far below that of normal combustion, no oxides of nitrogen (NO x ) are formed,
making it far less polluting, all other factors being equal.
The efficiency of energy conversion in a fuel cell from chemical to electrical far exceeds the
theoretical Carnot efficiency limit of any internal-combustion engine, which is an exciting prospect
for power generation and hybrid electric automobiles.
Another type of ”battery” is the solar cell, a by-product of the semiconductor revolution in
electronics. The photoelectric effect, whereby electrons are dislodged from atoms under the influence
of light, has been known in physics for many decades, but it has only been with recent advances
in semiconductor technology that a device existed capable of harnessing this effect to any practical
degree. Conversion efficiencies for silicon solar cells are still quite low, but their benefits as power
sources are legion: no moving parts, no noise, no waste products or pollution (aside from the
manufacture of solar cells, which is still a fairly ”dirty” industry), and indefinite life.
11.4. SPECIAL-PURPOSE BATTERIES 391
Solar cell
wires thin, round wafer of

crystalline silicon
schematic symbol
Specific cost of solar cell technology (dollars per kilowatt) is still very high, with little prospect
of significant decrease barring some kind of revolutionary advance in technology. Unlike electronic
components made from semiconductor material, which can be made smaller and smaller with less
scrap as a result of better quality control, a single solar cell still takes the same amount of ultra-pure
silicon to make as it did thirty years ago. Superior quality control fails to yield the same production
gain seen in the manufacture of chips and transistors (where isolated specks of impurity can ruin
many microscopic circuits on one wafer of silicon). The same number of impure inclusions does little
to impact the overall efficiency of a 3-inch solar cell.
Yet another type of special-purpose ”battery” is the chemical detection cell. Simply put, these
cells chemically react with specific substances in the air to create a voltage directly proportional to
the concentration of that substance. A common application for a chemical detection cell is in the
detection and measurement of oxygen concentration. Many portable oxygen analyzers have been
designed around these small cells. Cell chemistry must be designed to match the specific substance(s)
to be detected, and the cells do tend to ”wear out,” as their electrode materials deplete or become
contaminated with use.
• REVIEW:
• mercury standard cells are special types of batteries which were once used as voltage calibration
standards before the advent of precision semiconductor reference devices.
• A fuel cell is a kind of battery that uses a combustible fuel and oxidizer as reactants to generate
electricity. They are promising sources of electrical power in the future, ”burning” fuels with
very low emissions.
• A solar cell uses ambient light energy to motivate electrons from electrode to another, pro-
ducing voltage (and current, providing an external circuit).
• A chemical detection cell is a special type of voltaic cell which produces voltage proportional
to the concentration of an applied substance (usually a specific gas in ambient air).
11.5 Practical considerations

When connecting batteries together to form larger ”banks” (a battery of batteries?), the constituent
batteries must be matched to each other so as to not cause problems. First we will consider con-
necting batteries in series for greater voltage:
- + - + - + - +
- +
load
We know that the current is equal at all points in a series circuit, so whatever amount of current
there is in any one of the series-connected batteries must be the same for all the others as well.
For this reason, each battery must have the same amp-hour rating, or else some of the batteries will
become depleted sooner than others, compromising the capacity of the whole bank. Please note that
the total amp-hour capacity of this series battery bank is not affected by the number of batteries.
Next, we will consider connecting batteries in parallel for greater current capacity (lower internal
resistance), or greater amp-hour capacity:
+ + + + +
load
- - - - -
We know that the voltage is equal across all branches of a parallel circuit, so we must be sure that
these batteries are of equal voltage. If not, we will have relatively large currents circulating from
one battery through another, the higher-voltage batteries overpowering the lower-voltage batteries.
This is not good.
On this same theme, we must be sure that any overcurrent protection (circuit breakers or fuses)
are installed in such a way as to be effective. For our series battery bank, one fuse will suffice to
protect the wiring from excessive current, since any break in a series circuit stops current through
all parts of the circuit:
- + - + - + - +
fuse
- +
load
With a parallel battery bank, one fuse is adequate for protecting the wiring against load overcur-
rent (between the parallel-connected batteries and the load), but we have other concerns to protect
against as well. Batteries have been known to internally short-circuit, due to electrode separator
11.5. PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS 393
failure, causing a problem not unlike that where batteries of unequal voltage are connected in par-
allel: the good batteries will overpower the failed (lower voltage) battery, causing relatively large
currents within the batteries’ connecting wires. To guard against this eventuality, we should protect
each and every battery against overcurrent with individual battery fuses, in addition to the load
fuse:
main
fuse
+ + + + +
load
- - - - -
When dealing with secondary-cell batteries, particular attention must be paid to the method
and timing of charging. Different types and construction of batteries have different charging needs,
and the manufacturer’s recommendations are probably the best guide to follow when designing or
maintaining a system. Two distinct concerns of battery charging are cycling and overcharging.
Cycling refers to the process of charging a battery to a ”full” condition and then discharging it to a
lower state. All batteries have a finite (limited) cycle life, and the allowable ”depth” of cycle (how
far it should be discharged at any time) varies from design to design. Overcharging is the condition
where current continues to be forced backwards through a secondary cell beyond the point where
the cell has reached full charge. With lead-acid cells in particular, overcharging leads to electrolysis
of the water (”boiling” the water out of the battery) and shortened life.
Any battery containing water in the electrolyte is subject to the production of hydrogen gas due
to electrolysis. This is especially true for overcharged lead-acid cells, but not exclusive to that type.
Hydrogen is an extremely flammable gas (especially in the presence of free oxygen created by the
same electrolysis process), odorless and colorless. Such batteries pose an explosion threat even under
normal operating conditions, and must be treated with respect. The author has been a firsthand
witness to a lead-acid battery explosion, where a spark created by the removal of a battery charger
(small DC power supply) from an automotive battery ignited hydrogen gas within the battery case,
blowing the top off the battery and splashing sulfuric acid everywhere. This occurred in a high
school automotive shop, no less. If it were not for all the students nearby wearing safety glasses and
buttoned-collar overalls, significant injury could have occurred.
When connecting and disconnecting charging equipment to a battery, always make the last
connection (or first disconnection) at a location away from the battery itself (such as at a point on
one of the battery cables, at least a foot away from the battery), so that any resultant spark has
little or no chance of igniting hydrogen gas.
In large, permanently installed battery banks, batteries are equipped with vent caps above each
cell, and hydrogen gas is vented outside of the battery room through hoods immediately over the
batteries. Hydrogen gas is very light and rises quickly. The greatest danger is when it is allowed to
accumulate in an area, awaiting ignition.
More modern lead-acid battery designs are sealed, using a catalyst to re-combine the electrolyzed
hydrogen and oxygen back into water, inside the battery case itself. Adequate ventilation might still
be a good idea, just in case a battery were to develop a leak in the case.
• REVIEW:
• Connecting batteries in series increases voltage, but does not increase overall amp-hour capac-
ity.
• All batteries in a series bank must have the same amp-hour rating.
• Connecting batteries in parallel increases total current capacity by decreasing total resistance,
and it also increases overall amp-hour capacity.
• All batteries in a parallel bank must have the same voltage rating.
• Batteries can be damaged by excessive cycling and overcharging.
• Water-based electrolyte batteries are capable of generating explosive hydrogen gas, which must
not be allowed to accumulate in an area.
11.6 Contributors
second edition.
Chapter 12
PHYSICS OF CONDUCTORS
AND INSULATORS
12.1 Introduction
By now you should be well aware of the correlation between electrical conductivity and certain types
of materials. Those materials allowing for easy passage of free electrons are called conductors, while
those materials impeding the passage of free electrons are called insulators.
Unfortunately, the scientific theories explaining why certain materials conduct and others don’t
are quite complex, rooted in quantum mechanical explanations in how electrons are arranged around
the nuclei of atoms. Contrary to the well-known ”planetary” model of electrons whirling around an
atom’s nucleus as well-defined chunks of matter in circular or elliptical orbits, electrons in ”orbit”
don’t really act like pieces of matter at all. Rather, they exhibit the characteristics of both particle
and wave, their behavior constrained by placement within distinct zones around the nucleus referred
to as ”shells” and ”subshells.” Electrons can occupy these zones only in a limited range of energies
depending on the particular zone and how occupied that zone is with other electrons. If electrons
really did act like tiny planets held in orbit around the nucleus by electrostatic attraction, their
actions described by the same laws describing the motions of real planets, there could be no real
distinction between conductors and insulators, and chemical bonds between atoms would not exist
in the way they do now. It is the discrete, ”quantitized” nature of electron energy and placement
described by quantum physics that gives these phenomena their regularity.
When an electron is free to assume higher energy states around an atom’s nucleus (due to its
placement in a particular ”shell”), it may be free to break away from the atom and comprise part of
an electric current through the substance. If the quantum limitations imposed on an electron deny
it this freedom, however, the electron is considered to be ”bound” and cannot break away (at least
not easily) to constitute a current. The former scenario is typical of conducting materials, while the
latter is typical of insulating materials.
Some textbooks will tell you that an element’s conductivity or nonconductivity is exclusively
determined by the number of electrons residing in the atoms’ outer ”shell” (called the valence shell),
but this is an oversimplification, as any examination of conductivity versus valence electrons in
a table of elements will confirm. The true complexity of the situation is further revealed when
395
396 CHAPTER 12. PHYSICS OF CONDUCTORS AND INSULATORS
the conductivity of molecules (collections of atoms bound to one another by electron activity) is
considered.
A good example of this is the element carbon, which comprises materials of vastly differing
conductivity: graphite and diamond. Graphite is a fair conductor of electricity, while diamond is
practically an insulator (stranger yet, it is technically classified as a semiconductor, which in its
pure form acts as an insulator, but can conduct under high temperatures and/or the influence of
impurities). Both graphite and diamond are composed of the exact same types of atoms: carbon,
with 6 protons, 6 neutrons and 6 electrons each. The fundamental difference between graphite and
diamond being that graphite molecules are flat groupings of carbon atoms while diamond molecules
are tetrahedral (pyramid-shaped) groupings of carbon atoms.
If atoms of carbon are joined to other types of atoms to form compounds, electrical conductivity
becomes altered once again. Silicon carbide, a compound of the elements silicon and carbon, exhibits
nonlinear behavior: its electrical resistance decreases with increases in applied voltage! Hydrocarbon
compounds (such as the molecules found in oils) tend to be very good insulators. As you can
see, a simple count of valence electrons in an atom is a poor indicator of a substance’s electrical
conductivity.
All metallic elements are good conductors of electricity, due to the way the atoms bond with each
other. The electrons of the atoms comprising a mass of metal are so uninhibited in their allowable
energy states that they float freely between the different nuclei in the substance, readily motivated by
any electric field. The electrons are so mobile, in fact, that they are sometimes described by scientists
as an electron gas, or even an electron sea in which the atomic nuclei rest. This electron mobility
accounts for some of the other common properties of metals: good heat conductivity, malleability
and ductility (easily formed into different shapes), and a lustrous finish when pure.
Thankfully, the physics behind all this is mostly irrelevant to our purposes here. Suffice it to
say that some materials are good conductors, some are poor conductors, and some are in between.
For now it is good enough to simply understand that these distinctions are determined by the
configuration of the electrons around the constituent atoms of the material.
An important step in getting electricity to do our bidding is to be able to construct paths for
electrons to flow with controlled amounts of resistance. It is also vitally important that we be able to
prevent electrons from flowing where we don’t want them to, by using insulating materials. However,
not all conductors are the same, and neither are all insulators. We need to understand some of the
characteristics of common conductors and insulators, and be able to apply these characteristics to
specific applications.
Almost all conductors possess a certain, measurable resistance (special types of materials called
superconductors possess absolutely no electrical resistance, but these are not ordinary materials, and
they must be held in special conditions in order to be super conductive). Typically, we assume the
resistance of the conductors in a circuit to be zero, and we expect that current passes through them
without producing any appreciable voltage drop. In reality, however, there will almost always be
a voltage drop along the (normal) conductive pathways of an electric circuit, whether we want a
voltage drop to be there or not:
12.2. CONDUCTOR SIZE 397
wire resistance
+ -
+ voltage +
drop
Source Load something less than
voltage source voltage
- drop -
- +
wire resistance
In order to calculate what these voltage drops will be in any particular circuit, we must be able to
ascertain the resistance of ordinary wire, knowing the wire size and diameter. Some of the following
sections of this chapter will address the details of doing this.
• REVIEW:
• Electrical conductivity of a material is determined by the configuration of electrons in that

materials atoms and molecules (groups of bonded atoms).
• All normal conductors possess resistance to some degree.
• Electrons flowing through a conductor with (any) resistance will produce some amount of
voltage drop across the length of that conductor.
12.2 Conductor size

It should be common-sense knowledge that liquids flow through large-diameter pipes easier than
they do through small-diameter pipes (if you would like a practical illustration, try drinking a liquid
through straws of different diameters). The same general principle holds for the flow of electrons
through conductors: the broader the cross-sectional area (thickness) of the conductor, the more
room for electrons to flow, and consequently, the easier it is for flow to occur (less resistance).
Electrical wire is usually round in cross-section (although there are some unique exceptions to
this rule), and comes in two basic varieties: solid and stranded. Solid copper wire is just as it sounds:
a single, solid strand of copper the whole length of the wire. Stranded wire is composed of smaller
strands of solid copper wire twisted together to form a single, larger conductor. The greatest benefit
of stranded wire is its mechanical flexibility, being able to withstand repeated bending and twisting
much better than solid copper (which tends to fatigue and break after time).
Wire size can be measured in several ways. We could speak of a wire’s diameter, but since it’s
really the cross-sectional area that matters most regarding the flow of electrons, we are better off
designating wire size in terms of area.
Cross-sectional area
end-view of is 0.008155 square inches
solid round wire
0.1019
inches
The wire cross-section picture shown above is, of course, not drawn to scale. The diameter is
shown as being 0.1019 inches. Calculating the area of the cross-section with the formula Area =
πr2 , we get an area of 0.008155 square inches:
A = πr2
2
0.1019 inches
A = (3.1416)
2
A = 0.008155 square inches
These are fairly small numbers to work with, so wire sizes are often expressed in measures of
thousandths-of-an-inch, or mils. For the illustrated example, we would say that the diameter of the
wire was 101.9 mils (0.1019 inch times 1000). We could also, if we wanted, express the area of the
wire in the unit of square mils, calculating that value with the same circle-area formula, Area = πr 2 :
Cross-sectional area
end-view of is 8155.27 square mils
solid round wire
101.9
mils
A = πr2
2
101.9 mils
A = (3.1416)
2
A = 8155.27 square mils
However, electricians and others frequently concerned with wire size use another unit of area mea-
surement tailored specifically for wire’s circular cross-section. This special unit is called the circular
mil (sometimes abbreviated cmil ). The sole purpose for having this special unit of measurement is
to eliminate the need to invoke the factor π (3.1415927 . . .) in the formula for calculating area,
plus the need to figure wire radius when you’ve been given diameter. The formula for calculating
the circular-mil area of a circular wire is very simple:
Circular Wire Area Formula
A = d2
Because this is a unit of area measurement, the mathematical power of 2 is still in effect (doubling
the width of a circle will always quadruple its area, no matter what units are used, or if the width
of that circle is expressed in terms of radius or diameter). To illustrate the difference between
measurements in square mils and measurements in circular mils, I will compare a circle with a
square, showing the area of each shape in both unit measures:
Area = 0.7854 square mils Area = 1 square mil

Area = 1 circular mil Area = 1.273 circular mils
1 mil 1 mil
And for another size of wire:

Area = 3.1416 square mils Area = 4 square mils

Area = 4 circular mils Area = 5.0930 circular mils
2 mils 2 mils
Obviously, the circle of a given diameter has less cross-sectional area than a square of width
and height equal to the circle’s diameter: both units of area measurement reflect that. However, it
should be clear that the unit of ”square mil” is really tailored for the convenient determination of
a square’s area, while ”circular mil” is tailored for the convenient determination of a circle’s area:
the respective formula for each is simpler to work with. It must be understood that both units are
valid for measuring the area of a shape, no matter what shape that may be. The conversion between
circular mils and square mils is a simple ratio: there are π (3.1415927 . . .) square mils to every 4
circular mils.
Another measure of cross-sectional wire area is the gauge. The gauge scale is based on whole
numbers rather than fractional or decimal inches. The larger the gauge number, the skinnier the
wire; the smaller the gauge number, the fatter the wire. For those acquainted with shotguns, this
inversely-proportional measurement scale should sound familiar.
The table at the end of this section equates gauge with inch diameter, circular mils, and square
inches for solid wire. The larger sizes of wire reach an end of the common gauge scale (which naturally
tops out at a value of 1), and are represented by a series of zeros. ”3/0” is another way to represent
”000,” and is pronounced ”triple-ought.” Again, those acquainted with shotguns should recognize the
terminology, strange as it may sound. To make matters even more confusing, there is more than one
gauge ”standard” in use around the world. For electrical conductor sizing, the American Wire Gauge
(AWG), also known as the Brown and Sharpe (B&S) gauge, is the measurement system of choice.
In Canada and Great Britain, the British Standard Wire Gauge (SWG) is the legal measurement
system for electrical conductors. Other wire gauge systems exist in the world for classifying wire
diameter, such as the Stubs steel wire gauge and the Steel Music Wire Gauge (MWG), but these
measurement systems apply to non-electrical wire use.
The American Wire Gauge (AWG) measurement system, despite its oddities, was designed with
a purpose: for every three steps in the gauge scale, wire area (and weight per unit length) approxi-
mately doubles. This is a handy rule to remember when making rough wire size estimations!
For very large wire sizes (fatter than 4/0), the wire gauge system is typically abandoned for
cross-sectional area measurement in thousands of circular mils (MCM), borrowing the old Roman
numeral ”M” to denote a multiple of ”thousand” in front of ”CM” for ”circular mils.” The following
table of wire sizes does not show any sizes bigger than 4/0 gauge, because solid copper wire becomes
impractical to handle at those sizes. Stranded wire construction is favored, instead.
WIRE TABLE FOR SOLID, ROUND COPPER CONDUCTORS
Size Diameter Cross-sectional area Weight

AWG inches cir. mils sq. inches lb/1000 ft
===============================================================
4/0 -------- 0.4600 ------- 211,600 ------ 0.1662 ------ 640.5
3/0 -------- 0.4096 ------- 167,800 ------ 0.1318 ------ 507.9
2/0 -------- 0.3648 ------- 133,100 ------ 0.1045 ------ 402.8
1/0 -------- 0.3249 ------- 105,500 ----- 0.08289 ------ 319.5
1 -------- 0.2893 ------- 83,690 ------ 0.06573 ------ 253.5
2 -------- 0.2576 ------- 66,370 ------ 0.05213 ------ 200.9
3 -------- 0.2294 ------- 52,630 ------ 0.04134 ------ 159.3
4 -------- 0.2043 ------- 41,740 ------ 0.03278 ------ 126.4
5 -------- 0.1819 ------- 33,100 ------ 0.02600 ------ 100.2
6 -------- 0.1620 ------- 26,250 ------ 0.02062 ------ 79.46
7 -------- 0.1443 ------- 20,820 ------ 0.01635 ------ 63.02
8 -------- 0.1285 ------- 16,510 ------ 0.01297 ------ 49.97
9 -------- 0.1144 ------- 13,090 ------ 0.01028 ------ 39.63
10 -------- 0.1019 ------- 10,380 ------ 0.008155 ----- 31.43
11 -------- 0.09074 ------- 8,234 ------ 0.006467 ----- 24.92
12 -------- 0.08081 ------- 6,530 ------ 0.005129 ----- 19.77
13 -------- 0.07196 ------- 5,178 ------ 0.004067 ----- 15.68
14 -------- 0.06408 ------- 4,107 ------ 0.003225 ----- 12.43
15 -------- 0.05707 ------- 3,257 ------ 0.002558 ----- 9.858
16 -------- 0.05082 ------- 2,583 ------ 0.002028 ----- 7.818
17 -------- 0.04526 ------- 2,048 ------ 0.001609 ----- 6.200
18 -------- 0.04030 ------- 1,624 ------ 0.001276 ----- 4.917
19 -------- 0.03589 ------- 1,288 ------ 0.001012 ----- 3.899
20 -------- 0.03196 ------- 1,022 ----- 0.0008023 ----- 3.092
21 -------- 0.02846 ------- 810.1 ----- 0.0006363 ----- 2.452
22 -------- 0.02535 ------- 642.5 ----- 0.0005046 ----- 1.945
23 -------- 0.02257 ------- 509.5 ----- 0.0004001 ----- 1.542
24 -------- 0.02010 ------- 404.0 ----- 0.0003173 ----- 1.233
25 -------- 0.01790 ------- 320.4 ----- 0.0002517 ----- 0.9699
26 -------- 0.01594 ------- 254.1 ----- 0.0001996 ----- 0.7692
27 -------- 0.01420 ------- 201.5 ----- 0.0001583 ----- 0.6100
28 -------- 0.01264 ------- 159.8 ----- 0.0001255 ----- 0.4837
29 -------- 0.01126 ------- 126.7 ----- 0.00009954 ---- 0.3836
30 -------- 0.01003 ------- 100.5 ----- 0.00007894 ---- 0.3042
31 ------- 0.008928 ------- 79.70 ----- 0.00006260 ---- 0.2413
32 ------- 0.007950 ------- 63.21 ----- 0.00004964 ---- 0.1913
33 ------- 0.007080 ------- 50.13 ----- 0.00003937 ---- 0.1517
34 ------- 0.006305 ------- 39.75 ----- 0.00003122 ---- 0.1203
35 ------- 0.005615 ------- 31.52 ----- 0.00002476 --- 0.09542
36 ------- 0.005000 ------- 25.00 ----- 0.00001963 --- 0.07567
37 ------- 0.004453 ------- 19.83 ----- 0.00001557 --- 0.06001
38 ------- 0.003965 ------- 15.72 ----- 0.00001235 --- 0.04759

39 ------- 0.003531 ------- 12.47 ---- 0.000009793 --- 0.03774
40 ------- 0.003145 ------- 9.888 ---- 0.000007766 --- 0.02993
41 ------- 0.002800 ------- 7.842 ---- 0.000006159 --- 0.02374
42 ------- 0.002494 ------- 6.219 ---- 0.000004884 --- 0.01882
43 ------- 0.002221 ------- 4.932 ---- 0.000003873 --- 0.01493
44 ------- 0.001978 ------- 3.911 ---- 0.000003072 --- 0.01184
For some high-current applications, conductor sizes beyond the practical size limit of round wire
are required. In these instances, thick bars of solid metal called busbars are used as conductors.
Busbars are usually made of copper or aluminum, and are most often uninsulated. They are phys-
ically supported away from whatever framework or structure is holding them by insulator standoff
mounts. Although a square or rectangular cross-section is very common for busbar shape, other
shapes are used as well. Cross-sectional area for busbars is typically rated in terms of circular mils
(even for square and rectangular bars!), most likely for the convenience of being able to directly
equate busbar size with round wire.
• REVIEW:
• Electrons flow through large-diameter wires easier than small-diameter wires, due to the greater
cross-sectional area they have in which to move.
• Rather than measure small wire sizes in inches, the unit of ”mil” (1/1000 of an inch) is often
employed.
• The cross-sectional area of a wire can be expressed in terms of square units (square inches or
square mils), circular mils, or ”gauge” scale.
• Calculating square-unit wire area for a circular wire involves the circle area formula:
A = πr2 (Square units)

•
• Calculating circular-mil wire area for a circular wire is much simpler, due to the fact that the
unit of ”circular mil” was sized just for this purpose: to eliminate the ”pi” and the d/2 (radius)
factors in the formula.
A = d2 (Circular units)
•
• There are π (3.1416) square mils for every 4 circular mils.
• The gauge system of wire sizing is based on whole numbers, larger numbers representing
smaller-area wires and visa-versa. Wires thicker than 1 gauge are represented by zeros: 0, 00,
000, and 0000 (spoken ”single-ought,” ”double-ought,” ”triple-ought,” and ”quadruple-ought.”
• Very large wire sizes are rated in thousands of circular mils (MCM’s), typical for busbars and
wire sizes beyond 4/0.
• Busbars are solid bars of copper or aluminum used in high-current circuit construction. Con-
nections made to busbars are usually welded or bolted, and the busbars are often bare (unin-
sulated), supported away from metal frames through the use of insulating standoffs.
12.3. CONDUCTOR AMPACITY 403
12.3 Conductor ampacity

The smaller the wire, the greater the resistance for any given length, all other factors being equal.
A wire with greater resistance will dissipate a greater amount of heat energy for any given amount
of current, the power being equal to P=I2 R.
Dissipated power in a resistance manifests itself in the form of heat, and excessive heat can be
damaging to a wire (not to mention objects near the wire!), especially considering the fact that
most wires are insulated with a plastic or rubber coating, which can melt and burn. Thin wires
will, therefore, tolerate less current than thick wires, all other factors being equal. A conductor’s
current-carrying limit is known as its ampacity.
Primarily for reasons of safety, certain standards for electrical wiring have been established
within the United States, and are specified in the National Electrical Code (NEC). Typical NEC
wire ampacity tables will show allowable maximum currents for different sizes and applications
of wire. Though the melting point of copper theoretically imposes a limit on wire ampacity, the
materials commonly employed for insulating conductors melt at temperatures far below the melting
point of copper, and so practical ampacity ratings are based on the thermal limits of the insulation.
Voltage dropped as a result of excessive wire resistance is also a factor in sizing conductors for their
use in circuits, but this consideration is better assessed through more complex means (which we will
cover in this chapter). A table derived from an NEC listing is shown for example:
COPPER CONDUCTOR AMPACITIES, IN FREE AIR AT 30 DEGREES C

