Dave Shattuck

University of Houston

© Brooks/Cole Publishing Co.

Node-Voltage Method with Voltage Sources

Voltage Source in Series with Another Element
R2 vS

+
-
iS1 iS2
R1 R3
 Dave Shattuck
University of Houston

© Brooks/Cole Publishing Co.

1) The first step is to identify the essential nodes. There are

three, marked in red. The fourth node, marked in blue, is not
an essential node. It only connects 2 components.

R2 vS

+
iS1 -
iS2
R1 R3
 Dave Shattuck
University of Houston

© Brooks/Cole Publishing Co.

2) The second step is to define the reference node and

name the essential nodes remaining. Let’s name it using
voltages as vA and vB.

R2 vS
vA vB

+
-
+ +

iS1 vA vB iS2
R1 R3

- -
 Dave Shattuck
University of Houston

© Brooks/Cole Publishing Co.

3) The 3rd step is to write KCL equations for two nodes. The
difficult term to write will be for the current going through the
voltage source and through R2. This current is shown with a
red current arrow below.
 Dave Shattuck
University of Houston

© Brooks/Cole Publishing Co.

vtemp

We need to find the voltage across R2

to
We find Ix potential at the left side of the resistor and it
know the
has the value vA, but we don’t know the potential on the
right side. Let’s call this potential as vtemp
 Dave Shattuck
University of Houston

© Brooks/Cole Publishing Co. find the voltage across R2

to findvtemp
Ix
Ix +

vtemp
-

vtemp potential can be found after adding the voltages in the

direction shown until you see the ground

vtemp= -vs+ vB = vB-vs v A  vtemp

iX  
R2
v A   v B v S 
iX  .
R2
 Dave Shattuck
University of Houston

© Brooks/Cole Publishing Co. vtemp

 vtemp

When writing KCL at node VB, we will also use vtemp

Since we take all resistor currents as leaving, we need to

formulate the R2 current in the direction shown (right to left)
SUMMARY:
If the voltage source is in series with another element,
we use that series element to come up with an
expression for the current.

R2 vS
A B

+
-

+ +

iS1 vA vB iS2
R1 R3

- -
 Dave Shattuck
University of Houston

© Brooks/Cole Publishing Co.

Voltage Source Between Two Essential Nodes

vS
R2

-
iS1
R1 R3 iS2
R4
 Dave Shattuck
University of Houston

© Brooks/Cole Publishing Co.

We identified four essential nodes, and picked the

bottom node as reference, since it has five
connections. We named the other three nodes, and
labeled the node-voltages for each.

vS
A R2
B C

-
+ + +
vB

iS1 vA vC
R1 R3 iS2
R4

- - -
 Dave Shattuck
We will have difficulties writing the equations for nodes B and C,
University of Houston

© Brooks/Cole Publishing Co.

because the voltage source can have any current through it. In
addition, we note that vS is not equal to vB, nor is it equal to vC.

WE DON’T KNOW THE VOLTAGE SOURCE’S CURRENT

vS
A R2
B C

-
+ + +
vB

iS1 vA vC
R1 R3 iS2
R4

- - -

We will sort of combine the nodes B and C and write a single

equation
 vS
A R2
B ix C

-
+ + +
vB

iS1 vA vC
R1 R3 iS2
R4

- - -

When writing KCL at node B, we mentioned we do not

know the current ix

However, we can show that ix current equals to vc/R3 +is2

For ix we will be using the elements to the right of vs source

(R3 and is2 current)
 Here is how we do it:
vB vB  v A
KCL at node B:   iX  0
R4 R2
vC
KCL at node C:  iX  iS 2  0
R3

vS
A R2
B C

-
+ + +
vB
iX
iS1 vA vC
R1 R3 iS2
R4

- - -
 Combining the two above,
we obtain:
vS
A R2
B C

-
+ + +
vB
iX
iS1 vA vC
R1 R3 iS2
R4

- - -

We are elimination one equation while we still have 3

unknowns  The 3rd equation will be vs=vB-vC
 Dave Shattuck
University of Houston

© Brooks/Cole Publishing Co.

vB vB  v A v
B+C:   iS 2  C  0
R4 R2 R3
vS
A R2
B C

-
+ + +
vB

iS1 vA vC
R1 R3 iS2
R4

- - -
 Supernode Definition
The large closed surface that
includes the voltage source is
vB vB  v A vC
called a Supernode. We will B+C:   iS 2  0
call the KCL equation that we R4 R2 R3
write for this closed surface a
Supernode Equation. Supernode Supernode Equation

vS
A R2
B C

-
+ + +
vB

iS1 vA vC
R1 R3 iS2
R4

- - -
 We have the following equations

Node A
We need to define
what vc is

Node B,C

vS
A R2
B C

-
+ + +
vB

iS1 vA vC
R1 R3 iS2
R4

- - -
 Dave Shattuck
University of Houston

© Brooks/Cole Publishing Co.

vA v A  vB
A:  iS 2  0
R1 R2
Finally, we have three vB vB  v A vC
B+C:   iS 2  0
equations in three R4 R2 R3
unknowns. B+C: vB  vC  vS

vS
A R2
B C

-
+ + +
vB

iS1 vA vC
R1 R3 iS2
R4

- - -
 Two summarize our approach then, when we have a voltage
source between two essential nodes

• write one equation applying KCL to a supernode around

the voltage source, and
• write a KVL using the voltage source to relate the two node
voltages. vA v A  vB
A:  iS 2  0
R1 R2
vB vB  v A v
B+C:   iS 2  C  0
R4 R2 R3
vS B+C: vB  vC  vS
A R2
B C
+

+ + +
vB

iS1 vA vC iS2
R1 R4 R3

- - -
 Dave Shattuck
University of Houston

© Brooks/Cole Publishing Co.

