ELC 101

Mr. Gill
Solving Combination Circuits
Combination Circuit - Solve for missing values :
E3 = ?V
I2 = ?
R2 = 5Ω
E1 = ?
I1 = ?
ET = 50V R1 = 5Ω E3 = ?V E4 = ?V
IT = ? I3 = ? I4 = ?
RT = ?Ω R3 = 12Ω R4 = 8Ω

Applied voltage & E5 = ?V

I5 = ?
individual resistance
R5 = 3.5Ω
values are given
1. Simplify circuit:
Steps:
a. by combining series circuits that sit on parallel branches by adding resistances
b. Simplify circuit again reducing parallel branches to a single resistor using the
reciprocal formula: Rt = ________1__________
1/R1 + 1/R2 + … 1/Rn
2. achieve a simple series or simple parallel circuit (no combinations).
3. Solve for values for:
• RT (Resistance)
• Then use Ohm’s Law to solve for IT (CURRENT) IT = ET / RT
• Use Kirchoff’s law concerning current in series circuit which states that IT = I1
= I2 = I3; total current is the same as the current at any individual resistor
across a series circuit.
• With current and resistance at each resistor, one can solve for voltage using
Ohm’s law: E = I x R
• Expand the parallel branches and apply Kirchoff’s law concerning voltage:
across two branches in parallel voltage is the same.
• Use Ohm’s law to solve for current in the resistors in the parallel branches.
• Expand series resistors in parallel branches using Kirchoff’s law concerning
current: IT = I1 = I2 = I3
• With current and resistance in these resistors, one can solve for the voltage
drops using Ohm’s law again: E = I x R
 Before Viewing
Recommendations:
• Draw the circuits out and attempt to do
each step before clicking ahead on the
presentation.
• Watch the presentation at least three
times.
 Solving For Total Resistance

• When attempting to find values for resistance of a

circuit, one can only solve for total resistance if the
circuit is a simple series, with only one path for
current to flow on, like the circuit above, or…
 Solving For Total Resistance

• …when it is a simple parallel circuit, like this one.

• Notice that for each branch in a simple parallel circuit there
is only one resistor, if there were more on a branch then it
would be a combination circuit
Step 1a Combine series resistances on parallel branches:

E3 = ?V
I2 = ?
R2 = 5Ω
E1 = ?
I1 = ?
ET = 50V R1 = 5Ω E3 = ?V E34
4 ==?V
?V
IT = ? In the new drawing,
I3 = ? I34
4 ==??

RT = ?Ω the two resistance

R3 = 12Ω in R34
4 ==8Ω
20Ω
series (3 & 4) have
Resistance for branch is the
become a single Add
total of those(34)
resistance in series
resistances
Redraw Circuit so that E5 = ?V
these resistance R23 = 12 + 8 = 20
I5 = ?
become one RBT = R3 + R4
R5 = 3.5Ω
Identify
When Series
in series Put
the onresistances
sum any
of theparallelinto
individual branches
the formula
resistances is the
total resistance for the branch they are on.
Step 1b Combine parallel resistances on parallel branches:

E3 = ?V
I2 = ?
R2 = 5Ω
E1 = ? E234 = ?V
I1 = ? I234 = ?
Compute
ET = 50V R1 = 5Ω R234 = 4 ΩE34 = ?V reciprocals,
IT = ? I34 = ? sum them
RT = ?Ω In the new drawing, R34 = 20Ω and then
the two resistance in take the
Resistance forhave
parallel (2 & 34) both branches reciprocal
in parallel
become are now known
a single of this sum
resistance (234)
Redraw Circuit so that RPT = ____1___ = 4Ω
E5 = ?V
these resistance 1/5+ 1/20
I5 = ? RPT = ____1____
become one
R5 = 3.5Ω 1/R2+ 1/R34
Identify resistorsPut resistances
in parallel (no intoseries)
the formula
When in parallel the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals of the
individual resistances is the total resistance for both branches.
Step 2 A simple series circuit has been achieved

E1 = ? E234 = ?V
I1 = ? I234 = ?
ET = 50V R1 = 5Ω R234 = 4 Ω
IT = ?
RT = ?Ω

E5 = ?V
I5 = ?
R5 = 3.5Ω
Step 3 Solve for values RTT When in series the sum of the
individual resistances is the
total resistance for the circuit.