========================================================
INSULATION RUW, T THW, THWN FEP, FEPB
TYPE: TW RUH THHN, XHHW
========================================================
Size Current Rating Current Rating Current Rating
AWG @ 60 degrees C @ 75 degrees C @ 90 degrees C
========================================================
20 -------- *9 ----------------------------- *12.5
18 -------- *13 ------------------------------ 18
16 -------- *18 ------------------------------ 24
14 --------- 25 ------------- 30 ------------- 35
12 --------- 30 ------------- 35 ------------- 40
10 --------- 40 ------------- 50 ------------- 55
8 ---------- 60 ------------- 70 ------------- 80
6 ---------- 80 ------------- 95 ------------ 105
4 --------- 105 ------------ 125 ------------ 140
2 --------- 140 ------------ 170 ------------ 190
1 --------- 165 ------------ 195 ------------ 220
1/0 ------- 195 ------------ 230 ------------ 260
2/0 ------- 225 ------------ 265 ------------ 300
3/0 ------- 260 ------------ 310 ------------ 350
4/0 ------- 300 ------------ 360 ------------ 405
* = estimated values; normally, these small wire sizes

are not manufactured with these insulation types
Notice the substantial ampacity differences between same-size wires with different types of insu-
lation. This is due, again, to the thermal limits of each type of insulation material.
These ampacity ratings are given for copper conductors in ”free air” (maximum typical air
circulation), as opposed to wires placed in conduit or wire trays. As you will notice, the table fails
to specify ampacities for small wire sizes. This is because the NEC concerns itself primarily with
power wiring (large currents, big wires) rather than with wires common to low-current electronic
work.
There is meaning in the letter sequences used to identify conductor types, and these letters
usually refer to properties of the conductor’s insulating layer(s). Some of these letters symbolize
individual properties of the wire while others are simply abbreviations. For example, the letter ”T”
by itself means ”thermoplastic” as an insulation material, as in ”TW” or ”THHN.” However, the
three-letter combination ”MTW” is an abbreviation for Machine Tool Wire, a type of wire whose
insulation is made to be flexible for use in machines experiencing significant motion or vibration.
INSULATION MATERIAL
===================
C = Cotton
FEP = Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene
MI = Mineral (magnesium oxide)
PFA = Perfluoroalkoxy
R = Rubber (sometimes Neoprene)
S = Silicone "rubber"
SA = Silicone-asbestos
T = Thermoplastic
TA = Thermoplastic-asbestos
TFE = Polytetrafluoroethylene ("Teflon")
X = Cross-linked synthetic polymer
Z = Modified ethylene tetrafluoroethylene
HEAT RATING
===========
H = 75 degrees Celsius
HH = 90 degrees Celsius
OUTER COVERING ("JACKET")

=========================
N = Nylon
SPECIAL SERVICE CONDITIONS

==========================
U = Underground
W = Wet
-2 = 90 degrees Celsius and wet
Therefore, a ”THWN” conductor has Thermoplastic insulation, is Heat resistant to 75 o Celsius,

is rated for Wet conditions, and comes with a Nylon outer jacketing.
12.4. FUSES 405
Letter codes like these are only used for general-purpose wires such as those used in households
and businesses. For high-power applications and/or severe service conditions, the complexity of
conductor technology defies classification according to a few letter codes. Overhead power line
conductors are typically bare metal, suspended from towers by glass, porcelain, or ceramic mounts
known as insulators. Even so, the actual construction of the wire to withstand physical forces both
static (dead weight) and dynamic (wind) loading can be complex, with multiple layers and different
types of metals wound together to form a single conductor. Large, underground power conductors
are sometimes insulated by paper, then enclosed in a steel pipe filled with pressurized nitrogen or oil
to prevent water intrusion. Such conductors require support equipment to maintain fluid pressure
throughout the pipe.
Other insulating materials find use in small-scale applications. For instance, the small-diameter
wire used to make electromagnets (coils producing a magnetic field from the flow of electrons) are
often insulated with a thin layer of enamel. The enamel is an excellent insulating material and is
very thin, allowing many ”turns” of wire to be wound in a small space.
• REVIEW:
• Wire resistance creates heat in operating circuits. This heat is a potential fire ignition hazard.
• Skinny wires have a lower allowable current (”ampacity”) than fat wires, due to their greater
resistance per unit length, and consequently greater heat generation per unit current.
• The National Electrical Code (NEC) specifies ampacities for power wiring based on allowable
insulation temperature and wire application.
12.4 Fuses
Normally, the ampacity rating of a conductor is a circuit design limit never to be intentionally
exceeded, but there is an application where ampacity exceedence is expected: in the case of fuses.
A fuse is nothing more than a short length of wire designed to melt and separate in the event
of excessive current. Fuses are always connected in series with the component(s) to be protected
from overcurrent, so that when the fuse blows (opens) it will open the entire circuit and stop current
through the component(s). A fuse connected in one branch of a parallel circuit, of course, would
not affect current through any of the other branches.
Normally, the thin piece of fuse wire is contained within a safety sheath to minimize hazards of
arc blast if the wire burns open with violent force, as can happen in the case of severe overcurrents.
In the case of small automotive fuses, the sheath is transparent so that the fusible element can be
visually inspected. Residential wiring used to commonly employ screw-in fuses with glass bodies and
a thin, narrow metal foil strip in the middle. A photograph showing both types of fuses is shown
here:
Cartridge type fuses are popular in automotive applications, and in industrial applications when
constructed with sheath materials other than glass. Because fuses are designed to ”fail” open when
their current rating is exceeded, they are typically designed to be replaced easily in a circuit. This
means they will be inserted into some type of holder rather than being directly soldered or bolted
to the circuit conductors. The following is a photograph showing a couple of glass cartridge fuses in
a multi-fuse holder:
12.4. FUSES 407
The fuses are held by spring metal clips, the clips themselves being permanently connected to
the circuit conductors. The base material of the fuse holder (or fuse block as they are sometimes
called) is chosen to be a good insulator.
Another type of fuse holder for cartridge-type fuses is commonly used for installation in equipment
control panels, where it is desirable to conceal all electrical contact points from human contact.
Unlike the fuse block just shown, where all the metal clips are openly exposed, this type of fuse
holder completely encloses the fuse in an insulating housing:
The most common device in use for overcurrent protection in high-current circuits today is
the circuit breaker. Circuit breakers are specially designed switches that automatically open to
stop current in the event of an overcurrent condition. Small circuit breakers, such as those used in
residential, commercial and light industrial service are thermally operated. They contain a bimetallic
strip (a thin strip of two metals bonded back-to-back) carrying circuit current, which bends when
heated. When enough force is generated by the bimetallic strip (due to overcurrent heating of
the strip), the trip mechanism is actuated and the breaker will open. Larger circuit breakers are
automatically actuated by the strength of the magnetic field produced by current-carrying conductors
within the breaker, or can be triggered to trip by external devices monitoring the circuit current
(those devices being called protective relays).
Because circuit breakers don’t fail when subjected to overcurrent conditions – rather, they merely
open and can be re-closed by moving a lever – they are more likely to be found connected to a circuit
in a more permanent manner than fuses. A photograph of a small circuit breaker is shown here:
12.4. FUSES 409
From outside appearances, it looks like nothing more than a switch. Indeed, it could be used as
such. However, its true function is to operate as an overcurrent protection device.
It should be noted that some automobiles use inexpensive devices known as fusible links for
overcurrent protection in the battery charging circuit, due to the expense of a properly-rated fuse
and holder. A fusible link is a primitive fuse, being nothing more than a short piece of rubber-
insulated wire designed to melt open in the event of overcurrent, with no hard sheathing of any
kind. Such crude and potentially dangerous devices are never used in industry or even residential
power use, mainly due to the greater voltage and current levels encountered. As far as this author
is concerned, their application even in automotive circuits is questionable.
The electrical schematic drawing symbol for a fuse is an S-shaped curve:
Fuse
Fuses are primarily rated, as one might expect, in the unit for current: amps. Although their
operation depends on the self-generation of heat under conditions of excessive current by means of
the fuse’s own electrical resistance, they are engineered to contribute a negligible amount of extra
resistance to the circuits they protect. This is largely accomplished by making the fuse wire as short
as is practically possible. Just as a normal wire’s ampacity is not related to its length (10-gauge
solid copper wire will handle 40 amps of current in free air, regardless of how long or short of a piece
it is), a fuse wire of certain material and gauge will blow at a certain current no matter how long it
is. Since length is not a factor in current rating, the shorter it can be made, the less resistance it
will have end-to-end.
However, the fuse designer also has to consider what happens after a fuse blows: the melted ends
of the once-continuous wire will be separated by an air gap, with full supply voltage between the
ends. If the fuse isn’t made long enough on a high-voltage circuit, a spark may be able to jump from
one of the melted wire ends to the other, completing the circuit again:
480 V blown
drop fuse
Load
480 V
When the fuse "blows," full

supply voltage will be dropped
across it and there will be no
current in the circuit.
excessive arc!
voltage
Load
480 V
If the voltage across the blown

fuse is high enough, a spark may
jump the gap, allowing some
current in the circuit. THIS WOULD
NOT BE GOOD!!!
Consequently, fuses are rated in terms of their voltage capacity as well as the current level at
which they will blow.
Some large industrial fuses have replaceable wire elements, to reduce the expense. The body
of the fuse is an opaque, reusable cartridge, shielding the fuse wire from exposure and shielding
surrounding objects from the fuse wire.
There’s more to the current rating of a fuse than a single number. If a current of 35 amps is sent
through a 30 amp fuse, it may blow suddenly or delay before blowing, depending on other aspects
of its design. Some fuses are intended to blow very fast, while others are designed for more modest
”opening” times, or even for a delayed action depending on the application. The latter fuses are
sometimes called slow-blow fuses due to their intentional time-delay characteristics.
A classic example of a slow-blow fuse application is in electric motor protection, where inrush
currents of up to ten times normal operating current are commonly experienced every time the
motor is started from a dead stop. If fast-blowing fuses were to be used in an application like this,
the motor could never get started because the normal inrush current levels would blow the fuse(s)
immediately! The design of a slow-blow fuse is such that the fuse element has more mass (but no
12.4. FUSES 411
more ampacity) than an equivalent fast-blow fuse, meaning that it will heat up slower (but to the
same ultimate temperature) for any given amount of current.
On the other end of the fuse action spectrum, there are so-called semiconductor fuses designed to
open very quickly in the event of an overcurrent condition. Semiconductor devices such as transistors
tend to be especially intolerant of overcurrent conditions, and as such require fast-acting protection
against overcurrents in high-power applications.
Fuses are always supposed to be placed on the ”hot” side of the load in systems that are grounded.
The intent of this is for the load to be completely de-energized in all respects after the fuse opens.
To see the difference between fusing the ”hot” side versus the ”neutral” side of a load, compare these
two circuits:
"Hot"
blown fuse
load
"Neutral"
no voltage between either side

of load and ground
"Hot"
load
blown fuse
"Neutral"
voltage present between either side

of load and ground!
In either case, the fuse successfully interrupted current to the load, but the lower circuit fails to
interrupt potentially dangerous voltage from either side of the load to ground, where a person might
be standing. The first circuit design is much safer.
As it was said before, fuses are not the only type of overcurrent protection device in use. Switch-
like devices called circuit breakers are often (and more commonly) used to open circuits with excessive
current, their popularity due to the fact that they don’t destroy themselves in the process of breaking
the circuit as fuses do. In any case, though, placement of the overcurrent protection device in a
circuit will follow the same general guidelines listed above: namely, to ”fuse” the side of the power
supply not connected to ground.
Although overcurrent protection placement in a circuit may determine the relative shock hazard
of that circuit under various conditions, it must be understood that such devices were never intended
to guard against electric shock. Neither fuses nor circuit breakers were not designed to open in
the event of a person getting shocked; rather, they are intended to open only under conditions of
potential conductor overheating. Overcurrent devices primarily protect the conductors of a circuit
from overtemperature damage (and the fire hazards associated with overly hot conductors), and
secondarily protect specific pieces of equipment such as loads and generators (some fast-acting fuses
are designed to protect electronic devices particularly susceptible to current surges). Since the
current levels necessary for electric shock or electrocution are much lower than the normal current
levels of common power loads, a condition of overcurrent is not indicative of shock occurring. There
are other devices designed to detect certain chock conditions (ground-fault detectors being the most
popular), but these devices strictly serve that one purpose and are uninvolved with protection of
the conductors against overheating.
• REVIEW:
• A fuse is a small, thin conductor designed to melt and separate into two pieces for the purpose
of breaking a circuit in the event of excessive current.
• A circuit breaker is a specially designed switch that automatically opens to interrupt circuit
current in the event of an overcurrent condition. They can be ”tripped” (opened) thermally,
by magnetic fields, or by external devices called ”protective relays,” depending on the design
of breaker, its size, and the application.
• Fuses are primarily rated in terms of maximum current, but are also rated in terms of how
much voltage drop they will safely withstand after interrupting a circuit.
• Fuses can be designed to blow fast, slow, or anywhere in between for the same maximum level
of current.
• The best place to install a fuse in a grounded power system is on the ungrounded conductor
path to the load. That way, when the fuse blows there will only be the grounded (safe)
conductor still connected to the load, making it safer for people to be around.
12.5 Specific resistance

Conductor ampacity rating is a crude assessment of resistance based on the potential for current
to create a fire hazard. However, we may come across situations where the voltage drop created
by wire resistance in a circuit poses concerns other than fire avoidance. For instance, we may be
designing a circuit where voltage across a component is critical, and must not fall below a certain
limit. If this is the case, the voltage drops resulting from wire resistance may cause an engineering
problem while being well within safe (fire) limits of ampacity:
12.5. SPECIFIC RESISTANCE 413
2300 feet
wire resistance
25 A
230 V Load
(requires at least 220 V)
25 A
wire resistance
If the load in the above circuit will not tolerate less than 220 volts, given a source voltage of
230 volts, then we’d better be sure that the wiring doesn’t drop more than 10 volts along the way.
Counting both the supply and return conductors of this circuit, this leaves a maximum tolerable
drop of 5 volts along the length of each wire. Using Ohm’s Law (R=E/I), we can determine the
maximum allowable resistance for each piece of wire:
E
R=
I
5V
R=
25 A
R = 0.2 Ω
We know that the wire length is 2300 feet for each piece of wire, but how do we determine the
amount of resistance for a specific size and length of wire? To do that, we need another formula:
l
R=ρ
A
This formula relates the resistance of a conductor with its specific resistance (the Greek letter
”rho” (ρ), which looks similar to a lower-case letter ”p”), its length (”l”), and its cross-sectional area
(”A”). Notice that with the length variable on the top of the fraction, the resistance value increases
as the length increases (analogy: it is more difficult to force liquid through a long pipe than a short
one), and decreases as cross-sectional area increases (analogy: liquid flows easier through a fat pipe
than through a skinny one). Specific resistance is a constant for the type of conductor material
being calculated.
The specific resistances of several conductive materials can be found in the following table. We
find copper near the bottom of the table, second only to silver in having low specific resistance (good
conductivity):
SPECIFIC RESISTANCE AT 20 DEGREES CELSIUS
Material Element/Alloy (ohm-cmil/ft) (microohm-cm)

===============================================================
Nichrome ------ Alloy --------------- 675 ----------- 112.2
Nichrome V ---- Alloy --------------- 650 ----------- 108.1
Manganin ------ Alloy --------------- 290 ----------- 48.21

Constantan ---- Alloy --------------- 272.97 -------- 45.38
Steel* -------- Alloy --------------- 100 ----------- 16.62
Platinum ----- Element -------------- 63.16 --------- 10.5
Iron --------- Element -------------- 57.81 --------- 9.61
Nickel ------- Element -------------- 41.69 --------- 6.93
Zinc --------- Element -------------- 35.49 --------- 5.90
Molybdenum --- Element -------------- 32.12 --------- 5.34
Tungsten ----- Element -------------- 31.76 --------- 5.28
Aluminum ----- Element -------------- 15.94 --------- 2.650
Gold --------- Element -------------- 13.32 --------- 2.214
Copper ------- Element -------------- 10.09 --------- 1.678
Silver ------- Element -------------- 9.546 --------- 1.587
* = Steel alloy at 99.5 percent iron, 0.5 percent carbon
Notice that the figures for specific resistance in the above table are given in the very strange
unit of ”ohms-cmil/ft” (Ω-cmil/ft), This unit indicates what units we are expected to use in the
resistance formula (R=ρl/A). In this case, these figures for specific resistance are intended to be
used when length is measured in feet and cross-sectional area is measured in circular mils.
The metric unit for specific resistance is the ohm-meter (Ω-m), or ohm-centimeter (Ω-cm), with
1.66243 x 10−9 Ω-meters per Ω-cmil/ft (1.66243 x 10−7 Ω-cm per Ω-cmil/ft). In the Ω-cm column of
the table, the figures are actually scaled as µΩ-cm due to their very small magnitudes. For example,
iron is listed as 9.61 µΩ-cm, which could be represented as 9.61 x 10−6 Ω-cm.
When using the unit of Ω-meter for specific resistance in the R=ρl/A formula, the length needs
to be in meters and the area in square meters. When using the unit of Ω-centimeter (Ω-cm) in the
same formula, the length needs to be in centimeters and the area in square centimeters.
All these units for specific resistance are valid for any material (Ω-cmil/ft, Ω-m, or Ω-cm). One
might prefer to use Ω-cmil/ft, however, when dealing with round wire where the cross-sectional
area is already known in circular mils. Conversely, when dealing with odd-shaped busbar or custom
busbar cut out of metal stock, where only the linear dimensions of length, width, and height are
known, the specific resistance units of Ω-meter or Ω-cm may be more appropriate.
Going back to our example circuit, we were looking for wire that had 0.2 Ω or less of resistance
over a length of 2300 feet. Assuming that we’re going to use copper wire (the most common type of
electrical wire manufactured), we can set up our formula as such:
12.5. SPECIFIC RESISTANCE 415
l
R=ρ
A
. . . solving for unknown area A . . .

l
A=ρ
R
2300 feet
A = (10.09 Ω-cmil/ft)
0.2 Ω
A = 116,035 cmils
Algebraically solving for A, we get a value of 116,035 circular mils. Referencing our solid wire
size table, we find that ”double-ought” (2/0) wire with 133,100 cmils is adequate, whereas the next
lower size, ”single-ought” (1/0), at 105,500 cmils is too small. Bear in mind that our circuit current
is a modest 25 amps. According to our ampacity table for copper wire in free air, 14 gauge wire
would have sufficed (as far as not starting a fire is concerned). However, from the standpoint of
voltage drop, 14 gauge wire would have been very unacceptable.
Just for fun, let’s see what 14 gauge wire would have done to our power circuit’s performance.
Looking at our wire size table, we find that 14 gauge wire has a cross-sectional area of 4,107 circular
mils. If we’re still using copper as a wire material (a good choice, unless we’re really rich and can
afford 4600 feet of 14 gauge silver wire!), then our specific resistance will still be 10.09 Ω-cmil/ft:
l
R=ρ
A
2300 feet
R = (10.09 Ω-cmil/ft)
4107 cmil
R = 5.651 Ω
Remember that this is 5.651 Ω per 2300 feet of 14-gauge copper wire, and that we have two runs
of 2300 feet in the entire circuit, so each wire piece in the circuit has 5.651 Ω of resistance:
2300 feet
wire resistance
5.651 Ω
230 V Load
(requires at least 220 V)
5.651 Ω
wire resistance
Our total circuit wire resistance is 2 times 5.651, or 11.301 Ω. Unfortunately, this is far too
much resistance to allow 25 amps of current with a source voltage of 230 volts. Even if our load
resistance was 0 Ω, our wiring resistance of 11.301 Ω would restrict the circuit current to a mere
20.352 amps! As you can see, a ”small” amount of wire resistance can make a big difference in
circuit performance, especially in power circuits where the currents are much higher than typically
encountered in electronic circuits.
Let’s do an example resistance problem for a piece of custom-cut busbar. Suppose we have a
piece of solid aluminum bar, 4 centimeters wide by 3 centimeters tall by 125 centimeters long, and
we wish to figure the end-to-end resistance along the long dimension (125 cm). First, we would need
to determine the cross-sectional area of the bar:
Area = Width x Height
A = (4 cm)(3 cm)
A = 12 square cm
We also need to know the specific resistance of aluminum, in the unit proper for this application
(Ω-cm). From our table of specific resistances, we see that this is 2.65 x 10 −6 Ω-cm. Setting up our
R=ρl/A formula, we have:
l
R=ρ
A
125 cm
R = (2.65 x 10-6 Ω-cm)
12 cm2
R = 27.604 µΩ
As you can see, the sheer thickness of a busbar makes for very low resistances compared to that
of standard wire sizes, even when using a material with a greater specific resistance.
The procedure for determining busbar resistance is not fundamentally different than for deter-
mining round wire resistance. We just need to make sure that cross-sectional area is calculated
properly and that all the units correspond to each other as they should.
• REVIEW:
• Conductor resistance increases with increased length and decreases with increased cross-sectional
area, all other factors being equal.
• Specific Resistance (”ρ”) is a property of any conductive material, a figure used to determine
the end-to-end resistance of a conductor given length and area in this formula: R = ρl/A
• Specific resistance for materials are given in units of Ω-cmil/ft or Ω-meters (metric). Conversion
factor between these two units is 1.66243 x 10−9 Ω-meters per Ω-cmil/ft, or 1.66243 x 10−7
Ω-cm per Ω-cmil/ft.
• If wiring voltage drop in a circuit is critical, exact resistance calculations for the wires must
be made before wire size is chosen.
12.6. TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT OF RESISTANCE 417
12.6 Temperature coefficient of resistance

You might have noticed on the table for specific resistances that all figures were specified at a
temperature of 20o Celsius. If you suspected that this meant specific resistance of a material may
change with temperature, you were right!
Resistance values for conductors at any temperature other than the standard temperature (usu-
ally specified at 20 Celsius) on the specific resistance table must be determined through yet another
formula:
R = Rref [1 + α(T - Tref)]
Where,
R = Conductor resistance at temperature "T"
Rref = Conductor resistance at reference temperature
Tref, usually 20o C, but sometimes 0o C.
α = Temperature coefficient of resistance for the
conductor material.
T = Conductor temperature in degrees Celcius.
Tref = Reference temperature that α is specified at
for the conductor material.
The ”alpha” (α) constant is known as the temperature coefficient of resistance, and symbolizes
the resistance change factor per degree of temperature change. Just as all materials have a cer-
tain specific resistance (at 20o C), they also change resistance according to temperature by certain
amounts. For pure metals, this coefficient is a positive number, meaning that resistance increases
with increasing temperature. For the elements carbon, silicon, and germanium, this coefficient is a
negative number, meaning that resistance decreases with increasing temperature. For some metal
alloys, the temperature coefficient of resistance is very close to zero, meaning that the resistance
hardly changes at all with variations in temperature (a good property if you want to build a precision
resistor out of metal wire!). The following table gives the temperature coefficients of resistance for
several common metals, both pure and alloy:
TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENTS OF RESISTANCE, AT 20 DEGREES C
Material Element/Alloy "alpha" per degree Celsius

==========================================================
Nickel -------- Element --------------- 0.005866
Iron ---------- Element --------------- 0.005671
Molybdenum ---- Element --------------- 0.004579
Tungsten ------ Element --------------- 0.004403
Aluminum ------ Element --------------- 0.004308
Copper -------- Element --------------- 0.004041
Silver -------- Element --------------- 0.003819
Platinum ------ Element --------------- 0.003729
Gold ---------- Element --------------- 0.003715
Zinc ---------- Element --------------- 0.003847

