BASIC ELECTRICAL

ENGINEERING
Module 2
Engr. Jenica Ariane C. Panaligan
 Series and Parallel Network
•Why it is important to understand?
Series and parallel networks There are two ways in
which components may be connected together in an
electric circuit. One way is ‘in series’ where
components are connected ‘end-to-end’; another
way is ‘in parallel’ where components are connected
‘across each other’. When a circuit is more
complicated than two or three elements, it is very
likely to be a network of individual series and parallel
circuits.
 Series and Parallel Network

At first glance, these circuits may seem very complicated, but with a
methodical analysis approach the functionality of the circuit can become
obvious. This chapter explains with examples, series, parallel and series/parallel
networks. The relationships between voltages, currents and resistances for these
networks are considered through calculations.
 Series Circuit
From Ohm’s law:
I=V/R

V1 = I1R1,V2 = I2R2,V3 = I3R3 and

V total= Itotal x Rtotal
where R is the total circuit resistance.
In a series circuit: Since V total= V1 + V2 + V3
then IR =IR1+IR2+IR3
(a) The current I is the same in all parts of the Dividing throughout by I gives:
circuit and hence the same reading is found
on each of the two ammeters shown. Rtotal = R1 + R2 + R3
Itotal= I1 = I2 =I3
Thus for a series circuit, the total
(b) The sum of the voltages V1, V2 and V3 is resistance is obtained by adding
equal to the total applied voltage, V , i.e. together the values of the separate
Vtotal = V1 + V2 + V3 resistances.
 Series Circuit
EXAMPLE 1: SOLUTION
Determine (a) the battery voltage (a) Battery voltage :
V , (b) the total resistance of the V =V1 + V2 + V3
circuit, and (c) the values of =5 + 2 + 6
resistance of resistors R1, R2 and =13V
R3, given that the p.d.s across R1, (b) Total circuit resistance :
R2 and R3 are 5 V, 2 V and 6 V, R = V / I = 13V/4 A=3.25 ohms
(c) Resistance R1 = V1/ I1 = 5V /4a
=1.25 ohm
Resistance R2 = V2 /I2 = 2V /4a =0.5
ohms
Resistance R3 = V3 /I 3= 6V /4a =1.5
ohms
(Check: R1 + R2 + R3 =1.25 + 0.5 + 1.5 =3.25= R)
 Series Circuit
EXAMPLE 2: SOLUTION
Determine the p.d. across resistor P.d. across R3,
R3. If the total resistance of the V3 =25 − 10− 4=11V
circuit is 100, determine the Vtotal = V1+V2 + V3
current flowing through resistor R1.
Find also the value of resistor R2., P3 = 11V(0.25A) = 2.75W
Current I = V / R = 25V /100ohms
=0.25 A,

which is the current flowing in each

resistor Resistance R2 = V2/ I 2= 4V
/0.25 A=16 ohms
 Potential Divider
The voltage distribution for the
circuit shown in Figure 5.5(a) is
given by:

The circuit shown in Figure(b) is often

referred to as a potential divider circuit.
Such a circuit can consist of a number A potential divider is the simplest
of similar elements in series connected way of producing a source of
across a voltage source, voltages being lower e.m.f. from a source of higher
taken from connections between the e.m.f., and is the basic operating
elements. Frequently the divider consists mechanism of the potentiometer,
of two resistors, as shown in Figure
a measuring device for accurately
5.5(b), where
measuring potential differences
 Potential Divider
EXAMPLE 1: EXAMPLE 2:
Determine the value of voltage V
shown in Figure Two resistors are connected in
series across a 24 V supply and a
current of 3 A flows in the circuit. If
one of the resistors has a resistance
of 2, determine (a) the value of the
other resistor, and (b) the p.d.
across the 2 resistor. If the circuit is
SOLUTION connected for 50 hours, how much
energy is used?
 Potential Divider
SOLUTION
(a) Total circuit resistance Energy used = power× time
RT = V/ I = 24 V/ 3 A =8 ohms =V×I×t
Value of unknown resistance, = (24V × 3A) (50 hr)
Rx =8ohms − 2ohms=6
ohms = 3600Wh
Rt=R1+Rx = 3.6 kWhr
Rx=Rt-R1

