electronics fundamentals

circuits, devices, and applications

THOMAS L. FLOYD
DAVID M. BUCHLA

Chapter 5 – Parallel Circuits

Parallel Circuits

Resistors that are connected to the

same two points are said to be in
parallel.

A
R1 R2 R3 R4

B
Parallel Circuits

A parallel circuit occurs if:

1. more than one current path (branch) is
connected to a common voltage source.
2. The voltage between the two points appears
across each of the branches.

+ R1 R2 R3 R4
VS
Parallel Circuits
Parallel Circuits
Parallel Circuits
Parallel Circuits
Parallel Circuits
Parallel Circuits

Draw the parallel circuits shown below as

schematics
Parallel Circuits

Connect the groups of resistors to make

parallel circuits.
Parallel Circuits

VS
IT 
RT
VS  I T  RT
VS
RT 
IT
Parallel Circuits

Connecting resistors in parallel

1. reduces total resistance and
2. increases total current.

60 amp
120 amp
24 v 24 v

VS 24 24
RT  RT  RT 
IT 60 120
Parallel Circuits

From Chapter 2, what is Conductance and its unit

Conductance (C) is:

1. ease with which current can pass
2. the reciprocal of resistance,
3. Siemens

1
GT 
RT
Parallel Circuits
Parallel circuit rule for resistance

The total resistance of resistors in parallel is

the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals of

the individual resistors.

For example, the resistors in a parallel circuit are 680 W,

1.5 kW, and 2.2 kW. What is the total resistance? 386 W

+
VS R1 R2 R3
680 1.5 k 2.2 k
Parallel Circuits

The total resistance of resistors in parallel is

the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals of
the individual resistors.
1
GT = G 1 + G 2 + G 3 + … + G N RT 
1 1 1 1
   ... 
R1 R 2 R 3 RN
Parallel Circuits

What is RT (REQuivalent) for this circuit

200 3500 50

RT = 39.55 ohms
 Special formula for calculating
Parallel Circuits
resistance of two parallel resistors

The resistance of two parallel

resistors can be found by R1 R2
either:
1 R1 R2
RT  RT 
1 1 or
 R1  R2
R1 R2

Total resistance of two resistors in parallel is equal the

product of the two resistors divided by the total resistance.

What is the total resistance if R1 = 27 kW and

R2 = 56 kW? 18.2 kW
 Special formula for calculating
Parallel Circuits resistance for equal resistors in parallel

500 500 500 500 500

R
RT 
n
What is the value of RT 100 ohms
 Special formula for calculating
Parallel Circuits resistance for equal resistors in parallel

500 500 500 500 100

1
R RT 
RT  1

1
n R1 R2
What is the value of RT 55.56 ohms

R1 R 2 R 3 R 4 R5
Parallel Circuits

Application of a parallel circuit for the exterior

light system of an automobile.

What happens if one headlight burns out?

What happens to the current drawn by the headlight circuit?
Parallel Circuits

Parallel circuits are used in residential wiring.

WHY?
Parallel Circuits

Draw the schematic for this circuit board.

Parallel Circuits Parallel circuit rule for voltage
Voltage across parallel branches is the same.
Parallel Circuits Parallel circuit rule for voltage

Because all components are connected across the same

voltage source, the voltage across each is the same.

The source voltage is 5.0 V. What will a volt- meter read if

it is placed across each of the resistors?

+ 5 .0 V + 5 .0 V + 5 .0 V + 5 .0 V
- + - + - + - +

VS R1 R2 R3
+ 5 .0 V 680  1 .5 k  2 .2 k 
Parallel Circuits
Parallel Circuits

24 v

What is the voltage reading for R1 and R2

Parallel Circuits

What is the voltage reading for R1 and R2

Parallel Circuits Application of Ohms law

Calculate VS, I1, I2 and I3.

Calculate IS if R3 is shorted, if R3 is open and voltage remains the same
Vs = 5.047 volts, RT = 136.4 ohms, I1=0.023a, I2=0.009a, I3=.00505a
Ishort = Error; RT = 158 ohms, IS = 32mA
Parallel Circuits Kirchhoff’s current law (KCL)

The sum of the currents into a node equals

the sum of the current out of that node.
Parallel Circuits Kirchhoff’s current law (KCL)

The algebraic sum of the currents entering and

leaving a node equals zero.
Parallel Circuits

Proving Kirchhoff’s current law.

