Nodal Analysis

Nodal Analysis

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problems. Now we will study two systematic methods.
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computer programs such as SPICE and Multisim.
used by the standard computer programs such as SPICE. Consider the circuit

r1 b
a
r8
r5 v1
r2 d r3
c e r7 i
r9
v2 +
- r6
r4
f g

Consider the circuit above. There are 7 nodes in this circuit. Let us define one of the
above. There
nodes, are f,7 as
say node nodes in this
a reference circuit.
node. Let for
All voltages us the
define one
circuit willofbethe nodes, say
measured
noderelative
f, as toa this
reference
point. Itnode. Allclear
should be voltages forknow
that if we the the
circuit will
voltages be ofmeasured
at all the
otherto
relative nodes
thisrelative
point.toItnode f then be
should we clear
can calculate
that ifthewevoltages
knowacross and currents
the voltages at all of
through all branches of the circuit.
the other nodes relative to node f then we can calculate the voltages across
If we take this approach, we have 6 unknown voltages for nodes a-e and g, and we
and currents through all branches of the circuit.
will need 6 independent equations to find these voltages. However, if we know the
Ifvoltages
we take vc this
and vapproach,
e, then the we have for
equation 6 unknown
vd is easilyvoltages
obtained for
fromnodes a-e and g,
the voltage
and wedivider
willrule.
need 6 independent equations to find these voltages. However, if
we know the voltages
This equation Vc involve
will only and Ve,voltages
then theand equation
resistancesforandVdwillis be
easily obtained
called a
fromconstraint equation.
the voltage Nodesrule.
divider such asThis
d which only connect
equation willtoonly
2 elements
involve and voltages
are not a and
reference node we will call ordinary nodes. Non-reference nodes which connect to
resistances
more than and will bewill
2 elements called a constraint
be called equation. Nodes such as d which
essential nodes.
only connect to 2 elements and are not a reference node we will call ordinary

1
So now need to find equations for voltages at the 5 essential nodes, a, b, c , e, g.
However, things are even simpler. For if we know the voltage at e, ve, then we
automatically know the voltage at b is just ve + v1 (or vice-versa), so we quickly have
a constraint equation for vb or ve.
In the lecture we will see examples of the exact procedure to follow, but for now let
us just say that when 2 essential nodes are joined by a voltage source we can
consider them as one supernode. We treat the two essential nodes b and e as a
single supernode with two different names, ignoring the voltage between them.
Node c is an even more special case for it is connected to the reference node by a
voltage source. We therefore get the constraint equation vc = v2. We will refer to a
supernode which involves the reference node as a trivial node.
In the end we find that we only need to find equations for the voltages at the
essential nodes a, and g and one node from the non-trivial supernode b, e. We need
3 equations to solve for these voltages and we will use KCL at each essential node
or non-trivial supernode to generate these equations. In addition we will use the
conventions that we write all of the nodal voltages as positive relative to the
reference and when using KCL we assume that all currents are leaving each node.
We can then write the KCL equations in the form

! vresistors !
= icurrent sources
r
from node to node

Combined with our constraint equations this generates a series of simultaneous

equations which are best solved using matrix methods. To this end, we can write all
of the 1/r terms and constraints as a square matrix and the voltage and currents as
column vectors, giving the matrix equation

gv = i
where the i matrix may actually contain voltages.
The solution is

v = g −1 i.
We can easily find the inverse matrix using a computer program such as
Mathematica, Matlab, or one of the freeware programs for this purpose, a scientific
calculator, or an online applet such as the one at www.bluebit.gr/matrix-calculator/.