Handbook 652 Body Electrical Diagnosis Current • Circuit current is divided among the parallel branches. • Current flow in each branch is determined by the resistance in that branch. The higher the resistance in the branch, the lower the current flow in that branch. • Total parallel circuit current is the sum of all the branch currents. Parallel Circuit • Parallel circuits have more than one path for current. General Rules • Source voltage is applied to all branches. • Current in each branch is determined by that branch’s resistance. • Total current is the sum of all the branch currents. • Total circuit resistance decreases as branches are added.
Adding a branch increases total circuit current and if current goes up it must be because resistance went down. • Total circuit resistance will always be less than the lowest branch resistance. Technical Training 47