Node Voltage

The node voltage method
Equivalent resistance
Voltage / current dividers
Source transformations
Node voltages
Mesh currents
Superposition
Not every circuit lends itself to short-cut methods. Sometimes we

need a formal approach that does not rely on seeing a trick that can be
used. The node-voltage is the first (and maybe most used) of our three
formal methods.
The node-voltage method allows for the calculation of the voltages at
each node of the circuit, relative to a reference node. Once the node
voltages are known, all currents in the circuit can be determined easily.
The method leads to a set of simultaneous that must be solved. Bigger
circuits will have more nodes and require more equations (more math).
EE 201
node-voltage method 1
Recall:
IS
iVS1
IS2
R1
VS1 +
iR1
b
R2
R3
iR2
iR3
iVS2
+ VS2
d
Using KCL at each node:
a:
b:
c:
d:
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=
+
=
=
4 equations, but 5 unknowns (iVS1, iVS2,

iR1, iR2, and iR3).
Need more info. Or a better method.
+
+
The node voltage method

Look at an example.
R1
VS
10 V
10 !
R2
5!
IS 1 A
Step 1 - Identify all of the nodes in the circuit.

a
VS
R1
b
R2
IS
c
This small circuit has three nodes. In principle, three unknown

voltages, but we will try to reduce this.
EE 201
Step 2 - Choose one node to be the reference, usually called ground.

Since voltage is a relative quantity (only voltage differences
matter), we can choose one point in the circuit to be V = 0. The
voltages at the other nodes will be with respect this ground node.
a
VS
R1
b
R2
IS
vc = 0
In general, we can choose any node as the reference, but some
choices are better than others. Typically, we should choose a
node that is connected to the positive or negative terminal of a
voltage source.
For this circuit, that implies node a or node c. This time, we
choose node c, so we can now say vc = 0.
EE 201
Step 3 - Identify any other nodes for which the voltages (with respect
to ground) are known.
va = V S
VS
R1
b
R2
IS
vc = 0
For this circuit, the voltage source tells us that node a is VS higher
in voltage than the ground node. Therefore va = VS.
Since the voltage at a is now known, we have reduced the
number of unknowns down to one the voltage at node b.
EE 201
Step 4 - Look for other ways (like resistor reductions) that could be
used to reduce the number of unknown voltages further.
It is not necessary to calculate the voltage at every node. If we
can eliminate non-essential nodes, we should do so.
In this example, we are already down to one node not much more
we can do.
Step 5 - Assign voltage variables to each of the remaining unknown nodes.
va = VS
VS
R1
vb
R2
IS
For this example, there

is only one unknown
node voltage.
vc = 0
EE 201
Step 6 - Assign currents to all the branches connected to each of the

unknown nodes. You are at liberty to choose whatever directions
you want for the current arrows.
R1
va = VS
VS
iR1
IS
vb
R2
iR2
IS
vc = 0
Step 7 - Use KCL to write equations balancing the currents at each
unknown node.
iR1 + IS = iR2
Step 8 - Use Ohms law to express the resistor currents in terms of the
node voltages on either side of the resistor. Pay attention to polarity!
=
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=
Step 9 - Substitute the Ohms law expressions for the resistor currents
into the KCL equations to form the node-voltage equations.
+
The circuit analysis is done. The rest is just math.

Step 10 - Solve the equation(s).
+
+
=
=
+
+
+(
+
)(
= .
Finally, the resistor voltages and currents (using Ohms law) can be calculated.
=
=
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=
=
.
= .
= .
=
=
= .
=
= .
node-voltage method summary

1. Identify all of the nodes in the circuit.
2. Choose one node to be ground.
3. Identify nodes for which the voltage is known due to sources.
4. Use resistor reductions to eliminate any other non-essential nodes.
5. Assign variables for the voltages at the remaining unknown nodes.
6. Assign currents to all of the branches connected to the nodes.
7. Write KCL equations balancing the currents at each of the nodes.
8. Use Ohms law to express resistor currents in terms of the (unknown)
node voltages on either side of the resistor. (Be sure to get the correct
polarity!)
9. Substitute the resistor currents into the KCL equations to form the
node-voltage equations. (Set of equations relating the unknown node
voltages.)
10.Do the math to solve the equations and determine the node voltages.
Determine currents, powers, etc., if needed.
EE 201
Example
Same circuit, but choose a different ground.
1. Identify the nodes.
a
VS
10 V
R1
10 !
R2
5!
IS 1 A
c
2. Choose one to be ground. This time, choose node a.

va = 0
VS
R1
b
R2
IS
c
EE 201
3. Identify nodes for which the voltage is known.

Clearly, va vc = VS. Therefore, vc = VS.
va = 0
VS
R1
b
R2
IS
vc = VS
5&6. Assign variables for the unknown voltages. Assign currents for
each branch connected to the nodes.
va = 0
VS
EE 201
R1
iR1
IS
vb
R2
iR2
vc = VS
IS
7. Write KCL equations balancing the currents at each node.

va = 0
VS
R1
IS
vb
iR1
R2
IS
iR2
vc = VS
iR1 + IS = iR2
8. Use Ohms law to express the resistor currents in terms of the

node voltages.
=
9. Substitute resistor current equations into the KCL equations to

form the node-voltage equations.
+
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+
10. Solve it.

