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Series & Parallel Simulator

Resistor circuit symbol for series and parallel resistance calculator

Resistor Circuit

Calculate Equivalent Resistance and Current using Ohm's Law.

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Battery Bank

Combine batteries to calculate Total Voltage and Capacity (Ah).

Solar panel icon for photovoltaic array voltage and current simulator

Solar Array

Connect panels to calculate array Voltage, Current, and Wattage.

Series vs Parallel

Two fundamental ways to wire components — each affects voltage, current, and resistance differently.

Series

Components wired end-to-end in a single loop. The same current flows through every component — like water through one pipe.

A B C

One path — current flows through A, then B, then C

Resistors

Rtotal = RA + RB + RC + …

Resistance adds up. Voltage divides across each one.

Batteries

Vtotal = VA + VB + VC

Voltages stack. Capacity stays equal to the smallest cell.

Solar Panels

Vtotal = VA + VB + VC

Voltages add up. Current limited by the weakest panel.

Parallel

Components bridged across the same two points. The same voltage is applied to every component — like lanes on a highway.

A B C

Multiple paths — current splits across A, B, and C

Resistors

1/Rtotal = 1/RA + 1/RB + 1/RC

Resistance drops. More paths = easier flow.

Batteries

Ahtotal = AhA + AhB + AhC

Capacity adds up. Voltage stays the same.

Solar Panels

Itotal = IA + IB + IC

Currents combine. Voltage stays the same.

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