Electrical network
An electrical circuit is an interconnection of one or more electrical energy sources, and various electrical devices by electrical wires.
In a closed circuit, the components are connected together so that a charge transfer (electric current ) is made possible. If this is not the case, one speaks of a broken circuit. This can, for example, inadvertently caused by a so-called loose connection, a cable missing or intended by an electrical switch.
Example
The depicted circuit - shown as a circuit diagram - is - starting from the left clockwise - from:
- A battery ( voltage source)
- An incandescent lamp,
- A resistor R,
- An ammeter A and
- A switch S.
The upper circuit of the switch S is closed and the flow meter indicates a non-zero reading. The circuit is closed.
In the lower circuit of the switch S is opened, it can be no charge transport. The ammeter shows the value zero.
Analogue in a liquid circuit
Transfer to a closed water circuit, such as a hot water heating represents
- The heating pump the voltage source
- The heater bulb
- Piping the electrical resistance
- A built- in heat meter water meter ammeter
- The radiator valve and the switch.
The current pump builds a Differnzdruck on (the voltage in volts). The valve is opened, the water meter indicates a non-zero current flow of water ( the current in amps).
Swell
As electrical energy sources are voltage sources and current sources in question. Voltage sources provide at its output an approximately constant, independent of the respective consumer electrical voltage; these sources are widely used ( power outlet, battery). Current sources provide at its output an approximately constant, independent of the respective load current; these sources are rarely encountered ( lab power supply in the state of current limiting, solar cell).
If the poles of a voltage source not connected to each other by electrical components, but through a conductor without significant resistance, it comes to short-circuit may occur if the circumstances under high current danger to life (!) Flow. The height of the short-circuit current then depends only on the internal resistance of the voltage source.
Current branch
A stream is an emerging branch by branch part of a circuit. It provides the electrical current paths in the various circuits. This single possible way is also called current branch.
A pure series circuit does not include a branch circuit, a parallel circuit is always a complicated branching dar. Each circuit can be traced back to these two basic circuits and describe according to the Kirchhoff's rules.