+
+
=
=
=
+
+
)(
)
+
At first glance, this seems wrong vb here is different from its

value in the previous calculation.
But remember that only voltage differences matter. In choosing a
different reference node, all other node voltages will be shifted
accordingly.
vR1 = VS vb = 3.33 V and vR2 = vb 0 = 6.67 V, in both cases. The
corresponding currents will be the same, as well.
EE 201
another example
VS1 +
10 V
R1
R3
1 k!
5 k!
R2
3 k!
IS
5 mA
R3
VS2
20 V

a
VS1 +
R1
b
R2
IS
VS2
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2. Choose one to be ground. Since there are voltage sources

connected to d, that would seem to be a good choice.
3. Identify nodes for which the voltage is known. With d as ground,
then we see that va = VS1 and vc = VS2.
va = VS1
VS1 +
R1
R3
b
R2
IS
vc = VS2
+
VS2
Only one node left, so only one

unknown voltage to be found.
EE 201
5&6. Assign a variable for the unknown voltage. Assign currents for
each branch connected to the node.
va = VS1
R1
VS1 +
iR1
R3
vb
R2
iR2
IS
iR3
vc = VS2
+
VS2
7. Write KCL equations balancing the currents at the node.

+
8. Express the resistor currents in terms of the node voltage.

=
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=
9. Substitute resistor currents into the KCL equation to form the

node-voltage equation.
+
10. Solve it.

+
+
(
)+(
( .
=
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+
=
)+(
=
+
)(
+
)=
.
Example
In the circuit below, we might like to find the currents of the
resistors. The resistor that bridges across the top makes the short-cut
methods unusable.
R3 30 !
R1
10 !
R2
R4
20 !
40 !
VS +
100 V
x
R1
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R5
50 !
R3
R2
y
VS +
R4
z
R5
2. Choose one to be ground. Due to the single voltage source, the

bottom node seems to be a likely choice.
3. Identify nodes for which the voltage is known. With g as ground,
then we see that vy = VS.
R3
x
R1
R2
vy = VS
R4
z
R5
VS +
vg = 0
EE 201
5&6. Assign a variable for the unknown voltage. Assign currents for
each branch connected to the node.
R3
R2
vx
R1
iR2
iR1
iR3
VS +
R4
iR4
vz
2 nodes this time!
R5
iR5

x:
z:
8. Express the resistor currents in terms of the node voltages.

=
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=
9. Substitute resistor currents

into the KCL equations to form
the node-voltage equations.
x:
z:
+
=
10. Solve the equations

=
+
+
=
+
3.667vx 0.667vz = 100 V

+
+
+
EE 201
=
+
-1.333vx +3.133vz = 100 V

vx = 35.85 V and vz = 47.175 V
Final example
(a big one)
Again, we might like to know how much power is being generated

and dissipated in the various elements for the circuit below. Our
short-cut methods are useless here, but the node-voltage works in
exactly the same manner as the previous examples. The math is a bit
more tedious for a bigger circuit there will be 3 equations in 3
unknowns in this case but the method is still straight forward.
R3 50 !
R1 10 !
VS
EE 201
+ 15 V
R4 20 !
R2 20 ! IS1
0.25 A
R5 30 !
R6
40 !
IS2
0.5 A

2. Choose one to be ground. (The bottom one is good, again.)
3. Identify known node voltages. (The left-most node is obviously at VS.)
4. Assign variable names to the remaining, unknown nodes.
5. Assign resistor currents in each branch.
R3
va = V S
a
VS +
vb R4 iR4
vc R5
R1
iR1
iR3
R2
iR2
vd
iR5
IS1
e
d
R6
iR6
IS2
ve = 0
EE 201
iR3
R3
vb R4 iR4
R1
VS
iR1
R2
vc R5
iR5
IS1
iR2
vd
R6
IS2
iR6

=
8. Express the resistor currents in terms of the node voltages.

9. Substitute resistor currents into the KCL equations.
=
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+
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10. Solve the equations

=
+
+
=
+
+
.
+ .
+ .
=
=
Two web-site solvers:

EE 201
vb = 9.554 V
vc = 8.217 V"
vd = 13.709 V
http://math.bd.psu.edu/~jpp4/finitemath/3x3solver.html
http://www.1728.org/unknwn3.htm

Node Voltage

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Node Voltage

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The node voltage method

Voltage / current dividers

Not every circuit lends itself to short-cut methods. Sometimes we

4 equations, but 5 unknowns (iVS1, iVS2,

The node voltage method

Step 1 - Identify all of the nodes in the circuit.

This small circuit has three nodes. In principle, three unknown

Step 2 - Choose one node to be the reference, usually called ground.

For this example, there

Step 6 - Assign currents to all the branches connected to each of the

The circuit analysis is done. The rest is just math.

node-voltage method summary

2. Choose one to be ground. This time, choose node a.

3. Identify nodes for which the voltage is known.

7. Write KCL equations balancing the currents at each node.

8. Use Ohms law to express the resistor currents in terms of the

9. Substitute resistor current equations into the KCL equations to

10. Solve it.

At first glance, this seems wrong vb here is different from its

1. Identify the nodes.

2. Choose one to be ground. Since there are voltage sources

Only one node left, so only one

7. Write KCL equations balancing the currents at the node.

8. Express the resistor currents in terms of the node voltage.

9. Substitute resistor currents into the KCL equation to form the

10. Solve it.

1. Identify the nodes.

2. Choose one to be ground. Due to the single voltage source, the

2 nodes this time!

7. Write KCL equations balancing the currents at the node.

8. Express the resistor currents in terms of the node voltages.

9. Substitute resistor currents

10. Solve the equations

3.667vx 0.667vz = 100 V

-1.333vx +3.133vz = 100 V

Again, we might like to know how much power is being generated

1. Identify the nodes.

7. Write KCL equations balancing the currents at the node.

8. Express the resistor currents in terms of the node voltages.

10. Solve the equations

Two web-site solvers:

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