Voltage Sources What is a voltage source? This may seem like a redundant question. After all, we know intuitively from our modern lives that voltage sources are plentiful and come in a variety of different forms… and they do. For…
Y to Δ (T to π) Network Conversion Before reading this page I strongly suggest that you have first read and understood the complementary page on Δ to Y Network Conversion. The working out on this page is based on…
Δ to Y (π to T) Network Conversion Many circuits contain sub-circuits comprising of a three terminal network connected in one of two ways: The Δ (or π) and Y (or T) networks can be configured to be electrically identical…
Like Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL), Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL) is also just a simple concept (arguably even simpler than the KVL). It simply states that: The sum of the currents in to a node are equal to the sum of…
Parallel Resistor Circuits Parallel resistance is when two, or more, resistors are each directly connected between the same two nodes of a circuit. We can revert back to our default of using water analogies for this one. Consider a pipe…
The good news is that this law is just a very simple concept with no complicated equations to remember. Even if you never heard of Kirchhoff, you probably already know this law intuitively. I tried really hard to think of…
Series Resistor Circuits Making further use of our analogy with water circuits. Resistors are like pipes and when you connect pipes together in series (end to end) they provide only a single path for the water. Hence they all carry…
Maximum Power Transfer Theorem This one of the simplest theorems that there are. It simply states that: Maximum power will be transferred when the internal source resistance is equal to the load resistance. This sounds counter intuitive to most people…
Power and Joules Law Intuitively we all know what power is. A more powerful motor can turn a heavier load, or turn it faster; A more powerful torch will shine brighter; A more powerful heater will heat a larger volume…
Practical Resistors Materials Resistors can be made from a wide variety of materials. Here are some examples of the most common types produced, along with a brief description of how they are made. Wire Wound Typically made by winding a…