BASIC ELECTRICITY

AVTE 116

PREPARED BY: MS PAMELA BIANCA M. PALATINO 1

 BASIC ELECTRICITY

MESH CURRENT

BS AVIONICS TECHNOLOGY DEPT. 2 AVTE 114

 BASIC ELECTRICITY

MESH CURRENT
- A simplification of Kirchhoff’s Law is a method that makes use of mesh or loop
currents. A mesh is any closed path of a circuit. It does not matter whether the
path contains a voltage source.
- In solving a circuit with mesh currents, first you must decide which paths will be
the meshes. Then assign a mesh current to each mesh. For convenience, mesh
currents are usually assigned in a clockwise direction. This direction is arbitrary,
but the clockwise direction is usually assumed.
- Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law is then applied about the path of each mesh. The
resulting equations determine the unknown mesh currents. From these currents,
the current or voltage of any resistor can be determined.

BS AVIONICS TECHNOLOGY DEPT. 3 AVTE 114

 BASIC ELECTRICITY

MESH CURRENT
In Fig. 7-7, a two-mesh circuit marked mesh 1 and mesh 2. Mesh 1 is path abcda and
mesh 2 is path adefa. All voltage sources and resistance are known. A procedure for
finding mesh currents I1 and I2 is as follows:

Figure 7.7 Two-mesh circuit

Step 1. After the meshes are selected, show the direction of mesh currents I1 and I2
in a clockwise direction. Mark the voltage polarity across each resistor,
consistent with the assumed current. Remember the conventional current
flow in a resistor produces positive polarity where the current enters.

BS AVIONICS TECHNOLOGY DEPT. 4 AVTE 114

 BASIC ELECTRICITY

MESH CURRENT
Step 2: Apply Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law, ΣV = 0, around each mesh. Trace each mesh in
the direction of mesh current. Note that there are two different currents (I 1,
I2) flowing in the opposite direction through the same resistor, R2, which is
common to both mesh. For this reason two sets of polarities are shown by R2
(Fig. 7-7). Trace mesh 1 in direction abcda.

(1)

Note that in the first expression I2R2 is + since we go through a voltage drop from - to
+. Trace mesh 2 in direction adefa.

(2)
Note that I1R2 is a + voltage drop since we go through a voltage drop from - to +.

BS AVIONICS TECHNOLOGY DEPT. 5 AVTE 114

 BASIC ELECTRICITY

MESH CURRENT
Step 3 Find I1 and I2 by solving Eqs. (1) and (2) simultaneously.
Step 4 When mesh currents are known, find all resistor voltage drops by using
Ohm’s Law.
Step 5 Check the solution of mesh currents by tracing mesh abcdefa.

BS AVIONICS TECHNOLOGY DEPT. 6 AVTE 114

 BASIC ELECTRICITY

MESH CURRENT
Example: Given VA = 58V, VB = 10V, R1 = 4Ω, R2 = 3Ω, R3 = 2Ω (Fig. 7-8a), find all
mesh currents and voltage drops in the circuit.

Step 1 Choose the two loop or mesh shown. Show mesh current in the
clockwise direction. Show polarity marks across each resistor.

BS AVIONICS TECHNOLOGY DEPT. 7 AVTE 114

 BASIC ELECTRICITY

MESH CURRENT
Step 2 Apply ΣV = 0 in mesh 1 and mesh 2 and trace the mesh in the direction of
mesh current.

Step 3 Find I1 and I2 by solving the Eqs (1) and (2) simultaneously.

BS AVIONICS TECHNOLOGY DEPT. 8 AVTE 114

 BASIC ELECTRICITY

MESH CURRENT

BS AVIONICS TECHNOLOGY DEPT. 9 AVTE 114

 BASIC ELECTRICITY

MESH CURRENT

BS AVIONICS TECHNOLOGY DEPT. 10 AVTE 114

 BASIC ELECTRICITY

NODE VOLTAGE

BS AVIONICS TECHNOLOGY DEPT. 11 AVTE 114

 BASIC ELECTRICITY

NODE VOLTAGE
- Another method for solving a circuit with mesh currents uses the voltage drops to
specify the currents at a node. Then node equations of currents are written to
satisfy Kirchhoff’s Current Law.
- By solving the node equations, we can calculate the unknown node voltages. A
node is a common connection for two or more components. A principal node has
three or more connections.
- To each node in a circuit a letter or number is assigned. A, B, G and N are nodes
and G and N are principle nodes, or junctions (Fig. 7-9). A node voltage is the
voltage of a given node with respect to one particular node called the reference
node.
- Select node G and connected to chassis ground as the reference node. Then VAG
is the voltage between nodes A and G, VBG is the voltage between nodes B and G
and VNG is the voltage between nodes N and G.

BS AVIONICS TECHNOLOGY DEPT. 12 AVTE 114

 BASIC ELECTRICITY

NODE VOLTAGE
- Since the node voltage is always determined with respect to a specified node, the
notations VA for VAG , VB for VBG and VN for VNG are used.
- With the expectation of the reference node. Equations using KCL can be written
at each principal node. Thus the required number of equations is one less than
the number of principal nodes.

BS AVIONICS TECHNOLOGY DEPT. 13 AVTE 114

 BASIC ELECTRICITY

NODE VOLTAGE
- Since the circuit shown (Fig 7-9) has two principal nodes (N and G), only one
equation need be written at node N to find all voltage drops and currents in the
circuit.
- Assume that branch currents I1 and I2 enter node N, and I2 leaves the node
(Fig.7-9). The selection of the direction of the currents is arbitrary. From KCL,

BS AVIONICS TECHNOLOGY DEPT. 14 AVTE 114

 BASIC ELECTRICITY

NODE VOLTAGE
Substitute these expressions into Eq. (1).

If VA, VB, R1, R2 and R3, are known, VN can be calculated from Eq. (2). Then all voltage
drops and current in the circuit can be determined.

BS AVIONICS TECHNOLOGY DEPT. 15 AVTE 114

 BASIC ELECTRICITY

NODE VOLTAGE
Example: The circuit of Fig. 7-8 solved by the method of branch currents is
redrawn in Fig.7-20. Solved by node-voltage analysis.

BS AVIONICS TECHNOLOGY DEPT. 16 AVTE 114

 BASIC ELECTRICITY

NODE VOLTAGE
Step 1: Assume the direction of currents shown (Fig. 7-9). Mark nodes A, B, N and G.
Mark the voltage polarity across each resistor consistent with assumed
direction of currents.
Step 2: Apply KCL at principal node N and solve for VN.

Clear fractions by multiplying each term by 12.

BS AVIONICS TECHNOLOGY DEPT. 17 AVTE 114

 BASIC ELECTRICITY

NODE VOLTAGE
Step 3: Find all voltage drops and currents.

The negative value for V3 and I2 is flowing opposite to the assumed direction and the
polarity of V3 is the reverse of the sign shown across R3 (Fig. 7-10).

BS AVIONICS TECHNOLOGY DEPT. 18 AVTE 114

 BASIC ELECTRICITY

THIS PRESENTATION IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

BS AVIONICS TECHNOLOGY DEPT. 19 AVTE 114