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# Nodal Voltage Analysis with Example: Electric Circuit Analysis

Nodal analysis is a circuit analysis technique and is based on Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL) with coordination of Ohm’s law. The analysis uses node voltage instead of element voltage in the circuit, that’s why it is called Nodal Analysis.

Where nodes are the junction part of the electric circuit which connect multiple components to each other.  The point “A” and “B” are nodes in the following circuit.

## Nodal Analysis Steps:

1. Select a node as a reference.
2. Assign voltage name i.e. v1, v2 and v3 to the remaining nodes, with respect to the reference node.
3. Apply KCL to each non-reference node and write equations.
4. Use Ohm’s law to express the current in each branch.
5. Now solve the resulting simultaneous equations with any kind of tool or techniques to get node voltages

## Example:

Suppose we have to analyze the circuit given below, using nodal analysis. We know the following parameters of the circuits given below.

The resistors:
R­­1= 4
R­­2= 2
R­­3= 6

The current sources:
Ix= 5A
I­­y= 10A

Solution:

#### Select Reference Node:

We would be selecting a reference node. I do select “V­­o” node as my reference node. The reason for that is the ground terminal is attached to that node. And we know that voltage at the ground point is considered zero. So, the selection will ultimately simplify our later on calculations, and it is also advice for you ground as your reference point if there is any.

#### Assign Name to Each Node:

There are total three nodes in the circuit, so now, I will be assigning a name to the rest of nodes, according to the second step. See the diagram below, I named the node as follow. But keep in mind that the voltages at these nodes are defined with respect to the reference node.

#### Apply KCL at each Node:

Now, apply KCL at each non-reference node and write equations.

KCL at node named v1Ix = i1 + i2

KCL at node named v2Iy = i3 – i1

Where we know values of Ix and Iy are 5A and 10A, by putting the values the equations become:

5 = i1 + i2 — (1)

10 = i3 – i1 —(2)

#### Apply Ohm’s Law:

Now apply Ohm’s law to express each current. Since resistance is a passive component, by passive sign convention, current always flows from higher potential to lower potential.

We start from current i1:

${ i }_{ 1 }=\frac { { v }_{ 1 }-{ v }_{ 1 } }{ { R }_{ 1 } } \\ { i }_{ 2 }=\frac { { v }_{ 2 }-{ 0} }{ { R }_{ 2 } } \\ { i }_{ 3 }=\frac { { v }_{ 2 }\quad -\quad { 0 } }{ { R }_{ 3} }$

Now substitute these values of currents in above equations (1) and (2) will give us two equations in variables v­­1 and v­2.

From equation (1):
$5= \frac{v_{1}- v_{2}}{R_{1}}+ \frac{v_{1}}{R_{2}}$
$5=\frac{v_{1}-v_{2}}{4}+ \frac{v_{1}}{2}$
$5=\frac{v_{1}-v_{2}+2v_{1}}{4}$
$20=3v_{1}-v_{2} — (3)$

From equation (1):
$10= \frac{v_{1}}{R_{3}}-\frac{v_{1}- v_{2}}{R_{1}}$
$10= \frac{v_{1}}{6}-\frac{v_{1}- v_{2}}{4}$
$10= \frac{2v_{1}- 3v_{1}+3v_{2}}{12}$
$120=- v_{1}+3v_{2} —(4)$

#### Solve the system of equations:

We got two simultaneous equations i.e. (3) and (4) with two unknown variables. So we can find it easily. Let’s do it by converting it to the matrix, as given below:

$\lbrack \begin{matrix} 3 & -1 & \\ -1 & 3 & \\ \end{matrix} \rbrack \lbrack \begin{matrix} v_{1} & \\ v_{2} & \\ \end{matrix} \rbrack = \lbrack \begin{matrix} 20 & \\ 120 & \\ \end{matrix} \rbrack$

Row2 is replaced with 3Row1+Row2:

$\lbrack \begin{matrix} 3 & -1 & \\ 8 & 0 & \\ \end{matrix} \rbrack \lbrack \begin{matrix} v_{1} & \\ v_{2} & \\ \end{matrix} \rbrack = \lbrack \begin{matrix} 20 & \\ 180 & \\ \end{matrix} \rbrack$

Now, we can extract the value of v1 from the second row, as below:

$8v_{1}=180 \\ v_{1}=22.5v$

Putting the value of v1 into the first-row equation, like this:

$3v_{1}-v_{2}=20$

$3 \times 22.5-v_{2}=20$

$v_{2}=67.5-20$

$v_{2}=47.5v$

Now we know voltages of all the nodes and we have equations for all branch current so we can easily analyze circuit element by element. I am considering a special case of i1 here for further understanding. Suppose we want to know current i1, we can do it like this:

$i_{1}= \frac{v_{1}-v_{2}}{R_{1}}$

$i_{1}= \frac{22.5-42.5}{4}$

$i_{1}= -\frac{20}{4}$

$i_{1}= -5 A$

The answer here for i­1 is negative, which means that the current $i­­_{1}$ is not flowing in the direction we considered. But it does NOT mean that it is wrong. So, pick any random direction as I picked here, and solve your problem at the end you will know the exact directions of each current.

## Nodal Analysis with Voltage Sources:

The above example calculation was all about nodal analysis when there are current sources. When it comes to a voltage source in the nodal analysis, you have to apply KCL as well as KVL to the circuit to get the equation.
There are two cases while solving voltage source in the nodal analysis.

#### Case 1:

When a voltage source is between a reference node and a non-reference node, as shown below (just like v1 and ground). The non-reference node becomes known by being connected to the voltage source. It makes the calculation simpler. In the circuit below, you don’t have to find the voltage at node named v1 cause voltage to the node is already known.

#### Case 2:

When the voltage source is connected between two non-reference nodes, as shown in the above diagram (just like v2 and v3). Both nodes are considered as single node named supper-node. First of all, write KCL equation for the super-node, just like this:

${ i }_{ 1 }+{ i }_{ 4 }={ i }_{ 2 }+{ i }_{ 3 }$

Now apply Ohm’s law to each current, which will give you variable in the term of node voltages. After that, apply KVL at the loop v2, v3 and vo will give us:

${ -v }_{ 2 }+{ V }_{ x }+{ v }_{ 3 }\quad =\quad 0$

Where Vx is known parameter of the circuit. 

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Michael has got his undergraduate degree in 2016 from a reputable university securing high grads. He is now working as a professional engineer for an internationally recognized organization as well as he is pursuing his master degree. His keen interests include Electronics, Electrical, Power Engineering.

## RLC Parallel circuit analysis with solved problem

In RLC parallel circuit, resistor, inductor, and capacitors are connected in parallel across Alternating current source. In contrast to the RLC series circuit, the voltage across each component is the same and is taken as reference in the phasor diagram.