Systematic Circuit Analysis

Nodal Analysis
Chapter 4 Section 1
 3 Fundamental Principles
Ohms Law
V = I R, where I enters at the higher
voltage side
Kirchoffs Voltage Law
Algebraic sum of voltages around a loop
equal zero
Kirchoffs Current Law
Algebraic sum of currents entering and
leaving a node equal zero
 Circuit Simplification
Series Resistors can be combined into a
single equivalent resistance
Parallel Resistors can be combined into a
single equivalent resistance
Current sources in parallel add
algebraically
Voltage sources in series add algebraically
A voltage source is series with a resistor
can be replaced by a current source in
parallel or vice versa
 Shortcuts
Voltage Divider a voltage dividing across
a series combination of resistors
Largest voltage is across the largest resistor
Current Divider a current dividing among
a parallel combination of resistors
Largest current is through the smallest
resistor
 Nodal Analysis
Employs the 3 fundamental laws
May not require any circuit simplification
Consists of a straight-forward step-by-step
procedure
Involves the solution of a set of linear
equations simultaneously
Used by most circuit analysis computer
programs like PSpice
 Example
Find the voltages and currents
 Step One
Identify all nodes that have at least 3
components connected to them
Choose one of the above nodes as the
ground, or reference node, Vo=0 volts
Label the other nodes with V1, V2, etc.
 Voltage Notation
Remember that voltage is always
measured with respect to some other point
So V1 the voltage at node 1 minus the
voltage at node 0, or V1-Vo = V10 = V1
V12 would be the voltage at node 1 minus
the voltage at node 2, or V12 = V1-V2
 Voltage Notation
V12 could also be obtained by going
through any path, say node 3

V12 = V132 where V132 = V13 + V32

But V13 + V32 = (V1-V3) + (V3-V2)

And (V1-V3) + (V3-V2) = V1-V2 = V12

Circuit After Step One
V1

Vo = 0 volts
 Step Two
Choose currents for every circuit branch
that is connected to any of the unknown
voltage nodes
In this circuit, choose currents for the
branches connected to V1
You can also label voltages at other nodes in
the circuit (nodes that have only two
components), Va and Vb
 Circuit after Step Two
I1 I3
+ - V1 + - Vb
Va

+
I2
-

Vo = 0 volts
 Step Three
Find the value of each current or find an
expression for each current in terms of the
unknown voltages, V1, V2, etc.
The idea is to get all the currents to be
expressed in terms of the node voltages,
so that a KCL equation can be written at
each unknown node, giving us as many
equations as unknowns
 Step Three
If you have a resistor between two nodes,
then the current is the voltage at the node
where the current originates minus the
voltage at the other node divided by the
resistance (Ohms Law)
For this circuit the 10 resistor is between
nodes 1 and ground (node 0)
I2 = (V1 0) / 10 = V1 / 10
 Step Three Cont.
If you have a resistor and a series voltage
source between two key nodes, determine
the voltage at the node between the
components and then use Ohms law
There is a 6v source and 14 resistor in
series between node 1 and ground
Va = Vo+6v. = 6v.
I1 = (Va - V1) / 14 = (6v - V1) / 14
 Step Three Cont.
There is also 5v source and 10 resistor
in series between node 1 and ground
Determine the voltage at the intermediate
node
Vb = Vo+5v. = 5v.
Use Ohms law to determine the current
I3 = (V1-Vb) / 14 = (V1-5v) / 10
 Circuit after Step Three
I1=(6-V1)/14 I3=(V1-5)/10
+ - V1 + - Vb=5v
Va=6v

+
I2 =
V1/10
-

Vo = 0 volts
 Step 4
Write Kirchoffs Current Law at each node
with an unknown voltage
I1 = I2 + I3
Substitute each value or expression into
each KCL equation
(6v-V1)/14 = V1/10 + (V1-5v)/10
 Step 5 Solve
Solve the set of equations for each
unknown voltage
(6v-V1)/14 = V1/10 + (V1-5v)/10
Multiply both sides to clear fractions
70[(6v-V1)/14 = V1/10 + (V1-5v)/10]
30v - 5V1= 7V1 + 7V1 - 35v
Group like terms and solve
65v = 19V1 or V1 = 3.42v
 Step 5 Solve Cont.
Since V1 = 3.42v
Find each current by substituting the
voltage values found into each current
equation as appropriate
I1 = (6v-V1)/14 = (6-3.42)/14 = .184 A
I2 = V1/10 = 3.42/10 = .342 A
I3 = (V1-5v)/10 = (3.42-5)/10 = -.158 A
 Step 6 Reality Check
I1=.184A I3= -.158A
+ - V1=3.42v + - Vb=5v
Va=6v

