Series and Parallel circuits

Circuits typically consist of the connection of two or more electrical devices to a power source. The examples in the previous section are used to explain the concept of circuits but they rarely occur that way in the real world. In practical applications there are two basic ways to connect circuit components: series and parallel.

Series

Series circuits consist of one continuous path to and from the power source. The devices are connected together in one chain so that there is only one way the electrons can flow. Let's look at the diagram below:

In this circuit example, the electrons flow in a clockwise direction. The power is serving the receptacles and light bulb, eve as the devices cause resistance.

Parallel

Parallel circuits differ from series circuits in that they form more than one path for the electrons to flow. There are multiple potential chains with which the power flow occurs. Take a look below:

In the diagram there are three devices (light bulbs) but in this case there is more than one continuous path for electrons to flow. This current flow provides power for each light bulb, but in some cases between two sets of points. Each individual path is known as a "branch", which is where the phrase branch circuit comes from.

The main thing to understand about parallel circuits is that all devices are connected between the same set of electrically common points.

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