ADAMSON UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

BASIC ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY

EXPERIMENT NO. 5: PARALLEL CIRCUIT

DATE PERFORMED: FEBRUARY 05, 2016

DATE SUBMITTED: FEBRUARY 12, 2016
SCHEDULE: FRIDAY (10:30-13:30)
GROUP NO. : 4
GUIBELONDO, HEINZ HAYLE M.
SET UP and PROCEDURE

PARALLEL CIRCUIT
1. Insert the Module DL 3155E01 in the console and set the main switch to ON.

2. Determine the values of the 3 resistors, R1, R2, and R3 on the PARALLEL
CIRCUIT circuit block by using the standard resistor colour code.

3. Write down the values in table 5.1.

4. Measure the resistances R1, R2, and R3 and the total resistance R T of the 3
parallel resistances with a multimeter set as ohmmeter as in Fig. 5.2a.

5. Write down the values in table 5.1.

6. Calculate the total resistance RT, using the reciprocal method and write the value
in table 5.1.

7. Compare the calculated values with the measured ones and comment on the
results.

8. Connect the circuit as in Fig 5.2b and measure, with a multimeter set as dc
voltmeter, the voltage drops at the edges of R1, R2 and R3 and write down the
values in table 5.2.

9. Measure the applied voltage U too and write down the value in table 5.2.

10. Verify that all voltage drops should equal the applied voltage in a parallel
resistive circuit and comment on the results.

11. Connect now the circuit as in Fig. 5.2c with the two multimeters set in dc
ammeter.

12. Measure the total current read in the ammeter (1) I and write down the value in
table 5.3.

13. Measure the current flowing in the resistance R1 and read by the ammeter (2),
with terminal (D, E) and (F, G) joined with cables, and write down the values in
table 5.3.

14. Move the ammeter (2) between terminals D and E and measure the current
flowing in the resistance R2, with terminals (B, C) and (F, G) joined with cables
and write down the value in table 5.3.
15. Move the ammeter (2) between terminals F and G and measure the current
flowing in the resistance R3, with terminals (B, C) and (D, E) joined with cables
and write down the value in table 5.3.

16. Observe how the total current I changes the value by moving the connections
owing to the modification of the parallel resistances.

17. Verify, from table 5.3, that the sum of the branch measured currents is equal to
the total current I.

18. Calculate the current through each resistor and the total current using Ohm’s
law and write down the values in table 5.3.

19. Verify, from table 5.3, that the sum of the branch calculated currents is equal to
the total current I.

20. Compare the measured values with the calculated ones and comment on the
results
DATA AND RESULTS

Table 5.1

R1 [Ω] R2 [Ω] R3 [Ω] R1 [Ω] R2 [Ω] R3 [Ω] RT [Ω] RT [Ω]

Standard Resistor Colour Measured Value Calculated
Code Value
10000 2200 4700 9970 2185 4670 1283 1295

Table 5.2

UR1 [V] UR2 [V] UR3 [V] Applied Voltage U

[V]
Measured Value
15.4 15.4 15.4 15.4

Table 5.3

I [mA] IR1 IR2 IR3 IR1 IR2 IR3 I [mA]

[mA] [mA] [mA] [mA] [mA] [mA]
Measured Value Calculated Value
11.89 1.55 7.04 3.3 1.54 7.05 3.30 11.89
COMPUTATIONS

Table 5.1:
1
RT = 1 1 1
+ +
𝑅1 𝑅2 𝑅3

1
RT = 1 1 1
+ +
9970 2185 1283

RT = 1295Ω

Table 5.3:

IT = V/R ;
IT = 15.4 /1295 ; IT = 11.89 mA
I1 = V/R1 ;
I1 = 15.4/9970 ; I1 = 1.54 mA
I2 = V/R2 ;
I2 = 15.4/2185; I2 = 7.04 mA
I3 = V/R3 ;
I3 = 15.4/4670 ; I3 = 3.30 mA
ANALYSIS

In a parallel circuit, all components present are linked to each other. Here,
there is what we call a “Branch” which is the path where the current flows and
being transported to the resistors. From the data gathered, voltage drop is constant
throughout the circuit so all resistors in the circuit are having the same or sharing
the source.

CONCLUSION

I therefore conclude that, all resistors in the parallel circuit are having the
same voltage flow. When it comes to the total current, just add the branches of
every resistor where the current flows. Getting the total resistance here is just to
use the formula:
1
RT = 1 1 1
+ +
𝑅1 𝑅2 𝑅3

RECOMMENDATION

Upon performing the experiment, make sure that all the equipments are
working and tested before operating it to avoid getting errors when gathering the
data.