3.

Simulation of simple electrical circuits

1) Exercise purpose
The purpose of the exercise is to become familiar with electrical circuit simulation software. To use
the software as a tool to verify calculations of simple electrical circuits.

2) Prawo Ohma

The current flowing through a conductor is proportional to the voltage applied to its ends
(Figure 1, equations 1 - 3).

I
U
Fig. 1. Current and voltage on resistance

U =RI (1)

where:
U [V] – electrical voltage,
I [A] – electric current,
R [Ω] – resistance.

3) 1st Kirchhoff's law

For each node of an electrical circuit, the sum of the currents flowing into the node is equal to the
sum of the currents flowing out of the node (Figure 2, Equation 4).

I2
I1
I3
I6
I5 I4
Fig. 2. 1st Kirchhoff's law

∑ I i=0 (4)
i=1

where:
n – number of branches of the circuit entering the node,
I [A] – electric current.
4) 2nd Kirchhoff's law

In any electrical circuit loop, the algebraic sum of the source voltages and the algebraic sum of the
load voltages is zero (Figure 3, Equation 5).

E R
2 2
1

I
2
U
2
R U R U
1 1 3 3

I
1 I
3

E E
1 3
R I
4 4

U
4
Fig. 3. 2nd Kirchhoff's law

n m

∑ E i+∑ U j =0 (5)
i=1 j=0

where:
n – number of source voltages,
m – Number of load voltages,
E – source voltage,
U – load voltage.

5) Equivalent resistance in unbranched and branched circuits

Non-branched circuits - connection of elements in series. The current flowing through all elements is
the same. The sum of the voltage drops on the receivers is equal to the sum of the source voltages
(Figure 4, equations 6 - 11).
 I
R U
1 1

R U
E U 2 2

R U
3 3

Rys. 4. Series circuit

E=U 1 +U 2 +U 3 (6)
E=I R1 + I R2 + I R 3 (7)
E=I ( R1 + R2 + R3 ) (8)
E
=R1 + R2 + R3 (9)
I
R z=R1 + R2 + R3 (10)
n
R z= ∑ R i (11)
i=1
where:
n – number of resistors,
E [V]– source voltage,
I [A] – electric current,
Ri [Ω] – resistance of single resistor,
Rz [Ω] – The equivalent resistance of the circuit

Branch circuits - parallel connection of elements. The voltage on all elements is equal. The sum of the
currents in all branches is equal to the supply current (Figure 5, equations 12 through 18).

I
I1 I2 I3

I U R1 R2 R3

Rys. 5. Parallel connection of resistors

I =I 1+ I 2 + I 3 (12)
I =U G1 +U G2+U G3 (13)
I
=G1+ G2+G 3 (14)
U
G z=G1 +G2 +G3 (15)
 m
G z=∑ G j (16)
j=0
1
G j= (17)
Rj
m
1 1
=∑ (18)
R z j=0 R j
Where:
n – number of receivers,
E [V]– source voltage,
Gj [S] – receiver conductance,
Gz [S] – equivalent conductance of the circuit,
I [A] – electric current,
Rj [Ω] – receiver resistance,
Rz [Ω] – equivalent resistance of the circuit.

6) Calculation of electrical circuits by the classical method

Description:
 For a circuit with v nodes, you can write v-1 independent equations that follow Kirchhoff's
1st law
 For a circuit with b branches, you can write b-v+1 independent equations that follow
Kirchhoff's 2nd law

Steps to the solution:

 - Choose the nodes for which you will write Kirchhoff's 1st law - the number of equations
must follow the above rules,
 Select the loops and label the assumed voltage directions in them. Write Kirchhoff's 2nd law
for them - the number of equations must follow the above rules,
- Solve the formed system of equations.
Exapmle:
v1
b1 b3 v=2
R1 I3 R2 b=3
I1 I2

b2

E1 E2

R3

v2

Rys. 6. Examples of current and and voltage direction markings

Solution:

{
I I + I 2 −I 3=0
E1−R1 I 1−R3 I 3=0
E2−R2 I 2−R3 I 3=0
 Electrical Engineering Laboratory
3. Simulation of simple electrical circuits
Name and surname
Date of exercise
Task 1. Resistor connection
Redraw the diagram indicated by the instructor. Label the following resistors with the symbols R1,
R2, … Rn. Change the resistance values to those given by the instructor. Calculate the equivalent
resistance, all currents and voltages in the circuit.
b) Redraw the diagram into circuit simulator and verify the obtained results. Present a comparison
of the obtained results in the form of a table.

Task 2. Voltage divider

For the presented circuit:
a) derive the general formula and then calculate the voltage U2 for the resistances R1 and R2
included in the table.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
R1[Ω] 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
R2[Ω] 1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0
U2[V]

b) Redraw the diagram into the circuit simulator and verify the obtained results.