Q&A for How to Calculate Series and Parallel Resistance

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How do I calculate the supply current?

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You divide your total voltage by total resistance. For example let's say your voltage is 200V and your total resistance is 25 ohm, so it's IT=VT/ RT=200/25 = 8A.

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How do I connect a resistor to get the minimum resistance?

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Net resistance is minimum when all the resistors are connected in parallel.

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How do I find the equivalent resistance between A and B arranged in a triangle?

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Suppose A and B are the extremities of the base of the triangle. The resistor (R 1) between A and B would be parallel with the equivalent resistance of the other two, which are essentially in series. Then, R 2 and R 3 have an equivalent resistance: RE = R 2 + R 3. RE and R 1 are parallel, therefore the equivalent resistance is the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals of RE and R 1.

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How do I tell whether or it is in a series or parallel?

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If the sum of the resistors is smaller than the smallest resistor, then it is parallel.

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I have a series of four resistors connected and one in parallel. How do I calculate the total resistance of the circuit given r1=220ohms, r2=130ohms, r4=100ohms, r5=270 in series and r3=470ohms in parallel?

Community Answer

Total Resistance = 1/(All series resistors added together) + 1/(value of parallel resistor). 284 ohms = 1/(1/(220+130+100+270) + 1/(470)).

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How can I find a current in every branch if four resistors are connected parallel of values (1K,2.2K,3.3K,5.6K) if total current is 10mA?

Community Answer

First calculate your equivalent resistance of this (sub)circuit, which is equal to: 1 / (1/1k + 1/2.2k + 1/3.3k + 1/5.6k) = 516Ohm. So the voltage over a single resistor equals: 10mA * 516Ohm = 5.16V Now, calculate the current through a single resistor, respectively: 5.16V / 1.0kOhm = 5.16mA, 5.16V / 2.2kOhm = 2.35mA, 5.16V / 3.3kOhm = 1.57mA, 5.16V / 5.6kOhm = 0.92mA.

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A piece of wire of resistance R is cut into n equal parts. These parts are then connected in parallel. If the equivalent resistance of parallel combination is R', then (R/R') is what?

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If the wire is cut into n equal parts, the resistance of each part becomes R/n due to decrease in length. When they are connected in parallel, the equivalent resistance becomes R/n^2. So their ratio will be 1/n^2.

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How do I calculate the total resistance of the resistors?

Community Answer

Resistance1 multiplied by resistance 2, divided by sum of resistance 1 and resistance 2.

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Question

How do I build a series parallel circuit?

Community Answer

First, take a wire and join it with v volt battery, then join a resistance R1 between wire. Take another resistance of R2 join with the resistance R1 end to end. Take a resistance of R3 and join its one terminal to the wire and one terminal to the end point of the parallel resistance.

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If 3 resistances of 3 ohms each are connected in parallel, what will be their total resistance?

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Adding 1/(1/3+1/3+1/3) will be 1 ohm, since all the resistors are connected in parallel.

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How do I calculate a circuit with both series and parallel resistance?

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To calculate resistance in series and in parallel, first one should find out the parallel combination of resistors. After that we would easily find out the resistance in series by applying Rs = R1 + R2 + R3... and then adding both of them.

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Question

How do I calculate resistance?

Community Answer

I = current, R resistance, and V = cottage or electric potential. If I = V/R, we can rearrange the equation to get R = V/I.

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How do I find the resistance in resistors?

Community Answer

The resistance of a resistor is either printed on the resistor body or marked with a color code. The combination of colors indicate the value and tolerance of a resistor. For a calculator or full explanation, refer to the resistor code.

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How do I solve for parallel resistance?

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Add the reciprocal of series 1/{1/R1 + 1/R2} where the flow of current is not the same.

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How do I get the maximum current?

Community Answer

The cross-sectional area of a parallel circuit is greatest, so the more branches, the greater the current of the circuit.

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How do I calculate the cost of electricity when I know how much electricity is being used?

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Current (I) and voltage (E) are multiplied to get the energy used in watts (W). Watts are divided by 1000 to get kilowatts (kW). Kilowatts are then divided by the time used, in hours, to get kilowatt- hours (kW/h or kWh). The rate of the power supplier is then applied. For example: 5A, 120V, 30min, .17 cents/ hour, 17 cents/hour. 10A*120V = 1200W / 1000 = 1.2kW / .5 = .6KWh *.17 = $0.10 (10 cents).

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