We write: vA v v
• one equation applying KCL to a
Supernode A:  iS 2  A B  0
R1 R2
supernode around the voltage Equation
vB vB  v A vC
source, and B+C:   iS 2  0
• one KVL using the voltage R4 R2 R3
Constraint
source to relate the two node
Equation B+C: vB  vC  vS
voltages.

vS
A R2
B C

-
+ + +
vB

iS1 vA vC
R1 R3 iS2
R4

- - -
Node-Voltage Method
What to do when we have voltage sources?
Our steps when we have voltage sources depend on how the
voltage sources appear.

1- If the voltage source is in series with another element, we use that

series element to come up with an expression for the current.

2- If the voltage source is between the reference node and another

essential node, we set that node-voltage equal to the voltage source,
being careful about the polarity.

3- If the voltage source is between two non-reference essential

nodes, we
o write a supernode equation using a closed surface around the
source (supernode equation), and
o write a KVL using the voltage source and the two node-
voltages (constraint equation).
Example: Node voltage method with a voltage source
alone in a branch:

A) Find the voltage vo and the dependent variable i∆.

B) Also figure out power for each element and state
whether supplied or absorbed

First, we mark essential nodes and select the

bottom node as the reference node.
We can then mark the known voltages
 vo  10 vo vo  20i
At vo :   0
10 40 20

For the constraint equation, we apply KCL on the left node

10  vo 10  20i
constraint : i   Notice + sign
10 30 here, why?
After putting it in standard form, we can solve for unknowns :

1 1 1   20  10
vo      i   
Std. form :  10 40 20   20  10
 1  20  10 10
vo     i 1    
 10   30  10 30

Solution : vo  24 V; i  3.2 A
 Power for each element:

vo  24 V;
i  3.2 A

Power absorbed
in 10V source!!! ix
Component Equation p [W]
10 V -10(i∇)=(10)(3.2) 32

Dep. Source ? ?

Power of dependent source is given by -20i𝛁ix

(Note that due to ix direction, power is delivered hence the – sign)
To determine the current of the dependent source ix
We apply KCL at the bottom node ix =i𝛁+(-vo/40)
 Power of dependent source is given
by P= -20i𝛁ix ix =i𝛁+(-vo/40)
vo  24 V;
i  3.2 A
P= [20(3.2)]*[3.2 – 24/40]

Component Equation p [W]

10 V -10(i∇)=(10)(3.2) 32
Dep. Source [3.2 – 24/40][20(3.2)] 243.2

Power is supplied by dependent source

 Power check total power is 0

Component Equation p [W]

10 V -10(i∇)=(10)(3.2) 32
Dep. Source [3.2 – 24/40][20(3.2)] 243.2

30  [20(3.2) – 10]2/30 97.2

10  (24 – 10)2/10 19.6

20  [24 + 20(3.2)]2/20 80

40  242/40 14.4
Example:
Node voltage method with a voltage source between two
non-reference essential nodes:

Find the voltage v.

Note that we have a
supernode (see circled)

v1 v1  v2
At v1 :  4.8   0
7.5 2.5
v2  v1 v2 v3 v3  12
At supernode :    0
2.5 10 2.5 1
constraint : v3  v2  ix
v1
Dep source constraint : ix 
7.5
 v1 v1  v2
At v1 : 4.8   0
7.5 2.5
Put in standard form and v v v v v  12
At supernode : 2 1  2  3  3 0
solve: 2.5 10 2.5 1
constraint : v3  v2  ix or - v2  v3  ix  0
v
 1 1   1  Dep source constraint : ix  1
v1     v2     v3 (0)  ix (0)  4.8 7.5
 7 .5 2 . 5   2.5 
 1   1 1  1 1
v1   
 2 v  
 3v    ix (0)  12
 2.5   2.5 10   2.5 1 
v1 (0)  v2 ( 1)  v3 (1)  ix ( 1)  0
 1 
v1     v2 (0)  v3 (0)  ix (1)  0
 7.5 
v1  15 V; v2  8 V; v3  10 V; ix  2 A
 Power balance:
10 10  12
ids   2A
2.5 1

Component Equation p [W]

4.8 A (4.8)(15) 72
-ix*ids Dep. Source (2)(2) 4
12 V (12)(10 – 12)/1 24
7.5  (2)2(7.5) 30
2.5  (top) (15 – 8)2/2.5 19.6
10  (8)2/10 6.4
2.5  (10)2/2.5 40
1 (10 – 12)2/1
EXAMPLE
256 50i∆ -128

50i∆
The constraint equation

p300=(vc-va)2/300

=16.57[W]