Circuit Laboratory - I Dr.

Mohammed Alkrunz

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Lab 3
Resistor Circuits and Their Faults
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Objectives:
 This experiment aims to describe the different circuits of resistors which are series,
parallel and series-parallel.

 Being familiar of these circuits’ faults as shorts and opens and how to detect these
faults.

Part A: Resistors in series and parallel:

Theoretical background:

1. Series resistors:

Req=R1+R2+……. +Rn
I = V/ Req
V= VR1 + VR2 + ……..+ VRn

Figure (1)

2. Parallel resistors:

1/ Req= 1/ R1+ 1/ R2+……. + 1/ Rn

V = I* Req
I = I R1 + I R2 + ……. + I Rn

Figure (2)

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Circuit Laboratory - I Dr. Mohammed Alkrunz

Experimental work:
I.

1) Connect the circuit shown in figure (3)

2) Increase the applied voltage in 2 volts steps from 0 V up to 10V

3) At each step measure the current flowing in the resistors, at each point calculate
the value of the resistors R= V/ I and fill table (1).

4) Plot a graph of V against I

5) Simulate the circuit using Multisim.

6) Comment on your results

Figure (3)

II. Repeat the steps of part I for the circuit of figure (4)

Figure (4)

Series Connection Parallel Connection

V (volt) I (mA) Rcalc = V/I I (mA) Rcalc = V/I

2
4
6
8
10

Table (1)

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Circuit Laboratory - I Dr. Mohammed Alkrunz

Part B: Faults, shorts and opens in series, parallel and parallel-series circuits:

Theoretical background:

1. Open circuits:

(a) Before opening the circuit (b) After opening the circuit
Figure (5)

Before opening the circuit in figure (5a), the current passing in the circuit is:

When a cut is made in the circuit as shown in figure (5b), the resistance between the
terminals of the cut approaches to infinity, then the value of the current passing through the
circuit is:

Taking Kirchhoff’s voltage law around the circuit:

VAB – Vs = 0 VAB = Vs

2. Short Circuits:

(a) Before making a short (b) After making a short

Figure (6)

Before adding a short circuit across the resistor in the circuit of figure (6a), the current
passing in the circuit is

When we add the short circuit as shown in figure (6b), the resistance of this short is zero and
then the equivalent resistance of the circuit is:

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Circuit Laboratory - I Dr. Mohammed Alkrunz

Then the value of the current passing through the circuit is

The infinite current value may cause the power supply to break down, so in order to prevent
this, an interior resistor must be added in series with the power supply as shown in figure
(7). This will limit the current so as the power supply not to break down if there is a sudden
short circuit across it.

Figure (7)

Experimental work:
I.

1) For the circuit in figure (8), calculate the nominal values for the voltage VA, VB, VC,
and record them in table (2). All voltages are with respect to ground.

Figure (8)

2) Construct the circuit and verify your calculations in step (1).

3) Consider now a shorted R1. Calculate the resulting voltages at A, B and C if this were
to occur. Enter the calculated values in the first column of table (2) under the heading
“Short Resistors”. Repeat this for each resistor in turn.

4) Consider now removing R1. Calculate the resulting voltages at A, B and C if this
were to occur. Enter the calculated values in the fourth column of table (2) under the
heading “Open Resistors”. Repeat this for each resistor in turn.

5) Verify your calculations in steps (3) and (4) by connecting a piece of wire across each
resistor in turn, and then removing each resistor in turn. Measure each fault
condition and be sure to check its consistency with your calculated values. Record all
measured data in table (2).

6) Simulate the circuit the circuit using Multisim.

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 Circuit Laboratory - I Dr. Mohammed Alkrunz

Short Resistors Open Resistors

Voltage Normal R1 S/C R2 S/C R3 S/C R1 O/C R1 O/C R1 O/C
Meas Calc Meas Calc Meas Calc Meas Calc Meas Calc Meas Calc
VA
VB
VC
Table (2)
II.

1) For the circuit in figure (9), Calculate the nominal values for the currents I, I1, I12, I2
and I3 and record them in table (3).

Figure (9)

2) Construct the circuit and verify your calculations in step (1).

3) Consider now a shorted R1. Calculate the resulting currents if this were to occur.
Enter the calculated values in the first column of table (3) under the heading
“Shorted resistors “. Repeat this for each resistor in turn.

4) Consider now removing R1. Calculate the resulting currents if this were to occur.
Enter the calculated values in the first column of table (3) under the heading “Open
resistors “. Repeat this for each resistor in turn.

5) Verify your calculations in steps (3) and (4) by connecting a piece of wire across each
resistor in turn, and then removing each resistor in turn. Measure each fault
condition and be sure to check its consistency with your calculated values. Record all
measured data in table (3).

6) Simulate the circuit the circuit using Multisim.

Short Resistors Open Resistors

Current Normal R1 S/C R2 S/C R3 S/C R1 O/C R1 O/C R1 O/C
Meas Calc Meas Calc Meas Calc Meas Calc Meas Calc Meas Calc
I
I1
I12
I2
I3
Table (3)

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 Circuit Laboratory - I Dr. Mohammed Alkrunz

III.

1) For the circuit in figure (10), calculate the nominal values for the voltage VA, VB, VC,
and record them in table (4). All voltages are with respect to ground.

Figure (10)

2) Construct the circuit and verify your calculations in step (1).

3) Consider now a shorted R1. Calculate the resulting currents if this were to occur.
Enter the calculated values in the first column of table (4) under the heading
“Shorted resistors “. Repeat this for each resistor in turn.

4) Consider now removing R1. Calculate the resulting currents if this were to occur.
Enter the calculated values in the first column of table (4) under the heading “Open
resistors “. Repeat this for each resistor in turn.

5) Verify your calculations in steps (3) and (4) by connecting a piece of wire across each
resistor in turn, and then removing each resistor in turn. Measure each fault
condition and be sure to check its consistency with your calculated values. Record all
measured data in table (4).

6) Simulate the circuit using Multisim.

Short Resistors Open Resistors

Voltage Normal R1 S/C R2 S/C R3 S/C R1 O/C R1 O/C R1 O/C
Meas Calc Meas Calc Meas Calc Meas Calc Meas Calc Meas Calc
VA
VB
VC 7)

Table (4)