05:03
Faizan
The methods for wiring series and parallel circuits are very different, as are the characteristics. Each type of circuit has advantages and disadvantages, although you are likely to find more examples of parallel circuits than series circuits. For example, all the wires in your home for your lights and wall sockets are in parallel circuits.
Power vs. Endurance
If you wire batteries in series, you increase the voltage, but the endurance remains the same as using one battery. For example, wiring four 6-volt batteries in series provides 24 volts, but the four batteries will only last the same as one 6-volt battery. If you wire batteries in parallel, the voltage is the same as one battery, but they last longer. Four 6-volt batteries in parallel still produce 6 volts, but they will last four times as long as one 6-volt battery, assuming the batteries are equally charged. If a battery in either a series or parallel circuit goes dead before the others, the circuit will still work, but there will be drop in voltage, if wired in series, or reduced endurance, if wired in parallel.
Voltage
All electrical items need voltage to operate; voltage is the pressure flowing through the wires; similar to the pressure when you turn on a water tap. If you turn on two taps from the same water source, the pressure drops. If you wire two 3-volt lightbulbs in series, you need more pressure, so a 6-volt battery is needed to power them, because the total voltage of the electrical equipment in the circuit is 6 volts. However, two 3-volt lightbulbs wired in parallel each uses its own circuit, so you only need one 3-volt battery to power the two bulbs.
Circuit Breakdown
Every electrical item wired into a parallel circuit has its own circuit. This means that if a lightbulb blows, the remaining lights keep working as long as each bulb has its own supply of electricity. A series circuit is a continuous loop of single core wire. The circuit starts at the positive terminal of the power source, connects to each electrical item and them returns to the negative terminal of the power source. If one bulb in a series circuit blows, all the lightbulbs go out.
Circuit Usage
Battery packs that operate items like portable power tools are made from multiple individual cells. Battery packs are always wired in series to produce the voltage necessary to power the device. Recreational vehicles and marine vessels have batteries wired in parallel, as both need sustained electrical power to operate all the electrical equipment on board, while parked or moored. Because the engine is not running the alternator is not producing electricity so electrical equipment is reliant on battery power. Sometimes a vehicle or vessel has both a series and parallel battery bank, so they get the advantages of both wiring methods.
Power vs. Endurance
If you wire batteries in series, you increase the voltage, but the endurance remains the same as using one battery. For example, wiring four 6-volt batteries in series provides 24 volts, but the four batteries will only last the same as one 6-volt battery. If you wire batteries in parallel, the voltage is the same as one battery, but they last longer. Four 6-volt batteries in parallel still produce 6 volts, but they will last four times as long as one 6-volt battery, assuming the batteries are equally charged. If a battery in either a series or parallel circuit goes dead before the others, the circuit will still work, but there will be drop in voltage, if wired in series, or reduced endurance, if wired in parallel.
Voltage
All electrical items need voltage to operate; voltage is the pressure flowing through the wires; similar to the pressure when you turn on a water tap. If you turn on two taps from the same water source, the pressure drops. If you wire two 3-volt lightbulbs in series, you need more pressure, so a 6-volt battery is needed to power them, because the total voltage of the electrical equipment in the circuit is 6 volts. However, two 3-volt lightbulbs wired in parallel each uses its own circuit, so you only need one 3-volt battery to power the two bulbs.
Circuit Breakdown
Every electrical item wired into a parallel circuit has its own circuit. This means that if a lightbulb blows, the remaining lights keep working as long as each bulb has its own supply of electricity. A series circuit is a continuous loop of single core wire. The circuit starts at the positive terminal of the power source, connects to each electrical item and them returns to the negative terminal of the power source. If one bulb in a series circuit blows, all the lightbulbs go out.
Circuit Usage
Battery packs that operate items like portable power tools are made from multiple individual cells. Battery packs are always wired in series to produce the voltage necessary to power the device. Recreational vehicles and marine vessels have batteries wired in parallel, as both need sustained electrical power to operate all the electrical equipment on board, while parked or moored. Because the engine is not running the alternator is not producing electricity so electrical equipment is reliant on battery power. Sometimes a vehicle or vessel has both a series and parallel battery bank, so they get the advantages of both wiring methods.
Posted in: electronics
