Electric circuits
Electric circuits
Embedded Files
Electrical circuits are closed loop of electrical components with electricity flow and foundations of many devices and systems (e.g. light bulbs to industrial machinery).
They're represented as schematics if drawn.
Types of circuits (by configuration)
Types of circuits (by configuration)
[4] There are 5 main electric circuits types, called basic circuits, each with a:
Power source
Connecting wire
Load
Switch
They're:
Series circuits has the same current through all loads connected in a line. One component fails and the whole circuit stops. They're for light bulbs, flashlights, water heaters, freezers, other daily items.
Parallel circuits have 2+ parallel components and current divided between them.
They allows separate paths with different resistances and each component are isolated from the rest.
3. Short circuits allow too much current to flow, causing them to overload and fail, often caused by faults in wiring or components. It has both positive and negative points connected, for current to flow in both directions. They're used in arc welding.
4. Open circuits has either a gap or its switch is off, stopping current from flowing, used to control electricity-flow, like switches and circuit breakers. If an open circuit fails, it cannot function til repaired.
5. Closed circuits have all components connected in a loop, for current flowing and let electricity to pass in different devices.
E.g. They are used in: electric motors, doorbells and intercom systems, alarm systems.
Combo circuits
Combo circuits
Combination circuits are a combination of series and parallel series.
Advanced circuits
Advanced circuits
Advanced circuits are for sophisticated devices (E.g. computers, communication systems, and automated controls).
Click to view moreIntegrated circuits (ICs): Miniaturized circuits with multiple components (transistors, resistors, capacitors) on a single chip, used in computers and smartphones.
Analog circuits: Handle continuous signals (e.g., amplifiers, oscillators).
Digital circuits: Use discrete signals (0s and 1s) for logic operations, found in computers and digital devices.
Microprocessor circuits: Central processing units that perform calculations and control functions in computers.
Power circuits: Manage and distribute electrical power, like in power supplies and inverters.
Communication circuits: Used in transmitting and receiving signals, such as in radios and telecommunication systems.
Control circuits: Regulate operations in systems like automation and robotics.
Make or break
Make or break
Make a circuit is by closing the current path, like by closing a switch.
"Breaking" a circuit is the opposite: you open a switch.
Current flow
Current flow
For a parallel configuration, each resistor has the same potential drop across it, and the currents through each resistor may be different, depending on the resistor. The sum of the individual currents equals the current that flows into the parallel connections.
Components in "parallel" and "series"
Components in "parallel" and "series"
Components in "parallel" is like it says.
Components are in "series" means they make 1 path as current goes through.
[5] A series circuit has the 1st resistor's output current going to the 2nd resistor, so all resistor are the same currents.
A parallel circuit has all resistors are on one side are connected and all leads on the other side are connected together.
Img 1
Img 1 shows R1, R2, and R3 are in series with a voltage equals Vab.
As only one path has charges going through, current is the same in all resistor.
The equivalent resistance of a set of resistors in a series connection is equal to the algebraic sum of the individual resistances.
In all resistors, potential drop = electric potential energy loss, as current goes into all resistors.
Ohm’s law says potential drop V of a resistor if a current goes through it is calculated with V=IR.
Since energy is conserved and voltage equals potential energy per charge, the voltage sum of the circuit by the source and potential drops across each resistors around a loop equals to 0 (right image):
This equation is often called the Kirchhoff’s loop law.
Example 1
Example 1
Which resistor is R50 in parallel to? None, since R50 has no end touching both, another circuit's both end.
Which resistor is R50 in series to?
Answer: the 2nd R50 and R100
Types of circuits by current
Types of circuits by current
DC Circuit (Direct Current): current flows in one direction only. Batteries are common sources.
AC Circuit (Alternating Current): current direction reverses periodically. Household power is often AC.
Types of circuits by components
Types of circuits by components
Resistor Circuit: Uses resistors to limit current flow.
Capacitor Circuit: Uses capacitors to store energy temporarily and affect voltage levels.
Inductor Circuit: Uses inductors to store energy in the form of a magnetic field.
Diode Circuit: Uses diodes, typically for rectification or controlling current flow in one direction.
Transistor Circuit: Uses transistors for amplification, switching, and signal modulation.
