EE 1100: Basic Electrical

Engineering
Lectures – 4,5

Bhaswar Chakrabarti
Electrical Engineering, IIT Madras
Spring 2020

1
 Learning objectives
• Identify series and parallel networks

• Calculate equivalent resistance of series and parallel

networks

• Understand the principles of voltage and current division

• Understand advantages and disadvantages of series and

parallel connections

• Calculate loading-effect for a measuring instrument

2
 Series networks

R1 R2 R3

+ - + - + V3 -
V1 V2
I
+
V
-

In a series circuit the elements (resistors) are connected end-to-end

The current flowing through the elements has to be the same

3
 Voltage in a series network
What is the relationship between V and V1, V2, V3 ?

R1 R2 R3

+ - + - + V3 -
V1 V2
I
+
V
-

Energy provided by the battery must be the same as the sum of the energy
dissipated at the resistors:

V . I = V1. I + V2. I + V3. I

which gives V = V1 + V2 + V3

In a series circuit the sum of the voltage drops is equal to the supplied voltage 4
 Series resistance
R1 R2 R3

+ - + - + V3 -
V1 V2
I
+
V
-

V = V1 + V2 + V3 from energy conservation

Let the equivalent series resistance is R

Then I . R = I. R1 + I . R2 + I. R3
or R = R1 + R2 + R3
5
Equivalent resistance of a series network is the sum of the individual resistances
 Voltage divider circuit

!"
V1 = !"#!$ Vin
R1

!$
V2 = !"#!$
Vin
Vin

R2 Vout

Resistors in series provide the simplest way to produce lower output voltage from
higher input voltages
6
 Potentiometer
The principle of voltage division
is used in Potentiometers

The wiper provides a way to

create a voltage divider circuit
with variable output

https://maniarduino.blogspot.com/

7
 Example problem #1
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 Ω, determine (a) the value of the
other resistor, and (b) the p.d. across the 2 Ω resistor. If the circuit is connected for 50
hours, how much energy is used?

Source: John Bird

Total circuit resistance R = 24/3 = 8 Ω

Value of unknown resistance, Rx = 8 – 2 Ω = 6 Ω

8
 Example problem #1
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 Ω, determine (a) the value of the
other resistor, and (b) the p.d. across the 2 Ω resistor. If the circuit is connected for 50
hours, how much energy is used?

Source: John Bird

!"
Potential drop across the 2 Ω resistor, V1 = ( )& =6&
!"#!$

Energy used = power x time = (24 x 3 W) x (50 h) = 3.6 kWh

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 Example problem #2
When the switch in the circuit is closed the reading on voltmeter 1
is 30V and that on voltmeter 2 is 10V. Determine the reading on
the ammeter and the value of resistor Rx

Source: John Bird

10
 Parallel circuits
I1 R1

I2 R2

I I3
R3

V
In a parallel circuit: the resistors have the same voltage across them

Current I is the sum of the currents in the three branches, i.e

I = I1 + I2 + I3

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 Parallel circuits
I1 R1

I2 R2

I I3
R3

V
I1 = V/R1, I2 = V/R2 and I3 = V/R3

Since I = I1 + I2 + I3, if R is the equivalent resistance then,

V/R = V/ R1 + V/R2 + V/R3 or 1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3

The equivalent resistance of a parallel circuit is smaller than the smallest resistance
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in the network
 Current division
I1 R1

I I2
R2

V
!" !#
The total resistance of the circuit R = !"$!#

!" !# !#
And V = I. R = I. (!"$!#), So I1 = V/R1 = I. (!"$!#)

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 Example problem #3
For the circuit shown calculate (a) the value of resistor Rx such
that the total power dissipated in the circuit is 2.5 kW, and (b)
the current flowing in each of the four resistors.

Source: John Bird

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 Series or parallel networks ?
Which type of connection is preferred for home appliances (light bulbs, for example) ?

Series connections…..
i) Have voltage divider effect
ii) Same current flows through all the circuit elements
iii) What will happen if one of the components becomes faulty and turns off ?

Parallel connections…..
i) Do not have voltage division
ii) What happens to the equivalent resistance if we add more components ?
iii) What will happen if one of the components becomes faulty and turns off ?

15
Measuring voltages and currents
R1 R2 R3
A
+ - + - + V3 -
V1 V2
I
+ V
V
-

• Ammeters are used to measure current flow in a circuit

• They are always connected in series with the element under test

• Voltmeters are used to measure voltage across a component

• They are always connected in parallel to the component

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 Loading effect for measurements
Loading is the effect when a measuring instrument connected to a circuit changes the
output of the circuit itself

Let’s connect a voltmeter with a resistance of 600 kΩ across one of the resistors

What is the voltage V across the output now ?

17
Loading effect for measurements
The parallel combination of the resistor (1 MΩ) and
the voltmeter has an equivalent resistance of
0.375 MΩ

From the principle of voltage division the output

voltage V is now:

!.#$%
V= x 40 = 10.91 V
&'!.#$%

A Voltmeter should have very high resistance to minimize the loading effect

An Ammeter should have very low resistance to accurately measure current

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 Electrical short circuits
R1 R2 R3
In a short circuit condition the overall
+ V1 - + V2 - + V3 - resistance of the circuit becomes very
I low – results in very high current
+
V
- Electrical short

Short circuits can be potentially hazardous

- very high current above the ratings of the
equipment can start a fire

Does the resistance during a short circuit condition become zero ?

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 Electrical short circuits
An electrical fuse is a common way to prevent an electrical
short

In a short-circuit condition the high current produces Joule

heating that will melt the fuse – resulting in open circuit

A fuse should always be connected in series with the circuit

Specs:

Source: wikipedia Rated current: Max current the fuse can conduct
A 250 V fuse that will I
nterrupt a 0.3 A current Speed: speed at which the fuse melts depends on the amount
after 100s of current

Voltage rating: voltage rating must be equal to or greater than

the voltage in the open-circuit condition
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 Open circuit condition
R1 R2 R3

+ V3 - Let’s say the resistance R1 suddenly

+ V1 - + V2 - becomes very high (Ideally infinity)
I
+
V The current flow will become very very
-
low- much lower than the expected

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