How to Connect Resistors in Series
Like all electrical components with two leads, resistors can basically be connected in two different ways: series and parallel. Series means connecting the resistors end to end -- like the cars in a train. Parallel means connecting the resistors beside one another -- like the lanes of a highway. If there are more than two resistors, you can connect resistors in a complex combination of series and parallel. There is a good reason to connect resistors in series, as this is a basic component (called a voltage divider) found in most electrical devices.
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Instructions
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Connect one lead of one resistor to one lead of another resistor. If there are more than two resistors, continue the process until all the resistors are connected. There should be two unattached leads when you are finished, and electricity entering one of these leads should flow through each resistor in the series (hence the name) and come out the other free lead. If possible, each lead of each resistor should be attached to a physical anchor (like a post or a lug). This may mean that you have to use wires to connect the anchor points together.
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Plug the resistors into a breadboard. The holes in a breadboard are just big enough to insert the leads of resistors. Underneath the breadboard all the rows are connected. Insert one lead of the first resistor in the top row, and insert the other lead in the row below that is in the same column--about four or five rows below. Insert one lead of the second resistor in the same row (next column over) that the second lead of the first resistor is in. Keep doing this until all the resistors are in the board. If you attach a battery between the top row that has a resistor lead and the bottom row that has a resistor lead, the current will flow through the resistors in series.
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Make a voltage divider by connecting several resistors in series. If three 1,000 ohms resistors are connected in series, and a 9 volt battery is connected to the ends of the series, one milliamp of current will flow. Current equals voltage divided by resistance and 9 divided by (1,000 + 1,000 + 1,000) = 0.001 = one milliamp. If you measure the voltage across all three resistors, it will be 9 volts; if you measure across only two of the resistors, it will be 6 volts; and if you measure across only one resistor it will be 3 volts. There is a voltage divider (a series of resistors) across the output of every power supply so the user can tap into the voltage that is needed.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are soldering the resistors in series, make a good physical connection before applying the solder.
If connecting the series of resistors inside an electrical device, make sure that electricity cannot take another route other than through the series of resistors; it will change the total resistance.
