Experiment 1 – Series and Parallel Resistor Circuits

Background Information

The Breadboard

The solderless breadboard is designed to accommodate experiments. This

breadboard will hold and interconnect resistors, lamps, switches and many other
components, as well as provide a connecting point for electrical power.

These 5 holes are all

electrically connected by a (a)
Metal Strip within the
Breadboard
Bus Strips

This Bus Line is electrically

connected from one end of
the Board to the other by a
Metal Strip within the
Breadboard. Conductive strips within
Breadboard

(b)
Top view of Breadboard Bottom view of Breadboard
Fig. 1

Fig. 1a shows an experimental circuit wired up on a breadboard. Fig. 1b shows

the views of a basic breadboard. As can be seen from the Bottom view on the
right side, electrical connector strips are within the breadboard. These
conductive strips make a connection between the five hole groups. The bus
strips have an electrical connector strip running from end to end, as shown in the
Bottom view. They are usually connected to a power supply.

Subject: Electronics Lab (Analog) Page: 1

 R1
DC Power Supply
1k
+
- + 9V DC
Power R2
1k
Supply
0V
R3
1k
Breadboard
(a)
R1
1K Ohm1k
+ +
DC 9V DC
Power 1K Ohm R2
Power 9V
Supply
1k

Supply 0V
- 1K Ohm1k
R3

Breadboard
Breadboard
(b)

Fig. 2

In the circuit in fig. 2, the positive supply voltage is connected to the upper bus
strip, while the negative supply (ground) is connected to the lower bus strip.
These power supply rails can then be connected to the circuit formed on the
breadboard with hookup wire. In this example three resistors are connected end-
to-end as shown in the schematic diagram in fig. 2b.

Fig. 3 shows how the multimeter could be used to make voltage, current and
resistance measurements of a circuit constructed on the breadboard.

Other breadboards may vary slightly as far as layout is concerned, but the
pattern of the conductive strips can be determined by making a few resistance
checks with an ohmmeter.

Subject: Electronics Lab (Analog) Page: 2

 DC Power Supply

- +

3.0 V (a)

Off

A V

Measuring Voltage
A COM V (Meter in Parallel)

DC Power Supply

- +

3.0 mA
Open Current path and
Off
Insert Ammeter

A V
(b)

Measuring Current
A COM V (Meter in Series)

DC Power Supply

- +
Disconnect
Power
Supply

1.0 k Ohms (Isolate Resistor from circuit by

removing link or lifting
Off one of the component leads)

A V
(c)

Measuring Resistance Fig. 3

A COM V (Meter in Parallel)

Subject: Electronics Lab (Analog) Page: 3

Practical experiment:

Now carry out the following experiment to consolidate what you have read in this
tutorial, and practice using the breadboard, and the multimeter to measure
resistance, voltage and current.

Objectives

• Wire simple circuits on the breadboard

• Calculate the total resistance of any combination of resistors wired in series
• Calculate the total resistance of any combination of resistors wired in parallel
• Calculate the total resistance of any combination of series/parallel resistors
• Verify by means of the ohmmeter the calculations for the total resistance
• Measure current with an ammeter
• Calculate the voltage drop across resistors
• Verify by means of the voltmeter the calculations for the voltage drops

Procedure

Part 1:

For each of the circuit shown in figures 4 to 6, calculate the values of the total
circuit resistance, the voltage drop across each resistor and the total current
flowing in the circuit. Show your working on separate paper and fill in the results
in Table 1

R1
1k
+
9V+DC
R1 = 1 kΩ

Power R2
9V
Supply
R2 = 4.7 kΩ 4k7

_ 0V
R3 = 2.2 kΩ R3
2k2
Breadboard
Breadboard

Fig. 4

Subject: Electronics Lab (Analog) Page: 4

 +
+9V DC
Power R1 R2 R3
9V
Supply R1 R2
1k 4k7
R3
2k2
2.2 kΩ 1 kΩ 4.7 kΩ
_ 0V

Breadboard Breadboard

Fig. 5

R1
1k
+ + R1
1 kΩ
9V DC
R2 R3
9V
Power R2 R3
4k7 2k2
Supply 2.2 kΩ 4.7 kΩ
_ 0V

Breadboard Breadboard

Fig. 6

Circuit Total Circuit Volt drop Volt Drop Volt drop

Reference Resistance Current across R1 across R2 across R3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Table 1 – Calculated values for circuits in figs. 4 to 6

Subject: Electronics Lab (Analog) Page: 5

 Now connect each circuit one by one on the breadboard. First measure the total
resistance of each circuit. Then connect the power supply and measure the
voltage across each resistor and the total circuit current. Complete Table 2 with
the results and compare the values with those calculated in Table 1.