E1 = ? E234 = ?V
I1 = ? I234 = ?
ET = 50V R1 = 5Ω R234 = 4 Ω
IT = ?
RT = 12.5Ω
?Ω
E5 = ?V
I5 = ?
R5 = 3.5Ω

Sumresistances
put of resistances
RT = 5 + 4 + 3.5 = 12.5 Resistance for branch
into theisformula
the
total of those in series
RT = R1 + R234 + R5
Step 3b Solve for ITT (Total Current)
With values for Voltage (ET=50V) & Resistance (RT=12.5 Ω),
Total Current can be found using Ohm’s Law: I = E/R

E1 = ? E234 = ?V
I1 = ? I234 = ?
ET = 50V R1 = 5Ω R234 = 4 Ω
IT = 4A
?
RT = 12.5Ω
E5 = ?V
I5 = ?
R5 = 3.5Ω

IT = 50
50/12.5 = 4
IT = E1/RT
Step 4 Kirchoff’s Law Concerning Current
In a series circuit the current at each resistor is the same
as the total current IT = I1 = I234 = I5

E1 = ? E234 = ?V
I1 = 4A
? I234 = 4A
?
ET = 50V R1 = 5Ω R234 = 4 Ω
IT = 4A
?
RT = 12.5Ω
E5 = ?V
I5 = 4A
?
R5 = 3.5Ω
Step 5 Ohm’s Law
With the current and resistance known, one can use Ohm’s
Law to find the voltage drop across each resistor

E1 = 20V
?V E234 = 16V
?V
I1 = 4A I234 = 4A
ET = 50V R1 = 5Ω R234 = 4Ω
IT = 4A E = I4xxR3.5
5
4
RT = 12.5Ω
E5 = 14V
?V
I5 = 4A
R5 = 3.5Ω
Step 6 Expand
Expand parallel
parallel branches
branches &
& apply
apply Kirchoff’s
Kirchoff’s voltage
voltage law:
law:

E2 = 16V
I2= ?A
R2 = 5Ω
16V
E1 = 20V E234 = 16V
I1 = 4A I234 = 4A
ET = 50V R1 = 5Ω R = 4Ω E34 = 16V
234

IT = 4A I34 = ?A

RT = 12.5Ω R34 = 4Ω
E5 = 14V
I5 = 4A
R5 = 3.5Ω

Across two branches in parallel (share a source

node) voltage is the same. The current, however,
is divided and must be calculated.
Step 7 Use
Use Ohm’s
Ohm’s Law
Law to
to Solve
Solve for
for current
current in
in the
the parallel
parallel branches
branches

E2 = 16V E
I2= 3.2A
?A I = -----
R2 = 5Ω
R
E1 = 20V
I1 = 4A 16
ET = 50V R1 = 5Ω E34 = 16V
5
IT = 4A I34 = .8A
?A

RT = 12.5Ω R34 = 20Ω

E5 = 14V 16
I5 = 4A
20
R5 = 3.5Ω

With resistance and voltage, I current can be

determined using Ohm’s Law I = E/R
Step 8 Expand
Expand branch
branch to
to show
show resistors
resistors in
in series
series across
across branch
branch

E2 = 16V I34 =.8A

I2= 3.2A
?A
R2 = 5Ω
E1 = 20V
Voltage,
I1 = 4A
across the
ET = 50V R1 = 5Ω E3 = ?V E434==?V
16V
branch,
IT = 4A I3 = .8A I434==.8A
?A
.8A however must
RT = 12.5Ω R3 = 12Ω R434==8Ω
20Ω still be
E5 = 14V calculated
I5 = 4A
R5 = 3.5Ω

For resistors in series, the current is constant, i.e.

if current is known across branch it is the same for
all resistors in series on that branch I34 = I3 = I4
Step 9 Calculate Voltage Using Ohm’s Law

E2 = 16V
I2= 3.2A
?A
R2 = 5Ω
E1 = 20V
I1 = 4A
ET = 50V R1 = 5Ω E3 = 9.6V
?V E4 = 6.4V
16V
?V

IT = 4A I3 = .8A I4 = .8A

RT = 12.5Ω R3 = 12Ω R4 = 8Ω
20Ω
E5 = 14V
I5 = 4A
R5 = 3.5Ω

E=IxR E3 =.8 x 12 = 9.6

Usemissing
All Ohm’s Law
values have now E4 =.8 x 8 = 6.4
to calculate
been
the voltage
calculated
of the resistor’s