(b) P.d. across 2 resistor,

V1 =IR1=3A × 2ohms=6 V
V2 = IRx =3A x 6ohms = 18
V
 Parallel Networks
Figure shows three resistors, R1, R2 and
R3, connected across each other, i.e.
in parallel, across a battery source of
V volts.
In a parallel circuit:
(a) The sum of the currents I1, I2 and I3 is
equal to the total circuit current, I, i.e.
Itotal =I1 +I2 +I3
(a) The source p.d., V volts, is the same
across each of the resistors
From Ohm’s law:
Parallel Networks

This equation must be used when

finding the total resistance R of a
parallel circuit. For the special case of
where R is the total circuit two resistors in parallel.
resistance.
Since Itotal =I1 + I2 + I3
then V/ R = V/ R1 + V /R2 + V /R3
Dividing throughout by V gives:
1 1 1
Rtotal= ( + + )^ − 1
𝑅1 𝑅2 𝑅3
 Parallel Networks
EXAMPLE 1: SOLUTION
Determine (a) the reading on the
ammeter, and (b) the value of P.d. across R1 is the same as the
resistor R2 supply voltage V .
Hence supply voltage,
Vt= V1=8 A× 5ohms=40V
(a)Reading on ammeter,
I3 = V/ R3 = 40V /20ohms =2
A
(b) Current flowing through
I2 =11A−8A−2A=1A
Itotal = I1 + I2 +I3

Hence,
R2 = V /I2 = 40 V/ 1A =40
ohms
 Parallel Networks
EXAMPLE 2: SOLUTION
(a)The total circuit resistance R is
Two resistors, of resistance 3 and 6,
given by
are connected in parallel across a
battery having a voltage of 12 V.
Determine (a) the total circuit
resistance and (b) the current 1 / R = (2 + 1)/ 6 = 3 / 6 ohms
flowing in the 2 resistor
Hence,
R = 6/ 3 = 2 ohms
Alternatively,

(b) Current flowing in the 2 resistor

I = V/R = 12V/2ohms =6 amp
 Current Division
For the circuit shown, the Similarly,
total circuit resistance, RT ,
is given by :

Summarizing, with reference to

and
circuit

It is important to note that current

division can only be applied to two
parallel resistors. If there are more
than two parallel resistors, then
current division cannot be
 Current Division
EXAMPLE 1: SOLUTION
For the series-parallel
arrangement shown in Figure, find The equivalent resistance Rx of R2
(a) the supply current, (b) the and R3 in parallel is:
current flowing through each
resistor and (c) the p.d. across
each resistor.
The equivalent resistance RT of R1, Rx
and R4 in series is:
RT = 2.5 + 1.5 + 4 = 8 ohms
Supply current I = V / RT
= 200V / 8ohms
I = 25A
 Current Division
SOLUTION (c) The equivalent circuit of given is
(b) The current flowing through R1 shown below
and R4 is 25 A The current flowing p.d. across R1, i.e. V1 =IR1 =(25)(2.5)=62.5
through R2
V p.d. across Rx , i.e. Vx =IRx
=(25)(1.5)=37.5 V p.d. across R4, i.e. V4
=IR4 =(25)(4)=100 V Hence the p.d.
across R2 =p.d. across R3 =37.5 V
The current flowing through R3

