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How Voltage Dividers Work

Last Updated on May 16, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

A voltage divider is basically an electronic circuit network using resistors. It is used for generating a proportionate amount of dropped voltage as the output depending on the values of the resistors.

In this network, resistors are connected in series across the supply voltage, and the output is extracted across one of the resistors for getting the desired equivalent dropped voltage.

Circuit of Voltage Divider

As explained above a voltage divider circuit can be built using a couple of resistors in different forms as given below

resistor potential divider voltage divider circuit


In the above shown diagrams, (A) signifies shorthand, (B) demonstrates longhand and (C) and (D) represents the resistor connections with elaborate details.

However, all the four conditions actually display the same configuration. The resistor R1 is always associated with the source supply positive. Resistor R2 is associated with the ground or the negative line of the source supply. Vout becomes the output which is gives the proportionately droppped voltage depending on the selected values of R1 and R2. Thus the T1 and R2 acts like a voltage divider giving rise to the intended Vout drop.

Voltage Divider Equation without Load

We can see a standard voltage divider circuit in the figure below. A couple of passive components having electrical impedances (Z1 and Z2) are attached in series. These components could be in the form of resistors or inductors or capacitors. The output of the circuit derived from across the impedance Z2.

pot divider

With an open output condition; no current will flow across the output side, then :

Vout = (Z2 / Z1 + Z2) x Vin --------------(1)

The above expression can be also solved using Ohm's Law:

V = I x R

1487418462

Substitute equation (4) in equation (3), we are able to achieve the following:

1487418618

And this match proves the relationship.

The transfer function of the above equation may be seen as:

1487418782

This equation is also called as Divider’s

1487419057

The capacitive divider circuits won't allow the passage of DC input through them, since these are designed to work only with AC.
When the divider involves non-interacting inductors, the equation can be written as:

1487419198
1487419277
1487419368
1487420150

Voltage Divider Circuit with Load

Now let's understand a voltage divider network having a load connected with its output as shown below:

potential divider with load

With the shown configuration, the equation number (1) discussed earlier can be applied as below:

equation for potential divider with a load

Since the output load becomes parallel to R2, the effective output potential drop can be evaluated with the formula:

output load parallel with R2

Where Voltage Divider is Used

Applications of potential divider circuits include Logic level shifting, Sensing devices, high voltage scale down, Signal Level Attenuation.

You will also find voltage dividers in applications like multimeter and Wheatstone bridge.

The concept is further applied for developing reference voltages or for decreasing the magnitude of the voltage for the ease of measurement. In addition to this; at low frequency, it can be function as signal attenuators.

In DC circuits where low frequencies is involved, the resistor potential divider become very suitable. And when it comes to power transmission for high voltage capacitive voltage divider becomes the ideal choice.

You'll also like:

  • 1.  Basic Electronic Formulas for Devices
  • 2.  Enhanced Stability in BJT Circuits with Voltage-Divider Bias Without Beta Factor
  • 3.  How Decoupling in Logic Circuits Work
  • 4.  Calculating LEDs in Series and Parallel (Easy Way)
  • 5.  How to Design IC 555 Astable Circuit
  • 6.  Ideal Dependent Independent Voltage Current Source

About Admin

Hey friends, Thanks a bunch for stopping by this site! I am an engineer with a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Telecommunication. One of my passions is gathering information from all sorts of electronics books and tutorials. I then take that information and compile it into a language that is super easy to understand. My goal is to make those complex electronics circuit concepts and technical terms much more accessible for all the new and budding electronics engineers out there. I can also design customized circuit diagrams as required by the users.
If you have any questions related to this field, please do not hesitate to drop a comment! I am always here and ready to help you out with any queries you might have. I cannot wait to hear from you!

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