CALCULATING TOTAL PARALLEL CIRCUIT RESISTANCE

PARALLEL CIRCUIT CALCULATIONS WITH EQUAL RESISTANCES—TWO LOADS

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• The voltage supplied to each parallel branch is very close to the source voltage (excluding
conductors, control device and protection device).
–– VDrop R# = VSource
• The total resistance of a parallel circuit is always less than the lowest resistance value of
any of the branches.

–– Only two loads:

–– More than two loads:

• Two equal resistors in parallel have a total parallel resistance that is 1/2 the value of one
resistor.
–– R1 = 40Ω and R2 = 40Ω are in parallel. RT = 20Ω
• The current flow through each parallel branch is determined by the resistance value of the
branch.
–– Branch with R1: AR1=VR1 ÷ R1
• The total current of the parallel circuit is equal to the sum of the current in each parallel
branch.
–– AT = AR1 + AR2+ AR#

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PARALLEL CIRCUIT CALCULATIONS WITH UNEQUAL RESISTANCES—TWO LOADS

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• Again, the voltage supplied to each parallel branch is very close to the source voltage.
–– VDrop R# = VSource
• The total resistance of a parallel circuit is always less than the lowest resistance value of
any of the branches.
–– R1 = 100Ω and R2 = 10Ω are in parallel. RT = 9.09Ω
• The current flow through each parallel branch is determined by the resistance value of the
branch.
–– Branch with R1: AR1=VR1 ÷ R1
• The total current of the parallel circuit is equal to the sum of the current in each parallel
branch.
–– AT = AR1 + AR2+ AR#

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PARALLEL CIRCUIT CALCULATIONS WITH MORE THAN TWO LOADS

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• If the parallel has more than two branches, the voltage drop across each branch will still be
source voltage.
• If there are more than two loads, the simplified equation cannot be used. Instead the
following equation must be used:

––
• The current flow through each parallel branch is determined by the resistance value of the
branch.
–– Branch with R1: AR1=VR1 ÷ R1
• As always, ohm’s law can be manipulated to solve for any missing measurement.
• In this example, total resistance is missing, and each branch amperage and voltage is
known:
–– Load R1 measurements: AR1 = 0.5A, VDROP R1 = 12V.
–– Load R2 measurements: AR2 = 1.5A, VDROP R2 = 12V.
–– Load R3 measurements: AR3 = 4A, VDROP R3 = 12V.
–– Total circuit amperage: AT = 6A = 0.5A + 1.5A + 4A.
–– Total circuit resistance: RT = 2Ω = 12V ÷ 6A.
• Each load resistance can be calculated:
–– R1= 24Ω = 12V ÷ 0.5A.
–– R2= 8Ω = 12V ÷ 1.5A.
–– R3= 3Ω = 12V ÷ 4A.
• Circuit total resistance can be verified:
–– RT= 1 ÷ ((1 ÷ 24Ω) + (1 ÷ 8Ω) + (1 ÷ 3Ω))
–– RT= 1 ÷ (0.5Ω)
–– RT= 2Ω

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