Basic Laws of Electric Circuits

Equivalent Resistance

Lesson 5

Basic Laws of Circuits

Equivalent Resistance:
We know the following for series resistors:
R1

R2

. . .

Req

RN

. . .
Figure 5.1: Resistors in series.

Req = R1 + R2 + . . . + RN
1

Basic Laws of Circuits

Equivalent Resistance:
We know the following for parallel resistors:

. . .
Req

R1

RN

R2
. . .

Figure 5.2: Resistors in parallel.

1
1
1
1

. . .
Req R1 R2
RN
2

Basic Laws of Circuits

Equivalent Resistance:
For the special case of two resistors in parallel:

R eq

R1

R2

Figure 5.3: Two resistors in parallel.

R1 R2
Req
R1 R2

Basic Laws of Circuits

Equivalent Resistance:

Resistors in combination.

By combination we mean we have a mix of series and

Parallel. This is illustrated below.
R1

R eq

R3

R2

R4

R5

Figure 5.4: Resistors In Series Parallel Combination

To find the equivalent resistance we usually start at
the output of the circuit and work back to the input.
4

Basic Laws of Circuits

Equivalent Resistance:

Resistors in combination.

R1

R3
R2

Req

Rx

R4 R5
Rx
R4 R5

R1

Req

R2

Ry

Figure 5.5: Resistance reduction.

R y Rx R3

Basic Laws of Circuits

Equivalent Resistance:

Resistors in combination.

R1

RZ

R eq

Req

RZ

R2 RY

R2 RY

Req RZ R1

Figure 5.6: Resistance reduction, final steps.

Basic Laws of Circuits

Equivalent Resistance:

Resistors in combination.

It is easier to work the previous problem using numbers than to

work out a general expression. This is illustrated below.
Example 5.1: Given the circuit below. Find Req.

10

Req

10

Figure 5.7: Circuit for Example 5.1.

7

Basic Laws of Circuits

Equivalent Resistance:

Resistors in combination.

Example 5.1: Continued . We start at the right hand side

of the circuit and work to the left.
10

Req

10

8
10

R eq

Figure 5.8: Reduction steps for Example 5.1.

Ans:
8

Req 15

Basic Laws of Circuits

Equivalent Resistance:

Resistors in combination.

Example 5.2: Given the circuit shown below. Find Req.

6
12

Req

10

d
Figure 5.9: Diagram for Example 5.2.
9

Basic Laws of Circuits

Equivalent Resistance:

Resistors in combination.

Example 5.2: Continued.

12

Req

10

d
c

Fig 5.10: Reduction

steps.
10

Req

12

10

d, a

Basic Laws of Circuits

Equivalent Resistance:

Resistors in combination.

Example 5.2: Continued.

c

Req

12

10 resistor
shorted out
10

d, a

Req
Fig 5.11: Reduction
steps.
11

12

Basic Laws of Circuits

Equivalent Resistance:

Resistors in combination.

Example 5.2: Continued.

Req

Fig 5.12: Reduction

steps.

12

Req

12

Basic Electric Circuits

Wye to Delta Transformation:
You are given the following circuit. Determine Req.
I

9
10

+
_

5
10

Req

Figure 5.1: Diagram to start wye to delta.

13

Basic Electric Circuits

Wye to Delta Transformation:
You are given the following circuit. Determine Req.
I

9
10

+
_

5
10

Req

Figure 5.13: Diagram to start wye to delta.

14

Basic Electric Circuits

Wye to Delta Transformation:
I

9
10

+
_

5
10

Req

We cannot use resistors in parallel. We cannot use

resistors in series. If we knew V and I we could solve

Req =

15

I
There is another way to solve the problem without solving
for I (given, assume, V) and calculating Req for V/I.

Basic Electric Circuits

Wye to Delta Transformation:
Consider the following:
a

Ra
R1

Rc
c

R2

Rb
b

b
R3

(a) wye configuration

(b) delta configuration

Figure 5.14: Wye to delta circuits.

We equate the resistance of Rab, Rac and Rca of (a)

to Rab , Rac and Rca of (b) respectively.
16

Basic Electric Circuits

Wye to Delta Transformation:
Consider the following:
a

Ra
R1

Rc
c

R2

Rb
b

b
R3

(a) wye configuration

(b) delta configuration

R2(R1 + R3)

Eq 5.1

Rab = Ra + Rb =
R1 + R2 + R3
R1(R2 + R3)
Rac = Ra + Rc =

Eq 5.2

R1 + R2 + R3
R3(R1 + R2)

17

Rca = Rb + Rc =
R1 + R2 + R3

Eq 5.3

Basic Electric Circuits

Wye to Delta Transformation:
Consider the following:
a

Ra
R1

Rc

R2

Rb

b
R3

(a) wye configuration

18

(b) delta configuration

Ra

R1 R2
R1 R2 R3

R1

Ra Rb Rb Rc Rc Ra
Rb

Eq 5.4

Rb

R2 R3
R1 R2 R3

R2

Ra Rb Rb Rc Rc Ra
Rc

Eq 5.5

Rc

R1 R3
R1 R2 R3

R3

Ra Rb Rb Rc Rc Ra
Ra

Eq 5.6

Basic Electric Circuits

Wye to Delta Transformation:
Observe the following:
Go to wye
Ra

R1 R2
R1 R2 R3

R2 R3
Rb
R1 R2 R3
Rc

R1 R3
R1 R2 R3

Go to delta
Ra Rb Rb Rc Rc Ra
Rb

Eq 5.4

R R Rb Rc Rc Ra
R2 a b
Rc

Eq 5.5

Ra Rb Rb Rc Rc Ra
Ra

Eq 5.6

R1

R3

We note that the denominator for Ra, Rb, Rc is the same.

We note that the numerator for R1, R2, R3 is the same.
We could say Y below: D
19

Basic Electric Circuits

Wye to Delta Transformation:
Example 5.3: Return to the circuit of Figure 5.13 and find Req.

a
10

+
_

Req

5
10

c
8

b
4

Convert the delta around a b c to a wye.

20

Basic Electric Circuits

Wye to Delta Transformation:
Example 5.3: continued
9

Req

Figure 5.15: Example 5.3 diagram.

It is easy to see that Req = 15

21

Basic Electric Circuits

Wye to Delta Transformation:
Example 5.4: Using wye to delta. The circuit of 5.13
may be redrawn as shown in 5.16.
9

a
10

Req

5
10

Figure 5.16: Stretching (rearranging) the circuit.

Convert the wye of a b c to a delta.
22

Basic Electric Circuits

Wye to Delta Transformation:
Example 5.4: continued
9

a
10

7.33
27.5

Req

c
8

11

Req

22

11

5.87

(a)

(b)

Figure 5.17: Circuit reduction of Example 5.4.

23

Basic Electric Circuits

Wye to Delta Transformation:
Example 5.4: continued
9

Req

13.2

11

Figure 5.18: Reduction of Figure 5.17.

Req = 15
This answer checks with the delta to wye solution earlier.
24

Basic Laws of Circuits

circuits

End of Lesson 5
Equivalent Resistance