ROBO222

ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND DIGITAL ELECTRONICS

Week 4
Series-Parallel Circuits

Parallel-Series Resistors
Identifying series-parallel
relationships
Mostpracticalcircuitshave
combinationsofseriesandparallel
components.

Components that are

connected in series will share
a common path.
Components that are
connected in parallel will be
connected across the same
two nodes.

1
2

Parallel-Series Resistors
Combination
circuits

Mostpracticalcircuitshavevariouscombinationsof
seriesandparallelcomponents.Youcanfrequently
simplifyanalysisbycombiningseriesandparallel
components.
Animportantanalysismethodistoformanequivalent
circuit.Anequivalentcircuitisonethathas
characteristicsthatareelectrically thesameas
anothercircuitbutisgenerallysimpler.

Parallel-Series Resistors
Equivalent circuits
For example:

1 .0 k
R

1 .0 k

is equivalent
to

There are no electrical

measurements that can distinguish
the boxes.

2 .0 k

Parallel-Series Resistors
Equivalent circuits
Another
example:
R

1 .0 k

is equivalent
to
R

1 .0 k

1 ,2

500

There are no electrical

measurements that can distinguish
the boxes.

Parallel-Series Resistors
is equivalent
to
R

1 .0 k
R

4 .7 k

2 .7 k

1 ,2 ,3

2 .0 7 k

1 ,2

3 .7 k

4 .7 k

is equivalent
to
There are no electrical
measurements that can
distinguish between the
three boxes.

Parallel-Series Circuits
KirchhoffsvoltagelawandKirchhoffscurrentlaw
canbeappliedtoanycircuit,includingcombination
circuits.
For example,
applying KVL,
the path shown
will have a sum
of 0 V.

R2
470
VS
5 .0 V

R 11
270

So will
this
path!

R4

100
R3
330
R6

S t a rt/ F in is h

S t a rt/ F in is h

100

R5
100

Parallel-Series Circuits
Kirchoffs current law can also be applied
to the same circuit. What are the readings
for node A?I
I
+

26.5mA

I
VS
5.0V

8.0mA

R2
470
R4

18.5mA

100
R1
270

R3
330
R6
100

R5
100

Parallel-Series Circuits
Combination
circuits

VS +
10 V

R1
270
R2

R3

Tabulating current, resistance, voltage and

power is a useful way to summarize
parameters. Solve for the unknown
quantities
I = 21.6 in the
R =circuit
270 shown.
5.82
V=
126
1

mA
=
IP21=
12.7 mA
= 8.9
IP32=
mA
=21.6
IPT3=
mA

mW
R2= 330 V
4.18
V2=
53.1
mW
R3= 470 V
4.18
V3=
37.2
VV = 10 V mW
R464
216
P T=
T=
S

mW

Parallel-Seires Circuits
Kirchhoffslawscanbeapplied
asacheckontheanswer.

VS +
10 V

R1
270
R2

Notice that the current in

R
equal
to the sum of the branch currents
1 is
in R2 and R3.
The sum of the voltages around the outside
loop is zero.
I1= 21.6
R1= 270
5.82
V 1=
126
mA
mW
=
IP21=
12.7 mA R2= 330 V
4.18
V2=
53.1
mW
= 8.9
IP32=
R3= 470 V
4.18
V3=
37.2
mA
VV = 10 V mW
=21.6
IPT3=
R464
216
P T=
T=
S
mA

mW

R3

Parallel-Series Circuits
Loadedvoltagedivider
The voltage-divider
equation was
developed for a series
circuit. Recall that the
output voltage
R2 is given
V2 VS
by
RT

R1
R2

A
R3

A voltage-divider with a resistive load is a

combinational circuit and the voltage divider is
said to be loaded. The loading reduces the
total resistance from node A to ground.

Parallel-Series Circuits
Loadedvoltagedivider

Example:
What is the
voltage across R3?

VS=

+15 V

R1

R2

A
R3

2.2 k

Solution:
Form an equivalent series circuit by
combining R2 and R3; then apply the
R2,3 to
R2 the
R3 equivalent
470 2.2 k = 387
voltage-divider formula
circuit: R2,3
387

V3 V2,3
VS

15 V 8.10
R R
330 387
2,3
1
V

Parallel-Series Circuits
Stiffvoltagedivider

VS

R1

A stiff voltage-divider is
R2
RL
one in which the loaded
voltage nearly the same as
the no-load voltage. To
accomplish this, the load
current must be small
to the bleeder current (or RL is large compared to the divider
compared
resistors).If R1 = R2 = 1.0 k, what value of RL will make the
Example: divider a stiff voltage divider? What fraction of the
unloaded voltage is the loaded voltage?
Solution: RL > 10 R2; RL should be 10 k or greater. For a 10 k
load,

R2 || RL
0.91 k

This is 95% of
VL
V

0.476
V

S
S
S
the unloaded
1.0 k 0.91 k
R1 R2 || RL
voltage.

