Types of electrical circuit

Here you learn about types of electrical circuit such as closed, open, short, leakage circuit, and types of electrical connection like series connection, parallel connection and combine connection, with diagrams and easy example.

What is an electrical circuit?

When an electric current travels through a wire and completes a path like a circle, is called an electrical circuit. Circuit simply means the electric current start travels from the source point and returns to the source through an electrical appliances.

Any electrical supply such as "Power Supply" "Battery" or "AC current" where it comes from is called source.

Any Appliances stand for all equipment such as Motor, Fan, Fridge, Light Lamps, etc.

It is all resistance, if current pass through them then it equipment will perform any work which give help to us.

Circuit will not complete when any appliances not connected with source, when any appliances will connected to the source then circuit be complete.

The circuit complete by that time when "current source" such as (AC or DC), "Wires" and "Resistance" will connected together, here resistance means any load or appliances.

How many types of Circuit?

There are 4 types of circuit

• Closed circuit
• Open circuit
• Short circuit
• Leakage circuit

Define Closed Circuit:-

This type of circuit is called a healthy circuit, this circuit has no faults and runs smoothly, and this circuit used on many places.

Any appliance operate by closed circuit, in this circuit current pass through appliances and easily return to start point, and this process is continue like it, and equipment is stay in working condition. 

 
Define Open Circuit:-

Which circuit not has any path for current flows to return point is called open circuit.

Means it not in working condition it current can’t pass through any appliances because its wires break from center.

We attach any switch with over appliances so that we control over equipment, if switch (Button) will the “OFF” condition so circuit is open, and equipment will not run, and when switch (Button) will the “ON” condition so circuit will closed and appliances will run.

Open circuit shows in diagram

You see that battery and bulb is not connected together, one negative wire is connected but positive wire is not connect with bulb, so current can’t return to the battery.

Current not present in the bulb, because electrons “current” not have any outgoing path.

Define Short circuit:-

Any circuit in which source wires means DC or AC wires connect directly together is called short circuit.

This type circuit in not good because it not pass current through load, it "Current Source" means AC current or Battery's negative & positive terminals connect together, this circuit is dangerous and faulty circuit, it needs to repair, in this cause may be will fire or burnt any equipment.

For this we use a circuit breaker or fuse for protection, that when any short circuit condition so house or industry’s wirings do will safe from fire.

We use fuse or circuit breaker always in main supply means current where does it come from, so that if create any short circuit condition then equipment not burnt, first current stop from main and not get any disadvantage.

This diagram shows that negative or positive wires has connected together and current flows in high amount because any resistance not restrict current to flow, in this condition wires will get heat quickly and will brunt.

Define Leakage circuit:-

Any circuit in which equipment has running condition but flow of current in high amount is called Leakage Circuit.

This type circuit is like closed circuit, but it’s not good, in this circuit appliances running smoothly but current flows unlimited, means in this condition current will waste.

Because any one wire neutral or phase will directly grounded and current take it like passing path,  this type circuit counted in faulty condition, and it needs to repair, this circuit is normally dangerous but it get disadvantage.

This type fault has difficult to trace because it not easily identify that where wire is braked and grounded, this condition mostly come in AC current not in DC, because in this condition one wire touch to ground and start current flows them, and ground take can only AC current, ever dc current will can’t flow in the earth or ground.

Many times a wire breaks inside over appliances and touch to its body, this condition is also leakage circuit.

In these condition current flows in over appliance’s body, this condition is very dangerous because it can give shock to us.

How many types of circuit connection?

There are three types of connection in the circuit.

1.   Parallel connection

2.    Series connection

3.   Combine connection 

Define Parallel connection:-

The parallel connection having many paths for current flows, in parallel connection has different current and same voltage on each point.

The parallel connection mostly used on any places such as house wiring, industries, etc.

Parallel connection can use in both of them like “AC or DC” current.

And also we used this type connection, because its voltage always remains same, for this any appliances can run smoothly.

Example:-

We need 12 volts 300 ampere, but we have only 3 batteries of 12 volts 100 ampere, now it does connect in parallel, and get 12v 300 ampere.

Because current will change, voltages remain same.

Define Series Connection:-

This type connection has only one path for current flows, in this connection current remain same and voltage will change on each point. For this we use it very low in “AC” current, because appliances can’t work smoothly.  

This type connection we mostly use in “DC” current like “Battery” or “Solar panels”.

Because many place we need high voltage, so if batteries connect in series then voltage will be increase.

Example:-

If we have 3 batteries of “12 volts” “60 Ampere”, but we need “36 volts” “60 Ampere”, then all batteries connect together in the series, and can use “36 volts” “60 Ampere”.

Because voltage will change, current remain same.

Define Combine Connection:-

This type connection is collection both of them.

Means it has series and parallel connection both of them, it’s used in decoration Lights and Solar plants etc.

Sometimes needs high voltage and high current, then we use this type connection, because in this type connection we can change voltage and current by own choice.

Example:-

We need 60 volts 20 ampere, but we have 6 Solar panels of 20 volts and 10 ampere.

Now we do make 2 pair of 3 solar panels in series and connect it in parallel.

You can easily understand with help of this diagram.

THE END