Op-Amp Circuit: Utilizes operational amplifiers for signal amplification, filtering, and processing.
Types of circuits by function and purpose
Types of circuits by function and purpose
Control circuit is for controlling systems (e.g., relay control circuits, logic circuits).
Power circuit (same page as control circuit): Delivers or distributes electrical power (e.g., power supply circuits, transmission circuits).
Protection circuit: Designed to protect circuits from faults like short circuits, overcurrent, and voltage spikes (e.g., fuse or circuit breaker circuits).
Snubber circuit protect switching devices (e.g. transistors or thyristors) from voltage spikes.
Crowbar circuit protects a load from overvoltage by shorting the supply if voltage exceeds a limit.
Signal circuit: Carries signals (e.g., radio frequency circuits, audio circuits).
Logic circuit: Implements logical operations using gates (AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR, XOR).
Oscillator circuit: Generates oscillating signals or waveforms (e.g., sine, square, triangle waves).
Filter circuit: Modifies the frequency content of signals (e.g., low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, band-stop filters).
Amplifier circuit: Increases the power of a signal (e.g., audio amplifiers, RF amplifiers).
Rectifier circuit: Converts alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC), typically using diodes.
Voltage regulator circuit: Ensures a constant output voltage regardless of input variations.
Pulse circuit: Involves pulses (e.g., pulse-width modulation circuits).
Timing circuit: Controls timing operations (e.g., timer circuits, delay circuits).
Sensor circuit: Used to sense physical quantities like temperature, pressure, and light (e.g., thermistor circuits, photoresistor circuits).
Switching circuit: Used to control the opening and closing of circuits or switching between different paths, such as in logic circuits or relays.
Ground control circuit (GCC): Is a type of control and protection circuit in Mainly for industrial automation, safety systems, and control engineering. It has 1 side of its control voltage (often negative/neutral side) connected to ground (earth) for safety, noise reduction, or fault detection.
Types of circuits by signal type
Types of circuits by signal type
Analog circuit deals with continuous signals, where information is represented by varying voltage or current.
Digital circuit deals with discrete signals, often binary (0 and 1) values. Used in logic circuits, processors, and memory systems.
Mixed-signal circuit combines both analog and digital components, like in Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) or digital-to-analog converter (DAC).
Special circuits
Special circuits
Pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit: Controls power send by adjusting the width of pulses in a signal.
A Harmonic oscillator circuit: Generates periodic waveforms like sine, square, or triangle waves.
Schmitt trigger circuit: Used to clean up noisy signals and convert them into sharp transitions.
Voltage divider circuit: Divides a voltage into smaller parts using resistors.
Bridge Circuit: Often used for measuring resistance or strain in applications like Wheatstone bridge.
An RC circuit consists of resistors (R) and capacitors (C) that can be tuned to certain frequencies.
An LC circuit sists of inductors and capacitors (L)with frequenciies that can also be d:) that can also be tuned at
Types of ciruits by application
Types of ciruits by application
Audio Circuit: Designed for audio signal processing, such as amplifiers, mixers, and equalizers.
RF Circuit (Radio Frequency): Works with high-frequency signals for communication systems like radios, antennas, and transmitters.
Power Electronics Circuit: Used in power conversion systems like rectifiers, inverters, and voltage regulators.
Communication Circuit: Used in transmitting and receiving signals for communication purposes (e.g., modulator-demodulator circuits).
Computer Circuit: Includes circuits that are integral to computer operations like logic gates, memory, and processors.
Types of circuits by stability
Types of circuits by stability
Linear Circuit: A circuit where the output is directly proportional to the input (e.g., amplifiers).
Non-linear Circuit: A circuit where the output is not directly proportional to the input (e.g., diode-based circuits).
This is not an exhaustive list, but it covers most of the common types of circuits you’ll encounter in electronics. The categorization depends on the context and focus of the circuit’s use.
Value notations
Value notations
voltage = V, measured in volts
total voltage = VT = input voltage
current = I, measured in amperes (A)
total current = IT
resistance = R, measured in ohms (Ω)
total resistance = RT
power = P, measured in watts (W)
capacitance = C, measured in Farads (F)
frequency = f, measured in Hertz (Hz)
inductance = L, measured in Henrys (H)
ground = gnd
Common units
Common units
Circuit labelings
Circuit labelings
Voltages and polarities, and flowing paths
Battery polarities
battery schematic's longer line = positive terminal (+)
shorter line = negative terminal (-)
Flowing path
Currents flow from a battery's positive to negative terminal.
