UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MINDANAO

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

KABACAN, COTABATO

ES 123 B
ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1
DC LIGHT WIRING BOARD

PROJECT REPORT

DC Light Wiring Board

submitted by:

3-BSCE-B

GROUP MEMBERS:
ALIMAN, ALINOR S.
BALSOMO, CHRISTINE D.
BLASÉ, HARDEE A.
DOROON, JOHANN
MONSALE, KATE SANDARA P.
TURING, ROBERTO CHRISANTO

SUBMITTED TO:
ENGR. CHENNEEMAE B. BANDOY
subject instructor
INTRODUCTION

This experiment aims to explore the relationship between different electrical circuit
configurations and the brightness of light bulbs. By building a DC light wiring board, students
will observe the effects of series, parallel, and series-parallel connections on the brightness of
bulbs, gaining a practical understanding of fundamental electrical concepts.

The experiment explores the fundamentals of electrical circuits, with a particular emphasis on
parallel, series, and series-parallel connections. The current travels in a single path across every
component in a series connection. The circuit breaks as a whole if one part fails. As more
components are added, the brightness decreases because the voltage is distributed throughout
all of the components (wurthelektronik,2023)

Every component in a parallel connection has a separate path for current flow. The other parts
continue to function even if one fails. No matter how many components there are, the voltage
across each one remains constant, ensuring consistent brightness(bccampus,2024).

Series-parallel connections combine both series and parallel configurations, creating more
complex circuits. The brightness of components in these circuits depends on the specific
arrangement of series and parallel connections.

Objectives:

 To construct a DC light wiring board demonstrating series, parallel, and series-parallel

connections.
 To observe and record the brightness of bulbs in each connection type.
 To analyze the impact of different connections on bulb brightness.

Hypotheses:

Hypothesis 1: Comparing Series and Parallel Configurations

Null Hypothesis (H₀): There is no significant difference in the power dissipated by a single bulb
when connected in a series circuit versus a parallel circuit. (The average power in the series
configuration equals the average power in the parallel configuration).

Alternative Hypothesis (H₁): There is a significant difference in the power dissipated by a single
bulb when connected in a series circuit versus a parallel circuit. (The average power in the
series configuration does not equal the average power in the parallel configuration).

Hypothesis 2: Effect of Removing a Bulb (Series Circuit)

Null Hypothesis (H₀): Removing one bulb from a series circuit does not significantly affect the
power dissipated by the remaining bulbs. (The average power of the remaining bulbs is the
same before and after the removal of one bulb).

Alternative Hypothesis (H₁): Removing one bulb from a series circuit significantly affects the
power dissipated by the remaining bulbs. (The average power of the remaining bulbs is
different before and after the removal of one bulb).

Hypothesis 3: Effect of Adding a Bulb (Parallel Circuit)

Null Hypothesis (H₀): Adding one bulb to a parallel circuit does not significantly affect the
power dissipated by the individual bulbs. (The average power of the bulbs is the same before
and after adding one bulb). Alternative Hypothesis (H₁): Adding one bulb to a parallel circuit
significantly affects the power dissipated by the individual bulbs. (The average power of the
bulbs is different before and after adding one bulb)

METHODOLOGY

Bill of Materials (BOM)

 Plywood Board: 12" x 12"

 Light Bulbs: 6 x Dimmable LED bulbs (2.5 and 6.2 V)
 Bulb Receptacles: 6
 Wire
 Wire Strippers: For preparing wire ends
 Screwdriver: For securing components
 Switch: (Single-pole)
 Power Supply: 9V battery
 Stick glue: For organizing and securing bulb receptacles

Circuit Diagram:
Experimental Procedures:

1. Construction of the Wiring Board:

 Cut and sand the plywood board to the specified dimensions (12" x 12").
 Securely attach the bulb receptacles evenly on the plywood board, ensuring each
receptacle has its own space.
 Connect the bulbs in series, parallel, and series-parallel configurations according to the
circuit diagrams.
 Use stick glue to secure the bulb receptacles in the plywood
 incorporate a switch into the circuit for on/off control.

2. Testing and Observation:

 Test each circuit configuration by connecting the power supply

 Observe the brightness of the bulbs in each connection type.
 Use multimeter to measure the voltage of battery and bulbs resistance
 observe the brightness of bulbs

3. Data Collection and Calculations:

 Record all observations of brightness levels

 Measure the voltage across each bulb in each configuration using a voltmeter.
 Calculate the current (I) flowing through the circuit using Ohm's Law (I = V/R), where R
is the resistance of the bulbs (assumed to be constant).
 Calculate the V using Ohm’s law (V=IR).

DISCUSSION

Table 1: Series Connection

BULB# VOLTAGE PER BRIGHTNESS (1-

BULBS 4, 4 BEING THE
 BRIGHTEST)

1 3V 3

2 3V 3

3 3V 3

Table 2: Parallel Connection

BULB# VOLTAGE PER BRIGHTNESS (1-

BULB 4, 4 BEING THE
BRIGHTEST)

1 9V 3

2 9V 3

3 9V 3

Table 3: parallel-series connection

BULB# BRIGHTNESS (1-

4, 4 BEING THE
VOLTAGE PER
BRIGHTEST)
BULB

1 3

2 3

3 2

4 1
 5 1

Interpretation:

The data clearly demonstrates the expected behavior of bulbs in series and parallel circuits. In
the series connection (Table 1), the brightness of bulbs is the same. This is because the total
voltage is divided among the bulbs, the light bulbs are identical (equal resistance), each drop an
equal fraction of the total voltage, and each has the same brightness (HSC physics,2024). when
a bulb is removed, the other bulb won't glow since the circuit is open at one point and is series,
which prevents current from flowing(swtc,2017).