Steel* --------- Alloy ---------------- 0.003
Nichrome ------- Alloy ---------------- 0.00017
Nichrome V ----- Alloy ---------------- 0.00013
Manganin ------- Alloy ------------ +/- 0.000015
Constantan ----- Alloy --------------- -0.000074
* = Steel alloy at 99.5 percent iron, 0.5 percent carbon
Let’s take a look at an example circuit to see how temperature can affect wire resistance, and
consequently circuit performance:
Rwire1 = 15 Ω
14 V Temp = 20 C Rload 250 Ω
Rwire#2 = 15 Ω
This circuit has a total wire resistance (wire 1 + wire 2) of 30 Ω at standard temperature. Setting
up a table of voltage, current, and resistance values we get:
Wire1 Wire2 Load Total
E 0.75 0.75 12.5 14 Volts
I 50 m 50 m 50 m 50 m Amps
R 15 15 250 280 Ohms
At 20o Celsius, we get 12.5 volts across the load and a total of 1.5 volts (0.75 + 0.75) dropped
across the wire resistance. If the temperature were to rise to 35o Celsius, we could easily determine
the change of resistance for each piece of wire. Assuming the use of copper wire (α = 0.004041) we
get:
R = (15 Ω)[1 + 0.004041(35o - 20o)]
R = 15.909 Ω
Recalculating our circuit values, we see what changes this increase in temperature will bring:
Wire1 Wire2 Load Total
E 0.79 0.79 12.42 14 Volts
I 49.677m 49.677m 49.677m 49.677m Amps
R 15.909 15.909 250 281.82 Ohms
12.7. SUPERCONDUCTIVITY 419
As you can see, voltage across the load went down (from 12.5 volts to 12.42 volts) and voltage
drop across the wires went up (from 0.75 volts to 0.79 volts) as a result of the temperature increas-
ing. Though the changes may seem small, they can be significant for power lines stretching miles
between power plants and substations, substations and loads. In fact, power utility companies often
have to take line resistance changes resulting from seasonal temperature variations into effect when
calculating allowable system loading.
• REVIEW:
• Most conductive materials change specific resistance with changes in temperature. This is why
figures of specific resistance are always specified at a standard temperature (usually 20 o or 25o
Celsius).
• The resistance-change factor per degree Celsius of temperature change is called the temperature
coefficient of resistance. This factor is represented by the Greek lower-case letter ”alpha” (α).
• A positive coefficient for a material means that its resistance increases with an increase in
temperature. Pure metals typically have positive temperature coefficients of resistance. Coef-
ficients approaching zero can be obtained by alloying certain metals.
• A negative coefficient for a material means that its resistance decreases with an increase in
temperature. Semiconductor materials (carbon, silicon, germanium) typically have negative
temperature coefficients of resistance.
• The formula used to determine the resistance of a conductor at some temperature other than
what is specified in a resistance table is as follows:
Where,
R = Conductor resistance at temperature "T"
Rref = Conductor resistance at reference temperature
Tref, usually 20o C, but sometimes 0o C.
α = Temperature coefficient of resistance for the
conductor material.
T = Conductor temperature in degrees Celcius.
Tref = Reference temperature that α is specified at
• for the conductor material.
12.7 Superconductivity
When conductors lose all of their electrical resistance when cooled to super-low temperatures (near
absolute zero, about -273o Celsius). It must be understood that superconductivity is not merely an
extrapolation of most conductors’ tendency to gradually lose resistance with decreases in tempera-
ture; rather, it is a sudden, quantum leap in resistivity from finite to nothing. A superconducting
material has absolutely zero electrical resistance, not just some small amount.
Superconductivity was first discovered by H. Kamerlingh Onnes at the University of Leiden,
Netherlands in 1911. Just three years earlier, in 1908, Onnes had developed a method of liquefying
helium gas, which provided a medium for which to supercool experimental objects to just a few
degrees above absolute zero. Deciding to investigate changes in electrical resistance of mercury
when cooled to this low of a temperature, he discovered that its resistance dropped to nothing just
below the boiling point of helium.
There is some debate over exactly how and why superconducting materials superconduct. One
theory holds that electrons group together and travel in pairs (called Cooper pairs) within a su-
perconductor rather than travel independently, and that has something to do with their frictionless
flow. Interestingly enough, another phenomenon of super-cold temperatures, superfluidity, happens
with certain liquids (especially liquid helium), resulting in frictionless flow of molecules.
Superconductivity promises extraordinary capabilities for electric circuits. If conductor resis-
tance could be eliminated entirely, there would be no power losses or inefficiencies in electric power
systems due to stray resistances. Electric motors could be made almost perfectly (100%) efficient.
Components such as capacitors and inductors, whose ideal characteristics are normally spoiled by
inherent wire resistances, could be made ideal in a practical sense. Already, some practical super-
conducting conductors, motors, and capacitors have been developed, but their use at this present
time is limited due to the practical problems intrinsic to maintaining super-cold temperatures.
The threshold temperature for a superconductor to switch from normal conduction to supercon-
ductivity is called the transition temperature. Transition temperatures for ”classic” superconductors
are in the cryogenic range (near absolute zero), but much progress has been made in developing
”high-temperature” superconductors which superconduct at warmer temperatures. One type is a
ceramic mixture of yttrium, barium, copper, and oxygen which transitions at a relatively balmy
-160o Celsius. Ideally, a superconductor should be able to operate within the range of ambient
temperatures, or at least within the range of inexpensive refrigeration equipment.
The critical temperatures for a few common substances are shown here in this table. Temper-
atures are given in degrees Kelvin, which has the same incremental span as degrees Celsius (an
increase or decrease of 1o Kelvin is the same amount of temperature change as 1o Celsius), only
offset so that 0o K is absolute zero. This way, we don’t have to deal with a lot of negative figures.
Material Element/Alloy Critical temp. (degrees K)

==========================================================
Aluminum -------- Element --------------- 1.20
Cadmium --------- Element --------------- 0.56
Lead ------------ Element --------------- 7.2
Mercury --------- Element --------------- 4.16
Niobium --------- Element --------------- 8.70
Thorium --------- Element --------------- 1.37
Tin ------------- Element --------------- 3.72
Titanium -------- Element --------------- 0.39
Uranium --------- Element --------------- 1.0
Zinc ------------ Element --------------- 0.91
Niobium/Tin ------ Alloy ---------------- 18.1
12.7. SUPERCONDUCTIVITY 421
Cupric sulphide - Compound -------------- 1.6
Superconducting materials also interact in interesting ways with magnetic fields. While in the
superconducting state, a superconducting material will tend to exclude all magnetic fields, a phe-
nomenon known as the Meissner effect. However, if the magnetic field strength intensifies beyond
a critical level, the superconducting material will be rendered non-superconductive. In other words,
superconducting materials will lose their superconductivity (no matter how cold you make them)
if exposed to too strong of a magnetic field. In fact, the presence of any magnetic field tends to
lower the critical temperature of any superconducting material: the more magnetic field present,
the colder you have to make the material before it will superconduct.
This is another practical limitation to superconductors in circuit design, since electric current
through any conductor produces a magnetic field. Even though a superconducting wire would have
zero resistance to oppose current, there will still be a limit of how much current could practically
go through that wire due to its critical magnetic field limit.
There are already a few industrial applications of superconductors, especially since the recent
(1987) advent of the yttrium-barium-copper-oxygen ceramic, which only requires liquid nitrogen to
cool, as opposed to liquid helium. It is even possible to order superconductivity kits from educational
suppliers which can be operated in high school labs (liquid nitrogen not included). Typically, these
kits exhibit superconductivity by the Meissner effect, suspending a tiny magnet in mid-air over a
superconducting disk cooled by a bath of liquid nitrogen.
The zero resistance offered by superconducting circuits leads to unique consequences. In a
superconducting short-circuit, it is possible to maintain large currents indefinitely with zero applied
voltage!
superconducting wire
electrons will flow unimpeded by

resistance, continuing to flow
forever!
Rings of superconducting material have been experimentally proven to sustain continuous current
for years with no applied voltage. So far as anyone knows, there is no theoretical time limit to how
long an unaided current could be sustained in a superconducting circuit. If you’re thinking this
appears to be a form of perpetual motion, you’re correct! Contrary to popular belief, there is no
law of physics prohibiting perpetual motion; rather, the prohibition stands against any machine
or system generating more energy than it consumes (what would be referred to as an over-unity
device). At best, all a perpetual motion machine (like the superconducting ring) would be good for
is to store energy, not generate it freely!
Superconductors also offer some strange possibilities having nothing to do with Ohm’s Law. One
such possibility is the construction of a device called a Josephson Junction, which acts as a relay
of sorts, controlling one current with another current (with no moving parts, of course). The small
size and fast switching time of Josephson Junctions may lead to new computer circuit designs: an
alternative to using semiconductor transistors.
• REVIEW:
• Superconductors are materials which have absolutely zero electrical resistance.
• All presently known superconductive materials need to be cooled far below ambient tempera-
ture to superconduct. The maximum temperature at which they do so is called the transition
temperature.
12.8 Insulator breakdown voltage

The atoms in insulating materials have very tightly-bound electrons, resisting free electron flow
very well. However, insulators cannot resist indefinite amounts of voltage. With enough voltage
applied, any insulating material will eventually succumb to the electrical ”pressure” and electron
flow will occur. However, unlike the situation with conductors where current is in a linear proportion
to applied voltage (given a fixed resistance), current through an insulator is quite nonlinear: for
voltages below a certain threshold level, virtually no electrons will flow, but if the voltage exceeds
that threshold, there will be a rush of current.
Once current is forced through an insulating material, breakdown of that material’s molecular
structure has occurred. After breakdown, the material may or may not behave as an insulator
any more, the molecular structure having been altered by the breach. There is usually a localized
”puncture” of the insulating medium where the electrons flowed during breakdown.
Thickness of an insulating material plays a role in determining its breakdown voltage, otherwise
known as dielectric strength. Specific dielectric strength is sometimes listed in terms of volts per
mil (1/1000 of an inch), or kilovolts per inch (the two units are equivalent), but in practice it has
been found that the relationship between breakdown voltage and thickness is not exactly linear. An
insulator three times as thick has a dielectric strength slightly less than 3 times as much. However,
for rough estimation use, volt-per-thickness ratings are fine.
Material* Dielectric strength (kV/inch)

===========================================
Vacuum ------------------- 20
Air ---------------------- 20 to 75
Porcelain ---------------- 40 to 200
Paraffin Wax ------------- 200 to 300
12.9. DATA 423
Transformer Oil ---------- 400

Bakelite ----------------- 300 to 550
Rubber ------------------- 450 to 700
Shellac ------------------ 900
Paper -------------------- 1250
Teflon ------------------- 1500
Glass -------------------- 2000 to 3000
Mica --------------------- 5000
* = Materials listed are specially prepared for electrical use.
• REVIEW:
• With a high enough applied voltage, electrons can be freed from the atoms of insulating
materials, resulting in current through that material.
• The minimum voltage required to ”violate” an insulator by forcing current through it is called
the breakdown voltage, or dielectric strength.
• The thicker a piece of insulating material, the higher the breakdown voltage, all other factors
being equal.
• Specific dielectric strength is typically rated in one of two equivalent units: volts per mil, or
kilovolts per inch.
12.9 Data
Tables of specific resistance and temperature coefficient of resistance for elemental materials (not
alloys) were derived from figures found in the 78th edition of the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and
Physics.
Table of superconductor critical temperatures derived from figures found in the 21 st volume of
Collier’s Encyclopedia, 1968.
12.10 Contributors
Aaron Forster (February 18, 2003): Typographical error correction.
second edition.
Chapter 13
CAPACITORS
13.1 Electric fields and capacitance

Whenever an electric voltage exists between two separated conductors, an electric field is present
within the space between those conductors. In basic electronics, we study the interactions of volt-
age, current, and resistance as they pertain to circuits, which are conductive paths through which
electrons may travel. When we talk about fields, however, we’re dealing with interactions that can
be spread across empty space.
Admittedly, the concept of a ”field” is somewhat abstract. At least with electric current it isn’t
too difficult to envision tiny particles called electrons moving their way between the nuclei of atoms
within a conductor, but a ”field” doesn’t even have mass, and need not exist within matter at all.
Despite its abstract nature, almost every one of us has direct experience with fields, at least in
the form of magnets. Have you ever played with a pair of magnets, noticing how they attract or
repel each other depending on their relative orientation? There is an undeniable force between a pair
of magnets, and this force is without ”substance.” It has no mass, no color, no odor, and if not for
the physical force exerted on the magnets themselves, it would be utterly insensible to our bodies.
Physicists describe the interaction of magnets in terms of magnetic fields in the space between them.
If iron filings are placed near a magnet, they orient themselves along the lines of the field, visually
indicating its presence.
The subject of this chapter is electric fields (and devices called capacitors that exploit them),
not magnetic fields, but there are many similarities. Most likely you have experienced electric fields
as well. Chapter 1 of this book began with an explanation of static electricity, and how materials
such as wax and wool – when rubbed against each other – produced a physical attraction. Again,
physicists would describe this interaction in terms of electric fields generated by the two objects as
a result of their electron imbalances. Suffice it to say that whenever a voltage exists between two
points, there will be an electric field manifested in the space between those points.
Fields have two measures: a field force and a field flux. The field force is the amount of ”push”
that a field exerts over a certain distance. The field flux is the total quantity, or effect, of the field
through space. Field force and flux are roughly analogous to voltage (”push”) and current (flow)
through a conductor, respectively, although field flux can exist in totally empty space (without
the motion of particles such as electrons) whereas current can only take place where there are
425
426 CHAPTER 13. CAPACITORS
free electrons to move. Field flux can be opposed in space, just as the flow of electrons can be
opposed by resistance. The amount of field flux that will develop in space is proportional to the
amount of field force applied, divided by the amount of opposition to flux. Just as the type of
conducting material dictates that conductor’s specific resistance to electric current, the type of
insulating material separating two conductors dictates the specific opposition to field flux.
Normally, electrons cannot enter a conductor unless there is a path for an equal amount of
electrons to exit (remember the marble-in-tube analogy?). This is why conductors must be connected
together in a circular path (a circuit) for continuous current to occur. Oddly enough, however, extra
electrons can be ”squeezed” into a conductor without a path to exit if an electric field is allowed
to develop in space relative to another conductor. The number of extra free electrons added to the
conductor (or free electrons taken away) is directly proportional to the amount of field flux between
the two conductors.
Capacitors are components designed to take advantage of this phenomenon by placing two con-
ductive plates (usually metal) in close proximity with each other. There are many different styles of
capacitor construction, each one suited for particular ratings and purposes. For very small capaci-
tors, two circular plates sandwiching an insulating material will suffice. For larger capacitor values,
the ”plates” may be strips of metal foil, sandwiched around a flexible insulating medium and rolled
up for compactness. The highest capacitance values are obtained by using a microscopic-thickness
layer of insulating oxide separating two conductive surfaces. In any case, though, the general idea
is the same: two conductors, separated by an insulator.
The schematic symbol for a capacitor is quite simple, being little more than two short, parallel
lines (representing the plates) separated by a gap. Wires attach to the respective plates for connec-
tion to other components. An older, obsolete schematic symbol for capacitors showed interleaved
plates, which is actually a more accurate way of representing the real construction of most capacitors:
Capacitor symbols
modern
obsolete
When a voltage is applied across the two plates of a capacitor, a concentrated field flux is created
between them, allowing a significant difference of free electrons (a charge) to develop between the
two plates:
13.1. ELECTRIC FIELDS AND CAPACITANCE 427
deficiency of electrons
+++ +++ metal plate

+
electric field
- metal plate
- - - - - -
excess free electrons

As the electric field is established by the applied voltage, extra free electrons are forced to collect
on the negative conductor, while free electrons are ”robbed” from the positive conductor. This
differential charge equates to a storage of energy in the capacitor, representing the potential charge
of the electrons between the two plates. The greater the difference of electrons on opposing plates
of a capacitor, the greater the field flux, and the greater ”charge” of energy the capacitor will store.
Because capacitors store the potential energy of accumulated electrons in the form of an electric
field, they behave quite differently than resistors (which simply dissipate energy in the form of heat)
in a circuit. Energy storage in a capacitor is a function of the voltage between the plates, as well
as other factors which we will discuss later in this chapter. A capacitor’s ability to store energy
as a function of voltage (potential difference between the two leads) results in a tendency to try to
maintain voltage at a constant level. In other words, capacitors tend to resist changes in voltage
drop. When voltage across a capacitor is increased or decreased, the capacitor ”resists” the change
by drawing current from or supplying current to the source of the voltage change, in opposition to
the change.
To store more energy in a capacitor, the voltage across it must be increased. This means that
more electrons must be added to the (-) plate and more taken away from the (+) plate, necessitating
a current in that direction. Conversely, to release energy from a capacitor, the voltage across it must
be decreased. This means some of the excess electrons on the (-) plate must be returned to the (+)
plate, necessitating a current in the other direction.
Just as Isaac Newton’s first Law of Motion (”an object in motion tends to stay in motion; an
object at rest tends to stay at rest”) describes the tendency of a mass to oppose changes in velocity,
we can state a capacitor’s tendency to oppose changes in voltage as such: ”A charged capacitor
tends to stay charged; a discharged capacitor tends to stay discharged.” Hypothetically, a capacitor
left untouched will indefinitely maintain whatever state of voltage charge that it’s been left it. Only
an outside source (or drain) of current can alter the voltage charge stored by a perfect capacitor:
+
voltage (charge) sustained with
C the capacitor open-circuited
-
Practically speaking, however, capacitors will eventually lose their stored voltage charges due to
internal leakage paths for electrons to flow from one plate to the other. Depending on the specific
type of capacitor, the time it takes for a stored voltage charge to self-dissipate can be a long time
(several years with the capacitor sitting on a shelf!).
When the voltage across a capacitor is increased, it draws current from the rest of the circuit,
acting as a power load. In this condition the capacitor is said to be charging, because there is an
increasing amount of energy being stored in its electric field. Note the direction of current with
regard to the voltage polarity:
Energy being absorbed by
the capacitor from the rest
of the circuit.
... I
. . . to the rest of + increasing

the circuit C - voltage
...
I
The capacitor acts as a LOAD
Conversely, when the voltage across a capacitor is decreased, the capacitor supplies current to the
rest of the circuit, acting as a power source. In this condition the capacitor is said to be discharging.
Its store of energy – held in the electric field – is decreasing now as energy is released to the rest of
the circuit. Note the direction of current with regard to the voltage polarity:
Energy being released by the
capacitor to the rest of the circuit
... I
. . . to the rest of + decreasing

the circuit C - voltage
...
I
The capacitor acts as a SOURCE
If a source of voltage is suddenly applied to an uncharged capacitor (a sudden increase of voltage),
the capacitor will draw current from that source, absorbing energy from it, until the capacitor’s
voltage equals that of the source. Once the capacitor voltage reached this final (charged) state,
its current decays to zero. Conversely, if a load resistance is connected to a charged capacitor, the
capacitor will supply current to the load, until it has released all its stored energy and its voltage
decays to zero. Once the capacitor voltage reaches this final (discharged) state, its current decays to
zero. In their ability to be charged and discharged, capacitors can be thought of as acting somewhat
like secondary-cell batteries.
The choice of insulating material between the plates, as was mentioned before, has a great impact
upon how much field flux (and therefore how much charge) will develop with any given amount of
voltage applied across the plates. Because of the role of this insulating material in affecting field
flux, it has a special name: dielectric. Not all dielectric materials are equal: the extent to which
materials inhibit or encourage the formation of electric field flux is called the permittivity of the
dielectric.
13.2. CAPACITORS AND CALCULUS 429
The measure of a capacitor’s ability to store energy for a given amount of voltage drop is called
capacitance. Not surprisingly, capacitance is also a measure of the intensity of opposition to changes
in voltage (exactly how much current it will produce for a given rate of change in voltage). Ca-
pacitance is symbolically denoted with a capital ”C,” and is measured in the unit of the Farad,
abbreviated as ”F.”
Convention, for some odd reason, has favored the metric prefix ”micro” in the measurement of
large capacitances, and so many capacitors are rated in terms of confusingly large microFarad values:
for example, one large capacitor I have seen was rated 330,000 microFarads!! Why not state it as
330 milliFarads? I don’t know.
An obsolete name for a capacitor is condenser or condensor. These terms are not used in
any new books or schematic diagrams (to my knowledge), but they might be encountered in older
electronics literature. Perhaps the most well-known usage for the term ”condenser” is in automotive
engineering, where a small capacitor called by that name was used to mitigate excessive sparking
across the switch contacts (called ”points”) in electromechanical ignition systems.
• REVIEW:
• Capacitors react against changes in voltage by supplying or drawing current in the direction
necessary to oppose the change.
• When a capacitor is faced with an increasing voltage, it acts as a load : drawing current as it
absorbs energy (current going in the negative side and out the positive side, like a resistor).
• When a capacitor is faced with a decreasing voltage, it acts as a source: supplying current as
it releases stored energy (current going out the negative side and in the positive side, like a
battery).
• The ability of a capacitor to store energy in the form of an electric field (and consequently to
oppose changes in voltage) is called capacitance. It is measured in the unit of the Farad (F).
• Capacitors used to be commonly known by another term: condenser (alternatively spelled

”condensor”).
13.2 Capacitors and calculus
Capacitors do not have a stable ”resistance” as conductors do. However, there is a definite mathe-
matical relationship between voltage and current for a capacitor, as follows:
"Ohm’s Law" for a capacitor
dv
i=C
dt
Where,
i = Instantaneous current through the capacitor
C = Capacitance in Farads
dv
= Instantaneous rate of voltage change
dt (volts per second)
The lower-case letter ”i” symbolizes instantaneous current, which means the amount of current
at a specific point in time. This stands in contrast to constant current or average current (capital
letter ”I”) over an unspecified period of time. The expression ”dv/dt” is one borrowed from calculus,
meaning the instantaneous rate of voltage change over time, or the rate of change of voltage (volts
per second increase or decrease) at a specific point in time, the same specific point in time that the
instantaneous current is referenced at. For whatever reason, the letter v is usually used to represent
instantaneous voltage rather than the letter e. However, it would not be incorrect to express the
instantaneous voltage rate-of-change as ”de/dt” instead.
In this equation we see something novel to our experience thusfar with electric circuits: the
variable of time. When relating the quantities of voltage, current, and resistance to a resistor, it
doesn’t matter if we’re dealing with measurements taken over an unspecified period of time (E=IR;
V=IR), or at a specific moment in time (e=ir; v=ir). The same basic formula holds true, because
time is irrelevant to voltage, current, and resistance in a component like a resistor.
In a capacitor, however, time is an essential variable, because current is related to how rapidly
voltage changes over time. To fully understand this, a few illustrations may be necessary. Suppose
we were to connect a capacitor to a variable-voltage source, constructed with a potentiometer and
a battery:
Ammeter
(zero-center)
- + +
V
- -
If the potentiometer mechanism remains in a single position (wiper is stationary), the voltmeter
connected across the capacitor will register a constant (unchanging) voltage, and the ammeter will
register 0 amps. In this scenario, the instantaneous rate of voltage change (dv/dt) is equal to zero,
because the voltage is unchanging. The equation tells us that with 0 volts per second change for a
dv/dt, there must be zero instantaneous current (i). From a physical perspective, with no change
in voltage, there is no need for any electron motion to add or subtract charge from the capacitor’s
plates, and thus there will be no current.
Capacitor
voltage
EC
Time
Potentiometer wiper not moving
Capacitor
current
IC
Time
Now, if the potentiometer wiper is moved slowly and steadily in the ”up” direction, a greater
voltage will gradually be imposed across the capacitor. Thus, the voltmeter indication will be
increasing at a slow rate:
Potentiometer wiper moving
slowly in the "up" direction
Steady current
- + +
Increasing
V voltage
- -
If we assume that the potentiometer wiper is being moved such that the rate of voltage increase
across the capacitor is steady (for example, voltage increasing at a constant rate of 2 volts per
second), the dv/dt term of the formula will be a fixed value. According to the equation, this fixed
value of dv/dt, multiplied by the capacitor’s capacitance in Farads (also fixed), results in a fixed
current of some magnitude. From a physical perspective, an increasing voltage across the capacitor
demands that there be an increasing charge differential between the plates. Thus, for a slow, steady
voltage increase rate, there must be a slow, steady rate of charge building in the capacitor, which
equates to a slow, steady flow rate of electrons, or current. In this scenario, the capacitor is acting
as a load, with electrons entering the negative plate and exiting the positive, accumulating energy
in the electric field.
Time
Capacitor Voltage
voltage change
EC
Time
Potentiometer wiper moving slowly "up"
Capacitor
current
IC
Time
If the potentiometer is moved in the same direction, but at a faster rate, the rate of voltage
change (dv/dt) will be greater and so will be the capacitor’s current:

quickly in the "up" direction
(greater)
Steady current
- + + (faster)
Increasing
V voltage
- -
Time
Voltage
Capacitor change
voltage
EC
Time
Potentiometer wiper moving quickly "up"
Capacitor
current
IC
Time
When mathematics students first study calculus, they begin by exploring the concept of rates of
change for various mathematical functions. The derivative, which is the first and most elementary
calculus principle, is an expression of one variable’s rate of change in terms of another. Calculus
students have to learn this principle while studying abstract equations. You get to learn this principle
while studying something you can relate to: electric circuits!
To put this relationship between voltage and current in a capacitor in calculus terms, the current
through a capacitor is the derivative of the voltage across the capacitor with respect to time. Or,
stated in simpler terms, a capacitor’s current is directly proportional to how quickly the voltage
across it is changing. In this circuit where capacitor voltage is set by the position of a rotary knob
on a potentiometer, we can say that the capacitor’s current is directly proportional to how quickly
we turn the knob.
If we to move the potentiometer’s wiper in the same direction as before (”up”), but at varying
rates, we would obtain graphs that looked like this:
Capacitor
voltage
EC
Time
Potentiometer wiper moving "up" at

different rates
Capacitor
current
IC
Time
Note how that at any given point in time, the capacitor’s current is proportional to the rate-of-
change, or slope of the capacitor’s voltage plot. When the voltage plot line is rising quickly (steep
slope), the current will likewise be great. Where the voltage plot has a mild slope, the current is
small. At one place in the voltage plot where it levels off (zero slope, representing a period of time
when the potentiometer wasn’t moving), the current falls to zero.
If we were to move the potentiometer wiper in the ”down” direction, the capacitor voltage would
decrease rather than increase. Again, the capacitor will react to this change of voltage by producing
a current, but this time the current will be in the opposite direction. A decreasing capacitor voltage
requires that the charge differential between the capacitor’s plates be reduced, and that only way
that can happen is if the electrons reverse their direction of flow, the capacitor discharging rather
than charging. In this condition, with electrons exiting the negative plate and entering the positive,
the capacitor will act as a source, like a battery, releasing its stored energy to the rest of the circuit.

