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COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

EEI
ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS 1

SERIES CONNECTION
SAMPLE PROBLEM OF A SERIES CONNECTION OF A THREE RESISTORS AS SHOWN IN THE CIRCUIT BELOW:

R1=2Ω

Vt= 24 volts __ R2=4Ω

It

R3=6Ω

Calculate the following:

1. The total resistance

2. The total current
3. The individual current
4. The voltage drops across R1, R2 & R3 resistors
5. Checking the voltage

Solution:

1. To find the total resistance, simply add all the resistors.

Rt= R1 + R2 +R3 +……. Rn
Rt= 2+4+6= 12Ω
2. To find the total current, employ ohms’ law.
It= Vt/ Rt = 24/12= 2A
3. In series connection the individual current, I1, I2 & I3 is equal to the total
current:
It = I1 = I2 = I3 = 2A
4. To find the voltage drop across R1,R2 & R3 resistors:
 V1 = I1 x R1 = It x R1 = 2 x 2 = 4V
V2 = I2 x R2 = It x R2= 2 x 4 = 8V
V3 = I3 x R3 = It x R3 = 2 x 6 = 12V
5. Check the voltage
Vt = V1 + V2 + V3
24= 4 + 8 + 12
24V= 24V

SEATWORK
1. A series circuit has a 50Ω, a 75Ω, and a 100Ωresistors in series. Find the
total resistance in the circuit.
2. A series circuit has 6V across R1,30V acrossR2, and 54 volts across R3.
What is the total voltage across the circuit?
3. A resistor of 45Ω and a bell of 60Ωare connected in series. What voltage
is required across this combination to produce a current of 0.3A.
4. A 95V battery is connected in series with three resistors. Find the
voltage across each resistor?
5. The hot resistance of an incandescent lamp is 10Ωand the rated voltage
is 50V.Find the series resistance required to operate the lamp from an
80V supply?

Note: Copy and answer and support the problems with circuit diagram
and label the pertinent parts.