+
I2=
.342A
-

Vo = 0 volts
Example with a Dependent Source
Find the voltages and currents
I1
Handling the Dependent Source
The dependent source will be dependent
on some voltage or current in the circuit
You will need to express that voltage or
current in terms of the unknown node
voltages
The idea is to only use the node voltages
in finding the currents so that there will be
as many KCL equations as variables
 Step One
Identify all nodes that have at least 3
components connected to them
Choose one of the above nodes as the
ground, or reference node at zero volts
Label the other nodes with V1, V2, etc.
Circuit after Step 1

I1

V1

Vo = 0 volts
 Step Two
Choose currents for every circuit branch
that are connected to any of the unknown
key voltage nodes
Circuit after Step 2
I1
V1 + - Vb

+
I2
-

- I3 + Vo = 0 volts
 Step Three
Find the value of each current or find an
expression for each current in terms of the
unknown voltages, V1, V2, etc.
If you have a resistor between two nodes,
then the current is the voltage at the node
where the current originates minus the
voltage at the other node divided by the
resistance (Ohms Law)
I2 = (V1 0) / 4 = V1 / 4
 Step Three Cont.
If you have a resistor and a series voltage
source between two nodes, determine the
voltage at the node between the
components and then use Ohms law
Vb = Vo+3v. = 3v.
I1 = (V1-Vb) / 2 = (V1-3v) / 2
 Step Three Cont.
If you have multiple resistors and/or
voltage sources between two key nodes,
combine them together to get one resistor
and one source
If there is a dependent part of the source,
express it in terms of the unknown node
voltages
Determine the voltage at the node between
the equivalent resistor and source
Use Ohms law
 Circuit for Step 3
I1
V1 + - Vb=3v
Vb
Va

5v + 4I1
+
I2
-

- I3 + Vo = 0 volts
 Step Three Cont.
The combined dependent source is
5v+4I1
So Va = V1 (5v+4I1)
But I1 in the dependent source was
determined to be (V1-3v)/2
So Va = V1(5v + 4(V1-3v)/2) = -V1+1
I3 = (Vo-Va) / 4 = (0-(-V1+1)) / 4
I3 = (V1 -1v) / 4
 Circuit for Step 4
I1=(V1-3)/2
Va= V1 + - Vb=3v
Vb
1v-V1

5v + 4I1
+
I 2=
V1/2
-

- + Vo = 0 volts
I3=(V1-1)/4
 Step 4
Write Kirchoffs Current Law at each node
with an unknown voltage
I3 = I2 + I1

Substitute each value or expression into

each KCL equation
(V1 -1v) / 4 = V1 / 4 + (V1-3v) / 2
 Step 5 Solve
Solve the set of equations for each
unknown voltage
(V1 -1v) / 4 = V1 / 4 + (V1-3v) / 2
Multiply both sides to clear fractions
4[(V1 -1v) / 4 = V1 / 4 + (V1-3v) / 2]
V1 - 1v = V1 + 2(V1-3v)
Group like terms and solve
5v = 2V1 or V1 = 2.5v
 Step 5 Solving for Currents
Finding each current:
I3 = (V1 -1v) / 4 = (2.5v -1v) / 4 = .375 A

I2 = V1 / 4 = 2.5v / 4 = .625 A

I1 = (V1-3v) / 2 = (2.5v-3v) / 2 = -.25 A

 Step 6 - Checking
I1= -.25A
Va= V1=2.5v + - Vb=3v
Vb
1v-V1=
-1.5v
5v+4I1=4v
+
I2=
.625A
-

- +
I3=.375A Vo = 0 volts
 Class Activity
Find the current equations at node 1
 Class Activity
Find I2 in terms of V1

