University of Technology, Jamaica

Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies

TVET Industrial Technology

Electrical Principles

Mr. Lewis

Lab # 7 Report

Understanding of Series-Parallel and Parallel- Series Circuit

Rushanda Buchanan

1803538

November 6, 2019
Lab # 7

Title: Series-Parallel and Parallel- Series Circuit

Objectives/Purpose: Understanding of Series-Parallel and Parallel- Series Circuit.

Equipment: Resistors, digital multi-meter, meg ohmmeter.

Part A: Series- Parallel Circuit

Procedures:
1. Set up the circuit as shown below.

2. Measure and record individual resistance and total resistance (table 1).

3. Connect the circuit and take your reading from the ammeter. Record results in table 1

below. Note: that for current the meter must be connected in series!

4. Use the multimeter to find the voltage drop across each resistor as well as across the

whole circuit. Record results in table 1 below.

5. Disconnect the circuit quickly! Please do not miss this step.

6. Calculate the voltage drops, current and power to complete the table.

Part B: Parallel- Series Circuit

Procedures:

1. Set up the circuit as shown below.

2. Measure and record individual resistance and total resistance (table 2).

3. Connect the circuit and take your reading from the ammeter. Record results in table 2

below. Note: that for current the meter must be connected in series!
 4. Use the multimeter to find the voltage drop across each resistor as well as across the

whole circuit. Record results in table 2 below.

5. Disconnect the circuit quickly! Please do not miss this step.

6. Calculate the voltage drops, current and power to complete the table.

Discussion:

Series-Parallel and Parallel- Series Circuit

If circuit components are series-connected in some parts and parallel in others, we won’t be able

to apply a single set of rules to every part of that circuit. Instead, we will have to identify which

parts of that circuit are series and which parts are parallel, then selectively apply series and

parallel rules as necessary to determine what is happening. Take the following circuit, for

instance:

This circuit is neither simple series nor simple parallel. Rather, it contains elements of both. The

current exits the bottom of the battery splits up to travel through R 3 and R4, rejoins, then splits up

again to travel through R 1 and R2, then rejoin again to return to the top of the battery. There
exists more than one path for current to travel (not series), yet there are more than two sets of

electrically common points in the circuit (not parallel).

Because the circuit is a combination of both series and parallel, we cannot apply the rules for

voltage, current, and resistance “across the table” to begin analysis like we could when the

circuits were one way or the other. For instance, if the above circuit were simple series, we could

just add up R1 through R4 to arrive at a total resistance, solve for total current, and then solve for

all voltage drops. Likewise, if the above circuit were simple parallel, we could just solve for

branch currents, add up branch currents to figure the total current, and then calculate total

resistance from total voltage and total current. However, this circuit’s solution will be more

complex.

If we are able to identify which parts of the circuit are series and which parts are parallel, we can

analyze it in stages, approaching each part one at a time, using the appropriate rules to determine

the relationships of voltage, current, and resistance.

Data Tables:

Table 1

Resistor # Resistance Voltage Current Voltage Current Power

(measured) drop (measured) drop calculated Calculated

(measured) calculated

1 1086Ω 8.64V 7.92mA 8.60V 7.96mA 0.07W

2 2835Ω 6.33V 2,22mA 6.29V 2.23mA 0.01W

3 1108Ω 6.33V 5.68mA 6.29V 5.71mA 0.04W

 Total 1883Ω 14.97V 7.9mA 14.88V 7.95mA 0.12W

Table 2

Resistor # Resistance Voltage Current Voltage Current Power

(measured) drop (measured) drop calculated calculated

(measured) calculated

1 1086Ω 14.97V 13.63mA 14.80V 0.01A 0.20W

2 2835Ω 14.98V 5.28mA 14.97V 5.28mA 0.08W

3 1108Ω 6.98mV 0.06mA 0.07V 6.30mA

4 2363Ω 14.93V 0.06mA 0.14V 6.32mA

Total 782Ω 14.94V 18.97mA 14.83V 0.02A 0.28W

Data Analysis:

Part A

Voltage Drop Calculated:

1. I x R

(7.92 x 10-3) x 1086Ω

= 8.60 V

2. I x R

(2.22 x 10-3) x 2835Ω

= 6.29 V

3. I x R
 (5.68 x 10-3) x 1108Ω

= 6.29

Total= I x R

(7.9 x 10-3) x 1883Ω

= 14.88 V

Current Calculated:

1. V/R

8.64 V
1086 Ω

= 7.96Ma

2. V/R

6.33 V
2835 Ω

= 2.23Ma

3. V/R

6.33 V
1108 Ω

= 5.71mA

Total = V/R

14.97 V
1883 Ω

= 7.95mA

Power Calculated:

1. I x V

(7.92 mA x 10-3) x 8.64 V

= 0.07 W

2. I x V

(2.22mA x 10-3) x 6.33 V

= 0.01 W

3. (5.68mA x 10-3) x 6.33 V

= 0.04 W

Total: (7.9mA x 10-3) x 14.97 V

= 0.12 W

Part B:

Voltage Drop Calculated:

1. I x R

(13.63mA x 10-3) x 1086Ω

= 14.80 V

2. I x R

(5.28mA x 10-3) x 2835Ω

= 14.97 V
 3. I x R

(0.06mA x 10-3) x 1108Ω

= 0.07 V

4. I x R

(0.06mA x 10-3) x 2363Ω

= 0.14 V

Total= I x R

(18.97mA x 10-3) x 782Ω

= 14.83 V

Current Calculate:

1. V/R

14.97V/1086Ω

= 0.01A

2. V/R

14.98V/2835Ω

=5.28mA

3. (6.98mV x 10-3)/ 1108Ω

= 6.30nV

4. V/R

14.93V/2363Ω

= 6.32mA

Total= V/R
 14.94V/782Ω

= 0.02A

Power Calculated:

1. I x V

(13.63mA x 10-3) x 14.97 V

= 0.20 W

2. I x V

(5.23mA x 10-3) x 14.98V

= 0.08 W

3. I x V

(0.06mA x 10-3) x (6.98mV x 10-3)

=0.02 W

4. I x V

(0.06Ma x 10-3) x 14.93 V

= 0.04 W

Total= I x V

(18 .97mA x 10-3) x 14.94 V

= 0.28 W

Errors:

1. Testers wasn’t giving off correct readings.

2. Calculation errors when working out the theoretical values.

 3. Incorrect use of prefixes from digital multi-meter.

Conclusion:

The purpose of this lab was to get a full understanding a parallel-series circuit and a series-

parallel circuit. Parallel- series and series-parallel circuit we will have to identify which parts of

that circuit are series and which parts are parallel before any calculation can take place.