in the "down" direction
- + +
Decreasing
V voltage
- -
13.3. FACTORS AFFECTING CAPACITANCE 435
Again, the amount of current through the capacitor is directly proportional to the rate of voltage
change across it. The only difference between the effects of a decreasing voltage and an increas-
ing voltage is the direction of electron flow. For the same rate of voltage change over time, either
increasing or decreasing, the current magnitude (amps) will be the same. Mathematically, a de-
creasing voltage rate-of-change is expressed as a negative dv/dt quantity. Following the formula
i = C(dv/dt), this will result in a current figure (i) that is likewise negative in sign, indicating a
direction of flow corresponding to discharge of the capacitor.
13.3 Factors affecting capacitance

There are three basic factors of capacitor construction determining the amount of capacitance cre-
ated. These factors all dictate capacitance by affecting how much electric field flux (relative difference
of electrons between plates) will develop for a given amount of electric field force (voltage between
the two plates):
PLATE AREA: All other factors being equal, greater plate gives greater capacitance; less plate
gives less capacitance.
Explanation: Larger plate area results in more field flux (charge collected on the plates) for a
given field force (voltage across the plates).
less capacitance more capacitance
PLATE SPACING: All other factors being equal, further plate spacing gives less capacitance;
closer plate spacing gives greater capacitance.
Explanation: Closer spacing results in a greater field force (voltage across the capacitor divided
by the distance between the plates), which results in a greater field flux (charge collected on the
plates) for any given voltage applied across the plates.
DIELECTRIC MATERIAL: All other factors being equal, greater permittivity of the dielec-
tric gives greater capacitance; less permittivity of the dielectric gives less capacitance.
Explanation: Although it’s complicated to explain, some materials offer less opposition to field
flux for a given amount of field force. Materials with a greater permittivity allow for more field
flux (offer less opposition), and thus a greater collected charge, for any given amount of field force
(applied voltage).
air glass
(relative permittivity (relative permittivity

= 1.0006) = 7.0)
”Relative” permittivity means the permittivity of a material, relative to that of a pure vacuum.
The greater the number, the greater the permittivity of the material. Glass, for instance, with a
relative permittivity of 7, has seven times the permittivity of a pure vacuum, and consequently will
allow for the establishment of an electric field flux seven times stronger than that of a vacuum, all
other factors being equal.
The following is a table listing the relative permittivities (also known as the ”dielectric constant”)
of various common substances:
Material Relative permittivity (dielectric constant)

============================================================
Vacuum ------------------------- 1.0000
Air ---------------------------- 1.0006
PTFE, FEP ("Teflon") ----------- 2.0
Polypropylene ------------------ 2.20 to 2.28
ABS resin ---------------------- 2.4 to 3.2
Polystyrene -------------------- 2.45 to 4.0
Waxed paper -------------------- 2.5
Transformer oil ---------------- 2.5 to 4
Hard Rubber -------------------- 2.5 to 4.80
Wood (Oak) --------------------- 3.3
Silicones ---------------------- 3.4 to 4.3
Bakelite ----------------------- 3.5 to 6.0
Quartz, fused ------------------ 3.8
Wood (Maple) ------------------- 4.4
Glass -------------------------- 4.9 to 7.5
Castor oil --------------------- 5.0
Wood (Birch) ------------------- 5.2
Mica, muscovite ---------------- 5.0 to 8.7
Glass-bonded mica -------------- 6.3 to 9.3
Porcelain, Steatite ------------ 6.5
Alumina ------------------------ 8.0 to 10.0
Distilled water ---------------- 80.0
Barium-strontium-titanite ------ 7500
An approximation of capacitance for any pair of separated conductors can be found with this
formula:
13.4. SERIES AND PARALLEL CAPACITORS 437
εA
C=
d
Where,
C = Capacitance in Farads
ε = Permittivity of dielectric (absolute, not
relative)
A = Area of plate overlap in square meters
d = Distance between plates in meters
A capacitor can be made variable rather than fixed in value by varying any of the physical factors
determining capacitance. One relatively easy factor to vary in capacitor construction is that of plate
area, or more properly, the amount of plate overlap.
The following photograph shows an example of a variable capacitor using a set of interleaved
metal plates and an air gap as the dielectric material:
As the shaft is rotated, the degree to which the sets of plates overlap each other will vary, changing
the effective area of the plates between which a concentrated electric field can be established. This
particular capacitor has a capacitance in the picofarad range, and finds use in radio circuitry.
13.4 Series and parallel capacitors

When capacitors are connected in series, the total capacitance is less than any one of the series ca-
pacitors’ individual capacitances. If two or more capacitors are connected in series, the overall effect
is that of a single (equivalent) capacitor having the sum total of the plate spacings of the individual
capacitors. As we’ve just seen, an increase in plate spacing, with all other factors unchanged, results
in decreased capacitance.
C1
equivalent to Ctotal
C2
Thus, the total capacitance is less than any one of the individual capacitors’ capacitances. The
formula for calculating the series total capacitance is the same form as for calculating parallel
resistances:
Series Capacitances
1
Ctotal =
1 1 1
+ +...
C1 C2 Cn
When capacitors are connected in parallel, the total capacitance is the sum of the individual
capacitors’ capacitances. If two or more capacitors are connected in parallel, the overall effect
is that of a single equivalent capacitor having the sum total of the plate areas of the individual
capacitors. As we’ve just seen, an increase in plate area, with all other factors unchanged, results
in increased capacitance.
C1 C2 equivalent to Ctotal
Thus, the total capacitance is more than any one of the individual capacitors’ capacitances.
The formula for calculating the parallel total capacitance is the same form as for calculating series
resistances:
Parallel Capacitances
Ctotal = C1 + C2 + . . . Cn
As you will no doubt notice, this is exactly opposite of the phenomenon exhibited by resistors.
With resistors, series connections result in additive values while parallel connections result in dimin-
ished values. With capacitors, it’s the reverse: parallel connections result in additive values while
series connections result in diminished values.
• REVIEW:
• Capacitances diminish in series.

• Capacitances add in parallel.

Capacitors, like all electrical components, have limitations which must be respected for the sake of
reliability and proper circuit operation.
Working voltage: Since capacitors are nothing more than two conductors separated by an insu-
lator (the dielectric), you must pay attention to the maximum voltage allowed across it. If too much
voltage is applied, the ”breakdown” rating of the dielectric material may be exceeded, resulting in
the capacitor internally short-circuiting.
Polarity: Some capacitors are manufactured so they can only tolerate applied voltage in one
polarity but not the other. This is due to their construction: the dielectric is a microscopically thin
layer if insulation deposited on one of the plates by a DC voltage during manufacture. These are
called electrolytic capacitors, and their polarity is clearly marked.
Electrolytic ("polarized")
capacitor
+ curved side of symbol is

- always negative!
Reversing voltage polarity to an electrolytic capacitor may result in the destruction of that
super-thin dielectric layer, thus ruining the device. However, the thinness of that dielectric per-
mits extremely high values of capacitance in a relatively small package size. For the same reason,
electrolytic capacitors tend to be low in voltage rating as compared with other types of capacitor
construction.
Equivalent circuit: Since the plates in a capacitors have some resistance, and since no dielectric
is a perfect insulator, there is no such thing as a ”perfect” capacitor. In real life, a capacitor has
both a series resistance and a parallel (leakage) resistance interacting with its purely capacitive
characteristics:
Capacitor equivalent circuit
Rseries
Rleakage
Cideal
Fortunately, it is relatively easy to manufacture capacitors with very small series resistances and
very high leakage resistances!
Physical Size: For most applications in electronics, minimum size is the goal for component
engineering. The smaller components can be made, the more circuitry can be built into a smaller
package, and usually weight is saved as well. With capacitors, there are two major limiting factors
to the minimum size of a unit: working voltage and capacitance. And these two factors tend to be
in opposition to each other. For any given choice in dielectric materials, the only way to increase the
voltage rating of a capacitor is to increase the thickness of the dielectric. However, as we have seen,
this has the effect of decreasing capacitance. Capacitance can be brought back up by increasing
plate area. but this makes for a larger unit. This is why you cannot judge a capacitor’s rating in
Farads simply by size. A capacitor of any given size may be relatively high in capacitance and low
in working voltage, visa-versa, or some compromise between the two extremes. Take the following
two photographs for example:
This is a fairly large capacitor in physical size, but it has quite a low capacitance value: only 2
µF. However, its working voltage is quite high: 2000 volts! If this capacitor were re-engineered to
have a thinner layer of dielectric between its plates, at least a hundredfold increase in capacitance
might be achievable, but at a cost of significantly lowering its working voltage. Compare the above
photograph with the one below. The capacitor shown in the lower picture is an electrolytic unit,
similar in size to the one above, but with very different values of capacitance and working voltage:
The thinner dielectric layer gives it a much greater capacitance (20,000 µF) and a drastically
reduced working voltage (35 volts continuous, 45 volts intermittent).
Here are some samples of different capacitor types, all smaller than the units shown previously:
The electrolytic and tantalum capacitors are polarized (polarity sensitive), and are always labeled
as such. The electrolytic units have their negative (-) leads distinguished by arrow symbols on their
cases. Some polarized capacitors have their polarity designated by marking the positive terminal.
The large, 20,000 µF electrolytic unit shown in the upright position has its positive (+) terminal
labeled with a ”plus” mark. Ceramic, mylar, plastic film, and air capacitors do not have polarity
markings, because those types are nonpolarized (they are not polarity sensitive).
Capacitors are very common components in electronic circuits. Take a close look at the following
photograph – every component marked with a ”C” designation on the printed circuit board is a
capacitor:
Some of the capacitors shown on this circuit board are standard electrolytic: C 30 (top of board,
center) and C36 (left side, 1/3 from the top). Some others are a special kind of electrolytic capacitor
called tantalum, because this is the type of metal used to make the plates. Tantalum capacitors
have relatively high capacitance for their physical size. The following capacitors on the circuit board
shown above are tantalum: C14 (just to the lower-left of C30 ), C19 (directly below R10 , which is
below C30 ), C24 (lower-left corner of board), and C22 (lower-right).
Examples of even smaller capacitors can be seen in this photograph:

The capacitors on this circuit board are ”surface mount devices” as are all the resistors, for
reasons of saving space. Following component labeling convention, the capacitors can be identified
by labels beginning with the letter ”C”.
13.6 Contributors
Warren Young (August 2002): Photographs of different capacitor types.
second edition.
Chapter 14
MAGNETISM AND
ELECTROMAGNETISM
14.1 Permanent magnets

Centuries ago, it was discovered that certain types of mineral rock possessed unusual properties
of attraction to the metal iron. One particular mineral, called lodestone, or magnetite, is found
mentioned in very old historical records (about 2500 years ago in Europe, and much earlier in the
Far East) as a subject of curiosity. Later, it was employed in the aid of navigation, as it was found
that a piece of this unusual rock would tend to orient itself in a north-south direction if left free to
rotate (suspended on a string or on a float in water). A scientific study undertaken in 1269 by Peter
Peregrinus revealed that steel could be similarly ”charged” with this unusual property after being
rubbed against one of the ”poles” of a piece of lodestone.
Unlike electric charges (such as those observed when amber is rubbed against cloth), magnetic
objects possessed two poles of opposite effect, denoted ”north” and ”south” after their self-orientation
to the earth. As Peregrinus found, it was impossible to isolate one of these poles by itself by cutting
a piece of lodestone in half: each resulting piece possessed its own pair of poles:
N magnet S
. . . after breaking in half . . .
N magnet S N magnet S
447
448 CHAPTER 14. MAGNETISM AND ELECTROMAGNETISM
Like electric charges, there were only two types of poles to be found: north and south (by analogy,
positive and negative). Just as with electric charges, same poles repel one another, while opposite
poles attract. This force, like that caused by static electricity, extended itself invisibly over space,
and could even pass through objects such as paper and wood with little effect upon strength.
The philosopher-scientist Rene Descartes noted that this invisible ”field” could be mapped by
placing a magnet underneath a flat piece of cloth or wood and sprinkling iron filings on top. The
filings will align themselves with the magnetic field, ”mapping” its shape. The result shows how the
field continues unbroken from one pole of a magnet to the other:
magnetic field
N magnet S
As with any kind of field (electric, magnetic, gravitational), the total quantity, or effect, of the
field is referred to as a flux, while the ”push” causing the flux to form in space is called a force.
Michael Faraday coined the term ”tube” to refer to a string of magnetic flux in space (the term
”line” is more commonly used now). Indeed, the measurement of magnetic field flux is often defined
in terms of the number of flux lines, although it is doubtful that such fields exist in individual,
discrete lines of constant value.
Modern theories of magnetism maintain that a magnetic field is produced by an electric charge in
motion, and thus it is theorized that the magnetic field of a so-called ”permanent” magnets such as
lodestone is the result of electrons within the atoms of iron spinning uniformly in the same direction.
Whether or not the electrons in a material’s atoms are subject to this kind of uniform spinning is
dictated by the atomic structure of the material (not unlike how electrical conductivity is dictated
by the electron binding in a material’s atoms). Thus, only certain types of substances react with
magnetic fields, and even fewer have the ability to permanently sustain a magnetic field.
Iron is one of those types of substances that readily magnetizes. If a piece of iron is brought
near a permanent magnet, the electrons within the atoms in the iron orient their spins to match
the magnetic field force produced by the permanent magnet, and the iron becomes ”magnetized.”
The iron will magnetize in such a way as to incorporate the magnetic flux lines into its shape, which
attracts it toward the permanent magnet, no matter which pole of the permanent magnet is offered
14.1. PERMANENT MAGNETS 449
to the iron:
magnetic field
iron N magnet S
(unmagnetized)
The previously unmagnetized iron becomes magnetized as it is brought closer to the permanent
magnet. No matter what pole of the permanent magnet is extended toward the iron, the iron will
magnetize in such a way as to be attracted toward the magnet:
N iron S N magnet S
attraction
Referencing the natural magnetic properties of iron (Latin = ”ferrum”), a ferromagnetic material
is one that readily magnetizes (its constituent atoms easily orient their electron spins to conform
to an external magnetic field force). All materials are magnetic to some degree, and those that
are not considered ferromagnetic (easily magnetized) are classified as either paramagnetic (slightly
magnetic) or diamagnetic (tend to exclude magnetic fields). Of the two, diamagnetic materials are
the strangest. In the presence of an external magnetic field, they actually become slightly magnetized
in the opposite direction, so as to repel the external field!
S diamagnetic N N magnet S
material
repulsion
If a ferromagnetic material tends to retain its magnetization after an external field is removed,
it is said to have good retentivity. This, of course, is a necessary quality for a permanent magnet.
• REVIEW:
• Lodestone (also called Magnetite) is a naturally-occurring ”permanent” magnet mineral. By

”permanent,” it is meant that the material maintains a magnetic field with no external help.
The characteristic of any magnetic material to do so is called retentivity.
• Ferromagnetic materials are easily magnetized.
• Paramagnetic materials are magnetized with more difficulty.
• Diamagnetic materials actually tend to repel external magnetic fields by magnetizing in the
opposite direction.
14.2 Electromagnetism
The discovery of the relationship between magnetism and electricity was, like so many other scientific
discoveries, stumbled upon almost by accident. The Danish physicist Hans Christian Oersted was
lecturing one day in 1820 on the possibility of electricity and magnetism being related to one another,
and in the process demonstrated it conclusively by experiment in front of his whole class! By passing
an electric current through a metal wire suspended above a magnetic compass, Oersted was able
to produce a definite motion of the compass needle in response to the current. What began as
conjecture at the start of the class session was confirmed as fact at the end. Needless to say, Oersted
had to revise his lecture notes for future classes! His serendipitous discovery paved the way for a
whole new branch of science: electromagnetics.
Detailed experiments showed that the magnetic field produced by an electric current is always
oriented perpendicular to the direction of flow. A simple method of showing this relationship is called
the left-hand rule. Simply stated, the left-hand rule says that the magnetic flux lines produced by a
current-carrying wire will be oriented the same direction as the curled fingers of a person’s left hand
(in the ”hitchhiking” position), with the thumb pointing in the direction of electron flow:
14.2. ELECTROMAGNETISM 451
The "left-hand" rule
I I
I I
The magnetic field encircles this straight piece of current-carrying wire, the magnetic flux lines
having no definite ”north” or ”south’ poles.
While the magnetic field surrounding a current-carrying wire is indeed interesting, it is quite
weak for common amounts of current, able to deflect a compass needle and not much more. To
create a stronger magnetic field force (and consequently, more field flux) with the same amount of
electric current, we can wrap the wire into a coil shape, where the circling magnetic fields around
the wire will join to create a larger field with a definite magnetic (north and south) polarity:
S N
magnetic field
The amount of magnetic field force generated by a coiled wire is proportional to the current
through the wire multiplied by the number of ”turns” or ”wraps” of wire in the coil. This field force
is called magnetomotive force (mmf), and is very much analogous to electromotive force (E) in an
electric circuit.
An electromagnet is a piece of wire intended to generate a magnetic field with the passage of
electric current through it. Though all current-carrying conductors produce magnetic fields, an
electromagnet is usually constructed in such a way as to maximize the strength of the magnetic field
it produces for a special purpose. Electromagnets find frequent application in research, industry,
medical, and consumer products.
As an electrically-controllable magnet, electromagnets find application in a wide variety of ”elec-
tromechanical” devices: machines that effect mechanical force or motion through electrical power.
Perhaps the most obvious example of such a machine is the electric motor.
Another example is the relay, an electrically-controlled switch. If a switch contact mechanism is
built so that it can be actuated (opened and closed) by the application of a magnetic field, and an
electromagnet coil is placed in the near vicinity to produce that requisite field, it will be possible to
open and close the switch by the application of a current through the coil. In effect, this gives us a
device that enables elelctricity to control electricity:
Relay
Applying current through the coil

causes the switch to close.
Relays can be constructed to actuate multiple switch contacts, or operate them in ”reverse”
(energizing the coil will open the switch contact, and unpowering the coil will allow it to spring
closed again).
Multiple-contact
relay
Relay with "normally-
closed" contact
• REVIEW:
• When electrons flow through a conductor, a magnetic field will be produced around that
conductor.
• The left-hand rule states that the magnetic flux lines produced by a current-carrying wire will
be oriented the same direction as the curled fingers of a person’s left hand (in the ”hitchhiking”
position), with the thumb pointing in the direction of electron flow.
14.3. MAGNETIC UNITS OF MEASUREMENT 453
• The magnetic field force produced by a current-carrying wire can be greatly increased by
shaping the wire into a coil instead of a straight line. If wound in a coil shape, the magnetic
field will be oriented along the axis of the coil’s length.
• The magnetic field force produced by an electromagnet (called the magnetomotive force, or
mmf), is proportional to the product (multiplication) of the current through the electromagnet
and the number of complete coil ”turns” formed by the wire.
14.3 Magnetic units of measurement

If the burden of two systems of measurement for common quantities (English vs. metric) throws
your mind into confusion, this is not the place for you! Due to an early lack of standardization
in the science of magnetism, we have been plagued with no less than three complete systems of
measurement for magnetic quantities.
First, we need to become acquainted with the various quantities associated with magnetism.
There are quite a few more quantities to be dealt with in magnetic systems than for electrical
systems. With electricity, the basic quantities are Voltage (E), Current (I), Resistance (R), and
Power (P). The first three are related to one another by Ohm’s Law (E=IR ; I=E/R ; R=E/I), while
Power is related to voltage, current, and resistance by Joule’s Law (P=IE ; P=I 2 R ; P=E2 /R).
With magnetism, we have the following quantities to deal with:
Magnetomotive Force – The quantity of magnetic field force, or ”push.” Analogous to electric
voltage (electromotive force).
Field Flux – The quantity of total field effect, or ”substance” of the field. Analogous to electric
current.
Field Intensity – The amount of field force (mmf) distributed over the length of the electro-
magnet. Sometimes referred to as Magnetizing Force.
Flux Density – The amount of magnetic field flux concentrated in a given area.
Reluctance – The opposition to magnetic field flux through a given volume of space or material.
Analogous to electrical resistance.
Permeability – The specific measure of a material’s acceptance of magnetic flux, analogous to

the specific resistance of a conductive material (ρ), except inverse (greater permeability means easier
passage of magnetic flux, whereas greater specific resistance means more difficult passage of electric
current).
But wait . . . the fun is just beginning! Not only do we have more quantities to keep track of with
magnetism than with electricity, but we have several different systems of unit measurement for each
of these quantities. As with common quantities of length, weight, volume, and temperature, we have
both English and metric systems. However, there is actually more than one metric system of units,
and multiple metric systems are used in magnetic field measurements! One is called the cgs, which
stands for Centimeter-Gram-Second, denoting the root measures upon which the whole system is
based. The other was originally known as the mks system, which stood for Meter-Kilogram-Second,
which was later revised into another system, called rmks, standing for Rationalized Meter-Kilogram-
Second. This ended up being adopted as an international standard and renamed SI (Systeme
International).
Unit of Measurement
and abbreviation
Quantity Symbol
CGS SI English
Field Force mmf Gilbert (Gb) Amp-turn Amp-turn
Field Flux Φ Maxwell (Mx) Weber (Wb) Line
Field Amp-turns Amp-turns
Intensity H Oersted (Oe) per meter per inch
Flux Lines per

Density B Gauss (G) Tesla (T) square inch
Gilberts per Amp-turns Amp-turns

Reluctance ℜ Maxwell per Weber per line
Gauss per Tesla-meters Lines per

Permeability µ Oersted per Amp-turn inch-Amp-
turn
And yes, the µ symbol is really the same as the metric prefix ”micro.” I find this especially
confusing, using the exact same alphabetical character to symbolize both a specific quantity and a
general metric prefix!
As you might have guessed already, the relationship between field force, field flux, and reluctance
is much the same as that between the electrical quantities of electromotive force (E), current (I),
and resistance (R). This provides something akin to an Ohm’s Law for magnetic circuits:
A comparison of "Ohm’s Law" for
electric and magnetic circuits:
E = IR mmf = Φℜ
Electrical Magnetic
And, given that permeability is inversely analogous to specific resistance, the equation for finding
the reluctance of a magnetic material is very similar to that for finding the resistance of a conductor:
A comparison of electrical
and magnetic opposition:
l l
R=ρ ℜ=
A µA
Electrical Magnetic
14.4. PERMEABILITY AND SATURATION 455
In either case, a longer piece of material provides a greater opposition, all other factors being
equal. Also, a larger cross-sectional area makes for less opposition, all other factors being equal.
The major caveat here is that the reluctance of a material to magnetic flux actually changes
with the concentration of flux going through it. This makes the ”Ohm’s Law” for magnetic circuits
nonlinear and far more difficult to work with than the electrical version of Ohm’s Law. It would
be analogous to having a resistor that changed resistance as the current through it varied (a circuit
composed of var istors instead of resistors).
14.4 Permeability and saturation

The nonlinearity of material permeability may be graphed for better understanding. We’ll place the
quantity of field intensity (H), equal to field force (mmf) divided by the length of the material, on
the horizontal axis of the graph. On the vertical axis, we’ll place the quantity of flux density (B),
equal to total flux divided by the cross-sectional area of the material. We will use the quantities of
field intensity (H) and flux density (B) instead of field force (mmf) and total flux (Φ) so that the
shape of our graph remains independent of the physical dimensions of our test material. What we’re
trying to do here is show a mathematical relationship between field force and flux for any chunk of a
particular substance, in the same spirit as describing a material’s specific resistance in ohm-cmil/ft
instead of its actual resistance in ohms.
sheet steel
cast steel
Flux density
(B)
cast iron
Field intensity (H)

This is called the normal magnetization curve, or B-H curve, for any particular material. Notice
how the flux density for any of the above materials (cast iron, cast steel, and sheet steel) levels off
with increasing amounts of field intensity. This effect is known as saturation. When there is little
applied magnetic force (low H), only a few atoms are in alignment, and the rest are easily aligned
with additional force. However, as more flux gets crammed into the same cross-sectional area of a
ferromagnetic material, fewer atoms are available within that material to align their electrons with
additional force, and so it takes more and more force (H) to get less and less ”help” from the material
in creating more flux density (B). To put this in economic terms, we’re seeing a case of diminishing
returns (B) on our investment (H). Saturation is a phenomenon limited to iron-core electromagnets.
Air-core electromagnets don’t saturate, but on the other hand they don’t produce nearly as much
magnetic flux as a ferromagnetic core for the same number of wire turns and current.
Another quirk to confound our analysis of magnetic flux versus force is the phenomenon of
magnetic hysteresis. As a general term, hysteresis means a lag between input and output in a system
upon a change in direction. Anyone who’s ever driven an old automobile with ”loose” steering knows
what hysteresis is: to change from turning left to turning right (or visa-versa), you have to rotate
the steering wheel an additional amount to overcome the built-in ”lag” in the mechanical linkage
system between the steering wheel and the front wheels of the car. In a magnetic system, hysteresis
is seen in a ferromagnetic material that tends to stay magnetized after an applied field force has been
removed (see ”retentivity” in the first section of this chapter), if the force is reversed in polarity.
Let’s use the same graph again, only extending the axes to indicate both positive and negative
quantities. First we’ll apply an increasing field force (current through the coils of our electromag-
net). We should see the flux density increase (go up and to the right) according to the normal
magnetization curve:
Flux density
(B)
Field intensity (H)
Next, we’ll stop the current going through the coil of the electromagnet and see what happens
to the flux, leaving the first curve still on the graph:
Flux density
(B)
Field intensity (H)