Parallel-Series Circuits
Loadingeffectofavoltmeter
Assume VS = 10 V,
but the meter reads
only 4.04 V when it is
across either R1 or R2.

VS +
10 V

R1
470 k

R2
47k

4.04
10 V
V
4.04
V

Can you explain what is

happening?
All measurements affect the quantity being
measured. A voltmeter has internal resistance,
which can change the resistance of the circuit
under test. In this case, a 1 M internal
resistance of the meter accounts for the
readings.

Parallel-Series Circuits
Wheatstonebridge
TheWheatstonebridgeconsists
R3
R1
ofadcvoltagesourceandfour V S
O u tp u t
resistivearmsformingtwo
voltagedividers.Theoutputis
R2
R4
takenbetweenthedividers.
Frequently,oneofthebridge
resistorsisadjustable.
When the bridge is balanced, the outputzero
voltage
and
the is
products of resistances in the ,
opposite
diagonal arms are
equal
.
+

Parallel-Series Circuits
Wheatstonebridge

12 V

470

330

O u tp u t

384

Example: What is
the value of R2 if the
bridge is balanced?

270

Parallel-Series Circuits
Theveninstheorem
Theveninstheoremstatesthatanytwoterminal,
resistivecircuitcanbereplacedwithasimple
equivalentcircuitwhenviewedfromtwooutput
terminals. The equivalent circuit is:

R
V

T H

T H

Parallel-Series Circuits
Theveninstheorem
theopencircuitvoltagebetweenthetwo
VTHisdefinedas
outputterminalsofacircuit.
R
isdefinedas
thetotalresistanceappearingbetween
TH
thetwooutputterminalswhenallsourceshavebeen
replacedbytheirinternalresistances.

R
V

T H

T H

Parallel-Series Circuits
TheveninstheoremExample
What is the Thevenin voltage for the 8.76 V
circuit?
What is the Thevenin resistance for
7.30
the circuit?
Output terminals
R 1
k
Remember,
10 k
VS
the load
12 V
R L
R2
resistor has
68 k
27 k
no affect on
the
Thevenin
parameters.

Parallel-Series Circuits
Theveninstheorem
Thevenins theorem is useful for solving the
Wheatstone bridge. One way to Thevenize the
bridge is to create two Thevenin circuits from A
to ground and from B to ground.
R
R
The resistance between
point A and ground is
R1||R3 and the resistance
from B to ground is R2||
R4. The voltage on each
side of the bridge is
found using the voltage

VS

+
-

A
R3

RL

B
R4

Parallel-Series Circuits
Theveninstheorem

Example:

165
For the bridge shown, R1||R3 =

and R2||R179
. The voltage
4 =
from A to ground (with7.5
no load) is
6.87
V no load) is
V(with
and from B to ground
R1
R2
V
S
330
.
390
+
R
L
+15 V
A
B
-

R3
330

The Thevenin circuits for each of

the bridge are shown on the
following slide.

150

R4
330

Parallel-Series Circuits
Theveninstheorem
RTH A RL
VTH
7.5 V

165

150

B RTH'
179

VTH'
6.87 V

Putting the load on the Thevenin

circuits and applying the superposition
theorem allows you to calculate the
load current. The load current is:
1.27 mA

Parallel-Series Circuits
Maximumpowertransfer
The maximum power is transferred from a
source to a load when the load resistance is
equal to the internal source resistance.
RS
VS +
RL

The maximum power transfer theorem

assumes the source voltage and
resistance are fixed.

Parallel-Series Circuits
Maximumpowertransfer

Example:

What is the power delivered to the

matching load?
Solution:
RS
The voltage to
50
VS +
the load is 5.0
10 V
V. The power
delivered is
PL

V
RL

5.0 V

50

= 0.5 W

RL
50

Parallel-Series Circuits
Superposition theorem
Thesuperpositiontheoremisawaytodeterminecurrents
andvoltagesinalinearcircuitthathasmultiplesourcesby
takingonesourceatatimeandalgebraicallysummingthe
results.
6 .8 k

I2
+

V
18 V

R2
6 .8 k

S2

V S1
12 V

2 .7 k
+

What does the

ammeter read
for I2? (See
next slide for
the method
and the
answer).

Example:

Parallel-Series Circuits
R
RR3333
6.8
66.8
. 8 kkk

2.7
22.7
. 7 kkk

III2222
VVSS2S 22
--1.56
mA
+
+
+
18
18 V
V
R
RR2222
6.8
66.8
. 8 kkk

R
RR1111

--

Source 1:
RT(S1)6.10
=
k
I2 =
Source
2:
RT(S2)
8.73
=
k
I2= sources
Both
The total current is the
algebraic sum.

