Mike Dolt Enterprises
Mike Dolt Enterprises
User: philly, Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Asked on: Thursday, June 2, 2011 at 4:53 pm EDT
Answered on: Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 7:03 pm EDT
Question: In light of some of the PV threads currently going on I need to refresh my memory on what happens when you put a current source in parallel with a voltage source.For instance lets say we have a 10A current source in parallel with a 10V voltage source? Does the current soucre take on a voltage of 10V and the voltage source have a current of 10A running through it? If so can you refresh my memory of the numbers behind this.I'm sure it will come right back to me when someone explains it, I just need a slight refresher and kick in the butt.
When a current source is placed in parallel with a voltage source, the current source acts as a short circuit across the voltage source, allowing the current source to draw current from the voltage source while the voltage across the current source remains at its specified value.In this case, with a 10A current source in parallel with a 10V voltage source: Current source
The current source maintains its specified current of 10A, meaning it draws 10A from the voltage source.
Voltage source
The voltage source maintains its specified voltage of 10V, but the current flowing through it is determined by the current source. In this case, the current through the voltage source is also 10A, since the current source is effectively shorting it out.
Power considerations
Power from the current source
The power delivered by the current source is zero, since it has zero voltage (it acts as a short circuit).
Power from the voltage source
The power delivered by the voltage source is 10V * 10A = 100W.
Simplified circuit:
The simplified circuit equivalent to this parallel configuration is a 10V voltage source with an internal resistance of zero ohms. This represents the fact that the current source effectively shorts out the voltage source. Flag for review