Due to the retentivity of the material, we still have a magnetic flux with no applied force (no
current through the coil). Our electromagnet core is acting as a permanent magnet at this point.
Now we will slowly apply the same amount of magnetic field force in the opposite direction to our
sample:
Flux density
(B)
Field intensity (H)
The flux density has now reached a point equivalent to what it was with a full positive value
of field intensity (H), except in the negative, or opposite, direction. Let’s stop the current going
through the coil again and see how much flux remains:
Flux density
(B)
Field intensity (H)
Once again, due to the natural retentivity of the material, it will hold a magnetic flux with no
power applied to the coil, except this time it’s in a direction opposite to that of the last time we
stopped current through the coil. If we re-apply power in a positive direction again, we should see
the flux density reach its prior peak in the upper-right corner of the graph again:
Flux density
(B)
Field intensity (H)
The ”S”-shaped curve traced by these steps form what is called the hysteresis curve of a ferro-
magnetic material for a given set of field intensity extremes (-H and +H). If this doesn’t quite make
sense, consider a hysteresis graph for the automobile steering scenario described earlier, one graph
depicting a ”tight” steering system and one depicting a ”loose” system:
An ideal steering system

angle of front wheels
(right)
rotation of
(CCW) (CW) steering wheel
(left)
A "loose" steering system

angle of front wheels
(right)
rotation of
(CCW) (CW) steering wheel
(left)
amount of "looseness"
in the steering mechanism
Just as in the case of automobile steering systems, hysteresis can be a problem. If you’re designing
a system to produce precise amounts of magnetic field flux for given amounts of current, hysteresis
may hinder this design goal (due to the fact that the amount of flux density would depend on
the current and how strongly it was magnetized before!). Similarly, a loose steering system is
unacceptable in a race car, where precise, repeatable steering response is a necessity. Also, having
to overcome prior magnetization in an electromagnet can be a waste of energy if the current used
to energize the coil is alternating back and forth (AC). The area within the hysteresis curve gives a
rough estimate of the amount of this wasted energy.
Other times, magnetic hysteresis is a desirable thing. Such is the case when magnetic materials
are used as a means of storing information (computer disks, audio and video tapes). In these
applications, it is desirable to be able to magnetize a speck of iron oxide (ferrite) and rely on that
material’s retentivity to ”remember” its last magnetized state. Another productive application
for magnetic hysteresis is in filtering high-frequency electromagnetic ”noise” (rapidly alternating
surges of voltage) from signal wiring by running those wires through the middle of a ferrite ring.
The energy consumed in overcoming the hysteresis of ferrite attenuates the strength of the ”noise”
signal. Interestingly enough, the hysteresis curve of ferrite is quite extreme:
Hysteresis curve for ferrite
Flux density
(B)
Field intensity (H)
• REVIEW:
• The permeability of a material changes with the amount of magnetic flux forced through it.
• The specific relationship of force to flux (field intensity H to flux density B) is graphed in a
form called the normal magnetization curve.
• It is possible to apply so much magnetic field force to a ferromagnetic material that no more
flux can be crammed into it. This condition is known as magnetic saturation.
• When the retentivity of a ferromagnetic substance interferes with its re-magnetization in the
opposite direction, a condition known as hysteresis occurs.
14.5 Electromagnetic induction

While Oersted’s surprising discovery of electromagnetism paved the way for more practical appli-
cations of electricity, it was Michael Faraday who gave us the key to the practical generation of
electricity: electromagnetic induction. Faraday discovered that a voltage would be generated across
a length of wire if that wire was exposed to a perpendicular magnetic field flux of changing intensity.
An easy way to create a magnetic field of changing intensity is to move a permanent magnet
next to a wire or coil of wire. Remember: the magnetic field must increase or decrease in intensity
perpendicular to the wire (so that the lines of flux ”cut across” the conductor), or else no voltage
will be induced:
14.5. ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION 461
Electromagnetic induction
current changes direction

with change in magnet motion
- + voltage changes polarity

V with change in magnet motion
+ -
magnet moved
back and forth
Faraday was able to mathematically relate the rate of change of the magnetic field flux with
induced voltage (note the use of a lower-case letter ”e” for voltage. This refers to instantaneous
voltage, or voltage at a specific point in time, rather than a steady, stable voltage.):
dΦ
e= N
dt
Where,
e = (Instantaneous) induced voltage in volts
N = Number of turns in wire coil (straight wire = 1)
Φ = Magnetic flux in Webers
t = Time in seconds
The ”d” terms are standard calculus notation, representing rate-of-change of flux over time. ”N”
stands for the number of turns, or wraps, in the wire coil (assuming that the wire is formed in the
shape of a coil for maximum electromagnetic efficiency).
This phenomenon is put into obvious practical use in the construction of electrical generators,
which use mechanical power to move a magnetic field past coils of wire to generate voltage. However,
this is by no means the only practical use for this principle.
If we recall that the magnetic field produced by a current-carrying wire was always perpendicular
to that wire, and that the flux intensity of that magnetic field varied with the amount of current
through it, we can see that a wire is capable of inducing a voltage along its own length simply
due to a change in current through it. This effect is called self-induction: a changing magnetic
field produced by changes in current through a wire inducing voltage along the length of that same
wire. If the magnetic field flux is enhanced by bending the wire into the shape of a coil, and/or
wrapping that coil around a material of high permeability, this effect of self-induced voltage will be
more intense. A device constructed to take advantage of this effect is called an inductor, and will
be discussed in greater detail in the next chapter.
• REVIEW:
• A magnetic field of changing intensity perpendicular to a wire will induce a voltage along the
length of that wire. The amount of voltage induced depends on the rate of change of the
magnetic field flux and the number of turns of wire (if coiled) exposed to the change in flux.
• Faraday’s equation for induced voltage: e = N(dΦ/dt)
• A current-carrying wire will experience an induced voltage along its length if the current
changes (thus changing the magnetic field flux perpendicular to the wire, thus inducing voltage
according to Faraday’s formula). A device built specifically to take advantage of this effect is
called an inductor.
14.6 Mutual inductance
If two coils of wire are brought into close proximity with each other so the magnetic field from one
links with the other, a voltage will be generated in the second coil as a result. This is called mutual
inductance: when voltage impressed upon one coil induces a voltage in another.
A device specifically designed to produce the effect of mutual inductance between two or more
coils is called a transformer.
14.6. MUTUAL INDUCTANCE 463
The device shown in the above photograph is a kind of transformer, with two concentric wire coils.
It is actually intended as a precision standard unit for mutual inductance, but for the purposes of
illustrating what the essence of a transformer is, it will suffice. The two wire coils can be distinguished
from each other by color: the bulk of the tube’s length is wrapped in green-insulated wire (the first
coil) while the second coil (wire with bronze-colored insulation) stands in the middle of the tube’s
length. The wire ends run down to connection terminals at the bottom of the unit. Most transformer
units are not built with their wire coils exposed like this.
Because magnetically-induced voltage only happens when the magnetic field flux is changing in
strength relative to the wire, mutual inductance between two coils can only happen with alternating
(changing – AC) voltage, and not with direct (steady – DC) voltage. The only applications for
mutual inductance in a DC system is where some means is available to switch power on and off to
the coil (thus creating a pulsing DC voltage), the induced voltage peaking at every pulse.
A very useful property of transformers is the ability to transform voltage and current levels
according to a simple ratio, determined by the ratio of input and output coil turns. If the energized
coil of a transformer is energized by an AC voltage, the amount of AC voltage induced in the
unpowered coil will be equal to the input voltage multiplied by the ratio of output to input wire
turns in the coils. Conversely, the current through the windings of the output coil compared to the
input coil will follow the opposite ratio: if the voltage is increased from input coil to output coil,
the current will be decreased by the same proportion. This action of the transformer is analogous
to that of mechanical gear, belt sheave, or chain sprocket ratios:
Torque-reducing geartrain
Large gear
(many teeth)
Small gear
(few teeth)
+ +
low torque, high speed
high torque, low speed
"Step-down" transformer
high voltage
low voltage
AC voltage many
source turns few turns Load
high current
low current
A transformer designed to output more voltage than it takes in across the input coil is called a
”step-up” transformer, while one designed to do the opposite is called a ”step-down,” in reference to
the transformation of voltage that takes place. The current through each respective coil, of course,
follows the exact opposite proportion.
• REVIEW:
• Mutual inductance is where the magnetic field generated by a coil of wire induces voltage in
an adjacent coil of wire.
• A transformer is a device constructed of two or more coils in close proximity to each other,
with the express purpose of creating a condition of mutual inductance between the coils.
• Transformers only work with changing voltages, not steady voltages. Thus, they may be
classified as an AC device and not a DC device.
14.7 Contributors
second edition.
Chapter 15
INDUCTORS
15.1 Magnetic fields and inductance

Whenever electrons flow through a conductor, a magnetic field will develop around that conductor.
This effect is called electromagnetism. Magnetic fields effect the alignment of electrons in an atom,
and can cause physical force to develop between atoms across space just as with electric fields
developing force between electrically charged particles. Like electric fields, magnetic fields can
occupy completely empty space, and affect matter at a distance.
Fields have two measures: a field force and a field flux. The field force is the amount of ”push”
that a field exerts over a certain distance. The field flux is the total quantity, or effect, of the field
through space. Field force and flux are roughly analogous to voltage (”push”) and current (flow)
through a conductor, respectively, although field flux can exist in totally empty space (without
the motion of particles such as electrons) whereas current can only take place where there are free
electrons to move. Field flux can be opposed in space, just as the flow of electrons can be opposed by
resistance. The amount of field flux that will develop in space is proportional to the amount of field
force applied, divided by the amount of opposition to flux. Just as the type of conducting material
dictates that conductor’s specific resistance to electric current, the type of material occupying the
space through which a magnetic field force is impressed dictates the specific opposition to magnetic
field flux.
Whereas an electric field flux between two conductors allows for an accumulation of free elec-
tron charge within those conductors, an electromagnetic field flux allows for a certain ”inertia” to
accumulate in the flow of electrons through the conductor producing the field.
Inductors are components designed to take advantage of this phenomenon by shaping the length
of conductive wire in the form of a coil. This shape creates a stronger magnetic field than what would
be produced by a straight wire. Some inductors are formed with wire wound in a self-supporting
coil. Others wrap the wire around a solid core material of some type. Sometimes the core of an
inductor will be straight, and other times it will be joined in a loop (square, rectangular, or circular)
to fully contain the magnetic flux. These design options all have effect on the performance and
characteristics of inductors.
The schematic symbol for an inductor, like the capacitor, is quite simple, being little more than
a coil symbol representing the coiled wire. Although a simple coil shape is the generic symbol for
467
468 CHAPTER 15. INDUCTORS
any inductor, inductors with cores are sometimes distinguished by the addition of parallel lines to
the axis of the coil. A newer version of the inductor symbol dispenses with the coil shape in favor
of several ”humps” in a row:
Inductor symbols
generic, or air-core iron core
iron core generic

(alternative) (newer symbol)
As the electric current produces a concentrated magnetic field around the coil, this field flux
equates to a storage of energy representing the kinetic motion of the electrons through the coil. The
more current in the coil, the stronger the magnetic field will be, and the more energy the inductor
will store.
I
magnetic
field
I
Because inductors store the kinetic energy of moving electrons in the form of a magnetic field,
they behave quite differently than resistors (which simply dissipate energy in the form of heat) in a
circuit. Energy storage in an inductor is a function of the amount of current through it. An inductor’s
ability to store energy as a function of current results in a tendency to try to maintain current at a
constant level. In other words, inductors tend to resist changes in current. When current through an
inductor is increased or decreased, the inductor ”resists” the change by producing a voltage between
its leads in opposing polarity to the change.
To store more energy in an inductor, the current through it must be increased. This means
that its magnetic field must increase in strength, and that change in field strength produces the
corresponding voltage according to the principle of electromagnetic self-induction. Conversely, to
release energy from an inductor, the current through it must be decreased. This means that the
inductor’s magnetic field must decrease in strength, and that change in field strength self-induces a
voltage drop of just the opposite polarity.
Just as Isaac Newton’s first Law of Motion (”an object in motion tends to stay in motion; an
object at rest tends to stay at rest”) describes the tendency of a mass to oppose changes in velocity,
we can state an inductor’s tendency to oppose changes in current as such: ”Electrons moving
15.1. MAGNETIC FIELDS AND INDUCTANCE 469
through an inductor tend to stay in motion; electrons at rest in an inductor tend to stay at rest.”
Hypothetically, an inductor left short-circuited will maintain a constant rate of current through it
with no external assistance:
current sustained with

the inductor short-circuited
Practically speaking, however, the ability for an inductor to self-sustain current is realized only
with superconductive wire, as the wire resistance in any normal inductor is enough to cause current
to decay very quickly with no external source of power.
When the current through an inductor is increased, it drops a voltage opposing the direction of
electron flow, acting as a power load. In this condition the inductor is said to be charging, because
there is an increasing amount of energy being stored in its magnetic field. Note the polarity of the
voltage with regard to the direction of current:
Energy being absorbed by

the inductor from the rest
of the circuit.
... increasing current
+
. . . to the rest of voltage drop
the circuit
-
...
increasing current
The inductor acts as a LOAD
Conversely, when the current through the inductor is decreased, it drops a voltage aiding the
direction of electron flow, acting as a power source. In this condition the inductor is said to be
discharging, because its store of energy is decreasing as it releases energy from its magnetic field to
the rest of the circuit. Note the polarity of the voltage with regard to the direction of current.
Energy being released by

the inductor to the rest
of the circuit.
... decreasing current
-
. . . to the rest of voltage drop
the circuit
+
...
decreasing current
The inductor acts as a SOURCE
If a source of electric power is suddenly applied to an unmagnetized inductor, the inductor will
initially resist the flow of electrons by dropping the full voltage of the source. As current begins to
increase, a stronger and stronger magnetic field will be created, absorbing energy from the source.
Eventually the current reaches a maximum level, and stops increasing. At this point, the inductor
stops absorbing energy from the source, and is dropping minimum voltage across its leads, while the
current remains at a maximum level. As an inductor stores more energy, its current level increases,
while its voltage drop decreases. Note that this is precisely the opposite of capacitor behavior, where
the storage of energy results in an increased voltage across the component! Whereas capacitors store
their energy charge by maintaining a static voltage, inductors maintain their energy ”charge” by
maintaining a steady current through the coil.
The type of material the wire is coiled around greatly impacts the strength of the magnetic field
flux (and therefore how much stored energy) generated for any given amount of current through
the coil. Coil cores made of ferromagnetic materials (such as soft iron) will encourage stronger field
fluxes to develop with a given field force than nonmagnetic substances such as aluminum or air.
The measure of an inductor’s ability to store energy for a given amount of current flow is called
inductance. Not surprisingly, inductance is also a measure of the intensity of opposition to changes
in current (exactly how much self-induced voltage will be produced for a given rate of change of
current). Inductance is symbolically denoted with a capital ”L,” and is measured in the unit of the
Henry, abbreviated as ”H.”
An obsolete name for an inductor is choke, so called for its common usage to block (”choke”)
high-frequency AC signals in radio circuits. Another name for an inductor, still used in modern
times, is reactor, especially when used in large power applications. Both of these names will make
more sense after you’ve studied alternating current (AC) circuit theory, and especially a principle
known as inductive reactance.
• REVIEW:
• Inductors react against changes in current by dropping voltage in the polarity necessary to
oppose the change.
• When an inductor is faced with an increasing current, it acts as a load: dropping voltage as it
absorbs energy (negative on the current entry side and positive on the current exit side, like a
resistor).
15.2. INDUCTORS AND CALCULUS 471
• When an inductor is faced with a decreasing current, it acts as a source: creating voltage as
it releases stored energy (positive on the current entry side and negative on the current exit
side, like a battery).
• The ability of an inductor to store energy in the form of a magnetic field (and consequently to
oppose changes in current) is called inductance. It is measured in the unit of the Henry (H).
• Inductors used to be commonly known by another term: choke. In large power applications,
they are sometimes referred to as reactors.
15.2 Inductors and calculus

Inductors do not have a stable ”resistance” as conductors do. However, there is a definite mathe-
matical relationship between voltage and current for an inductor, as follows:
"Ohm’s Law" for an inductor
di
v= L
dt
Where,
v = Instantaneous voltage across the inductor
L = Inductance in Henrys
di
= Instantaneous rate of current change
dt (amps per second)
You should recognize the form of this equation from the capacitor chapter. It relates one variable
(in this case, inductor voltage drop) to a rate of change of another variable (in this case, inductor
current). Both voltage (v) and rate of current change (di/dt) are instantaneous: that is, in relation
to a specific point in time, thus the lower-case letters ”v” and ”i”. As with the capacitor formula, it
is convention to express instantaneous voltage as v rather than e, but using the latter designation
would not be wrong. Current rate-of-change (di/dt) is expressed in units of amps per second, a
positive number representing an increase and a negative number representing a decrease.
Like a capacitor, an inductor’s behavior is rooted in the variable of time. Aside from any
resistance intrinsic to an inductor’s wire coil (which we will assume is zero for the sake of this
section), the voltage dropped across the terminals of an inductor is purely related to how quickly its
current changes over time.
Suppose we were to connect a perfect inductor (one having zero ohms of wire resistance) to a
circuit where we could vary the amount of current through it with a potentiometer connected as a
variable resistor:
Voltmeter
(zero-center)
-
- +
A
If the potentiometer mechanism remains in a single position (wiper is stationary), the series-
connected ammeter will register a constant (unchanging) current, and the voltmeter connected
across the inductor will register 0 volts. In this scenario, the instantaneous rate of current change
(di/dt) is equal to zero, because the current is stable. The equation tells us that with 0 amps per
second change for a di/dt, there must be zero instantaneous voltage (v) across the inductor. From
a physical perspective, with no current change, there will be a steady magnetic field generated by
the inductor. With no change in magnetic flux (dΦ/dt = 0 Webers per second), there will be no
voltage dropped across the length of the coil due to induction.
Inductor
current
IL
Time
Potentiometer wiper not moving
Inductor
voltage
EL
Time
If we move the potentiometer wiper slowly in the ”up” direction, its resistance from end to end
will slowly decrease. This has the effect of increasing current in the circuit, so the ammeter indication
should be increasing at a slow rate:

slowly in the "up" direction
Steady
voltage
+ -
+
-
- +
A
Increasing
current
Assuming that the potentiometer wiper is being moved such that the rate of current increase
through the inductor is steady, the di/dt term of the formula will be a fixed value. This fixed value,
multiplied by the inductor’s inductance in Henrys (also fixed), results in a fixed voltage of some
magnitude. From a physical perspective, the gradual increase in current results in a magnetic field
that is likewise increasing. This gradual increase in magnetic flux causes a voltage to be induced
in the coil as expressed by Michael Faraday’s induction equation e = N(dΦ/dt). This self-induced
voltage across the coil, as a result of a gradual change in current magnitude through the coil, happens
to be of a polarity that attempts to oppose the change in current. In other words, the induced voltage
polarity resulting from an increase in current will be oriented in such a way as to push against the
direction of current, to try to keep the current at its former magnitude. This phenomenon exhibits
a more general principle of physics known as Lenz’s Law, which states that an induced effect will
always be opposed to the cause producing it.
In this scenario, the inductor will be acting as a load, with the negative side of the induced
voltage on the end where electrons are entering, and the positive side of the induced voltage on the
end where electrons are exiting.
Time
Inductor Current
current change
IL
Time
Potentiometer wiper moving slowly "up"
Inductor
voltage
EL
Time
Changing the rate of current increase through the inductor by moving the potentiometer wiper
”up” at different speeds results in different amounts of voltage being dropped across the inductor,
all with the same polarity (opposing the increase in current):
Inductor
current
IL
Time
Potentiometer wiper moving "up" at

different rates
Inductor
voltage
EL
Time
Here again we see the derivative function of calculus exhibited in the behavior of an inductor.
In calculus terms, we would say that the induced voltage across the inductor is the derivative of the
current through the inductor: that is, proportional to the current’s rate-of-change with respect to
time.
Reversing the direction of wiper motion on the potentiometer (going ”down” rather than ”up”)
will result in its end-to-end resistance increasing. This will result in circuit current decreasing (a
negative figure for di/dt). The inductor, always opposing any change in current, will produce a
voltage drop opposed to the direction of change:

in the "down" direction
- +
+
-
- +
A
Decreasing
current
How much voltage the inductor will produce depends, of course, on how rapidly the current
through it is decreased. As described by Lenz’s Law, the induced voltage will be opposed to the
change in current. With a decreasing current, the voltage polarity will be oriented so as to try to
keep the current at its former magnitude. In this scenario, the inductor will be acting as a source,
with the negative side of the induced voltage on the end where electrons are exiting, and the positive
side of the induced voltage on the end where electrons are entering. The more rapidly current is
decreased, the more voltage will be produced by the inductor, in its release of stored energy to try
to keep current constant.
Again, the amount of voltage across a perfect inductor is directly proportional to the rate of
current change through it. The only difference between the effects of a decreasing current and an
increasing current is the polarity of the induced voltage. For the same rate of current change over
time, either increasing or decreasing, the voltage magnitude (volts) will be the same. For example,
a di/dt of -2 amps per second will produce the same amount of induced voltage drop across an
inductor as a di/dt of +2 amps per second, just in the opposite polarity.
If current through an inductor is forced to change very rapidly, very high voltages will be pro-
duced. Consider the following circuit:
Neon lamp
+
6V
-
Switch
In this circuit, a lamp is connected across the terminals of an inductor. A switch is used to
control current in the circuit, and power is supplied by a 6 volt battery. When the switch is closed,
the inductor will briefly oppose the change in current from zero to some magnitude, but will drop
only a small amount of voltage. It takes about 70 volts to ionize the neon gas inside a neon bulb like
this, so the bulb cannot be lit on the 6 volts produced by the battery, or the low voltage momentarily
dropped by the inductor when the switch is closed:
no light
+
6V
-
When the switch is opened, however, it suddenly introduces an extremely high resistance into
the circuit (the resistance of the air gap between the contacts). This sudden introduction of high
resistance into the circuit causes the circuit current to decrease almost instantly. Mathematically,
the di/dt term will be a very large negative number. Such a rapid change of current (from some
magnitude to zero in very little time) will induce a very high voltage across the inductor, oriented
with negative on the left and positive on the right, in an effort to oppose this decrease in current.
The voltage produced is usually more than enough to light the neon lamp, if only for a brief moment
until the current decays to zero:
15.3. FACTORS AFFECTING INDUCTANCE 477
Light!
- +
+
6V
-
For maximum effect, the inductor should be sized as large as possible (at least 1 Henry of
inductance).
15.3 Factors affecting inductance

There are four basic factors of inductor construction determining the amount of inductance created.
These factors all dictate inductance by affecting how much magnetic field flux will develop for a
given amount of magnetic field force (current through the inductor’s wire coil):
NUMBER OF WIRE WRAPS, OR ”TURNS” IN THE COIL: All other factors being
equal, a greater number of turns of wire in the coil results in greater inductance; fewer turns of wire
in the coil results in less inductance.
Explanation: More turns of wire means that the coil will generate a greater amount of magnetic
field force (measured in amp-turns!), for a given amount of coil current.
less inductance more inductance
COIL AREA: All other factors being equal, greater coil area (as measured looking lengthwise
through the coil, at the cross-section of the core) results in greater inductance; less coil area results
in less inductance.
Explanation: Greater coil area presents less opposition to the formation of magnetic field flux,
for a given amount of field force (amp-turns).

