Series Voltage Calculator:
Enter the values of all individual voltage drops across components to determine the value of Series voltage, Vseries(V).
Series Voltage Formula:
In electrical circuits, when components such as resistors, capacitors, or batteries are connected in series, the total voltage across the series connection is the sum of the voltages across each component.
This is a fundamental principle derived from Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law, which states that the total sum of all voltages around any closed loop in a circuit must equal zero.
This simple principle is key to designing circuits in electronics, particularly when needing to achieve a specific voltage drop or to balance voltages across different parts of a circuit.
Series voltage, Vseries(V) in volts equals the sum of all individual voltage drops across components.
Vseries(V) = V1(V) + V2(V) + V3(V)
Vseries(V) = series voltage in volts, V.
Series Voltage Calculation:
- Calculate the total voltage for a circuit with three batteries connected in series, each with voltages of 5 volts, 12 volts, and 9 volts:
Given: Battery 1 Voltage, V1(V) = 5 V, Battery 2 Voltage, V1(V) = 12 V, Battery 3 Voltage, V1(V) = 9 V.
Vseries(V) = V1(V) + V2(V) + V3(V)
Vseries(V) = 5 + 12 + 9
Vseries(V) = 26V.
- Determine the total voltage for a series circuit consisting of four resistors with voltage drops of 3 volts, 7 volts, 2 volts, and acquired series voltage is 20V:
Given: Voltage drop across Resistor 1, V1(V) = 3 V
Voltage drop across Resistor 2, V2(V) = 7 V
Voltage drop across Resistor 3, V3(V) = 2 V
Vseries(V) = 20V
Vseries(V) = V1(V) + V2(V) + V3(V)
V4(V) = Vseries(V) – (V1(V) + V2(V) + V3(V))
V4(V) = 20 – (3 + 7 + 2)
V4(V) = 8V.
Applications and Considerations:
- Power Supplies: Series voltage calculations are essential for designing power supplies that require higher voltages.
- Voltage Division: In electronics, dividing voltage between components precisely is necessary, and understanding series connections helps achieve this.
- Battery Packs: Battery management systems use series connections to increase the voltage output of battery packs in electric vehicles and portable electronics.