![]() Imagine our LED circuit example connected to a 16 V supply with 1 V dropped across the LED. Using parallel resistors can also allow you to minimize the power consumption of any individual resistor in the circuit. If you need about 500 Ω to get the desired brightness out of an LED circuit, you can use two 1 kΩ resistors in parallel. For example, you can easily calculate the equivalent resistance when you have two identical resistors in parallel: it is half of the individual resistance. This is handy when you need a specific resistance value and don't have an appropriate part readily available. Multiple parallel resistors are often used to create a smaller effective resistance when you don't have the desired resistor value readily available. And if the total current is higher, the overall equivalent resistance must be lower. No matter how high the resistance of the second resistor is, the total current flowing from the power supply will be at least slightly higher than the current through the single resistor. If you add another resistor in parallel with the first one, you have essentially opened up a new channel through which more current can flow. ![]() If you apply a voltage across a resistor, a certain amount of current flows. Resistors in series, on the other hand, are equivalent to one resistor whose resistance is the sum of each individual resistor. If you think about it, the lower equivalent resistance for parallel resistors makes sense. Resistors in parallel always result in an equivalent resistance that is lower than the resistance of each individual resistor. $$I_$$ Applications for Parallel Resistors The total current through the parallel resistors is the sum of the individual currents: The current through each individual resistor, R x, can be calculated using Ohm's law: This can be seen by observing that the parallel resistors share the same nodes. The voltage (V) across all of the resistors in a parallel circuit is identical. Calculating Resistance in Parallel Using Ohm's Law ![]() If you have more than 6 resistors, simply use the calculator to determine the equivalent resistance of the first 6 resistors, and then plug that value in for R1 and add values for R7, R8. To use it, just specify how many parallel resistors there are and the resistance value for each one. This tool was designed to help you quickly calculate the equivalent resistance of up to 6 resistors connected in parallel. Circuit schematic for resistors connected in parallel How to Calculate the Equivalent Resistance of Resistors Connected in ParallelĬalculating the equivalent resistance (R eq) of resistors in parallel (Figure 1) by hand can be tiresome.įigure 1.
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