The shunt (parallel) circuit

Several possible paths

In a branch circuit, also known as a parallel circuit, the components are connected to different branches, all of which are linked to the same two points in the circuit. The electric current can therefore follow several different paths.

Practical example

A house’s electrical installation operates in a parallel configuration: the sockets and light fittings in each room are connected to separate branches. This is why, if the light bulb in the living room blows, the light in the kitchen continues to work normally.

Comparison: series vs. parallel

Characteristic	Series circuit	Parallel circuit
Number of paths	One	Several
If a light bulb burns out	Everything goes out	The others stay on
Current in each branch	Identical everywhere	May be different
Common example	Old fairy lights	Domestic wiring

A common pitfall to avoid

Pupils sometimes think that, in a shunt circuit, the current is necessarily the same in all branches: this is not always true; it depends on the loads connected to each branch. Nor should the number of power sources be confused with the number of branches: there may be a single power source and several parallel branches for the loads, as in a house that has only one electricity meter but numerous sockets.