(a) (Note that the currents flowing through R2 and

R3 must add up to the total current flowing
into the parallel arrangement, i.e. 25 A)
 Current Division
EXAMPLE 2: SOLUTION
(a)Power dissipated P =VI watts,
For the circuit shown ; calculate
hence 2500= (250)(I)
(a) the value of resistor Rx such
that the total power dissipated in i.e. I = 2500W/ 250V = 10A
the circuit is 2.5 kW, and (b) the From Ohm’s law, RT = V / I = 250/ 10 =25,
current flowing in each of the four where RT is the equivalent circuit
resistors. resistance.
The equivalent resistance of R1 and R2 in
parallel is
R12= (15 × 10) /(15 + 10) = 150 / 25 = 6 ohms
The equivalent resistance of resistors R3 and
Rx in parallel is equal to 25 − 6, i.e. 19.
Rtotal = R12 + R3x
There are three methods whereby Rx can
be determined.
SOLUTION
Current Division
Method 1 Method 2 Since the equivalent
The voltage V1 =IR1, where R is resistance of R3 and Rx in parallel is
6, from above, 19,
i.e. V1=(10)(6)=60V
Hence 19 = (38Rx)/(38+Rx) i.e. product sum
V2=250V − 60V=190V Hence
190V =p.d. across R3 19(38 + Rx ) = 38Rx
=p.d. across Rx 722 + 19Rx = 38Rx
I3 = V2 / R3 = 190 /38 =5A. 722 = 38Rx − 19Rx
Thus I4 =5A also, = 19Rx
since Itotal =10A Thus Rx = 722 /19 = 38 ohms
Thus Rx = V2/ I4 = 190/5a
=38 ohms
 Current Division
SOLUTION
Method 3
When two resistors having the
same value are connected in
parallel the equivalent
resistance is always half the
value of one of the resistors.
Thus, in this case, since RT =19
and R3 =38, then Rx = 38 could
have been deduced on sight.
 WYE-DELTA TRANSFORMATIONS
Situations often arise in circuit analysis when the resistors are
neither in parallel nor in series. These are the wye (Y) or tee (T) network
shown in the figure (a) and the delta or pi network shown in the figure
(b). These networks occur by themselves or as part of a larger network.
They are used in three-phase networks, electrical filters, and matching
networks. Our main interest here is in how to identify them when they
occur as part of a network and how to apply wye-delta transformation
in the analysis of that network.
WYE-DELTA TRANSFORMATIONS
Wye to Delta Connected Resistors

To obtain the conversion

Each resistor in the delta network is the
formulas for transforming a wye
sum of all possible products of Y
network to an equivalent delta
resistors taken two at a time, divided
network.
by the opposite Y resistor.
Wye to Delta Connected Resistors
EXAMPLE 1: SOLUTION
Transform the circuit Y to delta

20
Delta to Wye Conversion

Each resistor in the Y network is the

product of the resistors in the two
adjacent delta branches, divided by
the sum of the three delta resistors.
 Delta to Wye Conversion
EXAMPLE 1: SOLUTION
Transform the circuit from delta to
Y
For Video Binge:
You could go to the following websites to see further explanation of the topic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-Xy2_3tIUE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQYRc9UibKk&pbjreload=101
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLjrS4krO2E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0-nHbGQZqo
Maximum Power Transfer Theorem
The maximum power transfer
theorem states: ‘The power
transferred from a supply source to
a load is at its maximum when the
resistance of the load is equal to the
internal resistance of the source.’

Hence, in Figure, when R =r the

power transferred from the source
to the load is a maximum.
Typical practical applications of the maximum
power transfer theorem are found in stereo
amplifier design, seeking to maximize power
delivered to speakers, and in electric vehicle
design, seeking to maximize power delivered
to drive a motor
 Maximum Power Transfer
Theorem
EXAMPLE 1: SOLUTION
A d.c. source has an open-circuit RL =r=1.5
voltage of 30 V and an internal
resistance of 1.5. State the value From Figure, current
of load resistance that gives
maximum power dissipation and
determine the value of this power. I = E r / Rt = 30 V/(1.5+1.5 )=10 A

Power
P = (I^2) RL
=((10)^2)(1.5)
=150 W
W=maximum power dissipated.