Equivalent resistance

R1 R3
iS
Interested only in iS. Not
VS R2 R4 interested in details of
individual resistor currents
R5 and voltages.

iS
Same applied VS must
+ equivalent ? give same resulting iS.
VS – (Same power supplied.)

iS

+ Req =
VS –

EE 201 equivalent resistance – 1

 Test generator (or test source) method

R1 R3

R2 R4
Req = ?
R5

Equivalent resistance must be defined between 2 nodes of the network. A

different pair of nodes gives different Req.

Apply a test generator between the two nodes of interest.

R1 R3
itest
Apply Vtest.
Determine itest.
+ R2 R4
Vtest –
R5 =

EE 201 equivalent resistance – 2

 Series combination

R1 + vR1 –
itest
Apply test source. iR1 +
R2
Req = ? Define voltages Vtest +
–
iR2 vR2
iR3
R3 and currents. –

– vR3 +
By KCL: = = = Series connection.

By KVL: =
Series combination:
use Ohm’s law: =

( + + )= =
=

= = + +
EE 201 equivalent resistance – 3
 Parallel combination
itest
iR1 + iR2 + iR3 +
R1 R2 R3 Apply Vtest.
+ vR1 vR3 vR3
Req = ? Define Vtest –
voltages and – – –
currents.

By KVL: = = = (Parallel connection)

By KCL: = + +

use Ohm’s law: = + + Parallel combination:

= + + =
=

= = + +
EE 201 equivalent resistance – 4
 Series combination: Easy to calculate.

Series: equivalent is always bigger than any resistor in the string.

Req > Rm.

Parallel: equivalent is always smaller than any single resistor the

parallel branches.

Req < Rm.

Special cases for parallel combinations:

Two resistors only: = +

+
= + =

= (product over sum)

+
EE 201 equivalent resistance – 5
 More special cases for parallel combinations:

Two resistors, R1 = R2 = R: = =

Two resistors, R2 = 2R1: = =

One small resistor: R1 << R2, R3, R4,...

= + + + + ...

(Equivalent is approximately
equal to smallest.
EE 201 equivalent resistance – 6
 Combination circuits
R1 R3
itest

+ R2 R4
Vtest –
R5

Test generator method always works.

Sometime necessary (with dependent sources in circuit).
For purely resistive circuits, there is a faster method – inspection.
R1 R3
Inspect structure of network.

R2 R4 Use parallel & series

combinations to sequentially
Ohm’s R5 reduce pieces of the network to
eye
single resistances.

With practice, you will be able to find Req in one step.

EE 201 equivalent resistance – 7
 R1 R3

1. Recognize and replace the series

R2 R4 branch with the three resistors.
R5
= + +

R1
2. Recognize and replace the
R2 R345 parallel combination.

= || =
+

R1
3. We are left with a
simple series pair.
R2345 Req
= +
( + + )
= +
+( + + )
EE 201 equivalent resistance – 8
 Example
R3 50 !

R1 R2 R4
25 ! 100 !
25 !
Req = ?

R3

R1 R2 R4 = +
= + =

=
R1 R2 R34
= + + Req
11.5 !
= .
EE 201 equivalent resistance – 9
 Example R3 3 k! ( )( )
= = =
+
6 k!

R1 R2 R4 R5 R6 =
3 k! 4 k! 5 k!
5 k! ( )( )
Req = ? R7 = = .
+
0.5 k!
R34

R1 R2 R56
= + +

R7 = + . + . =

=
R1 R2 R37 Req
= + + 1.28 k!

EE 201 = . equivalent resistance – 10

 Example
R1 R3 R5
a c c
680 ! R2 1 k! R4 470 ! R6
680 !
Req = ? 470 ! 330 !
b d
1. R5 and R6 are in series.

R56 = R5 + R6 = 1150 Ω.
2. R4 is in parallel with R56.

R46 = R4||R6 = 256 Ω.
3. R3 is in series with R46.

R36 = R2 + R46 = 1000 Ω + 256 Ω = 1256 Ω.
4. R2 is in parallel with R36.

R26 = R2||R36 = 470 Ω || 1256 Ω = 342 Ω.
Req
5. R1 is in parallel with R26.

Req = R1 + R26 = 680 Ω + 342 Ω = 1022 Ω. 1022 !

EE 201 equivalent resistance – 11

 Example
R1 R3 R5
a c
680 ! R2 1 k! R4 470 ! R6
680 !
470 ! 330 ! Req = ?
b d
Find the Req referenced between the nodes c and d. Note that in this
case R1 is dangling (unconnected). No current will flow there – it has
no effect on the rest of the circuit, and we can ignore it.
1. R2 and R3 are in series.

R23 = R2 + R3 = 470 Ω + 1000 Ω = 1470 Ω.
2. R23 and R4 are in parallel.

c R24 = R23||R4 = 1470 Ω || 330 Ω = 269.5 Ω.
Req 3. R24 and R5 are in series.

R25 = R24 + R5 = 269.5 Ω + 470 Ω = 739.5 Ω.
354 !
4. R25 and R6 are in parallel.

d
Req = R25||R6 = 739.5 Ω || 680 Ω = 354 Ω.
EE 201 equivalent resistance – 12
 To study:

1. Work at least a dozen of the equivalent resistance practice problems on

the web site, making sure you can get the correct answer each time.
2. Sketch out your own crazy resistor network and see if you can
calculate the equivalent resistance.
3. “The equivalent resistance of a parallel combination is always less than
the value of any of the individual resistors.” Make sure that you
understand this statement and why it is true.
4. Use a test generator alone with KCL and KVL to work any of the
examples shown in this lecture. Show that you obtain the same result.
5. As noted, the test generator could be a current source. Then the goal
would be to find the corresponding voltage. Re-work the series and
parallel cases using a test current generator. Show that you obtain the
same result.
6. Work through the first circuit (bottom of slide 2) using the test generator
method. Show that you obtain the same equivalent resistance as the
“inspection” method.

EE 201 equivalent resistance – 13