Types of Electrical Circuits

Today electrical circuits are an indispensable part of everyday life, we find them on television, cars, radio, DVDs, among much other everyday equipments.
This is the name of the path that an electric current travels. It is a set of correctly related elements, which allows the establishment of an electric current and its transformation into usable energy for each specific application.
The correct interrelation implies that the different elements have to be electronically connected, so that their metallic parts located at the connection terminals are kept in contact to allow the passage of current. All electrical circuits require, for their operation, an energy source, in this case, an electric current.

Elements of an electrical circuit

  1. A power source that supplies electrical energy.
  2. A metallic material that allows the circulation of electric current, from the source to the receiving element.
  3. A receiver, which absorbs electrical energy and converts it into energy.

If the electrical circuit is interrupted at any point, either by the action of the switch, or by a bad connection of the different elements with the conductor, or by the fusion of the receiving element, the circuit is said to be open and will not allow transformation and the use of electrical energy. If, on the other hand, there is electrical continuity, such as to light a room, the circuit is closed.
Switch It is nothing more than a control device, which allows or prevents the passage of electrical current through a circuit.
Short circuits If the circuit connected to two poles of the electrical current source is closed, what results is a short circuit.
When an electric current circulates and the circuit overheats. This may be the result of a short circuit, which is registered by the fuse and causes the ribbon inside it to burn or melt, opening the circuit, that is, preventing the passage of current.
Fuse The so-called fuses, which can be of different types and capacities. It is a protection device for both you and the electrical circuit.

Types of electrical circuitstypes of electrical circuitstypes of electrical circuits

1: Series circuit
It is one in which two or more elements are predisposed in the way in which the output of one is the input of the next. In this circuit, the current that circulates through all the elements is identical since the electrical energy only has one path, which means that they are not very interesting. When one of the serially connected devices fails, all the others are also without power. An example of a series circuit is as follows:
2: Parallel circuit
In an electrical circuit, the receivers (in our case light bulbs) are connected in parallel. This connection is the most used because it is the most stable. We can consider the following properties or characteristics:

  • The voltage is the same at all points in the circuit.
  • The current intensity provided by the generator is distributed for each of the connected receivers.

3: Mixed circuit
A mixed circuit like the one shown in the image is a combination of several elements connected in parallel and at the same time others in series. They have the same drawback as serial circuits.
4:Short circuit

A short circuit is a connection between two terminals of an element of an electrical circuit, which causes a partial or total cancellation of the resistance in the circuit, leading to an increase in the current intensity that passes through it.
If in a circuit we do not put any element that has resistance between the terminals of the cell or battery, there will be very little opposition to the passage of current and the electrons will flow very easily. The intensity will be very high. We are in the case of a short circuit.
Be careful not to short circuit when mounting electrical circuits, as the receivers will not work. Electricity will always take the path that has less resistance.

List of components of electrical circuits