Basic Electrical Circuits

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Series Circuits

• Series circuit - A circuit where components are connected in a single loop

  • current flows through each one and remains the same

  • any break in the series interrupts the entire flow of the circuit

• Control circuit (Closed loop circuit) - used for control and signal circuits; when given a desired output, the circuit produces then compares result to desired output. if wrong, it generates an error signal, then it will correct

• Signaling circuits - used to transmit signals for control, monitoring, or communication

• I = Current

  • Current is constant; the rate of flow is identical through all components

  • Total current: I_t = E_t / R_t

• E/V = Voltage

  • Voltage is distributed; The total voltage is distributed among all components in a circuit equally

  • Total voltage: E_t = E₁ + E₂ + E₃ + E₄

  • Voltage drop (loss) of each resistor: E_t = I_t x R_t

• R = Resistance (ohms)

  • Resistance is added; the total resistance in a circuit is the sum of the individual resistances

  • Total resistance: R_t = R₁ + R₂ + R₃ + R₄

• P = Power

  • Power is added; the total power in a circuit is the sum of the individual powers

  • Total power: P_t = P₁ + P₂ + P₃ + P₄

Parallel Circuits

• Parallel circuit - A circuit where 2 or more paths of current can flow

• Receptacles - A device thats connected to electricity and transfers it (outlet, socket, usb, etc)

• Series parallel circuit - a circuit where there are both parallel and series connections