Parallel-Circuit Design Considerations
Lea T. Villafuerte
ECE&CpE Department
Ateneo de Naga University, Ateneo Avenue, Naga City.
lvillafuerte@gbox.adnu.edu.ph
Abstract
This experiment focuses on the designing
parallel circuits that will satisfy the required output
that will vary in voltage, current and resistance.
I. Introduction
This experiment aims to design a parallel
circuit with a given value of voltage, current and
resistors. After the experiment, the students must be
able to master and design a circuit and check the
parameters by measuring using a multimeter.
II. Theory
A parallel circuit is a closed network
wherein there is two or more paths where the current
may flow. In a parallel circuit, the voltage across
each resistance load is equal and as the resistance in
each leg changes, the current will vary [1]. In order
to obtain the total resistance in a parallel circuit, the
equation used is:
1 1 1
RT = 𝑅 + 𝑅 + 𝑅 + ⋯ (1)
1 2 3
To solve for the current, voltages and
resistances through the circuit, Ohm’s law is used.
In equation,
𝑉
I=𝑅 (1)
III. Methodology
The materials used in doing this experiment
are as follows. A power supply that may be adjusted
for the required dc voltage, a multi-meter,
connecting wires and resistors with values 560,
1200, 1800, 3300, 5600 and 10000 ohms.
The first thing that must be done is to
measure each resistance with the use of the multi-
meter and record it under Table 1.
Next is to design different parallel circuits
that may satisfy the required resistance by
combining the resistors. To confirm if the
combination is approximately accurate, use the
multi-meter and record the resistors used under
Table 2.
After this, create a parallel circuit that will
give a value of approximately 0.02A when a 30V is
supplied. Then, create a simple parallel circuit using
the values 1200- and 1800 ohms as 𝑅1 and 𝑅2
respectively, and 0.03A for current, compute for the
voltage required. Connect the circuit to a power
supply and adjust the voltage until the current
flowing is 0.03A. Record these values under Table
3.
For the values under Table 4, design a two-
branch parallel wherein the current flowing in one
branch is 0.015A and the other is 0.02A and
compute for the voltage required. Connect the
designed circuit to the power supply and adjust the
voltage to the computed value. Record the values
obtained. For the last table, create three different
parallel circuits using two, three and four resistors.
IV. Results and Discussion
Rated value,
560 1200 1800 3300 5600 10,000
ohms
 Measured Value, As the voltage increases the resistors that are
ohms being used have also higher values but the current as
558 1184 1781 3240 5580 9940
the resistances goes up it decreases. [2]

TABLE 4
To make sure the resistors are working and
Branch Current, Resistance, Voltage,
to get the exact value of the resistors, we measured
amperes ohms volts
them and recorded it under Table 1.

TABLE 2: Combination of Parallel Resistors Required Measured

R1 R2 Computed Measured

Combination of Parallel I1 I2 I3 I4
RT Resistors Measured
Required Value RT 0.015 0.02 0.014 0.022 1781 1184 25.2 24.8
ohms R1 R2 R3 ohms
(ohms) (ohms) (ohms)

457 3240 9940 558 455 From the data in table 4, the higher the
resistance in that branch the current flowing through
720 1184 3240 5580 750 it is lower and vice versa.

315 558 1184 1781 312 TABLE 5: Design Circuit

3590 1781 9940 3240 3335 Measured Values V

I
Combina Applied
Measure
tions Design
R1 R2 R3 R4 d
Value
Having higher required total resistances, the
1 3240 5580 X X 20.50 10mA
higher values of resistors are being used. As we can
also see here the measured values is approximately 2 5580 3240 558 X 4.39 10mA
equal to the required total resistance because of the
3 558 1184 1781 3240 15.29 10mA
discrepancies of the resistors.

TABLE 3

Parallel
In the design problems, we used Ohm’s law to
V applies, volts IT,amperes compute for the values of the resistors needed in the
Resistors, ohms
Step required circuit.
Given Computed Measured Required Measured
R1 R2
Value Value Value Value Value
a. Circuit 1
5, 6 30 X 30 0.02 0.021 1781 9,940

7, 8 X 21.6 21.56 0.03 0.031 1,200 1,800

From table 3 shows the relationships

between the voltages, current and resistances.
 b. Circuit 2 References:

[1] Charles K. Alexander, et al., Fundamentals of

Electric Circuits 4th Edition

[2] Boylestad, Introductory Circuit Analysis 10th

Edition

[3] Elecronics Tutorial, Kirchhoff’s Circuit Laws,

Retrieved: July 22, 2017, http://www.electronics-
tutorials.ws/dccircuits/dcp_4.html

c. Circuit 3 [4] Mahmood Nahvi, Ph.D., Joseph A. Edminister,

et al, Schaum’s Outlines Electric Circuits 4th Edition,
McGraw Hill 2003

[5] Thomas L. Floyd, Principles of Electric Circuits

Conventional Current Version 8th Edition, Pearson
Prentice Hall, 2007

V. Conclusion

After this experiment we may conclude that

with the help of Ohm’s Law, we are able to
complete the missing values in the circuit may it be
the resistance, the voltage or the current. This
experiment also shows that the voltage across a
parallel circuit is the same and that the total
resistance is always less than the resistance of the
components.
QUESTIONS
1. How did the measured values of the resistors
in this experiment compare with their color-
coded values? Refer to Table 1 for your
answer.
2. Why was it necessary to measure the
resistors supplied in this experiment?
3. In Table 2, how did the measured values of
RT compare with the required value? Explain
any discrepancies.
4. Did the measurement in step 6 confirm the
design values in step 5? If not, why not?
Refer specifically to the data in Table 3.
5. Did the measurement in step 8 confirm the
design values in step 7? If not, why not?
Refer specifically to the data in Table 3.
6. Did the measurement in step 10 confirm the
design values in step 9? If not, why not?
Refer specifically to the data in Table 4.
Answers:
1. The measured values of the resistors differs
a little with their color coded values. Most
of the resistors differ in their tens or ones
digit.
2. Because measured resistors tend to have a
different measured value than the indicated
one. Hence, it is important to know the real
value of the resistors before conducting an
experiment.
3. In Table 2, the measured value of RT is a
little lower than the required value. This is
expected because there is some divergence
in the measured amount and indicated values
of the resistors used.
4. Yes. The measurement in step 6 confirmed
the design values in step 5.
5. Yes. The measurement in step 8 confirmed
the design values in step 7.
6. Yes. The measurement in step 10 confirmed
the design values in step 9.