For a resistor between nodes, use Ohms law

Add polarities if not shown (+ at V1, - at V0)
I2 = V1/60
 Class Activity
Find I3 in terms of its value

For a current source between nodes, the

current is fixed by the source
I3 = 2 A
 Class Activity
Find I4 in terms of V1

+
_
+
_

If you have series resistors, combine them

and then use Ohms law
I4 = V1/(30+70) = V1/(100)
 Class Activity
Find I1 in terms of V1

Combine series resistors, even if not next to

each other, then find the voltage between the
source and equivalent resistance
 Finding I1

+ - Va=100v + -
V1 V1
100+80=180

Vo=0v Vo=0v

So I1 = (Va-V1)/180 = (100-V1)/180
 Class Activity
Find I5 in terms of V1

+ -

The voltage on the right side of the 50

resistor is known, because of the 150v source
I5 = (V1-150v) / 50
 Class Activity
Write KCL equation at node 1

I1 + I3 = I2 + I4 + I5
Substitute all the current equations:
(100-V1)/180+2A=V1/60+V1/100+(V1-150v)/50
 Class Activity
(100-V1)/180+2A=V1/60+V1/100+(V1-150v)/50

Multiply both sides by 9000:

5000-50V1+18000=150V1+90V1+180V1-27000
Group: 50000 = 470V1 Solve: V1= 106.4 v
 Class Activity
Checking

I1=-.036A, I2=1.773A, I3=2A, I4=1.064A, I5=-.872A

I1+I3= -.036+2 =1.964 A
I2+I4+I5 = 1.773+1.064-.872 = 1.965 A Yes!
 Example with 3 Unknown Nodes
Find Voltages and Currents
 Steps 1 & 2
Find key nodes, assign one to ground, choose
currents in branches
I1
+ -

V1 I2 I3 V3
V2
+ -
Va + -
+
+ I5
-
I4
-

Vo=0 volts
 Step 3 Current Equations
Currents for resistors between nodes
I1=(V1-V3)/4
I3=(V2-V3)/7
I4=V2/1
I5= V3/5
Resistor and source between nodes
Va = V1+ 9v
I2 = (Va-V2)/3 = (V1+9v-V2)/3
 Step 4 KCL Equations
KCL Equation at each key node:
At node 1: 0 = I1 + I2 + 8A
At node 2: I2 = I3 + I4
At node 3: 25A + I1 + I3 = I5
Substituting for each current
At 1: 0 =(V1-V3)/4 +(V1+9v-V2)/3 +8A
At 2: (V1+9v-V2)/3 =(V2-V3)/7 + V2/1
At 3: 25A+(V1-V3)/4 +(V2-V3)/7 = V3/5
 At node 1
0 =(V1-V3)/4 +(V1+9v-V2)/3 +8A
Multiply both sides by 12 to clear
fractions
12[0 =(V1-V3)/4 +(V1+9v-V2)/3 +8A]
Or: 0 =3V1-3V3 +4V1+36v-4V2 +96v
Combining terms
7V1 -4V2 -3V3 = -132v
 At node 2
(V1+9v-V2)/3 =(V2-V3)/7 + V2/1
Multiply both sides by 21 to clear
fractions
21[(V1+9v-V2)/3 =(V2-V3)/7 + V2/1 ]
Or: 7V1+63v - 7V2 = 3V2 - 3V3 +21V2
Combining terms
7V1 -31V2 +3V3 = -63v
 At node 3
25A+(V1-V3)/4 +(V2-V3)/7 = V3/5
Multiply both sides by 140 to clear
fractions
140[25A+(V1-V3)/4 +(V2-V3)/7 =V3/5]
Or: 3500v+35V1-35V3+20V2-20V3=28V3
Combining terms
35V1 +20V2 -83V3 = -3500v
 Set of 3 Simultaneous Eqs.
7V1 -4V2 -3V3 = -132v
7V1 -31V2 +3V3 = -63v
35V1 +20V2 -83V3 = -3500v
Solve by hand, calculator, or computer
V1 = 5.414 v
V2 = 7.737 v
V3 = 46.316 v