Electrons flow in the opposite way.
Open switch
Open switch
Closed switch
Closed switch
Power
Power
The more power a resistor uses, the hotter it is.
Note: A battery must supply the 14.4 W.
Pin = Pout
Energy conservation says all output power + losses = input power.
You can never get more out than in.
Ohm's law says that current through a conductor between 2 points is directly proportional to a voltage across the 2 points.
Introducing constant of proportionality, the resistance, one arrives at the three mathematical equations used to describe this relationship:
Equations
Equations
[9]
Ohm's law
Ohm's law
V = voltage
I = current
R = resistance
Voltage divider rule
Voltage divider rule
A Voltage Divider divides voltage into different voltage levels of a common voltage source.
The voltage source can be positive or negative.
VRx = Rx/RT * E
VRx = given resistor's voltage
Rx = given resistor
RT = total resistance
E = voltage
E.g. +5V, +12V, -5V or -12V, etc. with respect to a common ground or node, often 0V.
E.g. If a circuit's resistors were:
V = 160
R1 = 60 Ω
R2 = 35 Ω
R3 = 590 Ω
RT = 60 + 35 + 590 = 685 Ω
Using the voltage divider rule:
VR1 = (60/685) * 160 = 14.015 V
VR2 = (35/685) * 160 = 8.18 V
VR3 = (590/685) * 160 = 137.81 V
V = 137.81 + 8.18 + 14.015 = 160 V--confirms 160 is the voltage
Circuit divider rule
Circuit divider rule
Ix = given resistor's current
Rx = given resistor
RT = total resistance
IT = total current entering
VR1 (930/220+930) * 25.81 = 24112.4059
AC and DC power
AC and DC power
Alternating Current (AC) is current periodically changing direction, flowing back and forth.
Direct Current (DC) is current flowing consistently in 1 direction only. They makes a DC current and don't change in polarity or direction.
Short DC circuts
Short DC circuts
A short in a series circuit causes in less resistance, a higher than normal current flow, power dissipation and higher voltage drops in remaining components.
This shows a real danger to the components and the operator, which must cleared quickly, so overcurrent must open fast.
Example
Example
A short in a series circuit:
Total resistance will decrease.
Total current will increase.
Voltage drops will rise across the remaining components.
Power will rise since current has increased.
DC Circuits – Shorts Sample
E = 12 V
R1 = 400 Ω
R2 = 200 Ω
R3 = 300 Ω
RT original: 900 Ω
RT new due to short: 700 Ω
Power dissipation
Power dissipation
Power dissipation the process of electrical energy converting into another energy form (often heat) in an electrical component (e.g. resistor/light bulb/any electrical device)--it's energy loss in heat form due to the component's resistance if an electric current flows through.
E.g. Among 4 regular (120V) household light bulbs connected in parallel: 40W, 60W, 100W 200 W, the 200W lightbulb has the lowest resistance for having the most power.
p–n junction
p–n junction
[1.8] A p–n junction is a combo of 2 semiconductor materials types, p-type and n-type. p–n junctions is the simplest case of a semiconductor device; a p-n junction by itself, if connected on both sides to a circuit, is a diode.
Forward/reverse bias properties A circuit is forward bias if a diode is in the way a current readily flows. It's reverse bias if a diode is in the opposite way current flows.
References
References
[1] Wikipedia
[1.2] Ohm's Law
[1.8] p–n junction
[2] TBA
[3] Types of Circuits: A Comprehensive Guide for Engineering Professionals - Wevolver
[4] The Different Types of Electrical Circuits and Their Uses - Titan
[6] 161. 21.1 Resistors in Series and Parallel - British Columbia/Yukon Pressbooks
[8]
[9] Voltage Divider and Voltage Division - Electronics Tutorials
[10]
[11]
[12]
Quizzes
Quizzes
[Q2] Basic Electronic Exercises - Teach Me To Make (no answers)
[Q3] TBA
[Q4] Parallel circuits
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse