Voltage/current dividers

Voltage and current dividers are easy to understand and use. They are so
easy that it may seem not worth the bother of learning them as a
separate techniques. But the divider methods, when combined with the
equivalent resistances, may be the most used technique in electronics.
Knowing how to use dividers will allow us to quickly recognize what is
happening in a circuit and determine important voltages and currents.
An engineer could certainly analyze and design circuits without having
voltage and dividers in their “tool bag”, but they would be wasting lots
of time writing unnecessary KVL and KCL equations.

EE 201 voltage/current dividers – 1

 Voltage divider + vR1 –
iS
Consider a portion of circuit that R1 +
has several resistors in series, like +
VS R2 vR2
–
the circuit at right. Suppose we R3 –
want to find the voltage across R2.
– vR3 +
We could start by finding the current, which would be equal to the
source voltage divided by the equivalent resistance of the string.
VS
iS =
Req
For the series string, Req = R1 + R2 + R3.
Then the voltage across R2 is just
R2 R2
vR2 = R2 ⋅ iS = ⋅ VS = ⋅ VS
Req R1 + R2 + R3
The total voltage is divided among the resistor in the string. The fraction
of the voltage across R2 is given by a simple resistor ratio.

EE 201 voltage/current dividers – 2

 The other resistor voltages are calculated just as easily.
+ vR1 –
R2
iS vR1 = ⋅ VS
R1 + R1 + R2 + R3
+
VS R2 vR2
– R3
R3 – vR3 = ⋅ VS
R1 + R2 + R3
– vR3 +

The three divided voltages sum up to VS, as KVL insists. If we insert

some numbers: VS = 15 V, R1 = 4.7 kΩ, R2 = 15 kΩ, and R3 = 10 kΩ.

4.7 kΩ
vR1 = (15 V) = 2.37 V
4.7 kΩ + 15 kΩ + 10 kΩ
15 kΩ
vR2 = (15 V) = 7.58 V It’s that easy.
4.7 kΩ + 15 kΩ + 10 kΩ
10 kΩ
vR2 = (15 V) = 5.05 V
4.7 kΩ + 15 kΩ + 10 kΩ

EE 201 voltage/current dividers – 3

 Current divider
Same idea, but with parallel +
resistors dividing a current. IS vS R1 R2 R3
Suppose we want to know the – iR1 iR2 iR3
current through R2.

We could start by finding the voltage, which would be equal to the source
current multiplied by the equivalent resistance of the parallel resistors.
vS = IS ⋅ Req
1
For the parallel combination, Req = 1 1 1
R1
+ R2
+ R3

Then the current through R2 is

1
vS Req R2
iR2 = = ⋅ IS = ⋅ IS
R2 R2 1
+
1
+
1
R1 R2 R3

As in the case of the voltage divider, the fraction of the current through
one resistor is determined by a simple ratio based on resistor values. But
in the current case, resistor inverses are used.
EE 201 voltage/current dividers – 4
 The other resistor currents are calculated just as easily.
1
R1
+ iR1 = 1 1 1
⋅ IS
R1
+ R2
+ R3
IS vS R1 R2 R3 1
– iR1 iR2 iR3 R3
iR3 = 1 1 1
⋅ IS
R1
+ R2
+ R3

The three divided current sum up to IS, as KCL insists. If we insert some
numbers: IS = 15 mA, R1 = 2.2 kΩ, R2 = 3.3 kΩ, and R3 = 6.8 kΩ.
1

(15 mA) = 7.54 mA

2.2 kΩ
iR1 = 1 1 1
2.2 kΩ
+ 3.3 kΩ
+ 6.8 kΩ
1

(15 mA) = 5.02 mA

3.3 kΩ
iR2 = 1 1 1
2.2 kΩ
+ 3.3 kΩ
+ 6.8 kΩ
1

(15 mA) = 2.44 mA

6.8 kΩ
iR3 = 1 1 1
2.2 kΩ
+ 3.3 kΩ
+ 6.8 kΩ
EE 201 voltage/current dividers – 5
 In many instances, the combination of dividers with equivalent
resistances provides for fast calculation of voltages and currents.
R1
Example 1 1 kΩ
In the circuit at right, find vR4. R2
Since R3 and R4 are in parallel, they 470 Ω +
have the same voltage and we can +
VS R3 R4 vR4
–
use the parallel equivalent. We can 12 V 560 Ω 820 Ω –
also find the parallel equivalent of R5
R1 and R2.
R3R4 330 Ω
R34 = = 333 Ω
R3 + R3 R12
R1 ⋅ R2
R12 = = 320 Ω
R1 + R2 320 Ω
+
Then use a voltage divider on the +
VS R34 vR4
–
simplified circuit. 333 Ω –
R34 R3
vR4 = ⋅ VS = 4.065 V
R12 + R34 + R5 330 Ω
EE 201 voltage/current dividers – 6
 Example 2
In the circuit at right, find iR2.
R1 R4 R5
Since R1 and R2 are in series,
39 Ω 82 Ω 56 Ω
they have the same current, IS R3
and we can use the series 100 Ω
2.2 A R2 iR2
equivalent. We can also find R6
12 Ω
the equivalent resistance of the 120 Ω
branch with R4 - R5 - R6.

R12 = R1 + R2 = 51 Ω

R4 ⋅ R5
R456 = + R6 = 153 Ω
R4 + R5 IS R12 R2 R456
51 Ω i 100 Ω 153 Ω
2.2 A R2
Then use a current divider on the
simplified circuit.
1
R12
iR2 = 1 1 1
⋅ IS = 1.19 A
R12
+ R3
+ R345
EE 201 voltage/current dividers – 7
 Example 3 2.2 kΩ 3.3 kΩ
R1 + R3 +
Find vR2 and vR4 +
VS R2 vR2 R4 vR4
in the circuit. –
12 V 3.3 kΩ – 3.3 kΩ –

We solve this using the voltage divider calculation twice in succession.

First we find vR2 using a voltage divider formed by R1 and the equivalent
resistance of R2 in parallel with the series combination of R3 and R4.

+ R3 R1 + + R3 +
+ vR2 R4 vR4
R234 R2 vR2 R4 VS R234 vR2
–
– – – –

R234 Then the voltage

R234 = R2 (R3 + R4) vR2 = ⋅ VS = 6 V
R234 + R1 vR2 is divided
= (3.3 kΩ) (6.6 kΩ) between R3 and R4.
R4
= 2.2 kΩ vR4 = ⋅ vR2 = 3 V
R3 + R4
EE 201 voltage/current dividers – 8
 Example 4
R2 iR2
Find iR3 in the circuit. 22 Ω
IS R1
Similar to example 3, we can 33 Ω
0.8 A
cascade dividers to find the R3 iR3 R4
current in two steps. 22 Ω 22 Ω

IS splits between R1 and the branch with R2 - R3 - R4. To find the current
through R2, we use the equivalent resistance of that branch, which
forms a current divider with R1. Then iR2 is divided between R3 and R4.

R2 R2 iR2
22 Ω
R234 IS R1 R234 iR2
0.8 A 33 Ω 33 Ω
R3 R4 R3 iR3 R4
22 Ω 22 Ω
1 1
R234 R3
R234 = R2 + R3 R4 iR2 = 1 1
⋅ IS = 0.4 A iR3 = 1 1
⋅ IR2 = 0.2 A
R1
+ R234 R3
+ R4
= 3.3 kΩ
EE 201 voltage/current dividers – 9
 Example 5
Find the voltage vx indicated R1 R3 1 kΩ
in the circuit at right. 2.2 kΩ
+ + vx –
VS
–
110 V
By KVL, vx = vR2 – vR4.
R2 R4 100 Ω
We see that R1 and R2 form a 3.3 kΩ
voltage divider splitting VS. The
same for R3 and R4.
Using voltage dividers.
R2
vR2 = ⋅ VS = 66 V
R1 + R2 R1 R3
R4 + vx –
vR4 = ⋅ VS = 10 V VS
+
R3 + R4 –
+ +
Then R2 vR2 vR4 R4
vx = 66 V – 10 V = 56 V. – –

EE 201 voltage/current dividers – 10

 Example 6
Find the voltage vx indicated
in the circuit at right. R1 R3 1 kΩ
2.2 kΩ
As with the previous example, KVL + vx –
IS
tells us that vx = vR2 – vR4.
60 mA
We see that the series combination R2 R4 100 Ω
R1 + R2 forms a current divider with 3.3 kΩ
the series combination R3 + R4,
splitting IS between the two branches.
Using current dividers.
1
R1 + R2 iR1 iR3
iR1 = 1 1
⋅ IS = 10 mA R1 R3
R1 + R2
+ R3 + R4 + vx –
1 IS
R3 + R4 + +
iR3 = 1 1
⋅ IS = 50 mA
+ R2 vR2 vR4 R4
R1 + R2 R3 + R4
– –
Then
vx = iR1R2 – iR3R4 = 28 V.
EE 201 voltage/current dividers –
 Example 7
In the circuit at right, the switch can
be opened or closed to control the
voltage across R3. When the switch R1 R2 +
+
is closed (R1 shorted out), vR3 is VS
–
R3 vR3
twice as big as the case when the –
switch is open (R1 not shorted.) How
is R1 related to R2 + R3?
There are several approaches to answering this question, but using
voltage dividers is a convenient method. With the switched closed, R1 is
shorted out and
R3 vR3 = 2v′R3
vR3 = ⋅ VS
R2 + R3 R3 2R3
⋅ VS = ⋅ VS
With the switch open, R1 R2 + R3 R1 + R2 + R3
is part of the divider:
R1 + R2 + R3 = 2 (R2 + R3)
R3
v′R3 = ⋅ VS
R1 + R2 + R3 R1 = R2 + R3

EE 201 voltage/current dividers – 12

 Example 8
In the circuit at right, the two
switches can be opened or S1 S2
closed to control the current IS R3 iR3
through R3. Calculate the 3 kΩ
100 mA R1 R2
current through R3 for all
1.5 kΩ 3 kΩ
combinations of the switches
being open closed.
S1 open and S2 open: iR3 = IS = 100 mA
1
R3
S1 open and S2 closed: iR3 = 1 1
⋅ IS = 50 mA
R3
+ R3
1
R3
S1 closed and S2 open: iR3 = 1 1
⋅ IS = 33.3 mA
R1
+ R3
1
R3
S1 closed and S2 closed: iR3 = 1 1 1
⋅ IS = 25 mA
R1
+ R2
+ R3
EE 201 voltage/current dividers – 13