Voltage and Current Division, Star to Delta

Conversion - GATE Study Material in PDF

In these free GATE 2018 Study Notes, we learn the concepts of Voltage and
Current Division in Different Circuits. We will also discuss Star to Delta
Conversion and vice versa. These concepts are important to ace GATE EC, IES,
BARC, BSNL, DRDO and other exams.

To successfully apply Voltage Division and Current Division, however, you need to know
KCL and KVL and Nodal and Mesh Analysis. So before you download these GATE Study
Material in PDF, make sure you have gone through previous articles in the series.

Recommended Reading –

Basic Network Theory Concepts

Source Transformation & Reciprocity Theorem

KCL & KVL in Electrical Networks

Nodal & Mesh Analysis

Voltage Division

i. Voltage division produces an output voltage that is a fraction of its input

voltage.

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 ii. Voltage division is the result of distributing input voltage among the
components of the divider.
Consider

Vin
∴I=Z
1 +Z2

Z1 Z2
V1 = Vin Z , V2 = Vin Z
1 +Z2 1 +Z2

Case i:
For inductors Z1 = sL1 , Z2 = sL2 , Then

L1 L2
V1 = Vin L and V2 = Vin L
1 +L2 1 +L2

Case ii:
1 1
For capacitors Z1 = sC , Z2 = sC , then
1 2

C2 C1
∴ V1 = Vin C V2 = Cin C
1 +C2 1 +C2

Case iii:
For Resistors Z1 = R1 and Z2 = R 2

R1 R2
∴ V1 = Vin R , V2 = Vin R
1 +R2 1 +R2

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Example:
Determine the voltage drops across the resistors in the given figure

Solution:
Redraw the given figure we get,

R1 45(5)
∴ V1 = Vin ⋅ R = 5+10+7.5 = 10V
1 +R2 +R3

R2 45(10)
V2 = Vin ⋅ R = 5+10+7.5 = 20V
1 +R2 +R3

R3 45(7.5)
V3 = Vin ⋅ R = 5+10+7.5 = 15V
1 +R2 +R3

Current Division

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 i. In a linear circuit current division produces a current that is a fraction of its
input current.
ii. Current division refers to the splitting of current between the branches of the
divider.
Consider

V V Z Z
Iin = I1 + I2 = Z + Z ⇒ V = Iin ⋅ Z 1+Z2
1 2 1 2

V Z2
I1 = Z = Iin Z
1 1 +Z2

Z1
I2 = Iin Z
1 +Z2

Case i:
For inductors Z1 = sL1 and Z2 = sL2

L2 L1
∴ I1 = Iin ⋅ L , I2 = Iin ⋅ L
1 +L2 1 +L2

Case ii:
1 1
For capacitors Z1 = sC , Z2 = sC
1 2

C1 C2
∴ I1 = Iin ⋅ C , I2 = Iin ⋅ C
1 +C2 1 +C2

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Case iii:
For resistors: Z1 = R1 and Z2 = R 2
R2 R1
∴ I1 = Iin ⋅ R , I2 = Iin ⋅ R
1 +R2 1 +R2

Example:

Determine the branch currents through the individual resistors

Solution:

Redraw the given figure then we get,

3×2
I ⋅(R ||R ) 6( ) 6(6) 36
I1 = Rin+(R2 ||R3 ) = 3+2
3×2 = = 11 A
1 2 3 1+ 11
5

1×2
I ⋅(R ||R ) 6( ) 12 12
I2 = Rin+(R1 ||R3 ) = 1+2
1×2 = 11 = 11 A
2 1 3 3+
1+2

1×3
Iin (R1 ||R2 ) 6( ) 6(3) 18
1+3
I3 = = 1×3 = = A
R3 +(R1 ||R2 ) 2+ 11 11
1+3

Verification:

36+12+18 66
I = I1 + I2 + I3 = = 11 = 6A(correct)
11

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Star Connection

When either terminals of three Branches is connected to a common point to form a Y

like pattern is known as star connection (or) wye connection

Delta Connection

Here the Branches are connected, that they form a closed loop.

Conversion from Star to Delta Connection:

The following formulae gives the conversion from star to delta connection.

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 ZA ZB
ZAB = ZA + ZB + ZC

ZB ZC
ZBC = ZB + ZC + ZA

ZA ZC
ZAC = ZA + ZC + ZB

Note:

If ZA = ZB = ZC = Z then ZAB = ZBC = ZAC = 3Z

Conversion from Delta to Star Connection

The following formulae give the conversion from delta to star connection.

ZAB ⋅ZAC
ZA = Z
AB +ZBC +ZAC

ZAB ⋅ZBC
ZB = Z
AB +ZBC +ZAC

ZBC ⋅ZAC
ZC = Z
AB +ZBC +ZAC

Note:

If ZAB = ZBC = ZAC = Z then ZA = ZB = ZC = Z/3

Example:

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Find the value of VS in the figure shown below

Solution:

Here we need to convert delta to star connection

We observed that ZAB = ZBC = ZAC = 3 Ω

Z
∴ ZA = ZB = ZC = 3 = 1 Ω

So circuit becomes

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∴ VS = 2(3 + 1+ 2 + 1) = 14 V

∴ VS = 14 V

Liked this article on Voltage Division in Series Circuits? Enjoyed the other concepts of
Current Division in Parallel Circuits, Star to Delta Conversion and Delta to Star
Conversion etc. Let us know in the comments. You may also enjoy the previous articles
from our series –

Stability of Control Systems

Routh Hurwitz Stability Criteria

GATE Bits:

Shortcut to Draw Polar Plots

Special Cases of Routh Hurwitz Stability Criteria

Important Announcements for GATE 2018:

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