Circuit Total Circuit Volt drop Volt Drop Volt drop

Reference Resistance Current across R1 across R2 across R3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Table 2 – measured values for circuits of figs. 2 to 6

Now calculate the values of total R, total current, and voltage across each
resistor of circuit in fig. 7 below. Fill in Table 3 with the results. Connect the circuit
on the breadboard and measure the same values using the multimeter. Complete
Table 3 with the results and compare with the values calculated.

R1
2k2
+
9V DC R2 R3 R4
3k3 4k7 4k7
Power
Supply
0V R5
1k

R6
4k7 Breadboard

Fig. 7

Total Total Voltage Voltage Voltage Voltage Voltage Voltage

Circuit circuit across across across across across across
R current R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6
Calculated
Measured

Table 3 – Values obtained for circuit in fig. 7

Subject: Electronics Lab (Analog) Page: 6

The Variable Resistor:

The Variable Resistor describes an electrical device which has a user-

adjustable resistance. Usually, this is a three-terminal resistor with a sliding
contact in the center (the wiper). If all three terminals are used, it can act as a
variable voltage divider (called Potentiometer). If only two terminals are used
(one side and the wiper), it acts as a current controller in a circuit (called
Rheostat). Its shortcoming is that of corrosion or wearing of the sliding contact,
especially if it is kept in one position.

‘1’ ‘2’ ‘3’

‘1’
‘2’
‘3’

(a).

'1' ‘1’

'2'

‘2’ ‘1’ ‘3’ ‘2’

Fig. 10
‘3’
'3'

(b). (c).

Fig. 8
As shown in Fig. 8 above, between terminals ‘1’ and ‘3’ there is the maximum
fixed resistance rating of the resistor. Terminal ‘2’ is connected to the wiper
which, when moved by rotating device knob, produces a variable resistance
between terminals ‘1’ and ‘2’ or ‘2’ and ‘3’. Fig. 8 (a) and (b) show the
construction of two types of potentiometers. Fig. 8 (c) shows the electrical
symbols of a variable resistor.

Subject: Electronics Lab (Analog) Page: 7

Experiments using the variable resistor:

Construct the circuit shown in fig. 9(a). Adjust the variable resistor so that you get
a 0Ω value between terminals ‘1’ and ‘2’ of the pot. Connect the DMM set on dc
Amps in series with R1. Switch on the power supply and measure the circuit
current. Rotate the resistor knob and note the behaviour of the circuit current.
Note the value of the current when the knob is rotated fully. Fill in Table 4 with
the noted results. Here you must understand how a variable resistor can be used
to control circuit current, or as a rheostat.

Circuit current when supply is switched on:

Behaviour of current when knob rotated: Increases/decreases
Circuit current when knob rotated fully:

Table 3

R1 A R1 A
+10V +10V
10k 10k
'1' '1'
10k Pot 10k Pot
'2' B '2' B

'3' '3'
0V 0V
(a). B (b). B

Fig. 9

Now modify the circuit to that shown in Fig. 9(b). Adjust the varaiable resistor
until you get a 0Ω between terminals ‘1’ and ‘2’ of the pot. Connect the DMM set
on DC Volts between points A and B of the circuit. Switch on the power supply
and note the voltage between points A and B. Rotate the variable resistor knob
and note the behaviour of the voltage indicated by the DMM as you turn the pot
knob. Note the value of the voltage when the knob is turned fully. Fill in Table 5
with the noted results. Here you must understand how a variable resistor can be
used to produce a variable voltage from a fixed supply, or as a potentiometer.

Voltage on DMM when supply is switched on:

Behaviour of voltage when knob rotated: Increases/decreases
Voltage on DMM when knob rotated fully:

Table 5

Student Name: __________________ Class: ____________

Subject: Electronics Lab (Analog) Page: 8