Basic DC Circuit Analysis
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RULES OF SERIES CIRCUITS
A resistive circuit is one that contains only resistors as its load components. A DC circuit is one with power sources that provide direct
current.
The two simplest configurations for electric circuits are:
• series circuits
• parallel circuits
A series circuit has only one circuit path. All components are connected in series, having the same current flow through each. In a
series resistor circuit, each resistor has a voltage drop across it when current flows through it, in accordance with Ohm’s Law,
V = I x R. Total resistance is the sum of all the resistors. The sum of the voltage drops across all resistors is equal to the total applied
voltage from the source. Power dissipated in the circuit is additive, meaning that the power dissipated in each resistor can be added
together to find the total power.
Resistor 1 Resistor 2
Battery Resistor 3
Resistor 5 Resistor 4
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SERIES CIRCUITS
R1
The rules just stated for series resistors are shown here in mathematical form.
Current is the same at any point in a series circuit. The voltage drop across
each resistor is governed by Ohm’s Law, and the sum of the voltage drops
across all resistors equals the total voltage applied by the source. The total
resistance is equal to the sum of all the resistors. Total power dissipated equals Power R2
the sum of the power dissipated in the individual resistors.
R3
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VOLTAGE DIVIDERS
Series resistor circuits form what is known as a voltage divider. Voltage dividers are useful for obtaining different output voltages, since the
voltage across each resistor will be different if the resistance values are different, as stated by Ohm’s Law. To determine the voltage drop in a
voltage divider circuit the total voltage and total resistance need to be known.
A Voltage From:
R1
100Ω A to B:
V(A-B) = (R(R1) / RT) x VT
B
R2 V(A-B) = (100Ω / 4600Ω) x 24VDC
24 Volts
DC 1.2kΩ
V(A-B) = .521739V = 521.739mV
C
R3 A to C:
3.3kΩ V(A-C) = (R(R1 + R2) / RT) × VT
D V(A-C) = (1300Ω / 4600Ω) x VT
V(A-C) = 6.783V
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SERIES CIRCUIT ANALYSIS
A complete analysis of a DC circuit with three series resistors is shown here.
The rules for series circuits, Ohm’s Law, and the power formula have been applied to the circuit to determine all:
• circuit voltages
• currents
• resistances
• power
To allow sufficient time for review, this analysis is included in the lecture transcript.
R1 VT = 24VDC
100Ω
RT = R1 + R2 + R3 IT = VT/RT PT =VT x IT
RT = 100Ω + 1200Ω + 3300Ω IT = 24VDC / 4600Ω PT = 24VDC x .005217A
24Volts RT = 4600Ω = 4.6kΩ IT = .005217A = 5.217mA PT =.125208W = 125.208mW
R2
DC 1.2kΩ
VT = VR1 + VR2 + VR3 PT = PR1 + PR2 + PR3
VT = .5217V + 6.2604V + 17.216V PT = 2.722mW + 32.661mW + 89.816mW
R3
VT = 23.9981V PT = 125.199mW
3.3kΩ
R1 = 100Ω R2 = 1200Ω R3 = 3300Ω
IRT = IT = 5.217mA IR2 = IT = 5.217mA IR3 = IT = 5.217mA
VR1 = R1 x IR1 VR2 = R2 x IR2 VR3 = R3 x IR3
VR1 = 100Ω x .005217A VR2 = 1200Ω x .005217A VR3 = 3300Ω x .005217A
VR1 = 0.5217V = 521.7mV VR2 = 6.2604V VR3 = 17.216V
PR1 = VR1 x IR1 PR2 = VR2 x IR2 PR3 = VR3 x IR3
PR1 = 0.5217V x .005217A PR2 = 6.2604V x .005217A PR3 = 17.216V x .005217A
PR1 = .002722W = 2.722mW PR2 = .032661W = 32.661mW PR3 = .089816W = 89.816mW
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VOLTAGE POLARITY
EARTH GROUND
One important concept in DC circuit analysis is that voltage polarity
across components in a circuit can be determined by following the
direction of current in the circuit. Some circuits will have a common
ground reference point shown on their schematics.
Although these symbols are often interchanged, they do have specific
meanings. An Earth ground refers to a direct ground connection,
normally obtained by driving an 8 ft. rod into the earth. A chassis
ground refers to a common connection point with other parts of the
circuit. In voltage divider circuits, the ground point is often used to
provide a common reference point to provide voltages above and
below ground. CHASSIS GROUND
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RULES OF PARALLEL CIRCUITS
As stated previously, the two simplest configurations for electric circuits are:
• series circuits
• parallel circuits
Having reviewed series circuits, we now examine the rules for parallel circuits. Parallel circuits have more than one path or branch for current to
flow, as seen in this diagram. In parallel circuits, the voltage is the same across each parallel branch and is equal to the applied voltage from
the source. If the resistance in each branch is different, the current flowing in each branch will be different, since current flow will be in inverse
proportion to its resistance in accordance with Ohm’s Law.
Larger resistance paths will have lower current, while smaller resistance paths will admit more current. The sum of all the branch currents is
equal to the total circuit current. Total resistance in a parallel circuit is the reciprocal of the sum of the individual reciprocal resistance values.
Total resistance will always be less than the smallest resistor. Power from each branch is additive, meaning that total power can be determined
by finding the power dissipated in each branch and then adding all of them together.
+ B
R1 R2 R3
1A 1A 1A
3A 2A 1A
A
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PARALLEL CIRCUITS (CONT.)
IT
The rules just stated for parallel resistors are shown here in mathematical
form. Total current is the sum of all branch currents. Voltage across each
branch is the same. IR R1 IR R2 IR R3
1 2 3
The total resistance of parallel resistors is equal to the reciprocal of the sum
of the reciprocals of each parallel branch. For two parallel resistors, this
formula simplifies to the multiplication of the two resistance values divided
by the sum of the two resistance values. Total power dissipated equals the
sum of the power dissipated in each parallel resistance branch.
Finally, note that although both series and parallel circuits have practical
applications, many circuits used in everyday life are connected in parallel,
such as lights and receptacles. Parallel connections allow lights and
receptacles to all be at the same intended voltage, and do not require each
light or load to be on to permit current flow, as a series circuit would.
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CURRENT DIVIDERS
Parallel resistor circuits form what is known as a current divider. Current dividers allow different currents to be obtained in different
points of the circuit, since the current through each parallel branch will be different if the resistance values are different, as stated by
Ohm’s Law. To determine the branch currents in a current divider circuit the total current and total resistance need to be known.
R1 = 100Ω Current at:
A
A to D:
R2 = 1.2kΩ D
I(A-D) = (RT / RI) x IT
R3 = 3.3kΩ C I(A-D) = (89.796Ω / 100Ω) x .267273A
24Volts
DC
I(A-D) = .240A = 240mA
B to D:
I(B-D) = (RT / R2) x IT
I(B-D) = (89.796Ω / 1.2kΩ) x .267273A
I(B-D) = .020A = 20mA
C to D:
I(C-D) = (RT / R3) x IT
I(C-D) = (89.796Ω / 3.3kΩ) x .267273A
I(C-D) = .007273A = 7.273mA
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PARALLEL CIRCUITS
A complete analysis of a DC circuit with three parallel resistors is shown here.
The rules for parallel circuits, Ohm’s Law, and the power formula have been applied to the circuit to determine all:
• circuit voltages
• currents
• resistances
• power
To allow sufficient time for review, this analysis is included in the lecture transcript.
VT = 24VDC
IT
R1 R2 R3 RT = 1 / (1/ R1 + 1 / R2 + 1 / R3)
24Volts
DC 100Ω IR 1.2kΩ IR 3.3kΩ IR RT = 1 / (1/ 100Ω + 1 / 1.2kΩ + 1 / 3.3kΩ)
1 2 3
RT = 89.796Ω
IT = VT / RT IT = IR1 + IR2 + IR3 PT = VT X IT PT = PR1 + PR2 + PR3
RT = 24VDC / 89.796Ω IT = 240mA + 20mA + 7.273mA PT = 24VDC x .267273A PT = 5.76W + .48W + .174552W
RT = .267273A = 267.273mA IT = 267.27mA PT = 6.415W PT = 6.4145W
R1 = 100Ω R2 = 120Ω R3 = 3300Ω
VR1 = VT = 24VDC VR2 = VT = 24VDC VR3 = VT = 24VDC
IR1 = VR1 / R1 IR2 = VR2 / R2 IR3 = VR3 / R3
IR1 = 24VDC / 100Ω IR2 = 24VDC / 1200Ω IR3 = 24VDC / 3300Ω
IR1 = .24A = 240mA IR2 = .02A = 20mA IR3 = .007273A = 7.273mA
PR1 = VR1 x IR1 PR2 = VR2 x IR2 PR3 = VR3 x IR3
PR1 = 24VDC x .24A PR2 = 24VDC x .02A PR3 = 24VDC x .007273A
PR1 = 5.76W PR2 = .48W = 480mW PR3 = .174552W = 174.552mW
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KIRCHHOFF'S CURRENT LAW
In 1845, Gustav Kirchhoff, a German physicist, developed a pair of laws which are often helpful in circuit analysis.
Kirchhoff's Current Law states that the algebraic sum of the currents entering and leaving a circuit junction (or node) must equal zero.
Usually the currents entering the junction are considered to be positive and the currents leaving the junction are considered to be negative.
The diagram and calculation below demonstrates this.
I1= 4A
R1
P I3 = 10 A
R2
I2= 6A
The equation for this example would be:
I1 + I2 - I3 = 0
4A +6A - 10A = 0
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KIRCHHOFF'S VOLTAGE LAW
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law states that the algebraic sum of the voltage rises (or sources) and the voltage drops (or loads) in a closed-loop circuit
must equal zero. Usually the voltage rises are considered to positive and the voltage drops are considered to be negative. The diagram and
calculation below demonstrate this.
R1
V R2
R3
V - VR1 - VR2 - VR3 = 0
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