Answer 1:
Thanks for your question! Let’s assume for
simplicity that your power source is direct
current (DC) and not alternating current (AC)—if
it were AC then this would add a whole other level
of complication. It would be okay to simply
combine two current sources in parallel *if and
only if* you know that they are of the same
voltage. Otherwise, terrible things can happen,
such as the voltage mismatch leading to one power
source overcharging the other and causing a
meltdown or even dangerous explosions!
In reality, it is actually very difficult to
ensure that two power sources have the exact same
voltage—even with things like commercial
batteries, the voltage each battery outputs
changes over its lifetime.
Since I don’t know too much of your circuit
layout and design, I can recommend right now that
your best solution may just to think about the
design of your circuit in terms of voltage gains
and drops. In this scenario, treat each power
source as a voltage source instead of a current
source. You should find that analysis will be
easier because of this. In general, putting two
power sources in series is much safer, and you
will find that the current output will vary
depending on the loads (resistors, buzzers, LEDs,
etc.) of your circuit. You can apply Kirchhoff’s
circuit laws of current and voltage to determine
how much current is flowing throughout your
circuit.
Click Here to return to the search form.
|