1.97
I1=mA
2.06
I3 =
mA I =
2

--

+
+

VVSSS111
112
2 VV

++

What does the

ammeter read for
I2?
Set up a table of
pertinent
information and
solve for each
quantity listed:

0.98 mA
0.58 mA
1.56 mA

Parallel-Series Circuits
Troubleshootin
g

Theeffectivetroubleshootermustthinklogicallyabout
circuitoperation.

Analysis:
Planning:

Understand normal circuit

operation and find out the
symptoms of the failure.
Decide on a logical set of steps to
find the fault.

Measurement:

Following the steps in the plan,

make measurements to isolate
the problem. Modify the plan if
necessary.

Parallel-Series Circuits
Troubleshootin
Example:
g

Theoutputofthevoltagedivideris
6.0V.Describehowyouwoulduse
analysisandplanninginfindingthe
fault.

VS=

+15 V

R1

R2

A
R3

2.2 k

Analysis: From an earlier calculation, V3 should equal 8.10 V. A

low voltage is most likely caused by a low source voltage

or incorrect resistors (possibly R1 and R2 reversed). If the
circuit is new, incorrect components are possible.

Planning: Decide on a logical set of steps to locate the fault. You

could decide to 1) check the source voltage, 2)

disconnect the load and check the output voltage, and if
it is correct, 3) check the load resistance. If R3 is correct,
check other resistors.

Selected Key Terms

Loading The effect on a circuit when an
element that draws current from the
circuit is connected across the output
terminals.
Loadcurrent The output current supplied to a
load.
Bleeder The current left after the load current
current is subtracted from the total current
into the circuit.
Wheatstone A 4-legged type of bridge circuit with
bridge which an unknown resistance can be
accurately measured using the
balanced state. Deviations in
resistance can be measured using the
unbalanced state.

Selected Key Terms

Thevenins
theorem

Maximumpower
transfer
Superposition

A circuit theorem that provides for

reducing any two-terminal resistive
circuit to a single equivalent voltage
source in series with an equivalent
resistance.
The condition, when the load
resistance equals the source
resistance, under which maximum
power is transferred to the load.
A method for analyzing circuits with
two or more sources by examining
the effects of each source by itself
and then combining the effects.

Assigned Problems

Chapter 6: TBD

Quiz
1. Two circuits that are equivalent have the
same
a. number of components
b. response to an electrical stimulus
c. internal power dissipation
d. all of the above

Quiz
2. If a series equivalent circuit is drawn for a
complex circuit, the equivalent circuit can be
analyzed with
a. the voltage divider theorem
b. Kirchhoffs voltage law
c. both of the above
d. none of the above

Quiz
3. For the circuit shown,
a. R1 is in series with R2

d. R2 is in parallel with R3

c. R2 is in series with R3

b. R1 is in parallel with R2 V

Quiz
4. For the circuit shown,

a. R1 is in series with R2

d. none of the above

c. R2 is in parallel with R3

b. R4 is in parallel with R1

Quiz
5. A signal generator has an output voltage of
2.0 V with no load. When a 600 load is
connected to it, the output drops to 1.0 V. The
Thevenin resistance of the generator is
a. 300
b. 600
c. 900
d. 1200 .

Quiz
6. For the circuit shown, Kirchhoff's voltage
law
a. applies only to the outside loop
b. applies only to the A junction.
c. can be applied to any closed path.
R1
d. does not apply.
VS +
10 V

270

R2

R3

Quiz
7. The effect of changing a measured
quantity due to connecting an instrument to
a circuit is called
a. loading
b. clipping
c. distortion
d. loss of precision

Quiz
8. An unbalanced Wheatstone bridge has the
voltages shown. The voltage across R4 is
a. 4.0 V

d. 7.0 V

c. 6.0 V

VS
12 V

b. 5.0 V

R
7 .0 V

1 .0 V
2

Quiz
9. Assume R2 is adjusted until the Wheatstone
bridge is balanced. At this point, the voltage
across R4 is measured and found to be 5.0 V.
The voltage across R1 will be

c. 6.0 V
d. 7.0 V

+ RL -

b. 5.0 V

VS
12 V

a. 4.0 V

R3

R1

R2

R4
5.0 V

Quiz

10. Maximum power is transferred from a fixed

source when
a. the load resistor is the source
resistance
b. the load resistor is equal to the source
resistance
c. the load resistor is twice the source
resistance
d. none of the above

Quiz
Answers:
1. b

6. c

2. c

7. a

3. d

8. a

4. d

9. d

5. b

10. b