4. Series + Parallel Circuits

• Series - Parallel Circuits

  Circuits with both series and parallel components
• Determining Relationships on a PC Board

  1. Identify series and parallel components

  2. Analyze series-parallel circuits
• Total Resistance (RT)


  The total resistance in a series-parallel circuit
• Analyzing Series-Parallel Circuits


  1. Calculate total resistance RT

  2. Calculate total current IT

  3. Use current divider formula

  4. Apply Kirchhoff's law
• Total Current: Alternative


  Another way to calculate total current IT
• Voltage Drops


  The voltage across each resistor in the circuit
• Loading Effect of a Voltmeter

  How a voltmeter affects the voltage being measured
• Voltage Dividers with Resistive Loads

  Voltage divider circuits with additional resistive loads
• Ladder Networks


  A special type of series-parallel circuit used for digital to analogue conversion
• Digital to Analogue Conversion

  1. Using an R/2R ladder network

  2. Switches for illustration

  3. Voltage divider formula to calculate output voltage

  
• Wheatstone Bridge


  A bridge circuit used to measure unknown resistances
• The Wheatstone Bridge is balanced when Vout = 0
• The Wheatstone Bridge can also be used for dividing voltages
• The Wheatstone Bridge can be used for troubleshooting to determine if there is a fault in the circuit