ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS

Lecture 4
Series-Parallel Circuits
The Series-Parallel Network
⚫ A series-parallel configuration is one that
is formed by a combination of series and
parallel elements.
⚫ A complex configuration is one in which
none of the elements are in series or
parallel.
The Series-Parallel Network
⚫ Branch
◦ Part of a circuit that can be simplified into
two terminals
⚫ Components between these two
terminals
◦ Resistors, voltage sources, or other elements

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General approach to circuit analysis
1. Using Reduce and Return Approach:
⚫ Identify elements in series and elements in
parallel.
⚫ Reduce the circuit to its simplest form across the
source
◦ Determine equivalent resistance RT
◦ Solve for the total current and determine the source
current (Is).
◦ Label polarities of voltage drops on all components
⚫ Return by using the resulting source current (Is)
to work back to the desired unknown.
◦ Calculate how currents and voltages split between
elements in a circuit

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⚫ In this circuit
⚫ R2, R3, and R4 are in
parallel
⚫ This parallel
combination is in
Series with R1 and
R5

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⚫ In this circuit
◦ R3 and R4 are in
parallel
◦ Combination is in
series with R2
⚫ Entire combination is
in parallel with R1

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Circuit analysis
2. For Complex Networks:
⚫ Rules for analyzing series and parallel circuits still
apply
⚫ Try to Reduce and Return for some branches
⚫ Same current occurs through all series elements
⚫ Same voltage occurs across all parallel elements
⚫ KVL and KCL apply for all circuits
◦ Whether they are series, parallel, or series-parallel

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Hints
⚫ Redraw complicated circuits showing the
source at the left-hand side
⚫ Label all nodes
⚫ Develop a strategy
◦ Best to begin analysis with components most
distant from the source
⚫ Simplify recognizable combinations of
components

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Hints
⚫ Verify your answer by taking a different
approach (when feasible)
⚫ Voltages
◦ Use Ohm’s Law or Voltage Divider Rule
⚫ Currents
◦ Use Ohm’s Law or Current Divider Rule

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 Example 1
RT = 3K Ω+ 6KΩ =
9kΩ

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 Example 2
⚫ Find the current I4 and the voltage V2 for the
following network

I4 =
1.5A

RT = R8 // (R1 + R2//R3) = 3.4

I1 = 2A I3 = 5A

I2 = 3A
KCL

I1 = ? I3 = 250 mA

I2 = 150 mA
KVL (Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law)
⚫ The sum of the potential differences
around a closed loop equals zero.
Closed Loop #1
Closed Loop #2
Closed Loop #3
Closed Loop #4
Not Closed #1
Not Closed #2
What KVL Really Means
⚫ Sum of the Voltage drops across resistors
equals the Supply Voltage in a Loop.

⚫ Even not necessary but try to always

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KΩ
Step 1 choose current directions
and loops
10 10
KΩ KΩ

L 10 L
1 KΩ 2

L
3
⚫ KCL in A or B: I1 + I2 = I3
⚫ KVL:
⚫ Loop 1 is given as :
    10 = R1 x I1 + R3 x I3 = 10k I1 + 10K I3
⚫ Loop 2 is given as :    
20 = R2 x I2 + R3 x I3 = 10k I2 + 10k I3
⚫ Loop 3 is given as :
    10 - 20 = 10k I1 - 10k I2
rearrange
⚫ As I3 is the sum of I1 + I2 we can rewrite the
equations as;
⚫ 10 = 10k I1 + 10k (I1 + I2)  
10 = 20k I1 + 10k I2
⚫ 20 = 10k I2 + 10k (I1 + I2)
20 = 10k I1 + 20k I2
⚫ We now have two "Simultaneous Equations"
that can be reduced to give us the value of both
I1 and I2 
⚫ I2 = (20 – 10k I1)/ 20 k
⚫ I2 = 1 mA
⚫ I1 = 0 A
⚫ As :    I3 = I1 + I2
⚫ The current flowing in resistor R3 is given
as :     -1m + 0 = 1 mA
⚫ and the voltage across the resistor R3 is
given as :    1mx 10k = 10 volt
⚫ and the voltage across the resistor R1 is
given as :     0 x 10k =  0 volt
⚫ and the voltage across the resistor R2 is
given as :     1m x 10k = 10 volt
Question
⚫ Can we use KCL & KVL in simple
circuits?
SURE! WE CAN USE ANY THING
⚫ Thank you for your attention
⚫ Any question?

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