COIL LENGTH: All other factors being equal, the longer the coil’s length, the less inductance;
the shorter the coil’s length, the greater the inductance.
Explanation: A longer path for the magnetic field flux to take results in more opposition to the
formation of that flux for any given amount of field force (amp-turns).
CORE MATERIAL: All other factors being equal, the greater the magnetic permeability of
the core which the coil is wrapped around, the greater the inductance; the less the permeability of
the core, the less the inductance.
Explanation: A core material with greater magnetic permeability results in greater magnetic
field flux for any given amount of field force (amp-turns).
air core soft iron core

(permeability = 1) (permeability = 600)
An approximation of inductance for any coil of wire can be found with this formula:
N2µA
L=
l
Where,
L = Inductance of coil in Henrys
N = Number of turns in wire coil (straight wire = 1)
µ = Permeability of core material (absolute, not relative)
A = Area of coil in square meters
l = Average length of coil in meters
It must be understood that this formula yields approximate figures only. One reason for this
is the fact that permeability changes as the field intensity varies (remember the nonlinear ”B/H”
curves for different materials). Obviously, if permeability (µ) in the equation is unstable, then the
inductance (L) will also be unstable to some degree as the current through the coil changes in
magnitude. If the hysteresis of the core material is significant, this will also have strange effects on
the inductance of the coil. Inductor designers try to minimize these effects by designing the core in
15.3. FACTORS AFFECTING INDUCTANCE 479
such a way that its flux density never approaches saturation levels, and so the inductor operates in
a more linear portion of the B/H curve.
If an inductor is designed so that any one of these factors may be varied at will, its inductance will
correspondingly vary. Variable inductors are usually made by providing a way to vary the number
of wire turns in use at any given time, or by varying the core material (a sliding core that can be
moved in and out of the coil). An example of the former design is shown in this photograph:
This unit uses sliding copper contacts to tap into the coil at different points along its length.
The unit shown happens to be an air-core inductor used in early radio work.
A fixed-value inductor is shown in the next photograph, another antique air-core unit built for
radios. The connection terminals can be seen at the bottom, as well as the few turns of relatively
thick wire:
Here is another inductor (of greater inductance value), also intended for radio applications. Its
wire coil is wound around a white ceramic tube for greater rigidity:
Inductors can also be made very small for printed circuit board applications. Closely examine
the following photograph and see if you can identify two inductors near each other:
The two inductors on this circuit board are labeled L1 and L2 , and they are located to the
15.4. SERIES AND PARALLEL INDUCTORS 481
right-center of the board. Two nearby components are R3 (a resistor) and C16 (a capacitor). These
inductors are called ”toroidal” because their wire coils are wound around donut-shaped (”torus”)
cores.
Like resistors and capacitors, inductors can be packaged as ”surface mount devices” as well. The
following photograph shows just how small an inductor can be when packaged as such:
A pair of inductors can be seen on this circuit board, to the right and center, appearing as small
black chips with the number ”100” printed on both. The upper inductor’s label can be seen printed
on the green circuit board as L5 . Of course these inductors are very small in inductance value, but
it demonstrates just how tiny they can be manufactured to meet certain circuit design needs.
15.4 Series and parallel inductors
When inductors are connected in series, the total inductance is the sum of the individual inductors’
inductances. To understand why this is so, consider the following: the definitive measure of induc-
tance is the amount of voltage dropped across an inductor for a given rate of current change through
it. If inductors are connected together in series (thus sharing the same current, and seeing the same
rate of change in current), then the total voltage dropped as the result of a change in current will be
additive with each inductor, creating a greater total voltage than either of the individual inductors
alone. Greater voltage for the same rate of change in current means greater inductance.
- total voltage drop +
voltage voltage
drop drop
- L1 + - L2 +
increase in current
Thus, the total inductance for series inductors is more than any one of the individual induc-
tors’ inductances. The formula for calculating the series total inductance is the same form as for
calculating series resistances:
Series Inductances
Ltotal = L1 + L2 + . . . Ln
When inductors are connected in parallel, the total inductance is less than any one of the parallel
inductors’ inductances. Again, remember that the definitive measure of inductance is the amount of
voltage dropped across an inductor for a given rate of current change through it. Since the current
through each parallel inductor will be a fraction of the total current, and the voltage across each
parallel inductor will be equal, a change in total current will result in less voltage dropped across
the parallel array than for any one of the inductors considered separately. In other words, there will
be less voltage dropped across parallel inductors for a given rate of change in current than for any
of of those inductors considered separately, because total current divides among parallel branches.
Less voltage for the same rate of change in current means less inductance.
+ +
IL1 L1 IL2 L2 voltage
drop
total - -
increase in current
Thus, the total inductance is less than any one of the individual inductors’ inductances. The
formula for calculating the parallel total inductance is the same form as for calculating parallel
resistances:
Parallel Inductances
1
Ltotal =
1 1 1
+ +...
L1 L2 Ln
• REVIEW:
• Inductances add in series.
• Inductances diminish in parallel.


Inductors, like all electrical components, have limitations which must be respected for the sake of
reliability and proper circuit operation.
Rated current: Since inductors are constructed of coiled wire, and any wire will be limited in its
current-carrying capacity by its resistance and ability to dissipate heat, you must pay attention to
the maximum current allowed through an inductor.
Equivalent circuit: Since inductor wire has some resistance, and circuit design constraints typ-
ically demand the inductor be built to the smallest possible dimensions, there is not such thing as
a ”perfect” inductor. Inductor coil wire usually presents a substantial amount of series resistance,
and the close spacing of wire from one coil turn to another (separated by insulation) may present
measurable amounts of stray capacitance to interact with its purely inductive characteristics. Unlike
capacitors, which are relatively easy to manufacture with negligible stray effects, inductors are dif-
ficult to find in ”pure” form. In certain applications, these undesirable characteristics may present
significant engineering problems.
Inductor size: Inductors tend to be much larger, physically, than capacitors are for storing
equivalent amounts of energy. This is especially true considering the recent advances in electrolytic
capacitor technology, allowing incredibly large capacitance values to be packed into a small package.
If a circuit designer needs to store a large amount of energy in a small volume and has the freedom
to choose either capacitors or inductors for the task, he or she will most likely choose a capacitor.
A notable exception to this rule is in applications requiring huge amounts of either capacitance or
inductance to store electrical energy: inductors made of superconducting wire (zero resistance) are
more practical to build and safely operate than capacitors of equivalent value, and are probably
smaller too.
Interference: Inductors may affect nearby components on a circuit board with their magnetic
fields, which can extend significant distances beyond the inductor. This is especially true if there
are other inductors nearby on the circuit board. If the magnetic fields of two or more inductors are
able to ”link” with each others’ turns of wire, there will be mutual inductance present in the circuit
as well as self-inductance, which could very well cause unwanted effects. This is another reason
why circuit designers tend to choose capacitors over inductors to perform similar tasks: capacitors
inherently contain their respective electric fields neatly within the component package and therefore
do not typically generate any ”mutual” effects with other components.
15.6 Contributors
second edition.
Chapter 16
RC AND L/R TIME

CONSTANTS
16.1 Electrical transients
This chapter explores the response of capacitors and inductors sudden changes in DC voltage (called
a transient voltage), when wired in series with a resistor. Unlike resistors, which respond instan-
taneously to applied voltage, capacitors and inductors react over time as they absorb and release
energy.
16.2 Capacitor transient response
Because capacitors store energy in the form of an electric field, they tend to act like small secondary-
cell batteries, being able to store and release electrical energy. A fully discharged capacitor maintains
zero volts across its terminals, and a charged capacitor maintains a steady quantity of voltage across
its terminals, just like a battery. When capacitors are placed in a circuit with other sources of voltage,
they will absorb energy from those sources, just as a secondary-cell battery will become charged as
a result of being connected to a generator. A fully discharged capacitor, having a terminal voltage
of zero, will initially act as a short-circuit when attached to a source of voltage, drawing maximum
current as it begins to build a charge. Over time, the capacitor’s terminal voltage rises to meet the
applied voltage from the source, and the current through the capacitor decreases correspondingly.
Once the capacitor has reached the full voltage of the source, it will stop drawing current from it,
and behave essentially as an open-circuit.
485
486 CHAPTER 16. RC AND L/R TIME CONSTANTS
Switch
R
10 kΩ
15 V C 100 µF
When the switch is first closed, the voltage across the capacitor (which we were told was fully
discharged) is zero volts; thus, it first behaves as though it were a short-circuit. Over time, the
capacitor voltage will rise to equal battery voltage, ending in a condition where the capacitor behaves
as an open-circuit. Current through the circuit is determined by the difference in voltage between the
battery and the capacitor, divided by the resistance of 10 kΩ. As the capacitor voltage approaches
the battery voltage, the current approaches zero. Once the capacitor voltage has reached 15 volts,
the current will be exactly zero. Let’s see how this works using real values:
16
14
12
Capacitor voltage 10
8
6
4
2
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Time (seconds)
---------------------------------------------
| Time | Battery | Capacitor | Current |
|(seconds) | voltage | voltage | |
|-------------------------------------------|
| 0 | 15 V | 0 V | 1500 uA |
|-------------------------------------------|
| 0.5 | 15 V | 5.902 V | 909.8 uA |
|-------------------------------------------|
| 1 | 15 V | 9.482 V | 551.8 uA |
|-------------------------------------------|
| 2 | 15 V | 12.970 V | 203.0 uA |
|-------------------------------------------|
16.2. CAPACITOR TRANSIENT RESPONSE 487
| 3 | 15 V | 14.253 V | 74.68 uA |
|-------------------------------------------|
| 4 | 15 V | 14.725 V | 27.47 uA |
|-------------------------------------------|
| 5 | 15 V | 14.899 V | 10.11 uA |
|-------------------------------------------|
| 6 | 15 V | 14.963 V | 3.718 uA |
|-------------------------------------------|
| 10 | 15 V | 14.999 V | 0.068 uA |
---------------------------------------------
The capacitor voltage’s approach to 15 volts and the current’s approach to zero over time is
what a mathematician would call asymptotic: that is, they both approach their final values, getting
closer and closer over time, but never exactly reaches their destinations. For all practical purposes,
though, we can say that the capacitor voltage will eventually reach 15 volts and that the current
will eventually equal zero.
Using the SPICE circuit analysis program, we can chart this asymptotic buildup of capacitor
voltage and decay of capacitor current in a more graphical form (capacitor current is plotted in
terms of voltage drop across the resistor, using the resistor as a shunt to measure current):
capacitor charging
v1 1 0 dc 15
r1 1 2 10k
c1 2 0 100u ic=0
.tran .5 10 uic
.plot tran v(2,0) v(1,2)
.end
legend:
*: v(2) Capacitor voltage
+: v(1,2) Capacitor current
time v(2)
(*+)----------- 0.000E+00 5.000E+00 1.000E+01 1.500E+01
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
0.000E+00 5.976E-05 * . . +
5.000E-01 5.881E+00 . . * + . .
1.000E+00 9.474E+00 . .+ *. .
1.500E+00 1.166E+01 . + . . * .
2.000E+00 1.297E+01 . + . . * .
2.500E+00 1.377E+01 . + . . * .
3.000E+00 1.426E+01 . + . . * .
3.500E+00 1.455E+01 .+ . . *.
4.000E+00 1.473E+01 .+ . . *.
4.500E+00 1.484E+01 + . . *
5.000E+00 1.490E+01 + . . *
5.500E+00 1.494E+01 + . . *
6.000E+00 1.496E+01 + . . *
6.500E+00 1.498E+01 + . . *
7.000E+00 1.499E+01 + . . *
7.500E+00 1.499E+01 + . . *
8.000E+00 1.500E+01 + . . *
8.500E+00 1.500E+01 + . . *
9.000E+00 1.500E+01 + . . *
9.500E+00 1.500E+01 + . . *
1.000E+01 1.500E+01 + . . *
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
As you can see, I have used the .plot command in the netlist instead of the more familiar
.print command. This generates a pseudo-graphic plot of figures on the computer screen using
text characters. SPICE plots graphs in such a way that time is on the vertical axis (going down)
and amplitude (voltage/current) is plotted on the horizontal (right=more; left=less). Notice how
the voltage increases (to the right of the plot) very quickly at first, then tapering off as time goes
on. Current also changes very quickly at first then levels off as time goes on, but it is approaching
minimum (left of scale) while voltage approaches maximum.
• REVIEW:
• Capacitors act somewhat like secondary-cell batteries when faced with a sudden change in
applied voltage: they initially react by producing a high current which tapers off over time.
• A fully discharged capacitor initially acts as a short circuit (current with no voltage drop) when
faced with the sudden application of voltage. After charging fully to that level of voltage, it
acts as an open circuit (voltage drop with no current).
• In a resistor-capacitor charging circuit, capacitor voltage goes from nothing to full source
voltage while current goes from maximum to zero, both variables changing most rapidly at
first, approaching their final values slower and slower as time goes on.
16.3 Inductor transient response

Inductors have the exact opposite characteristics of capacitors. Whereas capacitors store energy in
an electric field (produced by the voltage between two plates), inductors store energy in a magnetic
field (produced by the current through wire). Thus, while the stored energy in a capacitor tries to
maintain a constant voltage across its terminals, the stored energy in an inductor tries to maintain a
constant current through its windings. Because of this, inductors oppose changes in current, and act
precisely the opposite of capacitors, which oppose changes in voltage. A fully discharged inductor
(no magnetic field), having zero current through it, will initially act as an open-circuit when attached
to a source of voltage (as it tries to maintain zero current), dropping maximum voltage across its
leads. Over time, the inductor’s current rises to the maximum value allowed by the circuit, and the
terminal voltage decreases correspondingly. Once the inductor’s terminal voltage has decreased to
a minimum (zero for a ”perfect” inductor), the current will stay at a maximum level, and it will
behave essentially as a short-circuit.
16.3. INDUCTOR TRANSIENT RESPONSE 489
Switch
R
1Ω
15 V L 1H
When the switch is first closed, the voltage across the inductor will immediately jump to battery
voltage (acting as though it were an open-circuit) and decay down to zero over time (eventually
acting as though it were a short-circuit). Voltage across the inductor is determined by calculating
how much voltage is being dropped across R, given the current through the inductor, and subtracting
that voltage value from the battery to see what’s left. When the switch is first closed, the current is
zero, then it increases over time until it is equal to the battery voltage divided by the series resistance
of 1 Ω. This behavior is precisely opposite that of the series resistor-capacitor circuit, where current
started at a maximum and capacitor voltage at zero. Let’s see how this works using real values:
16
14
12
Inductor voltage 10
8
6
4
2
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Time (seconds)
---------------------------------------------
| Time | Battery | Inductor | Current |
|-------------------------------------------|
| 0 | 15 V | 15 V | 0 |
|-------------------------------------------|
| 0.5 | 15 V | 9.098 V | 5.902 A |
|-------------------------------------------|
| 1 | 15 V | 5.518 V | 9.482 A |
|-------------------------------------------|
| 2 | 15 V | 2.030 V | 12.97 A |
|-------------------------------------------|
| 3 | 15 V | 0.747 V | 14.25 A |
|-------------------------------------------|
| 4 | 15 V | 0.275 V | 14.73 A |
|-------------------------------------------|
| 5 | 15 V | 0.101 V | 14.90 A |
|-------------------------------------------|
| 6 | 15 V | 37.181 mV | 14.96 A |
|-------------------------------------------|
| 10 | 15 V | 0.681 mV | 14.99 A |
---------------------------------------------
Just as with the RC circuit, the inductor voltage’s approach to 0 volts and the current’s approach
to 15 amps over time is asymptotic. For all practical purposes, though, we can say that the inductor
voltage will eventually reach 0 volts and that the current will eventually equal the maximum of 15
amps.
Again, we can use the SPICE circuit analysis program to chart this asymptotic decay of inductor
voltage and buildup of inductor current in a more graphical form (inductor current is plotted in
terms of voltage drop across the resistor, using the resistor as a shunt to measure current):
inductor charging
v1 1 0 dc 15
r1 1 2 1
l1 2 0 1 ic=0
.tran .5 10 uic
.plot tran v(2,0) v(1,2)
.end
legend:
*: v(2) Inductor voltage
+: v(1,2) Inductor current
time v(2)
(*+)------------ 0.000E+00 5.000E+00 1.000E+01 1.500E+01
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
0.000E+00 1.500E+01 + . . *
5.000E-01 9.119E+00 . . + * . .
1.000E+00 5.526E+00 . .* +. .
1.500E+00 3.343E+00 . * . . + .
2.000E+00 2.026E+00 . * . . + .
2.500E+00 1.226E+00 . * . . + .
3.000E+00 7.429E-01 . * . . + .
3.500E+00 4.495E-01 .* . . +.
4.000E+00 2.724E-01 .* . . +.
4.500E+00 1.648E-01 * . . +
5.000E+00 9.987E-02 * . . +
5.500E+00 6.042E-02 * . . +
16.4. VOLTAGE AND CURRENT CALCULATIONS 491
6.000E+00 3.662E-02 * . . +
6.500E+00 2.215E-02 * . . +
7.000E+00 1.343E-02 * . . +
7.500E+00 8.123E-03 * . . +
8.000E+00 4.922E-03 * . . +
8.500E+00 2.978E-03 * . . +
9.000E+00 1.805E-03 * . . +
9.500E+00 1.092E-03 * . . +
1.000E+01 6.591E-04 * . . +
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Notice how the voltage decreases (to the left of the plot) very quickly at first, then tapering off
as time goes on. Current also changes very quickly at first then levels off as time goes on, but it is
approaching maximum (right of scale) while voltage approaches minimum.
• REVIEW:
• A fully ”discharged” inductor (no current through it) initially acts as an open circuit (voltage
drop with no current) when faced with the sudden application of voltage. After ”charging”
fully to the final level of current, it acts as a short circuit (current with no voltage drop).
• In a resistor-inductor ”charging” circuit, inductor current goes from nothing to full value while
voltage goes from maximum to zero, both variables changing most rapidly at first, approaching
their final values slower and slower as time goes on.
16.4 Voltage and current calculations

There’s a sure way to calculate any of the values in a reactive DC circuit over time. The first step is to
identify the starting and final values for whatever quantity the capacitor or inductor opposes change
in; that is, whatever quantity the reactive component is trying to hold constant. For capacitors, this
quantity is voltage; for inductors, this quantity is current. When the switch in a circuit is closed
(or opened), the reactive component will attempt to maintain that quantity at the same level as it
was before the switch transition, so that value is to be used for the ”starting” value. The final value
for this quantity is whatever that quantity will be after an infinite amount of time. This can be
determined by analyzing a capacitive circuit as though the capacitor was an open-circuit, and an
inductive circuit as though the inductor was a short-circuit, because that is what these components
behave as when they’ve reached ”full charge,” after an infinite amount of time.
The next step is to calculate the time constant of the circuit: the amount of time it takes for
voltage or current values to change approximately 63 percent from their starting values to their
final values in a transient situation. In a series RC circuit, the time constant is equal to the total
resistance in ohms multiplied by the total capacitance in farads. For a series LR circuit, it is the
total inductance in henrys divided by the total resistance in ohms. In either case, the time constant
is expressed in units of seconds and symbolized by the Greek letter ”tau” (τ ):
For resistor-capacitor circuits:

τ = RC
For resistor-inductor circuits:

L
τ=
R
The rise and fall of circuit values such as voltage in current in response to a transient is, as was
mentioned before, asymptotic. Being so, the values begin to rapidly change soon after the transient
and settle down over time. If plotted on a graph, the approach to the final values of voltage and
current form exponential curves.
As was stated before, one time constant is the amount of time it takes for any of these values
to change about 63 percent from their starting values to their (ultimate) final values. For every
time constant, these values move (approximately) 63 percent closer to their eventual goal. The
mathematical formula for determining the precise percentage is quite simple:
1
Percentage of change = 1 - x 100%
et/τ
The letter e stands for Euler’s constant, which is approximately 2.7182818. It is derived from
calculus techniques, after mathematically analyzing the asymptotic approach of the circuit values.
After one time constant’s worth of time, the percentage of change from starting value to final value
is:
1
1- x 100% = 63.212%
e1
After two time constant’s worth of time, the percentage of change from starting value to final
value is:
1
1- x 100% = 86.466%
e2
After ten time constant’s worth of time, the percentage is:
1
1- x 100% = 99.995%
e10
The more time that passes since the transient application of voltage from the battery, the larger
the value of the denominator in the fraction, which makes for a smaller value for the whole fraction,
which makes for a grand total (1 minus the fraction) approaching 1, or 100 percent.
We can make a more universal formula out of this one for the determination of voltage and
current values in transient circuits, by multiplying this quantity by the difference between the final
and starting circuit values:
Universal Time Constant Formula
1
Change = (Final-Start) 1 -
et/τ
Where,
Final = Value of calculated variable after infinite time
(its ultimate value)
Start = Initial value of calculated variable
e = Euler’s number ( 2.7182818)
t = Time in seconds
τ = Time constant for circuit in seconds
Let’s analyze the voltage rise on the series resistor-capacitor circuit shown at the beginning of
the chapter.
Switch
R
10 kΩ
15 V C 100 µF
Note that we’re choosing to analyze voltage because that is the quantity capacitors tend to hold
constant. Although the formula works quite well for current, the starting and final values for current
are actually derived from the capacitor’s voltage, so calculating voltage is a more direct method.
The resistance is 10 kΩ, and the capacitance is 100 µF (microfarads). Since the time constant (τ )
for an RC circuit is the product of resistance and capacitance, we obtain a value of 1 second:
τ = RC
τ = (10 kΩ)(100 µF)
τ = 1 second
If the capacitor starts in a totally discharged state (0 volts), then we can use that value of voltage
for a ”starting” value. The final value, of course, will be the battery voltage (15 volts). Our universal
formula for capacitor voltage in this circuit looks like this:
1
et/τ
1
Change = (15 V - 0 V) 1-
et/1
So, after 7.25 seconds of applying voltage through the closed switch, our capacitor voltage will
have increased by:
1
Change = (15 V - 0 V) 1-
7.25/1
e
Change = (15 V - 0 V)(0.99929)
Change = 14.989 V
Since we started at a capacitor voltage of 0 volts, this increase of 14.989 volts means that we
have 14.989 volts after 7.25 seconds.
The same formula will work for determining current in that circuit, too. Since we know that
a discharged capacitor initially acts like a short-circuit, the starting current will be the maximum
amount possible: 15 volts (from the battery) divided by 10 kΩ (the only opposition to current in
the circuit at the beginning):
15 V
Starting current =
10 kΩ
Starting current = 1.5 mA

We also know that the final current will be zero, since the capacitor will eventually behave as an
open-circuit, meaning that eventually no electrons will flow in the circuit. Now that we know both
the starting and final current values, we can use our universal formula to determine the current after
7.25 seconds of switch closure in the same RC circuit:
1
Change = (0 mA - 1.5 mA) 1 -
7.25/1
e
Change = (0 mA - 1.5 mA)(0.99929)
Change = - 1.4989 mA
Note that the figure obtained for change is negative, not positive! This tells us that current has
decreased rather than increased with the passage of time. Since we started at a current of 1.5 mA,
this decrease (-1.4989 mA) means that we have 0.001065 mA (1.065 µA) after 7.25 seconds.
We could have also determined the circuit current at time=7.25 seconds by subtracting the
capacitor’s voltage (14.989 volts) from the battery’s voltage (15 volts) to obtain the voltage drop
across the 10 kΩ resistor, then figuring current through the resistor (and the whole series circuit)
with Ohm’s Law (I=E/R). Either way, we should obtain the same answer:
E
I=
R
15 V - 14.989 V
I=
10 kΩ
I = 1.065 µA
The universal time constant formula also works well for analyzing inductive circuits. Let’s apply
it to our example L/R circuit in the beginning of the chapter:
Switch
R
1Ω
15 V L 1H
With an inductance of 1 henry and a series resistance of 1 Ω, our time constant is equal to 1
second:
L
τ=
R
1H
τ=
1Ω
τ = 1 second
Because this is an inductive circuit, and we know that inductors oppose change in current, we’ll
set up our time constant formula for starting and final values of current. If we start with the switch
in the open position, the current will be equal to zero, so zero is our starting current value. After
the switch has been left closed for a long time, the current will settle out to its final value, equal
to the source voltage divided by the total circuit resistance (I=E/R), or 15 amps in the case of this
circuit.
If we desired to determine the value of current at 3.5 seconds, we would apply the universal time
constant formula as such:
1
Change = (15 A - 0 A) 1 -
3.5/1
e
Change = (15 A - 0 A)(0.9698)
Change = 14.547 A
Given the fact that our starting current was zero, this leaves us at a circuit current of 14.547
amps at 3.5 seconds’ time.
Determining voltage in an inductive circuit is best accomplished by first figuring circuit current
and then calculating voltage drops across resistances to find what’s left to drop across the inductor.
With only one resistor in our example circuit (having a value of 1 Ω), this is rather easy:
ER = (14.547 A)(1 Ω)
ER = 14.547 V
Subtracted from our battery voltage of 15 volts, this leaves 0.453 volts across the inductor at
time=3.5 seconds.
EL = Ebattery - ER
EL = 15 V - 14.547 V
EL = 0.453 V
• REVIEW:
• Universal Time Constant Formula:
Universal Time Constant Formula
1
et/τ
Where,
Final = Value of calculated variable after infinite time
(its ultimate value)
Start = Initial value of calculated variable
e = Euler’s number ( 2.7182818)
t = Time in seconds
• τ = Time constant for circuit in seconds
• To analyze an RC or L/R circuit, follow these steps:

