Why are household appliances connected in parallel?

Answer 1

You want every electrical device in the house to have equal access to the 117 volt utility supply at the
wall outlets. That means that every device in the house must be connected directly to the pair of wires
entering the house from the pole ... which is a pretty good definition of a "parallel" configuration.

Another reason, purely pragmatic, for not wiring household devices in series: Just like the old-fashioned
technique for constructing strings of Christmas-tree lights ... if household devices were connected in series,
then every device in the house would have to be switched ON, otherwise none of them would work !
If any single device were switched off, then there would be no current path through the series string.

And here's another little thing to consider: In a series string, each individual resistance in the string
has an influence on the current through the string. As a practical matter, that means that if everything
in the house were connected in series, then as the toaster heated up and its resistance increased, all the
lights in the house would dim, and the refrigerator would run a little slower. Definitely inconvenient.

Answer 2

So that each outlet, light, etc. can function independantly. If they were wired in series you'd have to turn on the light in the kitchen for the refrigerator outlet to work.

AnswerIt depends on how the builder and architect wanted it designed. It is also cheaper, easier to install, and more convenient to put them in vertically instead of horizontally.

Answer

Parallel circuits have a constant voltage (ignoring conductor losses). A residence might have 3 or 4 or 5 or more 120 volt outlets wired this way in one room or in one area and on one circuit breaker. Has nothing to do with independent function or the wants of a builder.

Answer 3

Parallel connection in a circuit allows each device to switch on or off without cutting off the current. As such, household appliances need to be connected in parallel in order to operate independently.

Answer 4

It's important to configure the electric service in the home in parallel, because series wouldn't work.

Series wouldn't work because:

1). No current flows in a series circuit if the circuit is open anywhere. The practical implication

of this in the home is that if one light were turned off, nothing in the house would get any power.

2). In a series circuit, the largest resistance dissipates the largest power. The practical implication

of this in the home is that the night light and the electric clock would get the most power, while

the air conditioner, the stove, and the hot water heater would get the least power.

Answer 5

(1) To ensure that the voltage across each appliance is the same and equal to the supply voltage (otherwise none will operate at their rated power), and (2) to ensure that all the other appliances continue to work should one appliance fail.

Answer 6

All the household equipment are connected in parallel.

The reason is that in parallel connected components voltage remains same and in series connected components current remains the same.

The equipments used in household are of same voltage rating. see any equipment at home.

The wiring is done in such a way that equipments get connected in parallel and have same voltage across them.

one appliance blows off then the remaining will not work if connected in series

Because if they are connected in series then if one of them is turned off the rest will also shut off and also because in series connection the potential is distributed while for a typical household appliance the voltage should be the same.

Answer 7

it reduces the chances of short circuit and overloading.