How to Make a Parallel Circuit With Two Switches

Many people who undertake home electronic projects use two switches in their project's design. These switches are often placed in a parallel circuit configuration, which is defined by two strings, or branches, of interconnected electronic components that are themselves interconnected at their endpoints. In each branch of the parallel circuit, a switch and another component, such as capacitor, are connected together. When a switch is turned off in a branch, the capacitor that is in that branch is disconnected from the circuit. When the switch is turned on, the capacitor is placed in parallel with the other capacitors.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 electromechanical switches (light switches)
  • 2 100 picofarad capacitors
  • Electronic breadboard
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Instructions

    • 1

      Insert one metal lead of one capacitor - call it capacitor A - into one peg hole in one of the columns of the electronic breadboard. Insert the metal lead of the other capacitor - call it capacitor B - into a different peg hole in that same column. Call this connection "node capacitors."

    • 2

      Insert the the other lead of capacitor A into a peg hole in another unused column of the breadboard. Insert one lead of the electromechanical switch - call it switch A - into another peg hole in that same column.

    • 3

      Insert the the other lead of capacitor B into a peg hole in another unused column of the breadboard. Insert one lead of the other electromechanical switch - call it switch B - into another peg hole in that same column.

    • 4

      Insert the other lead of switch A into another unused column of the breadboard. Insert the other lead of switch B into a peg hole in that same column. Call this connection "node switches."

    • 5

      Insert one lead of another capacitor - call it capacitor C - into a peg hole that is in the same column as node switches. Insert the other lead of capacitor C into a peg hole that is in the same column as node capacitors.

    • 6

      Turn on switches A and B to place capacitor A and capacitor B in parallel to capacitor C. Turn both switches off to disconnect capacitor A and capacitor B from the circuit. Turn switch A on and switch B off to just place capacitor A in parallel with Capacitor C. Turn switch A off and switch B on to just place capacitor B in parallel to capacitor C.

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