A parallel circuit has multiple paths for current, making it more fault-tolerant than a series circuit. However, the total effective resistance decreases, causing an increase in current flow. Parallel circuits require different measurement techniques and are found in many electrical devices.
A parallel circuit is one of two basic types of electrical circuit that can be found in electrical devices. “Circuit” refers to the total path of an electric current, or flow of electrical energy, and includes devices such as resistors, which control the flow of voltage, or difference in electrical charge, and capacitors, which store electrical charge. Circuits fall into one of two categories: series or parallel. In a series circuit, all of the components in the circuit are aligned in a single path so that current flows through each component in order.
In a parallel circuit, however, there are multiple paths between the beginning and the end of the circuit. Consequently, since the current has more than one path to take, the circuit can still work if one path fails. This makes parallel circuits much more fault-tolerant than series circuits, which is why parallel circuits are common in everyday applications, such as home wiring. No matter how many different paths the circuit has, the total voltage stays the same and all components in the circuit share the same common points. This set of common points is known as electrically common points. Every parallel circuit has two sets of them.
One thing to consider about parallel circuits is the current load they carry. When a circuit has multiple paths for current, the total effective resistance of the circuit decreases. Since voltage equals current multiplied by resistance – known as Ohm’s law, after the German physicist Georg Ohm – and the voltage does not change, this means that the current must increase. Therefore, the more paths a circuit has, the more current will actually flow through each path. This can cause damage to the circuit or external equipment, which is why excessive use of outlet extension cords or multi-outlet inserts is considered dangerous. Parallel circuits are found in virtually all complex electrical devices. Many devices use both series and parallel circuits in joint and independent configurations.
Another aspect of parallel circuits to keep in mind is that such circuits need to be measured differently than series circuits. For example, when testing a parallel circuit using a voltmeter or multimeter, which verifies multiple measurements, the multimeter must be connected in parallel to measure voltage correctly. Multiple branches means that the load is spread over more than one path and measuring just one path will not present the full picture. If this is not done correctly, the measurement will be incorrect and the circuit may be incorrectly judged to be defective.
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