jännitejakajina

Jännitejakajina, known in English as voltage dividers, are simple electrical circuits used to reduce a voltage. They are constructed using two or more impedances, typically resistors, connected in series. The input voltage is applied across the series combination, and the output voltage is taken across one of the impedances. The principle behind a voltage divider is that the voltage drops proportionally across each component in a series circuit according to Ohm's Law.

The most basic form of a voltage divider consists of two resistors, R1 and R2, connected in series. If the input voltage is Vin and the resistors are R1 and R2, the output voltage Vout taken across R2 is given by the formula Vout = Vin * (R2 / (R1 + R2)). This equation demonstrates that the output voltage will always be less than the input voltage, unless R1 is zero or R2 is infinite. The ratio of the resistances determines the division of the voltage.

Voltage dividers have numerous applications in electronics. They are used to create reference voltages, to scale down larger voltages for measurement by microcontrollers or analog-to-digital converters, and to set bias points for transistors. While simple and inexpensive, voltage dividers have limitations. They are inefficient as they dissipate power, and the output voltage can be affected by the load connected to it, leading to inaccuracies if the load impedance is not significantly higher than the divider's impedances. For applications requiring a stable and efficient voltage, regulated power supplies are preferred.