Nodal Analysis Method

The node equation method is based directly on Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL).
In this method every junction in the network where three or more branches meet is
considered as a “node”.
The number of these nodes in the circuit is (n).
One of these nodes is the reference node.
The number of the equations to be solved is (n-1).

Consider the circuit of figure below which has three nodes:

Node 1 Node 2
R1 R2 R3 I3
I1 VA VB
I2
I4 I5
R4 R5
E1 + + E2
- -

Node 3

Reference
node

➢ One of these nodes (node 3) has been taken as reference node.

➢ VA is the voltage of node 1 and VB is the voltage of (node 2) with reference to the (node 3).
➢ The currents directions have been chosen arbitrary.

At node 1:

𝐼1 = 𝐼4 + 𝐼2 (Using KCL)

𝐸1 − 𝑉𝐴 𝑉𝐴 𝑉𝐴 −𝑉𝐵
𝑅1
= 𝑅4
+ 𝑅2

𝐸1 𝑉 𝑉𝐴 𝑉 𝑉
𝑅1
− 𝑅𝐴 = 𝑅4
+ 𝑅𝐴 − 𝑅𝐵
1 2 2

1 1 1 𝑉 𝐸1
𝑉𝐴 ( + + )− 𝐵 − =0 --------------- (1)
𝑅1 𝑅4 𝑅2 𝑅2 𝑅1

The same applied to node 2:

𝐼5 = 𝐼2 + 𝐼3

𝑉𝐵 𝑉𝐴 −𝑉𝐵 𝐸2 −𝑉𝐵
= +
𝑅5 𝑅2 𝑅3

1 1 1 𝑉 𝐸
𝑉𝐵 (𝑅 + 𝑅 + 𝑅 ) − 𝑅𝐴 − 𝑅2 = 0 ------------------- (2)
2 3 5 2 3

Now Equation (1) & (2) have only two unknowns (VA, VB) solving them to get VA & VB.

1
 Summary,

To get equations follow these steps:

1 1 1
1. The product of node voltage VA and(𝑅 + 𝑅 + 𝑅 ),
1 2 4
i.e. the sum of the conductances connected to this node.
2. Minus the ratio of adjacent voltage VB and the interconnecting resistance R2.
3. Minus the ratio of adjacent battery voltage E1 and interconnecting R1.
4. All above set to zero.

R8
Example:

Node 1 Node 2 Node 3

R1 VA R2 R3 R4
VB VC

R5 R6 R7
E1 + + E2
- -

Node 4

Reference
node

➢ For this circuit we have four nodes.

➢ Node 4 is the reference node.
➢ The three node equations are:

1 1 1 1 𝑉 𝑉 𝐸
𝑉𝐴 (𝑅 + 𝑅 + 𝑅 + 𝑅 ) − 𝑅𝐵 − 𝑅𝐶 − 𝑅1 = 0 ------------------------- (1)
1 2 5 8 2 8 1

1 1 1 𝑉 𝑉
𝑉𝐵 (𝑅 + 𝑅 + 𝑅 ) − 𝑅𝐴 − 𝑅𝐶 = 0 ---------------------------------------- (2)
2 6 3 2 3

1 1 1 1 𝑉 𝑉𝐴 𝐸2
𝑉𝐶 ( + + + )− 𝐵 − − = 0 ------------------------- (3)
𝑅3 𝑅4 𝑅7 𝑅8 𝑅3 𝑅8 𝑅4

After finding node voltages, various currents can be calculated by using ohm’s law.

2
Nodal analysis with current sources:

• The current directions have been taken on the assumptions.

• A positive result will confirm our assumptions, where as a negative one will indicate that
actual direction is opposite to that assumed.
• Applying KCL to each node 1 & 2.

Node 1 Node 2
V1 R3 V2
I3
I2 I4
R1 R2
I1 I5

Node 3

Reference
node
Node 1:

𝐼1 − 𝐼2 − 𝐼3 = 0 𝑜𝑟 𝐼1 = 𝐼2 + 𝐼3
𝑉1 𝑉1 − 𝑉2
𝐼2 = 𝑅 , 𝐼3 = 𝑅
1 3
𝑉1 𝑉1 − 𝑉2
𝐼1 = +
𝑅1 𝑅3
1 1 𝑉
∴ 𝑉1 (𝑅 + 𝑅 ) − 𝑅2 = 𝐼1 ---------------------------- (1)
1 3 3

Node 2:

𝐼3 = 𝐼4 + 𝐼5
𝑉2 𝑉1 − 𝑉2
𝐼4 = , 𝐼3 =
𝑅2 𝑅3
𝑉1 − 𝑉2 𝑉2
𝑅3
= 𝑅2
+ 𝐼5
1 1 𝑉
∴ 𝑉2 ( + )− 1 = −𝐼5 --------------------------- (2)
𝑅2 𝑅3 𝑅3

• The current of the current source is taken positive if flowing into the node.
• The current of the current source is taken negative if flowing out the node.