16.5. WHY L/R AND NOT LR? 497
• (1): Determine the time constant for the circuit (RC or L/R).
• (2): Identify the quantity to be calculated (whatever quantity whose change is directly opposed
by the reactive component. For capacitors this is voltage; for inductors this is current).
• (3): Determine the starting and final values for that quantity.
• (4): Plug all these values (Final, Start, time, time constant) into the universal time constant
formula and solve for change in quantity.
• (5): If the starting value was zero, then the actual value at the specified time is equal to the
calculated change given by the universal formula. If not, add the change to the starting value
to find out where you’re at.
16.5 Why L/R and not LR?
It is often perplexing to new students of electronics why the time-constant calculation for an inductive
circuit is different from that of a capacitive circuit. For a resistor-capacitor circuit, the time constant
(in seconds) is calculated from the product (multiplication) of resistance in ohms and capacitance
in farads: τ =RC. However, for a resistor-inductor circuit, the time constant is calculated from the
quotient (division) of inductance in henrys over the resistance in ohms: τ =L/R.
This difference in calculation has a profound impact on the qualitative analysis of transient
circuit response. Resistor-capacitor circuits respond quicker with low resistance and slower with high
resistance; resistor-inductor circuits are just the opposite, responding quicker with high resistance
and slower with low resistance. While capacitive circuits seem to present no intuitive trouble for the
new student, inductive circuits tend to make less sense.
Key to the understanding of transient circuits is a firm grasp on the concept of energy transfer
and the electrical nature of it. Both capacitors and inductors have the ability to store quantities
of energy, the capacitor storing energy in the medium of an electric field and the inductor storing
energy in the medium of a magnetic field. A capacitor’s electrostatic energy storage manifests itself
in the tendency to maintain a constant voltage across the terminals. An inductor’s electromagnetic
energy storage manifests itself in the tendency to maintain a constant current through it.
Let’s consider what happens to each of these reactive components in a condition of discharge:
that is, when energy is being released from the capacitor or inductor to be dissipated in the form of
heat by a resistor:
Capacitor and inductor discharge
Stored Dissipated Stored Dissipated

energy energy energy energy
heat heat
E I
Time Time
In either case, heat dissipated by the resistor constitutes energy leaving the circuit, and as a
consequence the reactive component loses its store of energy over time, resulting in a measurable
decrease of either voltage (capacitor) or current (inductor) expressed on the graph. The more power
dissipated by the resistor, the faster this discharging action will occur, because power is by definition
the rate of energy transfer over time.
Therefore, a transient circuit’s time constant will be dependent upon the resistance of the circuit.
Of course, it is also dependent upon the size (storage capacity) of the reactive component, but since
the relationship of resistance to time constant is the issue of this section, we’ll focus on the effects
of resistance alone. A circuit’s time constant will be less (faster discharging rate) if the resistance
value is such that it maximizes power dissipation (rate of energy transfer into heat). For a capacitive
circuit where stored energy manifests itself in the form of a voltage, this means the resistor must
have a low resistance value so as to maximize current for any given amount of voltage (given voltage
times high current equals high power). For an inductive circuit where stored energy manifests itself
in the form of a current, this means the resistor must have a high resistance value so as to maximize
voltage drop for any given amount of current (given current times high voltage equals high power).
This may be analogously understood by considering capacitive and inductive energy storage in
mechanical terms. Capacitors, storing energy electrostatically, are reservoirs of potential energy.
Inductors, storing energy electromagnetically (electrodynamically), are reservoirs of kinetic energy.
In mechanical terms, potential energy can be illustrated by a suspended mass, while kinetic energy
can be illustrated by a moving mass. Consider the following illustration as an analogy of a capacitor:
16.5. WHY L/R AND NOT LR? 499
Potential energy storage

and release
Cart
slo
pe
gravity
The cart, sitting at the top of a slope, possesses potential energy due to the influence of gravity
and its elevated position on the hill. If we consider the cart’s braking system to be analogous to the
resistance of the system and the cart itself to be the capacitor, what resistance value would facilitate
rapid release of that potential energy? Minimum resistance (no brakes) would diminish the cart’s
altitude quickest, of course! Without any braking action, the cart will freely roll downhill, thus
expending that potential energy as it loses height. With maximum braking action (brakes firmly
set), the cart will refuse to roll (or it will roll very slowly) and it will hold its potential energy for a
long period of time. Likewise, a capacitive circuit will discharge rapidly if its resistance is low and
discharge slowly if its resistance is high.
Now let’s consider a mechanical analogy for an inductor, showing its stored energy in kinetic
form:
Kinetic energy storage

and release
Cart
This time the cart is on level ground, already moving. Its energy is kinetic (motion), not potential
(height). Once again if we consider the cart’s braking system to be analogous to circuit resistance and
the cart itself to be the inductor, what resistance value would facilitate rapid release of that kinetic
energy? Maximum resistance (maximum braking action) would slow it down quickest, of course!
With maximum braking action, the cart will quickly grind to a halt, thus expending its kinetic
energy as it slows down. Without any braking action, the cart will be free to roll on indefinitely
(barring any other sources of friction like aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance), and it will hold
its kinetic energy for a long period of time. Likewise, an inductive circuit will discharge rapidly if
its resistance is high and discharge slowly if its resistance is low.
Hopefully this explanation sheds more light on the subject of time constants and resistance, and
why the relationship between the two is opposite for capacitive and inductive circuits.
16.6 Complex voltage and current calculations

There are circumstances when you may need to analyze a DC reactive circuit when the starting values
of voltage and current are not respective of a fully ”discharged” state. In other words, the capacitor
might start at a partially-charged condition instead of starting at zero volts, and an inductor might
start with some amount of current already through it, instead of zero as we have been assuming so
far. Take this circuit as an example, starting with the switch open and finishing with the switch in
the closed position:
Switch
R1 R2
2Ω 1Ω
15 V L 1H
Since this is an inductive circuit, we’ll start our analysis by determining the start and end values
for current. This step is vitally important when analyzing inductive circuits, as the starting and
ending voltage can only be known after the current has been determined! With the switch open
(starting condition), there is a total (series) resistance of 3 Ω, which limits the final current in the
circuit to 5 amps:
E
I=
R
15 V
I=
3Ω
I=5A
So, before the switch is even closed, we have a current through the inductor of 5 amps, rather
than starting from 0 amps as in the previous inductor example. With the switch closed (the final
condition), the 1 Ω resistor is shorted across (bypassed), which changes the circuit’s total resistance
to 2 Ω. With the switch closed, the final value for current through the inductor would then be:
E
I=
R
15 V
I=
2Ω
I = 7.5 A
16.7. COMPLEX CIRCUITS 501
So, the inductor in this circuit has a starting current of 5 amps and an ending current of 7.5
amps. Since the ”timing” will take place during the time that the switch is closed and R 2 is shorted
past, we need to calculate our time constant from L1 and R1 : 1 Henry divided by 2 Ω, or τ = 1/2
second. With these values, we can calculate what will happen to the current over time. The voltage
across the inductor will be calculated by multiplying the current by 2 (to arrive at the voltage across
the 2 Ω resistor), then subtracting that from 15 volts to see what’s left. If you realize that the
voltage across the inductor starts at 5 volts (when the switch is first closed) and decays to 0 volts
over time, you can also use these figures for starting/ending values in the general formula and derive
the same results:
1
Change = (7.5 A - 5 A) 1- Calculating current
et/0.5
. . . or . . .
1
Change = (0 V - 5 V) 1- Calculating voltage
et/0.5
---------------------------------------------
| Time | Battery | Inductor | Current |
|-------------------------------------------|
| 0 | 15 V | 5 V | 5 A |
|-------------------------------------------|
| 0.1 | 15 V | 4.094 V | 5.453 A |
|-------------------------------------------|
| 0.25 | 15 V | 3.033 V | 5.984 A |
|-------------------------------------------|
| 0.5 | 15 V | 1.839 V | 6.580 A |
|-------------------------------------------|
| 1 | 15 V | 0.677 V | 7.162 A |
|-------------------------------------------|
| 2 | 15 V | 0.092 V | 7.454 A |
|-------------------------------------------|
| 3 | 15 V | 0.012 V | 7.494 A |
---------------------------------------------
16.7 Complex circuits

What do we do if we come across a circuit more complex than the simple series configurations we’ve
seen so far? Take this circuit as an example:
Switch
R1
2 kΩ
20 V R2 500 Ω C 100 µF
R3
3 kΩ
The simple time constant formula (τ =RC) is based on a simple series resistance connected to
the capacitor. For that matter, the time constant formula for an inductive circuit (τ =L/R) is also
based on the assumption of a simple series resistance. So, what can we do in a situation like this,
where resistors are connected in a series-parallel fashion with the capacitor (or inductor)?
The answer comes from our studies in network analysis. Thevenin’s Theorem tells us that we
can reduce any linear circuit to an equivalent of one voltage source, one series resistance, and a load
component through a couple of simple steps. To apply Thevenin’s Theorem to our scenario here,
we’ll regard the reactive component (in the above example circuit, the capacitor) as the load and
remove it temporarily from the circuit to find the Thevenin voltage and Thevenin resistance. Then,
once we’ve determined the Thevenin equivalent circuit values, we’ll re-connect the capacitor and
solve for values of voltage or current over time as we’ve been doing so far.
After identifying the capacitor as the ”load,” we remove it from the circuit and solve for voltage
across the load terminals (assuming, of course, that the switch is closed):
Switch
(closed) R1
2 kΩ
Thevenin = 1.8182 V
20 V R2 500 Ω voltage
R3
3 kΩ
R1 R2 R3 Total
E 7.273 1.818 10.909 20 Volts
I 3.636m 3.636m 3.636m 3.636m Amps
R 2k 500 3k 5.5k Ohms
This step of the analysis tells us that the voltage across the load terminals (same as that across
resistor R2 ) will be 1.8182 volts with no load connected. With a little reflection, it should be clear
that this will be our final voltage across the capacitor, seeing as how a fully-charged capacitor acts
like an open circuit, drawing zero current. We will use this voltage value for our Thevenin equivalent
circuit source voltage.
Now, to solve for our Thevenin resistance, we need to eliminate all power sources in the original
circuit and calculate resistance as seen from the load terminals:
Switch
(closed) R1
2 kΩ
500 Ω Thevenin
resistance = 454.545 Ω
R2
R3
3 kΩ
RThevenin = R2 // (R1 -- R3)
RThevenin = 500 Ω // (2 kΩ + 3 kΩ)
RThevenin = 454.545 Ω
Re-drawing our circuit as a Thevenin equivalent, we get this:
Switch
RThevenin
454.545 Ω
EThevenin
C 100 µF
1.8182 V
Our time constant for this circuit will be equal to the Thevenin resistance times the capacitance
(τ =RC). With the above values, we calculate:
τ = RC
τ = (454.545 Ω)(100 µF)
τ = 45.4545 milliseconds
Now, we can solve for voltage across the capacitor directly with our universal time constant
formula. Let’s calculate for a value of 60 milliseconds. Because this is a capacitive formula, we’ll set
our calculations up for voltage:
1
Change = (Final - Start) 1-
et/τ
1
Change = (1.8182 V - 0 V) 1-
60m/45.4545m
e
Change = (1.8182 V)(0.73286)
Change = 1.3325 V
Again, because our starting value for capacitor voltage was assumed to be zero, the actual voltage
across the capacitor at 60 milliseconds is equal to the amount of voltage change from zero, or 1.3325
volts.
We could go a step further and demonstrate the equivalence of the Thevenin RC circuit and the
original circuit through computer analysis. I will use the SPICE analysis program to demonstrate
this:
Comparison RC analysis
* first, the netlist for the original circuit:
v1 1 0 dc 20
r1 1 2 2k
r2 2 3 500
r3 3 0 3k
c1 2 3 100u ic=0
* then, the netlist for the thevenin equivalent:
v2 4 0 dc 1.818182
r4 4 5 454.545
c2 5 0 100u ic=0
* now, we analyze for a transient, sampling every .005 seconds
* over a time period of .37 seconds total, printing a list of
* values for voltage across the capacitor in the original
* circuit (between modes 2 and 3) and across the capacitor in
* the thevenin equivalent circuit (between nodes 5 and 0)
.tran .005 0.37 uic
.print tran v(2,3) v(5,0)
.end
time v(2,3) v(5)

0.000E+00 4.803E-06 4.803E-06
5.000E-03 1.890E-01 1.890E-01
1.000E-02 3.580E-01 3.580E-01
1.500E-02 5.082E-01 5.082E-01
2.000E-02 6.442E-01 6.442E-01
2.500E-02 7.689E-01 7.689E-01
3.000E-02 8.772E-01 8.772E-01
3.500E-02 9.747E-01 9.747E-01

4.000E-02 1.064E+00 1.064E+00
4.500E-02 1.142E+00 1.142E+00
5.000E-02 1.212E+00 1.212E+00
5.500E-02 1.276E+00 1.276E+00
6.000E-02 1.333E+00 1.333E+00
6.500E-02 1.383E+00 1.383E+00
7.000E-02 1.429E+00 1.429E+00
7.500E-02 1.470E+00 1.470E+00
8.000E-02 1.505E+00 1.505E+00
8.500E-02 1.538E+00 1.538E+00
9.000E-02 1.568E+00 1.568E+00
9.500E-02 1.594E+00 1.594E+00
1.000E-01 1.617E+00 1.617E+00
1.050E-01 1.638E+00 1.638E+00
1.100E-01 1.657E+00 1.657E+00
1.150E-01 1.674E+00 1.674E+00
1.200E-01 1.689E+00 1.689E+00
1.250E-01 1.702E+00 1.702E+00
1.300E-01 1.714E+00 1.714E+00
1.350E-01 1.725E+00 1.725E+00
1.400E-01 1.735E+00 1.735E+00
1.450E-01 1.744E+00 1.744E+00
1.500E-01 1.752E+00 1.752E+00
1.550E-01 1.758E+00 1.758E+00
1.600E-01 1.765E+00 1.765E+00
1.650E-01 1.770E+00 1.770E+00
1.700E-01 1.775E+00 1.775E+00
1.750E-01 1.780E+00 1.780E+00
1.800E-01 1.784E+00 1.784E+00
1.850E-01 1.787E+00 1.787E+00
1.900E-01 1.791E+00 1.791E+00
1.950E-01 1.793E+00 1.793E+00
2.000E-01 1.796E+00 1.796E+00
2.050E-01 1.798E+00 1.798E+00
2.100E-01 1.800E+00 1.800E+00
2.150E-01 1.802E+00 1.802E+00
2.200E-01 1.804E+00 1.804E+00
2.250E-01 1.805E+00 1.805E+00
2.300E-01 1.807E+00 1.807E+00
2.350E-01 1.808E+00 1.808E+00
2.400E-01 1.809E+00 1.809E+00
2.450E-01 1.810E+00 1.810E+00
2.500E-01 1.811E+00 1.811E+00
2.550E-01 1.812E+00 1.812E+00
2.600E-01 1.812E+00 1.812E+00
2.650E-01 1.813E+00 1.813E+00

2.700E-01 1.813E+00 1.813E+00
2.750E-01 1.814E+00 1.814E+00
2.800E-01 1.814E+00 1.814E+00
2.850E-01 1.815E+00 1.815E+00
2.900E-01 1.815E+00 1.815E+00
2.950E-01 1.815E+00 1.815E+00
3.000E-01 1.816E+00 1.816E+00
3.050E-01 1.816E+00 1.816E+00
3.100E-01 1.816E+00 1.816E+00
3.150E-01 1.816E+00 1.816E+00
3.200E-01 1.817E+00 1.817E+00
3.250E-01 1.817E+00 1.817E+00
3.300E-01 1.817E+00 1.817E+00
3.350E-01 1.817E+00 1.817E+00
3.400E-01 1.817E+00 1.817E+00
3.450E-01 1.817E+00 1.817E+00
3.500E-01 1.817E+00 1.817E+00
3.550E-01 1.817E+00 1.817E+00
3.600E-01 1.818E+00 1.818E+00
3.650E-01 1.818E+00 1.818E+00
3.700E-01 1.818E+00 1.818E+00
At every step along the way of the analysis, the capacitors in the two circuits (original circuit
versus Thevenin equivalent circuit) are at equal voltage, thus demonstrating the equivalence of the
two circuits.
• REVIEW:
• To analyze an RC or L/R circuit more complex than simple series, convert the circuit into a
Thevenin equivalent by treating the reactive component (capacitor or inductor) as the ”load”
and reducing everything else to an equivalent circuit of one voltage source and one series
resistor. Then, analyze what happens over time with the universal time constant formula.
16.8 Solving for unknown time

Sometimes it is necessary to determine the length of time that a reactive circuit will take to reach a
predetermined value. This is especially true in cases where we’re designing an RC or L/R circuit to
perform a precise timing function. To calculate this, we need to modify our ”Universal time constant
formula.” The original formula looks like this:
1
et/τ
However, we want to solve for time, not the amount of change. To do this, we algebraically
manipulate the formula so that time is all by itself on one side of the equal sign, with all the rest
on the other side:
16.8. SOLVING FOR UNKNOWN TIME 507
1
t=τ ln
Change
1-
Final - Start
The ln designation just to the right of the time constant term is the natural logarithm function:
the exact reverse of taking the power of e. In fact, the two functions (powers of e and natural
logarithms) can be related as such:
If ex = a, then ln a = x.
If ex = a, then the natural logarithm of a will give you x: the power that e must be was raised
to in order to produce a.
Let’s see how this all works on a real example circuit. Taking the same resistor-capacitor circuit
from the beginning of the chapter, we can work ”backwards” from previously determined values of
voltage to find how long it took to get there.
Switch
R
10 kΩ
15 V C 100 µF
The time constant is still the same amount: 1 second (10 kΩ times 100 µF), and the starting/final
values remain unchanged as well (EC = 0 volts starting and 15 volts final). According to our chart
at the beginning of the chapter, the capacitor would be charged to 12.970 volts at the end of 2
seconds. Let’s plug 12.970 volts in as the ”Change” for our new formula and see if we arrive at an
answer of 2 seconds:
1
t = (1 second) ln
12.970 V
1-
15 V - 0 V
1
t = (1 second)ln
0.13534
t = (1 second)ln 7.389
t = (1 second)(2)
t = 2 seconds
Indeed, we end up with a value of 2 seconds for the time it takes to go from 0 to 12.970 volts across
the capacitor. This variation of the universal time constant formula will work for all capacitive and
inductive circuits, both ”charging” and ”discharging,” provided the proper values of time constant,
Start, Final, and Change are properly determined beforehand. Remember, the most important step
in solving these problems is the initial set-up. After that, it’s just a lot of button-pushing on your
calculator!
• REVIEW:
• To determine the time it takes for an RC or L/R circuit to reach a certain value of voltage or
current, you’ll have to modify the universal time constant formula to solve for time instead of
change.
1
t=τ ln
Change
1-
• Final - Start
• The mathematical function for reversing an exponent of ”e” is the natural logarithm (ln),
provided on any scientific calculator.
16.9 Contributors
second edition.
Chapter 17
ABOUT THIS BOOK
17.1 Purpose
They say that necessity is the mother of invention. At least in the case of this book, that adage
is true. As an industrial electronics instructor, I was forced to use a sub-standard textbook during
my first year of teaching. My students were daily frustrated with the many typographical errors
and obscure explanations in this book, having spent much time at home struggling to comprehend
the material within. Worse yet were the many incorrect answers in the back of the book to selected
problems. Adding insult to injury was the $100+ price.
Contacting the publisher proved to be an exercise in futility. Even though the particular text I
was using had been in print and in popular use for a couple of years, they claimed my complaint
was the first they’d ever heard. My request to review the draft for the next edition of their book
was met with disinterest on their part, and I resolved to find an alternative text.
Finding a suitable alternative was more difficult than I had imagined. Sure, there were plenty of
texts in print, but the really good books seemed a bit too heavy on the math and the less intimidating
books omitted a lot of information I felt was important. Some of the best books were out of print,
and those that were still being printed were quite expensive.
It was out of frustration that I compiled Lessons in Electric Circuits from notes and ideas I had
been collecting for years. My primary goal was to put readable, high-quality information into the
hands of my students, but a secondary goal was to make the book as affordable as possible. Over the
years, I had experienced the benefit of receiving free instruction and encouragement in my pursuit
of learning electronics from many people, including several teachers of mine in elementary and high
school. Their selfless assistance played a key role in my own studies, paving the way for a rewarding
career and fascinating hobby. If only I could extend the gift of their help by giving to other people
what they gave to me . . .
So, I decided to make the book freely available. More than that, I decided to make it ”open,”
following the same development model used in the making of free software (most notably the various
UNIX utilities released by the Free Software Foundation, and the Linux operating system, whose
fame is growing even as I write). The goal was to copyright the text – so as to protect my authorship
– but expressly allow anyone to distribute and/or modify the text to suit their own needs with a
minimum of legal encumbrance. This willful and formal revoking of standard distribution limitations
509
510 CHAPTER 17. ABOUT THIS BOOK
under copyright is whimsically termed copyleft. Anyone can ”copyleft” their creative work simply
by appending a notice to that effect on their work, but several Licenses already exist, covering the
fine legal points in great detail.
The first such License I applied to my work was the GPL – General Public License – of the
Free Software Foundation (GNU). The GPL, however, is intended to copyleft works of computer
software, and although its introductory language is broad enough to cover works of text, its wording
is not as clear as it could be for that application. When other, less specific copyleft Licenses began
appearing within the free software community, I chose one of them (the Design Science License, or
DSL) as the official notice for my project.
In ”copylefting” this text, I guaranteed that no instructor would be limited by a text insufficient
for their needs, as I had been with error-ridden textbooks from major publishers. I’m sure this book
in its initial form will not satisfy everyone, but anyone has the freedom to change it, leveraging my
efforts to suit variant and individual requirements. For the beginning student of electronics, learn
what you can from this book, editing it as you feel necessary if you come across a useful piece of
information. Then, if you pass it on to someone else, you will be giving them something better than
what you received. For the instructor or electronics professional, feel free to use this as a reference
manual, adding or editing to your heart’s content. The only ”catch” is this: if you plan to distribute
your modified version of this text, you must give credit where credit is due (to me, the original
author, and anyone else whose modifications are contained in your version), and you must ensure
that whoever you give the text to is aware of their freedom to similarly share and edit the text. The
next chapter covers this process in more detail.
It must be mentioned that although I strive to maintain technical accuracy in all of this book’s
content, the subject matter is broad and harbors many potential dangers. Electricity maims and
kills without provocation, and deserves the utmost respect. I strongly encourage experimentation
on the part of the reader, but only with circuits powered by small batteries where there is no risk of
electric shock, fire, explosion, etc. High-power electric circuits should be left to the care of trained
professionals! The Design Science License clearly states that neither I nor any contributors to this
book bear any liability for what is done with its contents.
17.2 The use of SPICE

One of the best ways to learn how things work is to follow the inductive approach: to observe
specific instances of things working and derive general conclusions from those observations. In
science education, labwork is the traditionally accepted venue for this type of learning, although
in many cases labs are designed by educators to reinforce principles previously learned through
lecture or textbook reading, rather than to allow the student to learn on their own through a truly
exploratory process.
Having taught myself most of the electronics that I know, I appreciate the sense of frustration
students may have in teaching themselves from books. Although electronic components are typically
inexpensive, not everyone has the means or opportunity to set up a laboratory in their own homes,
and when things go wrong there’s no one to ask for help. Most textbooks seem to approach the task
of education from a deductive perspective: tell the student how things are supposed to work, then
apply those principles to specific instances that the student may or may not be able to explore by
themselves. The inductive approach, as useful as it is, is hard to find in the pages of a book.
However, textbooks don’t have to be this way. I discovered this when I started to learn a
17.3. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 511
computer program called SPICE. It is a text-based piece of software intended to model circuits and
provide analyses of voltage, current, frequency, etc. Although nothing is quite as good as building
real circuits to gain knowledge in electronics, computer simulation is an excellent alternative. In
learning how to use this powerful tool, I made a discovery: SPICE could be used within a textbook
to present circuit simulations to allow students to ”observe” the phenomena for themselves. This
way, the readers could learn the concepts inductively (by interpreting SPICE’s output) as well as
deductively (by interpreting my explanations). Furthermore, in seeing SPICE used over and over
again, they should be able to understand how to use it themselves, providing a perfectly safe means
of experimentation on their own computers with circuit simulations of their own design.
Another advantage to including computer analyses in a textbook is the empirical verification
it adds to the concepts presented. Without demonstrations, the reader is left to take the author’s
statements on faith, trusting that what has been written is indeed accurate. The problem with
faith, of course, is that it is only as good as the authority in which it is placed and the accuracy
of interpretation through which it is understood. Authors, like all human beings, are liable to err
and/or communicate poorly. With demonstrations, however, the reader can immediately see for
themselves that what the author describes is indeed true. Demonstrations also serve to clarify the
meaning of the text with concrete examples.
SPICE is introduced in the book early on, and hopefully in a gentle enough way that it doesn’t
create confusion. For those wishing to learn more, a chapter in the Reference volume (volume V)
contains an overview of SPICE with many example circuits. There may be more flashy (graphic)
circuit simulation programs in existence, but SPICE is free, a virtue complementing the charitable
philosophy of this book very nicely.
17.3 Acknowledgements
First, I wish to thank my wife, whose patience during those many and long evenings (and weekends!)
of typing has been extraordinary.
I also wish to thank those whose open-source software development efforts have made this en-
deavor all the more affordable and pleasurable. The following is a list of various free computer
software used to make this book, and the respective programmers:
• GNU/Linux Operating System – Linus Torvalds, Richard Stallman, and a host of others too
numerous to mention.
• Vim text editor – Bram Moolenaar and others.
• Xcircuit drafting program – Tim Edwards.
• SPICE circuit simulation program – too many contributors to mention.
• Nutmeg post-processor program for SPICE – Wayne Christopher.
• TEX text processing system – Donald Knuth and others.
• Texinfo document formatting system – Free Software Foundation.
• LATEX document formatting system – Leslie Lamport and others.

