Designing a circuit (basic electric circuit analysis)

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around designing a DC circuit using a 15V battery to achieve specific node voltages of +10V, +5V, and -5V relative to a ground node. Participants explore resistor selection to ensure the maximum power demand does not exceed 1mA, addressing potential misunderstandings regarding units of measurement.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a circuit design but expresses uncertainty about calculating the resistance needed for each part of the circuit, noting that the total resistance must equal 225000Ω.
  • Another participant suggests marking the ground node and the intended voltages, proposing that only three resistors of the same value are necessary.
  • There is a discussion about the phrasing of the problem, with some participants questioning whether the limit should be on power or current, suggesting that the original question may have been poorly worded.
  • Participants discuss the requirement for equal voltage drops and the number of resistors needed to achieve the desired voltages.
  • One participant questions how to establish a ground node while maintaining the specified voltages, leading to a clarification that making one node the reference would alter the voltages of the others.
  • Another participant suggests that the battery may be oriented incorrectly in the design.
  • A participant shares their circuit drawing method, indicating that simple graphics programs can be used for circuit design.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express uncertainty regarding the correct interpretation of the problem's requirements, particularly about the power versus current limit. There is no consensus on the circuit design or the correct orientation of the battery.

Contextual Notes

Participants note potential confusion over the units used in the problem statement, which may affect the interpretation of the circuit requirements. The discussion includes various assumptions about resistor values and configurations without resolving these uncertainties.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students working on basic circuit design, particularly those grappling with voltage levels, resistor selection, and interpreting problem statements in electrical engineering contexts.

InvalidID
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Homework Statement

Design a dc circuit utilizing a 15V voltage battery to provide the following node voltages: +10V, +5V, and -5V w.r.t. a circuit ground node. Select your resistors such that the maximum power demand on the battery does not exceed 1mA.

The attempt at a solution

I've designed the attached circuit, but I'm not sure how to find the resistance for each circuit. I know that the total resistance of all four circuits must add up to 225000Ω using the calculations attached.
 

Attachments

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Perhaps start by marking the ground node and which nodes you intend being 10V, 5V and -5V. Hint: You only need 3 resistors all the same value.
 
InvalidID said:
Homework Statement

Design a dc circuit utilizing a 15V voltage battery to provide the following node voltages: +10V, +5V, and -5V w.r.t. a circuit ground node. Select your resistors such that the maximum power demand on the battery does not exceed 1mA.
mA is not a unit of power; it's a unit of current. Are you sure that the question states that it wants a power limit and not a current limit? Or is it just badly phrased and they really expect a current limit of 1mA? (it would make sense)
The attempt at a solution

I've designed the attached circuit, but I'm not sure how to find the resistance for each circuit. I know that the total resistance of all four circuits must add up to 225000Ω using the calculations attached.
Suppose you set a fixed current value. How many resistors do you think you'd need to provide three potential drops? Should the drops be of different or equal magnitude?
 
CWatters said:
Perhaps start by marking the ground node and which nodes you intend being 10V, 5V and -5V. Hint: You only need 3 resistors all the same value.

Alright. I'm trying that right now.

gneill said:
mA is not a unit of power; it's a unit of current. Are you sure that the question states that it wants a power limit and not a current limit? Or is it just badly phrased and they really expect a current limit of 1mA? (it would make sense)

Hmm... I doubled checked the question and it seems that they used the wrong units. I guess I'll ask the professor or TA. I think they just wrote the wrong units, because that's an easy mistake to make.

gneill said:
How many resistors do you think you'd need to provide three potential drops? Should the drops be of different or equal magnitude?

Resistors cause voltage drops, so for 3 voltage drops, I would need three resistors. Since the increments are in equal value (i.e. -5, 0, 5, 10), then I guess that the resistors need to be all the same value.
 
I think I did it!

One question: how would I make (1) the ground node and still have the other nodes have voltages of: -5V, +5V, and +10V w.r.t. (1)?
 

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InvalidID said:
I think I did it!
Yes, looks fine.
One question: how would I make (1) the ground node and still have the other nodes have voltages of: -5V, +5V, and +10V w.r.t. (1)?
You can't. Making node (1) the reference node would put the other nodes at -5, -10, -15 volts with respect to it.
 
I think I did it!

I think you have the battery the wrong way around.
 
This is how I would draw it.. Note how this layout has the higher voltage nodes at the top of the page and lower voltage/negative voltages at the bottom.
 

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I'm curious. What did you use to draw that circuit?
 
  • #10

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