ECE 211 Electrical Circuits Lab I

LAB #6
Fall 2014

Name ___________________

Section ______________

Node-Voltage Analysis
OBJECTIVE:
1. Solve a circuit using nodal analysis.

COMPONENTS AND EQUIPMENT:

1. Variable DC supply
2. Digital multimeter
3. Leads
4. Resistors of various values

THEORY
Nodes
A node is a section of a circuit which connects components to each other. All of the
current entering a node must leave a node, according to Kirchoff's Current
Law(KCL). Every point on the node is at the same voltage; no matter how close it is
to each component, because the connections between components regarded as
perfect conductors. This voltage is called the node voltage, and is the voltage
difference between the node and an arbitrary reference, the ground point. The
ground point is a node which is defined as having zero voltage. The ground node
should be chosen carefully for convenience. Note that the ground node does not
necessarily represent an actual connection to ground. For example, if a node has a
voltage of 5 Volts, then the voltage drop between that node and the ground node
will be 5 Volts.
Nodal Analysis
Nodal analysis is a formalized procedure based on KCL equations.
Steps:
1. Identify all nodes.
2. Choose a reference node. Identify it with reference (ground) symbol. A good
choice is the node with the most branches, or a node which can immediately
give you another node voltage (e.g., below a voltage source).
3. Assign voltage variables to the other nodes (these are node voltages.)

ECE 211 Electrical Circuits Lab I

LAB #6
Fall 2014
4. Write a KCL equation for each node (sum the currents leaving the node and
set equal to zero). Rearrange these equations into the form A*V1+B*V2=C (or
similar for equations with more voltage variables.)
5. Solve the system of equations from step 4. There are a number of techniques
that can be used: simple substitution, Cramer's rule, the adjoint matrix
method, etc.
Example
Given the Circuit below, find the voltages at all nodes.

node 0:
node 1:

(defined as ground node)

(free node voltage)

node 2:

node 3:

which results in the following system of linear equations:

therefore, the solution is:

Another solution with KCL would be to solve node in terms of node 2;

ECE 211 Electrical Circuits Lab I

LAB #6
Fall 2014

PROCEDURE:

1. Connect the circuit as shown in Figure 1

Figure 1 - Circuit #1

2. Pick different resistors value for Ra, Rb, and Rc. Choose these resistors at
random. Record the resistor values. Then calculate Ia, Ib, Ic.
3. Measure and record the values of Ia, Ib, Ic, Va, Vb, and Vc. Make a table
for the calculated and recorded value
4.

Calculate the measured value error % for Ia, Ib, and Ic

5. Does Ia = Ib + Ic ? Measure V1.

ECE 211 Electrical Circuits Lab I

LAB #6
Fall 2014

Figure 2 - Circuit #2

6. Connect the circuit as shown in Figure 2

7. Calculate Ia, Ib, Ic, and Id.
8. Record the values of Ia, Ib, Ic, Id, Va, Vb, Vc, and Vd. Record resistor values.
9. Find error % of Ia, Ib, Ic, and Id.
10. Measure V1 . Does Ib + Ic = Id?

ECE 211 Electrical Circuits Lab I

LAB #6
Fall 2014
REPORT:

1. Calculate V1 and then Ia, Ib, Ic, Va, Vb, and Vc in the circuits shown in
Figure 1 using nodal analysis. Show all work.
2. Calculate Ia, Ib, Ic, Va, Vb, Vc and Vd in the circuits shown in Figure 2
using nodal analysis. Show all work.
3. Compare between the measured and calculated values for both circuits.
4. Repeat the measurements calculation of Circuit #2, but with the reference
node moved to the node N1.
5. Is there a difference in Va, Vb, Vc, and Vc? If so, write down the new value
for each voltage.
6. Write a conclusion for this experiment.