2. Chapter 6
Series Circuits

3. Objectives Determine the total resistance of a series circuit.
Determine the voltage drops in a series circuit.
Determine the current values of a series circuit.
Determine the wattage values of a series circuit.
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.

4. Objectives
Apply Ohm’s law to solve for unknown voltage, current, and resistance in a series circuit.
Apply series circuit theory to assist in troubleshooting a series circuit.
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.

5. Series Circuit Principles
ET = E1 + E2 + E3…+ EN
RT = R1 + R2 + R3…+ RN
IT = I1 = I2 = I3…= IN
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.

6. Voltage in a Series Circuit
Kirchhoff’s voltage law
ET = E1 + E2 + E3…+ EN
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.

7. Current in a Series Circuit
IT = I1 = I2 = I3…= IN
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.

8. Resistance in a Series Circuit
RT = R1 + R2 + R3…+ RN
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.

9. Determining an Unknown Voltage
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.

10. Power in a Series Circuit
PT = ET × IT
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.

11. Review What does the source voltage of a series circuit equal?
The total value of each individual voltage drop
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.

12. Review What does the source current of a series circuit equal?
The same current value as any point in the circuit
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.

13. Review What does the total resistance in a series circuit equal?
The total circuit resistance combined
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.

14. Review How do you determine power in a series circuit?
Total voltage times total current
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.

15. Applying Ohm’s Law to a Series Circuit
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.

16. Airfield Lighting System
When lights go out, amount of voltage changes to keep other lamps burning at same brightness
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.

17. Troubleshooting a Series Circuit Using a Voltmeter
Common circuit faults
Bad battery
Open switch
Blown fuse
Short circuit
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.

18. Steps in Troubleshooting
Make sure switch is closed
Determine if voltage exists at supply
Take voltage drop reading across fuse
Check voltage across switch
Check voltage across each resistor
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.

19. Review
What is the formula used to determine total resistance when total voltage and current are known?
RT = ET / IT
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.

20. Review What is the most common circuit fault in a series circuit?
An open
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.

21. Glossary Kirchhoff’s voltage law Series circuit
In a simple circuit, the total voltage is equal to the sum of the individual voltages.
Series circuit
Contains only one possible path for electrons.
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.