Science & engineering
Loaded voltage divider
Calculate a resistor divider with an optional load across its lower resistor.
A clear answer. Here’s how.
The lower effective resistance is R₂, or R₂R_L/(R₂+R_L) with a resistive output load. Vout = Vin × lower/(R₁+lower). Reports branch currents and resistor dissipation using ideal DC resistors. Input voltage is the total applied voltage; source resistance, tolerances, temperature coefficients and ratings are not inferred.
See a worked example
Worked example
A fixed demonstration, separate from the values you enter above.
- Input DC voltage (V)
- 12
- Top resistor (Ω)
- 10000
- Bottom resistor (Ω)
- 10000
- Output load
- Open-circuit output
Example result
- Output voltage
- 6 V
- Unloaded output voltage
- 6 V
- Input / top-resistor current
- 0.0006 A
- Lower resistor current
- 0.0006 A
- Output load current
- 0 A
- Top resistor dissipation
- 0.0036 W
- Lower resistor dissipation
- 0.0036 W