Series and Parallel

[harryharman]

Hi everyone, first of all great site with some real great answers on here. I have a question which might sound silly but can't get my head around it. Series and parallel. Can anyone give me a practical real world example of the two? I've got my 2391 next month and I really don't understand what they are?!

Many thanks in advance

Harry

 

[Darkwood]

 

[Darkwood]

Elaborate what exact area are you struggling with, the concept, the current and voltage properties of loads connected???

 

[harryharman]

Like would a radial circuit be series? It was confusing me when it says remove the earth at the db when testing ze so not to create parallel paths? What is an example of a parallel circuit in a domestic dwelling

 

[DurhamSparky]

a radial circuit would be parallel

as the end usage is connect to both sides L&N

if you wired in series you would effectivly be using the neutral as feed for next light

 

[Darkwood]

I see, Most loads are connected in parallel with 230v between L and N, if multiple loads are on a radial and one fails the others carry on working.
Best way to describe series in domestic is the old xmas lighting that had series lighting with each lamp making up part of the circuits complete path through all the 'lets say' 40lamps, because the circuit flows through each lampin series one after the other then a failure of any lamp breaks the circuit and all lamps go out.

 

[DurhamSparky]

parallel paths = bonding to water / gas / other pipe work / other return paths to the DB.... if you remove main earth you effectively only have the main earth to test

 

[JUD]

a radial circuit would be parallel

as the end usage is connect to both sides L&N

if you wired in series you would effectivly be using the neutral as feed for next light

...and if one bulb blew every other light would stop working (think christmas tree lights)

 

[harryharman]

So really, in terms of hard-wiring, hardly anything if not nothing is wired in series? Thanks by the way!

 

[topquark]

Parallel in the context of "parallel paths to earth" just means more than one route to earth. It's not related to the series versus parallel AC/DC circuits.

 

[Darkwood]

a radial circuit would be parallel

as the end usage is connect to both sides L&N

if you wired in series you would effectivly be using the neutral as feed for next light

Although to note this applies to circuits with more than one load, a radial with one load is arguably series and parallel as it falls out of the meaning of the terms- 'Series and Parallel'.... so the OP dont get more confused.

 

[Guitarist]

2391 next month and nobody has taught you fundamental electrical theory?

 

[Darkwood]

OP has said its translating it into real terms i.e. its easy to follow and understand on paper but with alot of apprentices ive had over the yrs its hard to visualise when asked if a system is series or parallel because we use T&E cable you run the cable in series between say outside lights but when connecting you do that in parallel.

 

[harryharman]

OP has said its translating it into real terms i.e. its easy to follow and understand on paper but with alot of apprentices ive had over the yrs its hard to visualise when asked if a system is series or parallel because we use T&E cable you run the cable in series between say outside lights but when connecting you do that in parallel.

Yeah that's what I was trying to figure out thanks I understand it now

 

[harryharman]

2391 next month and nobody has taught you fundamental electrical theory?

Probably shouldn't have said what I did before so sorry if i offend but what's the point of posting a useless comment like that on here, it doesn't bring anything positive.