Chapter 7

Series-Parallel Circuits

Objectives
Identify series-parallel relationships Analyze series-parallel circuits Analyze loaded voltage dividers Determine the loading effect of a voltmeter on a circuit Analyze ladder networks Analyze a Wheatstone bridge

Identifying Series-Parallel Relationships

A series-parallel circuit consists of combinations of both series and parallel current paths.

Series

Parallel

Identifying Series-Parallel Relationships

R1 & R4 are in series. R1,R4 are is series with the parallel circuit R2,R3.

Identifying Series-Parallel Relationships

Group A : R1 in series with R4, in parallel with R6. Group B : R2 in series with R5, in parallel with R3. Group A is in series with Group B.

Group A

Group B

See Ex. 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4 & 7.5

Analysis
Objectives:

of

Series-Parallel Circuits

Analyze series-parallel circuits Determine total resistance Determine all currents Determine all voltage drops

Total Resistance
Identify the parallel resistances, and calculate the equivalent resistance(s). Identify the series resistances for the circuit. Sum the series and series equivalent resistances for RT.

See Ex. 7-6 & 7.7

Total Current Using the total resistance and the source voltage, find the total current by applying Ohms law.

IT = VS/RT

**

Branch Currents - Kirchoffs Current Law

Kirchoffs Current Law The sum of the currents into a node (total current in) is equal to the sum of the currents out of a node (total current out). Using the current-divider formula, Kirchhoffs current law (KCL), Ohms law, or combinations of these, you can find the current in any branch of a series-parallel circuit.
See Ex. 7-8, 7-9.

Voltage Drops - Kirchoffs Voltage Law

Kirchoffs Voltage Law: The sum of all the voltages around a single closed path in a circuit is equal to the total source voltage in that loop. Using the current-divider formula, Kirchhoffs current law (KCL), Ohms law, or combinations of these, you can find the current in any branch of a series-parallel circuit.
See Ex. 7-10, 7-11, & 7-12.

Unloaded Voltage Dividers

A voltage divider produces an output which depends upon the values of the dividing resistors.
This voltage is the unloaded output voltage. This voltage is the loaded output voltage.

Loaded Voltage Dividers

When a load resistor RL is connected from the output to ground, the output voltage is reduced by an amount that depends on the value of RL.

See Ex. 7-13

Load Current and Bleeder Current

Bleeder current is the current left (I3) after the total load current (IRL1 and IRL2) is subtracted from the total current into the circuit.

I3
See Ex. 7-14

Bipolar Voltage Dividers

Note the Vs is not connected to Gnd.

Loading Effect of a Voltmeter

When measuring across a resistor, a voltmeter is connected in parallel with the resistor. Being in parallel, the internal resistance of the voltmeter will have a loading effect on the circuit that is being measured. Modern digital voltmeters (DMM) have an internal resistance of 10M.

See Ex.7-15

Ladder Networks
A resistive ladder network is a special type of seriesparallel circuit. One form of ladder network is commonly used to scale voltages to certain weighted values for digital-to-analog conversion (D/A converter).

Analysis of a Ladder Network

To find total resistance of a ladder network, start at the point farthest from the source and reduce the resistance in steps.
Start

Analysis of a Ladder Network

1. 2. 3. R5 + R6 // R4 R456 R456 + R3 // R2 R23456 R23456 + R1 = Req

Start

See Ex 7-16

R/2R Ladder Network

The name comes from the relationship of the resistor values. This type of ladder network is used in digital-to-analog converters, were the switches are controlled electronically.

R/2R Ladder Network

Analysis:
1. SW4 is @ +V & SW1 SW3 @ Gnd

parallel

R1,2 in series w/ R3

Wheatstone Bridge
A Wheatstone bridge is used to precisely measure resistance.

Balanced Wheatstone Bridge

The Wheatstone bridge is in the balanced bridge condition when the output voltage between terminals A and B is equal to zero.

Wheatstone Bridge
A Wheatstone bridge is also applied with transducer measurements, to measure physical quantities such as temperature, strain, and pressure, where small transducer resistance changes can be precisely measured with the Wheatstone bridge. Tiny changes in transducer resistance will unbalance the bridge, thereby providing a measurement reading.

Unbalanced Wheatstone Bridge

The unbalanced bridge is used to measure some transducer quantities, such as strain, temperature, or pressure. The bridge is balanced at a known point, then the amount of deviation, as indicated by the output voltage, indicates the amount of change in the parameter being measured.

Unbalanced Wheatstone Bridge

The value of the parameter being measured can be determined by the amount that the bridge is unbalanced.

Troubleshooting Open Circuits

May be caused by: burnt out resistors, broken wires, bad solder connections, poor contacts.

Short Circuits
A short circuit is considered to be a zero resistance path between two points. May be caused by: solder splashes, broken insulation on wires.

Summary
A series-parallel circuit is a combination of both series paths and parallel paths. To determine total resistance in a series-parallel circuit, identify the series and parallel relationships, and then apply the formulas for series resistance and parallel resistance. To find the total current, apply Ohms law and divide the total voltage by the total resistance.

Summary
To determine branch currents, apply the currentdivider formula, KCL, or Ohms law. To determine voltage drops across any portion of a series-parallel circuit, use the voltage-divider formula, KVL, or Ohms law. When a load resistor is connected across a voltagedivider output, the output voltage decreases.

Summary
A load resistor should be large compared to the resistance across which it is connected, in order that the loading effect may be minimized. To find total resistance of a ladder network, start at the point farthest from the source and reduce the resistance in steps. A balanced Wheatstone bridge can be used to measure an unknown resistance.

Summary
A bridge is balanced when the output voltage is zero. The balanced condition produces zero current through a load connected across the output terminals of the bridge. An unbalanced Wheatstone bridge can be used to measure physical quantities using transducers. Open circuits and short circuits are typical circuit faults. Resistors normally open when they burn out.