Parallel Circuits

Parallel circuits are know as current “dividers”

Parallel Circuits Parallel Circuit is a Current divider

When current enters a node (junction)

it divides into currents with values that are inversely
proportional to the resistance values.
Parallel Circuits

The current IX through any branch equals

1. The total parallel resistance RT
2. Divided by the resistance RX for that branch
3. Multiplied by  RT

4. The total current IT in the branch IX    IT
 RX 
Parallel Circuits Current divider

For two resistor parallel circuits

 R2   R1 
I1    I T and I 2    IT
 R1  R2   R1  R2 
Notice the subscripts. The resistor in the numerator is
not the same as the one for which current is found.
Parallel Circuits

The branch with

the lowest
resistance has
the most
current,
The branch with
the highest
resistance has
the least
current.
Parallel Circuits Current divider
Parallel Circuits

Solving for Current in a parallel circuit when the voltage is

unknown and the IT and the values of R1 and R2 are known.

 R2 
I1    IT
 R1  R 2  I1   

 R1 
I2    IT
 R1  R 2 
Parallel Circuits Current divider

Assume that R1is a 2.2 kW resistor that is in

parallel with R2, which is 4.7 kW. If the total
current into the resistors is 8.0 mA, what is
the current in each resistor?
 R2   4.7 k 
I1    IT    8.0 mA = 5.45 mA
 R1  R2   6.9 k 
 R1   2.2 k 
I2    IT    8.0 mA = 2.55 mA
 R1  R2   6.9 k 

Notice that the larger resistor has the smaller current.

Parallel Circuits
Power in parallel circuits

Power in each resistor can be calculated with any of the

standard power formulas.

P V I
T S T
V 2

P 
S

P I R
T T
2
T
T

R T

Just like a series circuit

PT = P1 + P2 + P3 + … + PN
What is the total power if 10 V is applied to the parallel
combination of R1 = 270 W and R2 = 150 W? 1.04 W
Parallel Circuits

What is the maximum power that the

amplifier must be able to deliver?

70 v

Power for one speaker =

612.5 watts
Parallel Circuits

Assume there are 8 resistive wires all with the same resistance that
form a rear window defroster for an automobile.
(a) If the defroster dissipates 90 W when connected to a 12.6 V source,
what power is dissipated by each resistive wire?
(b) What is the total resistance of the defroster?

(a) Each of the 8 wires will dissipate 1/8 of the total power
90 W
 11.25 W
8 wires
12.6 V 
2
V2
(b) The total resistance is R    1.76 
P 90 W
R 1.76 W x 8 = 14.1 W
What is the resistance of each wire? R 
T

n
Parallel Circuits Open branches in parallel circuits
When an open condition occurs in a parallel circuit:
1. the total resistance increases and
2. the total current decreases and
3. the current through all other branches (i.e. R2)
remains unchanged.
Parallel Circuits

When a lamp filament opens (or the light is

turned off), the total current decreases by the
amount of current in the lamp that opened.
The other branch currents remain unchanged.
Parallel Circuits Troubleshooting parallel circuits

Finding an open path by current measurement.

Parallel Circuits Troubleshooting parallel circuits

Know how to determine if there is a open resistor

Parallel Circuits Practice Exercise

+
VS R1 R2 R3
680 1.5 k 2.2 k

Complete the parameters listed in the Table.

I1= 7.4 mA R1= 0.68 kW V1= 5.0 V P1= 36.8 mW

I2= 3.3 mA R2= 1.50 kW V2= 5.0 V P2= 16.7 mW
I3= 2.3 mA R3= 2.20 kW V3= 5.0 V P3= 11.4 mW
IT= 13.0 mA RT= 386 W VS= 5.0 V PT= 64.8 mW
Parallel Circuits
Key Terms
Parallel The relationship in electric circuits in which
two or more current paths are connected
between two separate points (nodes).
Branch One current path in a parallel circuit.

Kirchhoff’s A law stating the total current into a node

current law equals the total current out of the node.

Node A point or junction in a circuit at which two

or more components are connected.
Current divider A parallel circuit in which the currents divide
inversely proportional to the parallel branch
resistances.