totalstrømmen

Totalstrømmen is the Norwegian term for the total electric current flowing in a circuit. It denotes the net current delivered by a source or distributed through conductors and branches. In electrical networks, the total current at a junction or along a conductor is determined by the individual branch currents that converge or diverge at that point.

The term is commonly used in Norwegian-language textbooks and technical writings on electronics and power systems. It reflects the broader concept of current as a flow of electric charge and is closely connected to fundamental laws of circuit analysis, such as Kirchhoff’s current law and Ohm’s law. In practice, engineers refer to the total current when sizing components, selecting conductors, and ensuring safe operating conditions.

Mathematically, totalstrømmen is the sum of the currents in the branches that meet at a node. For example, in a parallel circuit with branch currents I1, I2, and I3, the total current supplied by the source is I_total = I1 + I2 + I3. In direct-current (DC) circuits, this sum is a straightforward addition. In alternating-current (AC) circuits, currents are vector-valued (phasors), so I_total is the phasor (complex) sum, and the magnitude of the total current may differ from the sum of magnitudes.

Measurement of totalstrømmen typically involves placing an ammeter in series with the portion of the circuit of interest. The concept remains essential across electronics, power distribution, and circuit design. See also: Kirchhoff's laws, Ohm's law, electrical current.