512 CHAPTER 17. ABOUT THIS BOOK
• Gimp image manipulation program – too many contributors to mention.
Appreciation is also extended to Robert L. Boylestad, whose first edition of Introductory Circuit
Analysis taught me more about electric circuits than any other book. Other important texts in
my electronics studies include the 1939 edition of The “Radio” Handbook, Bernard Grob’s second
edition of Introduction to Electronics I, and Forrest Mims’ original Engineer’s Notebook.
Thanks to the staff of the Bellingham Antique Radio Museum, who were generous enough to
let me terrorize their establishment with my camera and flash unit. Similar thanks to the Fluke
Corporation in Everett, Washington, who not only let me photograph several pieces of equipment
in their primary standards laboratory, but proved their excellent hosting skills to a large group of
students and technical professionals one evening in November of 2001.
I wish to specifically thank Jeffrey Elkner and all those at Yorktown High School for being willing
to host my book as part of their Open Book Project, and to make the first effort in contributing to its
form and content. Thanks also to David Sweet (website: (http://www.andamooka.org)) and Ben
Crowell (website: (http://www.lightandmatter.com)) for providing encouragement, constructive
criticism, and a wider audience for the online version of this book.
Thanks to Michael Stutz for drafting his Design Science License, and to Richard Stallman for
pioneering the concept of copyleft.
Last but certainly not least, many thanks to my parents and those teachers of mine who saw in
me a desire to learn about electricity, and who kindled that flame into a passion for discovery and
intellectual adventure. I honor you by helping others as you have helped me.
Tony Kuphaldt, January 2002
”A candle loses nothing of its light when lighting another”

Kahlil Gibran
Chapter 18
CONTRIBUTOR LIST
18.1 How to contribute to this book

As a copylefted work, this book is open to revision and expansion by any interested parties. The
only ”catch” is that credit must be given where credit is due. This is a copyrighted work: it is not
in the public domain!
If you wish to cite portions of this book in a work of your own, you must follow the same
guidelines as for any other copyrighted work. Here is a sample from the Design Science License:
The Work is copyright the Author. All rights to the Work are reserved
by the Author, except as specifically described below. This License
describes the terms and conditions under which the Author permits you
to copy, distribute and modify copies of the Work.
In addition, you may refer to the Work, talk about it, and (as
dictated by "fair use") quote from it, just as you would any
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Your right to operate, perform, read or otherwise interpret and/or

execute the Work is unrestricted; however, you do so at your own risk,
because the Work comes WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY -- see Section 7 ("NO
WARRANTY") below.
If you wish to modify this book in any way, you must document the nature of those modifications
in the ”Credits” section along with your name, and ideally, information concerning how you may be
contacted. Again, the Design Science License:
Permission is granted to modify or sample from a copy of the Work,

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provided that the following terms are met:
513
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(a) The new, derivative work is published under the terms of this
License.
(b) The derivative work is given a new name, so that its name or
title can not be confused with the Work, or with a version of
the Work, in any way.
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between the Work and the new derivative work, authorship is
attributed to you, while the material sampled or used from
the Work remains attributed to the original Author; appropriate
notice must be included with the new work indicating the nature
and the dates of any modifications of the Work made by you.
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18.2 Credits
All entries arranged in alphabetical order of surname. Major contributions are listed by individual
name with some detail on the nature of the contribution(s), date, contact info, etc. Minor contri-
butions (typo corrections, etc.) are listed by name only for reasons of brevity. Please understand
that when I classify a contribution as “minor,” it is in no way inferior to the effort or value of a
“major” contribution, just smaller in the sense of less text changed. Any and all contributions are
gratefully accepted. I am indebted to all those who have given freely of their own knowledge, time,
and resources to make this a better book!
18.2.1 Benjamin Crowell, Ph.D.

• Date(s) of contribution(s): January 2001
• Nature of contribution: Suggestions on improving technical accuracy of electric field and

charge explanations in the first two chapters.
• Contact at: [email protected]
18.2.2 Tony R. Kuphaldt

• Date(s) of contribution(s): 1996 to present
• Nature of contribution: Original author.

18.2. CREDITS 515
18.2.3 Ron LaPlante

• Date(s) of contribution(s): October 1998
• Nature of contribution: Helped create the ”table” concept for use in analysis of series and
parallel circuits.
18.2.4 Jason Starck

• Date(s) of contribution(s): June 2000
• Nature of contribution: HTML formatting, some error corrections.
18.2.5 Warren Young

• Date(s) of contribution(s): August 2002
• Nature of contribution: Provided capacitor photographs for chapter 13.
18.2.6 Your name here

• Date(s) of contribution(s): Month and year of contribution
• Nature of contribution: Insert text here, describing how you contributed to the book.
• Contact at: my [email protected]
18.2.7 Typo corrections and other “minor” contributions

• The students of Bellingham Technical College’s Instrumentation program.
• James Boorn (January 2001) Clarification on SPICE simulation.

• Dejan Budimir (January 2003) Clarification of Mesh Current method explanation.
• Bill Heath (September-December 2002) Correction on illustration of atomic structure, and

corrections of several typographical errors.
• Don Stalkowski (June 2002) Technical help with PostScript-to-PDF file format conversion.
• Joseph Teichman (June 2002) Suggestion and technical help regarding use of PNG images
instead of JPEG.
516 CHAPTER 18. CONTRIBUTOR LIST
Chapter 19
DESIGN SCIENCE LICENSE
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[$Id: dsl.txt,v 1.25 2000/03/14 13:14:14 m Exp m $]

Index
10-50 milliamp signal, 304 Battery capacity, 386

3-15 PSI signal, 299 Battery charging, 381
4-20 milliamp signal, 303 Battery discharging, 381
4-wire resistance measurement, 279 Battery, charging, 393
Battery, Edison cell, 381
AC, 19, 74 Battery, lead-acid cell, 380
Acid, 310 Battery, sealed lead-acid cell, 393
Algebraic sum, 175 Bifilar winding, 293
Alligator clips, 280 Bimetallic strip, 408
Alternating current, 19, 74 Block, terminal, 154
Ammeter, 108, 248 Bond, chemical, 378
Ammeter impact, 255 Bond, covalent, 379
Ammeter, clamp-on, 257 Bond, ionic, 379
Amp, 113 Bonded strain gauge, 316
Amp-hour, 386 Branch Current analysis, 327
Ampacity, 403 Breadboard, solderless, 149, 215
Ampere (Amp), 34 Breakdown, insulation, 52, 271, 422
Ampere (Amp), unit defined, 34 Bridge circuit, 284
Amplified voltmeter, 243 Bridge, Kelvin Double, 286
Amplifier, 243 Bridge, Wheatstone, 284
Analysis, Branch Current method, 327 Busbar, 402
Analysis, Mesh Current method, 336
Analysis, network, 325 C, symbol for capacitance, 428
Analysis, qualitative, 147, 210 Cadmium cell, 388
Analysis, series-parallel, 194 Calculus, 430, 461, 471
Arm, Wheatstone bridge, 285 Calculus, derivative function, 433, 474
Asymptotic, 487, 490 Capacitance, 428
Atom, 4 Capacitor, 425
Atomic structure, 4, 377, 395 Capacitor, electrolytic, 439
Atto, metric prefix, 117 Capacitor, tantalum, 444
AWG (American Wire Gauge), 400 Capacitor, variable, 437
Capacitors, nonpolarized, 443
B, symbol for magnetic flux density, 454 Capacitors, polarized, 443
B&S (Brown and Sharpe), 400 Capacitors, series and parallel, 437
Bank, battery, 392 Capacity, battery, 386
Barrier strip, 154, 217 Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation, 92
Battery, 17, 383 Carrier, strain gauge, 316
521
522 INDEX
Cathode Ray Tube, 233 Coulomb, 4, 6, 34, 386

Caustic, 310 CPR, 92
Cell, 379, 383 CRT, 233
Cell, chemical detection, 391 Current, 8, 13, 33
Cell, fuel, 389 Current divider, 184
Cell, mercury standard, 388 Current divider formula, 185
Cell, primary, 381 Current signal, 301
Cell, secondary, 381 Current signal, 10-50 milliamp, 304
Cell, solar, 390 Current signal, 4-20 milliamp, 303
Celsius (temperature scale), 137 Current source, 301, 360
Centi, metric prefix, 117 Current, alternating, 19
Centigrade, 137 Current, direct, 19
Cgs, metric system, 453 Current, inrush, 410
Charge, early definition, 3 Current, precise definition, 34, 41
Charge, elementary, 6
Charge, modern definition, 6 D’Arsonval meter movement, 232
Charge, negative, 6 DC, 19, 74
Charge, positive, 6 Deca, metric prefix, 117
Charging, battery, 381, 393 Deci, metric prefix, 117
Charging, capacitor, 428 Delta-Y conversion, 369
Charging, inductor, 469 Derivative, calculus, 433, 474
Chip, 47 Detector, 245
Choke, 470 Detector, null, 245
Circuit, 11 Diamagnetism, 449
Circuit breaker, 89, 408 Dielectric, 428
Circuit, closed, 23 Dielectric strength, 422
Circuit, equivalent, 356, 363, 370, 439, 483 Digit, significant, 113
Circuit, open, 23 Diode, 30
Circuit, short, 22 Diode, zener, 389
Circuits, nonlinear, 355 Direct current, 19, 74
Circular mil, 399 Discharging, battery, 381
Closed circuit, 23 Discharging, capacitor, 428
Cmil, 399 Discharging, inductor, 469
Common logarithm, 310 Disconnect switch, 88
Compensation, thermocouple reference junc- Double insulation, 97
tion, 306 Dynamic electricity, 8
Computer simulation, 59 Dynamometer meter movement, 292
Condenser (or Condensor), 429
Conductance, 137 e, symbol for Euler’s constant, 492
Conductivity, 7 e, symbol for instantaneous voltage, 34, 430,
Conductivity, earth, 93 461, 471
Conductor, 7, 395 E, symbol for voltage, 34
Conductor ampacity, 403 Edison cell, 381
Continuity, 10, 106 Effect, Meissner, 421
Conventional flow, 29 Effect, Peltier, 308
Cooper pairs, 420 Effect, Seebeck, 305
INDEX 523
Electric circuit, 11 Force, magnetomotive, 451

Electric current, 8 Four-wire resistance measurement, 279
Electric current, in a gas, 51 Free electron, 7
Electric field, 425 Frequency, 82
Electric motor, 452 Fuel cell, 389
Electric power, 39 Full-bridge circuit, 321
Electric shock, 73 Fuse, 89, 405
Electrically common points, 55, 76, 77 Fusible link, 409
Electrolyte, 379
Electrolytic capacitor, 439 G, symbol for conductance, 137
Electromagnetic induction, 460 Galvanometer, 229
Electromagnetism, 229, 451 Gauge, wire size, 400
Electromotive force, 34 Gauss, 454
Electron, 4, 377 GFCI, 93, 98, 99
Electron flow, 29 Giga, metric prefix, 117
Electron gas, 396 Gilbert, 454
Electron tube, 31, 53 Ground, 77
Electron, free, 7, 395 Ground fault, 78, 93, 98, 99
Electrostatic meter movement, 232 Ground Fault Current Interrupter, 93, 98, 99
Elementary charge, 6 Grounding, 77, 79
Emergency response, 91
Energy, potential, 16 H, symbol for magnetic field intensity, 454
Engineering mode, calculator, 119 Half-bridge circuit, 320
Equations, simultaneous, 327 Hall-effect sensor, 257
Equations, systems of, 327 Headphones, as sensitive null detector, 245
Equivalent circuit, 356, 363, 370, 439, 483 Hecto, metric prefix, 117
Esaki diode, 53 Henry, 470
Euler’s constant, 492 Hertz, 82, 137
Exa, metric prefix, 117 Hi-pot tester, 271
Excitation voltage, bridge circuit, 322 High voltage breakdown of insulation, 52, 271
Horsepower, 39
Farad, 428 Hot wire, 95
Fault, ground, 78 Hydrometer, 381
Femto, metric prefix, 117 Hysteresis, 455
Ferrite , 459
Ferromagnetism, 449 I, symbol for current, 34
Fibrillation, cardiac, 74 i, symbol for instantaneous current, 34, 430,
Field flux, 425, 448, 467 471
Field force, 425, 448, 467 IC, 47
Field intensity, 453 Impedance, 367
Field, electric, 425 Indicator, 298, 300
Field, magnetic, 467 Inductance, 470
Field-effect transistor, 243, 315 Inductance, mutual, 462, 483
Flow, electron vs. conventional, 29 Induction, electromagnetic, 460
Flux density, 453 Inductive reactance, 470
Force, electromotive, 34 Inductor, 461, 467
524 INDEX
Inductor, toroidal, 480 Magnet, permanent, 448

Inductors, series and parallel, 481 Magnetic field, 467
Inrush current, 410 Magnetism, 447
Instantaneous value, 34, 430, 461, 471 Magnetite, 447
Insulation breakdown, 52, 271 Magnetomotive force, 451
Insulation, wire, 87 Maximum Power Transfer Theorem, 367
Insulator, 7, 395, 422 Maxwell, 454
Integrated circuit, 47 Mega, metric prefix, 117
Ionization, 51 Megger, 265
Ionization potential, 52 Megohmmeter, 265
Iron-vane meter movement, 232 Meissner effect, 421
Mercury cell, 388
Josephson junction, 422 Mesh Current analysis, 336
Joule, 34 Meter, 229
Joule’s Law, 43, 453 Meter movement, 229
Jumper wire, 143 Meter, null, 245
Junction, Josephson, 422 Metric system, 117
Metric system, cgs, 453
KCL, 187, 189 Metric system, mks, 453
Kelvin (temperature scale), 420 Metric system, rmks, 453
Kelvin clips, 279, 280 Metric system, Systeme International (SI), 453
Kelvin Double bridge, 286 Metrology, 280
Kelvin resistance measurement, 279 Mho, 137
Kilo, metric prefix, 117 Micro, metric prefix, 117
Kirchhoff’s Current Law, 187 Mil, 398
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law, 173 Mil, circular, 399
KVL, 173, 177 Milli, metric prefix, 117
Milliamp, 82
L, symbol for inductance, 470 Millman’s Theorem, 348, 365
Lead, test, 101 Mks, metric system, 453
Lead-acid battery, 380 Molecule, 379
Leakage, capacitor, 427 Motion, perpetual, 421
Left-hand rule, 450 Motor, electric, 452
Lenz’s Law, 473, 475 Movement, meter, 229
Lightning, 52 Multimeter, 100, 271
Linear, 50 Multiplier, 236
Linearity, strain gauge bridge circuits, 322 Mutual inductance, 462, 483
Litmus strip, 311 MWG (Steel Music Wire Gauge), 400
Load, 48
Load cell, 322 Nano, metric prefix, 117
Loading, voltmeter, 241 National Electrical Code, 403
Lock-out/Tag-out, 89 Natural logarithm, 507
Lodestone, 447 NEC, 403
Logarithm, common, 310 Negative charge, 6
Logarithm, natural, 507 Negative resistance, 53
Logarithmic scale, 260 Netlist, SPICE, 62, 120, 131, 136
INDEX 525
Network analysis, 325 pH, 310

Network theorem, 347 Photoelectric effect, 390
Neuron, 74 Physics, quantum, 395
Neurotransmitter, 74 Pico, metric prefix, 117
Neutral wire, 95 PMMC meter movement, 230
Neutron, 4, 377 pO2, 310
Node number, SPICE, 60 Points, electrically common, 55, 76, 77
Nonlinear, 50 Polarity, 20
Nonlinear circuit, 355 Polarity, voltage, 58
Nonpolarized, 30, 443 Polarized, 30, 443
Normal magnetization curve, 455 Positive charge, 6
Norton’s Theorem, 359 Potential energy, 16
Notation, scientific, 114 Potential, ionization, 52
Nucleus, 5, 377, 395 Potentiometer, 46, 172
Null detector, 245 Potentiometer, as voltage divider, 168
Null meter, 245 Potentiometer, precision, 173
Power calculations, 42
Oersted, 454 Power, electric, 39
Ohm, 34 Power, general definition, 498
Ohm’s Law, 35, 453 Power, in series and parallel circuits, 139
Ohm’s Law, correct context, 126, 133, 140 Power, precise definition, 41
Ohm’s Law, for magnetic circuits, 454 Primary cell, 381
Ohm’s Law, qualitative, 212 Printed circuit board, 46, 153
Ohm’s Law, water analogy, 38 Process variable, 298
Ohmmeter, 258 Proton, 4, 113, 377
Ohms per volt, 242 Proton, mass of, 113
Open circuit, 23
Oscilloscope, 234 Q, symbol for electric charge, 34
Over-unity machine, 421 Qualitative analysis, 147, 210
Overcurrent protection, 89 Quantum physics, 395
Quarter-bridge circuit, 317
P, symbol for power, 40
Parallel circuit rules, 137, 192 R, symbol for resistance, 34
Parallel, definition of, 125 Radioactivity, 5
Paramagnetism, 449 Ratio arm, Wheatstone bridge, 285
Particle, 4, 377 Re-drawing schematic diagrams, 202
PCB, 46, 153 Reactance, inductive, 470
pCO2, 310 Reactor, 470
Peltier effect, 308 Reference junction compensation, 306
Permanent magnet, 448 Relay, 452
Permanent Magnet Moving Coil meter move- Reluctance, 453
ment, 230 Resistance, 22, 33
Permeability, 453, 478 Resistance, internal to battery, 384
Permittivity, 428, 435 Resistance, negative, 53
Perpetual motion machine, 421 Resistance, specific, 412
Peta, metric prefix, 117 Resistance, temperature coefficient of, 417
526 INDEX
Resistor, 44 Signal, current, 301

Resistor, custom value, 293 Signal, digital, 297
Resistor, fixed, 45 Signal, voltage, 300
Resistor, load, 48 Significant digit, 113
Resistor, multiplier, 236 Simulation, computer, 59
Resistor, potentiometer, 46 Simultaneous equations, 327
Resistor, shunt, 249 Slide rule, 116
Resistor, variable, 45 Slidewire, potentiometer, 168
Resistor, wire-wound, 293 Slow-blow fuse, 410
Resolution, 297 SMD, 47
Retentivity, 450 Solar cell, 390
Rheostat arm, Wheatstone bridge, 285 Soldering, 46, 153
Rmks, metric system, 453 Solderless breadboard, 149, 215
RPM, 40 Source, current, 301, 360
Rule, left-hand, 450 Specific resistance, 412
Rule, slide, 116 Speedomax, 307
Rules, parallel circuits, 137, 192 SPICE, 59, 120
Rules, series circuits, 132, 192 SPICE netlist, 62, 120, 131
Standard cell, 388
Saturation, 455 Static electricity, 1, 6, 8
Scale, logarithmic, 260 Strain gauge, 316
Scientific notation, 114 Strain gauge circuit linearity, 322
Secondary cell, 381 Strip, terminal, 154
Seebeck effect, 305 Strong nuclear force, 5
Self-induction, 461 Subscript, 48
Semiconductor, 30, 395 Sum, algebraic, 175
Semiconductor diode, 30 Superconductivity, 8
Semiconductor fuse, 411 Superconductor, 419
Semiconductor manufacture, 391 Superfluidity, 420
Sensitivity, ohms per volt, 242 Superposition Theorem, 351
Series circuit rules, 132, 192 Surface-mount device, 47
Series, definition of, 124 SWG (British Standard Wire Gauge), 400
Series-parallel analysis, 194 Switch, 23
Shell, electron, 395 Switch, closed, 26
Shock hazard, AC, 74 Switch, open, 26
Shock hazard, DC, 74 Switch, safety disconnect, 88
Shock, electric, 73 System, metric, 117
Short circuit, 22, 143 Systems of equations, 327
Shunt, 249
SI (Systeme International), metric system, 453 Tachogenerator, 304
Siemens, 137 Tachometer, 304
Signal, 297 Tantalum capacitor, 444
Signal, 10-50 milliamp, 304 Temperature coefficient of resistance, 417
Signal, 3-15 PSI, 299 Temperature compensation, strain gauge, 319
Signal, 4-20 milliamp, 303 Temperature, transition, 420
Signal, analog, 297 Tera, metric prefix, 117
INDEX 527
Terminal block, 217 Unit, mho, 137

Terminal strip, 154, 217 Unit, mil, 398
Tesla, 454 Unit, oersted, 454
Test lead, 101 Unit, ohm, 34
Tetanus, 74 Unit, siemens, 137
Tetrode, 53 Unit, tesla, 454
Text editor, 60 Unit, volt, 34
Theorem, Maximum Power Transfer, 367 Unit, watt, 40
Theorem, Millman’s, 348, 365 Unit, weber, 454
Theorem, network, 347 Universal time constant formula, 492
Theorem, Norton’s, 359
Theorem, Superposition, 351 v, symbol for instantaneous voltage, 34, 430,
Theorem, Thevenin’s, 355, 502 471
Thermocouple, 305 V, symbol for voltage, 34
Thermopile, 307 Vacuum tube, 31, 243
Thevenin’s Theorem, 355, 502 Valence, 395
Time constant, 491 Variable capacitor, 437
Time constant formula, 492 Variable component, symbol modifier, 45
Toroidal core inductor, 480 Varistor, 52, 455
Torque, 40 Volt, 34
Trace, printed circuit board, 153 Volt, unit defined, 34
Transducer, 74 Voltage, 13, 33, 76
Transformer, 245, 462 Voltage divider, 165
Transient, 485 Voltage divider formula, 167
Transistor, 243, 271, 315, 391, 422 Voltage drop, 17
Transistor, field-effect, 243, 315 Voltage polarity, 20, 58, 176, 336
Transition temperature, 420 Voltage signal, 300
Transmitter, 298, 300 Voltage, between common points, 57
Troubleshooting, 142 Voltage, potential, 33
Tube, vacuum, 243 Voltage, precise definition, 16, 41
Tube, vacuum or electron, 31 Voltage, sources, 17
Tunnel diode, 53 Voltmeter, 105, 235
Voltmeter impact, 240
Unit, ampere (amp), 34 Voltmeter loading, 241
Unit, Celsius, 137 Voltmeter, amplified, 243
Unit, centigrade, 137 Voltmeter, null-balance, 244, 314
Unit, cmil, 399 Voltmeter, potentiometric, 244, 314
Unit, coulomb, 4, 6, 34, 386 VTVM, 243
Unit, farad, 428
Unit, gauss, 454 Watt, 40
Unit, gilbert, 454 Wattmeter, 292
Unit, henry, 470 Weber, 454
Unit, hertz, 82, 137 Weston cell, 388
Unit, joule, 34 Weston meter movement, 232
Unit, kelvin, 420 Wheatstone bridge, 284, 317
Unit, maxwell, 454 Wheatstone bridge, unbalanced, 341
528 INDEX
Winding, bifilar, 293

Wiper, potentiometer, 168
Wire, 9
Wire Gauge, 400
Wire, jumper, 143
Wire, solid and stranded, 397
Wire-wound resistor, 293
Wire-wrapping, 153
Work, 39
Working voltage, capacitor, 439
Y-Delta conversion, 369

Yocto, metric prefix, 117
Yotta, metric prefix, 117
Zener diode, 389

Zepto, metric prefix, 117
Zero energy state, 87
Zero, absolute, 419
Zetta, metric prefix, 117

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Fifth Edition, last update January 1, 2004

Fifth Edition, last update January 1, 2004

c 1998-2003, Tony R. Kuphaldt

• Second Edition: Printed in September of 2000. Illustrations reworked in standard graphic

1 BASIC CONCEPTS OF ELECTRICITY 1

4 SCIENTIFIC NOTATION AND METRIC PREFIXES 113

5 SERIES AND PARALLEL CIRCUITS 123

6 DIVIDER CIRCUITS AND KIRCHHOFF’S LAWS 165

7 SERIES-PARALLEL COMBINATION CIRCUITS 191

8 DC METERING CIRCUITS 229

8.11 Wattmeter design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292

9 ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENTATION SIGNALS 297

10 DC NETWORK ANALYSIS 325

11 BATTERIES AND POWER SYSTEMS 377

12 PHYSICS OF CONDUCTORS AND INSULATORS 395

12.9 Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 423

14 MAGNETISM AND ELECTROMAGNETISM 447

16 RC AND L/R TIME CONSTANTS 485

17 ABOUT THIS BOOK 509

18 CONTRIBUTOR LIST 513

19 DESIGN SCIENCE LICENSE 517

1.1 Static electricity

Glass rod Silk cloth

Glass rod Glass rod

Silk cloth Silk cloth

Wool cloth Wool cloth

• All materials are made up of tiny ”building blocks” known as atoms.

• All atoms contain particles called electrons, protons, and neutrons.

• Electrons have a negative (-) electric charge.

• Protons have a positive (+) electric charge.

• Neutrons have no electric charge.

1.2 Conductors, insulators, and electron flow

Electron no flow! no flow! Electron

Electron no flow! Electron

• In insulating materials, the outer electrons are not so free to move.

• All metals are electrically conductive.

1.3 Electric circuits

electrons can flow

in a path without A marble-and-

It must be realized that continuity is just as important in a circuit as it is in a straight piece

1.4 Voltage and current

Reservoir Energy stored

More energy stored More energy released

• Voltage, as an expression of potential energy, is always relative between two locations, or

It doesn’t matter how twisted or

• Resistance is the measure of opposition to electric current.

• A closed circuit is one that is complete, with good continuity throughout.

1.6 Voltage and current in a practical circuit

same rate of current . . .

This, again, is analogous to the water reservoir system:

1.7 Conventional versus electron flow

Conventional flow notation

+ Electric charge moves

Electron flow notation

+ Electric charge moves

Placed within a battery/lamp circuit, its operation is as such:

Current permitted Current prohibited

Current shown using

Current shown using

2.1 How voltage, current, and resistance relate