Conversely, in the parallel connection (Table 2), the brightness remains consistent regardless of
the number of bulbs. Each bulb receives the full voltage from the source, maintaining its bright
(Singh,2014). When a bulb is removed from a parallel circuit, the other bulbs continue to
function without interruption. This occurs because in a parallel circuit, each light bulb is
connected to the same voltage source, allowing them to operate independently. Therefore,
removing one bulb does not disrupt the current flow to the other bulbs, which will remain lit at
the same brightness(answers.com,2024).

The series-parallel configuration (Table 3) shows a more complex relationship. The brightness
in each branch depends on the number of bulbs in series within that branch. The overall
brightness of the circuit depends on the arrangement of series and parallel components. The
bulbs connect in parra

CONCLUSION

This experiment successfully demonstrated the fundamental principles of series, parallel, and
series-parallel circuits using a DC light wiring board. The objective was to observe and quantify
the relationship between circuit configuration and bulb brightness.
Our results confirmed that bulbs connected in parallel shone significantly brighter than those in
a series configuration. This is because in a parallel circuit, each bulb receives the full source
voltage. Therefore, each bulb is experiencing higher current and power dissipation per bulb,
given the relationship P=IV. In a series circuit, the voltage is divided among the bulbs. As such,
individual bulb brightness will be lower.

Furthermore, removing a bulb from a series circuit caused all remaining bulbs to extinguish,
demonstrating that a break in the single current path interrupts the entire circuit. Conversely,
removing one bulb from a parallel circuit only depressed the brightness of that particular bulb;
the rest remained at original brightness, indicating that in a parallel circuit, more than one path
for the current exists. Adding another bulb to a parallel circuit caused each bulb to grow
dimmer by a lesser amount than would be expected, adding a bulb to a series circuit caused
each bulb to grow dimmer by a larger amount, much larger.

The series-parallel configuration showed a combination of these behaviors. The bulbs in the
parallel branches shone brighter than those in the series branches, and removal or addition of
bulbs in the parallel branches affected only that branch, whereas changes in the series branches
affected the whole series portion of the circuit. Overall, the project has helped in gaining
practical insight into series, parallel, and series-parallel circuit behavior.

Key Learnings:

 Series Circuits: Adding bulbs in series reduces the voltage across each bulb, leading to
decreased brightness. A break in any part of the series circuit interrupts the entire
circuit.
 Parallel Circuits: Bulbs in parallel receive the full voltage, maintaining consistent
brightness regardless of the number of bulbs. A break in one branch of a parallel circuit
does not affect the other branches.
 Series-Parallel Circuits: The brightness of bulbs in a series-parallel circuit is dependent
on the specific arrangement of series and parallel elements, requiring careful
consideration of voltage division and current flow.

Future Improvements and Experiments:

  Different Bulb Types: Exploring the impact of different bulb types (e.g., LED,
incandescent) on the observed brightness under various circuit configurations would
provide a more comprehensive understanding.
 Resistance Measurement: Measuring the actual resistance of each bulb and comparing
it to the calculated values would provide insights into the accuracy of the calculations
and the impact of variations in bulb resistance.
 More Complex Circuits: Investigating more complex circuit configurations, including
those with resistors and other components, would expand the scope of the experiment
and deepen the understanding of circuit analysis.

Troubleshooting Recommendations:

 Bulbs Not Lighting Up: Check all wire connections for proper continuity. Ensure the
power supply is functioning correctly and that the bulbs are not burnt out.
 Inconsistent Brightness: Verify that the bulbs used are of the same type and wattage to
minimize variations in resistance. Also, check for loose connections that might cause
voltage drops.
 Circuit Overheating: Ensure that the power supply is appropriate for the number of
bulbs and the type of connection. Overloading the circuit can lead to overheating and
potential damage.
 Short Circuits: Carefully inspect the wiring to ensure there are no accidental short
circuits. Short circuits can cause excessive current flow, potentially damaging
components or the power supply.

REFERENCES:
Answers.com, (2024) What happens when removing a bulb in a parallel circuit?
https://www.answers.com/physics/What_happens_when_removing_a_bulb_in_a_para
llel_circuit

bccampus.ca, (2024). Parallel Circuits – Basic Electricity.

https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/basicelectricity/chapter/ground

HSC-PHYSICS, (2024). Electric Power and Brightness in Series vs Parallel Circuits.

https://scienceready.com.au/pages/electric-power-and-brightness-in-series-vs-parallel-
circuits-hsc-physics

Krishanu Singh. (2014). Why do bulbs glow brighter when connected in parallel? Physics
Stack Exchange. https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/154925/why-do-bulbs-
glow-brighter-when-connected-in-parallel

swtc.edu, (2017). Electrical/Electronic - Series Circuits.

https://www.swtc.edu/ag_power/electrical/lecture/series_circuits.htm