1 HVACR216 - Hydronics Basic Circuits and Ohms Law

2 Key Terms Closed Control Circuit Electric Circuit Open Parallel Circuit Power Circuit Series Circuit Series-Parallel Circuit Voltage Drop Ohms Law

3 Ohm’s Law The relationship among the current, electromotive force, and resistance in an electric circuit is know as Ohm’s Law. I = E/R I represents the current in amperes E represents the electromotive force in volts R represents the resistance in ohms

4 Examples of Ohms Laws What is the current in the circuit shown below. I = E / R I = 120V / 20 I = 6 A

5 Basic Concepts of Electric Circuits An electric circuit is the complete path of an electric current, along with any necessary elements, such as power source and a load. When the circuit is complete so that the current can flow, it is termed closed. When the path of the current flow is interrupted, the circuit is termed open. All electric circuits must have a complete path for electrons to flow through, a source of electrons, and some electric device (load) that requires electric energy for its operation.

6 Basic Concepts of Electric Circuits

7 Series Circuits Switches and controls are commonly wired in series with each other to control one or more loads. The simplest and easiest electric circuits to understand is the series circuits. The series circuit allows only one path of current flow through the circuit. An example of a series circuit is Christmas Lights

8 Series Circuits

9 Characteristics of a Series Circuit and Calculations for Current, Resistance and Voltage The current drawn in a series circuit is the same throughout the entire circuit because there is only one path for the current to flow. The total resistance in a series circuit is the sum of all the resistances in the circuit R t = R 1 + R 2 + R 3 + R 4 + R….

10 Characteristics of a Series Circuit and Calculations for Current, Resistance and Voltage The voltage in a series circuit is completely used by all the loads in the circuits. The voltage of a series circuit changes through each load. This change is called voltage drop. The voltage drop is the amount of voltage (electrical pressure) used or lost through any load or conductor in the process of moving the current (electron flow) through that part od the circuit. The sum of the voltage drop of any part of a series circuit is equal to the voltage being applied to the circuit.

11 Series Circuit Example In the circuit below find the total resistance, the voltage drop for each element, and the current for the circuit.

12 Series Circuit Example Find the total resistance of the circuit. The total resistance of the circuit can be found by using the following formula. R t = R 1 + R 2 + R 3 + R 4 + R…. R t = 5 ohms + 20 ohms + 35 ohms + 50 ohms R t = 110 ohms

13 Series Circuit Example 2.Find the amperage draw of the circuit. The amperage draw of the circuit can be determined using Ohms law. I = E/R I = 120 Volts / 110 Ohms I = 1.09 Amps

14 Series Circuit Example 3.Find the voltage drop across each element in the circuit. The voltage drop across each element in the circuit can be determined by rewriting ohms law. E = IR For the 5 ohm resistor the voltage drop would be: E = IR E = 1.09 amps * 5 ohms E = 5.45 volts

15 Series Circuit Example For the 20 ohm resistor the voltage drop would be: E = IR E = 1.09 amps * 20 ohms E = 21.8 volts

16 Series Circuit Example For the 50 ohm resistor the voltage drop would be: E = IR E = 1.09 amps * 50 ohms E = 54.5 volts

17 Series Circuit Example For the 50 ohm resistor the voltage drop would be: E = IR E = 1.09 amps * 35 ohms E = volts

18 Parallel Circuits The Parallel circuit has more than one path for the electrons to flow. Electric devices are arranged in the circuit so that each is connected the supply voltage conductors. Parallel circuits are the most common in industry because almost all devices operate at the line voltage (120 volts to 240 volts). Example of a parallel circuit is standard wiring in a residence.

19 Parallel Circuits

20 Characteristics of a Parallel Circuit and Calculations for Current, Resistance, and Voltage The current draw in a parallel circuit is determined for each part of the circuit, depending on the resistance of that portion of the circuit. The total current draw of the entire parallel circuit is the sum of the currents in the individual sections of the parallel circuit. The resistance of a parallel circuit gets smaller as more resistances are added to the circuit. The total resistance of a parallel circuit can not be obtained by taking the sum of all the resistances.

21 Characteristics of a Parallel Circuit and Calculations for Current, Resistance, and Voltage The resistance for two resistors in a parallel circuit can be obtained using the following formula. R t = (R 1 * R 2 )/(R 1 + R 2 ) The resistance for three of more resistor in a parallel circuit can be obtained using the following formula. 1/R t = 1/R 1 + 1/R 2 + 1/R 3 + 1/R 4 + ….. The voltage drop in a parallel circuit is the line voltage being supplied to the load.

22 Parallel Circuit Example In the following parallel circuit calculate the total resistance of the circuit, the total current draw of the circuit and the current draw for each resistor.

23 Parallel Circuit Example Calculate the current draw for each individual load. The current for each individual resistor can be determined using Ohms law. I = E/R For the 35.7 Ohm resistor the current draw would be: I = 120 volts / 35.7 ohms I = 3.36 Amps

24 Parallel Circuit Example For the 15.5 Ohm resistor the current draw would be: I = 120 volts / 15.5 ohms I = 7.74 Amps

25 Parallel Circuit Example 2.Determine the total resistance for the circuit. The total resistance of the parallel circuit can be obtained using the formula: R t = (R 1 * R 2 )/(R 1 + R 2 ) R t = (15.5 * 35.7)/( ) R t = (553.35)/(51.2) R t = Ohms

26 Parallel Circuit Example 3.Determine the total current draw for the circuit. The total current draw for the circuit can be determined using Ohms Law I = E/R I = 120 volts / Ohms I = Amps

27 Complex Circuits Complex circuits are also know as Series-Parallel Circuits. A Series-Parallel circuit is a combination circuit containing loads in both series and parallel. Complex circuits are the most widely used circuits in industry today.

28 Solving a Complex Circuit Start with a small simple chunk of the circuit that you know how to work with that’s either all series or all parallel. Then keep redrawing circuit at each step as it simplifies.