If a device is connected in parallel to a circuit, what happens to the total current?

• A. The total current increases by the device's current draw
• B. The total current remains the same
• C. The total current decreases
• D. The source voltage increases

Answer: (A)

In a parallel circuit, the supply voltage across each branch stays the same, and the currents in all branches add up to give the total current drawn from the source. When you connect another device in parallel, it creates a new branch that draws its own current. The source must supply that additional current, so the total current increases by the amount that the new device draws. The voltage across every branch remains the same (assuming an ideal source). This is why the total current rises whenever a new parallel path with its own current draw is added.