Tennessee State University

College of Engineering
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering ENGR 2001- CIRCUITS I LAB

LABORATORY EXPERIMENT 3
EXPERIMENT THREE
NODAL/MESH ANALYSIS

Reference: Alexander, Charles K. and Matthew Sadiku, Fundamentals of Electric Circuits,

6th Edition, McGraw Hill, 2017.
Objective:
The purpose of this experiment is to demonstrate the concepts of nodal and mesh analysis. This
will be accomplished by building electrical circuit and using the LTSpice simulation and Analog
Discovery on the breadboard to determine the voltage at the nodes and the current through the
branches.

Equipment:
Analog Discovery, LTSpice, Breadboard
R1 = R2 = 10 k (Brown, Black, Orange);
R3 = 20 k (Red, Black, Orange);
R4 = 47 k (Yellow, Purple, Orange);
R5 = 1 k (Brown, Black, Red)

Theory:
Nodal and Mesh analysis are used to solve complex networks with a single source or networks
with more than one source that are not in series or parallel. Loop or mesh analysis (KVL) can be
used to determine the currents of a network. Nodal analysis (KCL) can be used to determine the
voltage levels at each node of a network with respect to some reference node. The application of
each technique follows a sequence of steps, which will result in a set of equations with the
desired unknowns as variables. This simultaneous set of equations can be solved for the
respective mesh currents or node voltages.

Pre-Lab Calculations:
1. For the circuit in Figure 1, use mesh analysis method to determine the current
through and then the voltage across each element in the circuit (using ohms law) and
enter all calculated values in Table 1. OR, use nodal analysis method to determine the
node voltages and the voltage across each resistor and then using ohms law find the
currents through each resistor.

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Tennessee State University
College of Engineering
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering ENGR 2001- CIRCUITS I LAB

LABORATORY EXPERIMENT 3
Figure 1: Circuit for Nodal/Mesh Analysis

In Lab LTSpice Simulation:

Simulate the circuit in Figures 1 in LTSpice and perform a “Analysis-Simulate” to
determine the current through and the voltage across each element in the circuit and
enter all simulated values in Table 1.

In Lab Experiment using Analog Discovery

Build the circuit shown in Figure 1 on your breadboard and use your analog discovery to
measure the voltage across all resistors. Record these values in Table 1 as measured
values. Currents are not measurable using analog discovery.

Post-Lab Assignment:
Write a lab report following the lab report writing guidelines. Perform an error analysis
between all calculated and measured values in your laboratory report

Table 1
Voltages and Currents Data

Variables Nodal/Mesh LTSpice In lab % error

Method Simulation Measurements Calc. vs. Meas
Calculations
(Unit) (Unit) (Unit)
VR1

VR2

VR3

VR4

VR5

IR1 N/A N/A

IR2 N/A N/A

IR3 N/A N/A

IR4 N/A N/A

IR5 N/A N/A

Note: N/A indicates that currents are not measurable using Analog Discovery

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