EDC Problem solving techniques General things about KVL and KCL: 1. If current is to be find, apply KVL 2.

If voltage is to be find, apply KCL 3. This doesn't mean that to find current, KVL alone should be applied. Both current and voltage can be determined using both KVL and KCL. But it will be easier to obtain current from KVL since the KVL equations are going to have Current variables and the KCL equations are going to have voltage variables. Steps to apply KVL: 1. assign loop currents. Ignore branch currents and branch voltages. 2. Apply KVL to each loop to get 'n' number of equations for 'n' number of loops. 3. Solve the equations to obtain the loop currents. 4. Using loop currents, current through any branch or voltage across any branch can be determined. 5. Here a critical case may occur where in a loop you may have a current source for which the voltage across the current source cannot be found. So, if a current source is there in a circuit for which you have decided to apply KVL, you can adopt the following methods: a. If there is a resistor parallel to that current source, then the current source can easily be converted to a voltage source with the same resistor in series. After converting to a voltage source there is no problem in applying KVL and you can proceed as usual. b. But if there is no resistor parallel to the current source, you cannot covert it to a voltage source. In this case, join the loops which have the current source in common as a single super loop by ignoring the current source which is in between the two loops (from which you have made the super loop). By considering super loop you will get only (n-1) equations for 'n' loop current variables, which means we need one more equation to solve the loop currents. That equation can be obtained by applying KCL to the current source which you have previously ignored in the super loop. This will result in 'n' number of equations which can be solved to get the loop currents. 6. Be sure with the sign conventions while forming KVL equations.

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Steps to apply KCL: 1. Assign nodes and a reference node. Node should have at least 3 branches meeting. Assign node voltages with respect to the reference node. Assume the reference node voltage be zero. 2. Assign all the branch currents. don't get confused with the actual branch currents that is already there in the circuit. you apply a different variable name. 3. Apply KCL to each node to get 'n' number of equations for 'n' number of nodes. 4. Solve the equations to obtain the node voltages. 5. Using node voltages, current through any branch or voltage across any branch can be determined. 5. Here a critical case may occur where between two nodes you may have a voltage source for which the current through the voltage source cannot be found. So, if a voltage source is there in a circuit for which you have decided to apply KCL, you can adopt the following methods: a. If there is a resistor series to that voltage source, then the voltage source can easily be

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converted to a current source with the same resistor in parallel. After converting to a current source there is no problem in applying KCL and you can proceed as usual. b. But if there is no resistor in series to the current source, you cannot covert it to a current source. In this case, join the nodes which have the voltage source connected in common as a single super node by ignoring the voltage source which is in between the two nodes (from which you have made the super node). By considering super node you will get only (n-1) equations for 'n' node voltage variables, which means we need one more equation to solve the node voltages. That equation can be obtained by applying KVL to the branch having that voltage source which you have previously ignored in the super node. This will result in 'n' number of equations which can be solved to get the node voltages. 6. But if there is a voltage source between a node and the reference node, then the value of the voltage source will directly be the node voltage. For example, if there is a voltage source of 10V between Node A and the reference node, then Va = 10V. So, in this case we dont need to apply KCL at node A since the node voltage is directly found. So, we need to apply KCL at the rest of the nodes except that particular node ( Node A in our example ) to find the remaining node voltages. 6. Be sure with the sign conventions while forming KCL equations. General things about Thevenin's and Norton's theorem: 1. The thevenin's equivalent circuit is going to have a voltage source in series with thevenin's resistance. the value of the voltage source is the Open circuit voltage . 2. The Norton's equivalent circuit is going to have a current source in parallel with thevenin's resistance. the value of the current source is the Short circuit current. Before applying thevenin's / norton's theorem, look into all the sources present in the circuit. 1. If the circuit has only independent sources, you can proceed to find Rth followed by Voc and Isc. 2. If the circuit has at least one dependent source, you cannot determine Rth directly because you cannot replace the dependent voltage source by a short circuit and the dependent current source by a short circuit. So, in this case, you should find both Voc and Isc from which you can obtain Rth = Voc / Isc. 3. If there is no independent sources in the circuit (all the sources in the circuit are dependent), it is clear that Both Voc and Isc are zero, because both Voc and Isc are independent values; since we dont have any independent source in the circuit, obviously Voc and Isc are zero. Which means in this type of circuit, both the thevenin's and norton's euivalent circuit are same, since both are going to have only Rth. in this case to find Rth, you should introduce a test source ( current / voltage ) to find the resistance. 1. If you have a resistor in series to the output terminal, then a test voltage source should be applied, from which the test current can be obtained. Now Rth can be found as Rth = Vtest / Itest 2. If you have a resistor in parallel to the output terminals, then a test current source should be applied, from which the test volyage can be obtained. Now Rth can be found as Rth = Vtest / Itest

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Steps to find Rth (Thevenin's Resistance) 1. Replace independent voltage sources by short circuit and independent current sources by open circuit.

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2. Open the load resistor ( Load resistor means the branch at which you need a response; either current or voltage ) 3. Now calculate the equivalent resistance across the Opened load resistor terminals ( or output terminals) 4. Remember that the load resistor need not be at the end of the circuit. It may be any where. 4. Practice many problems to find equivalent resistance ; it will surely help to avoid mistakes. Steps to find Open Circuit Voltage (Voc) 1. Voc is the voltage across the output terminals Steps to find Short circuit current (Isc) 1. Short the load resistor and the current through this short circuit is the Isc. Important points regarding superposition theorem. 1. if the circuit has more than one independent sources then you have to find the response of the circuit for each independent source acting alone by replacing all the other independent sources by their internal impedances. Voltage source should be replaced by a short circuit, and current source should be replaced by a open circuit. However, this applies to ideal cases only; If the value of internal resistances are given then the sources should be replaced by that specified resistances. 2. Keep in mind that you cannot replace dependent sources by their internal impedances and so they are not included in the superposition process. 3. By considering individual sources acting alone, you can use KVL or KCL or current division or voltage division according to the situation present in the circuit to find the response. 4. Let current be the required response in the circuit. Then don't assign the curent direction in the circuit (if it is not given in the question) initially will all the sources in the circuit. You can assign the current direction for the individual case and then you can decide the final current direction after applying superposition theorem. 5. So if you solve problems on superposition theorem, you can master KVL, KCL, current division and voltage division methods. Important Points on Maximum power transfer theorem: 1. For any type of problem asked in maximum power transfer theorem, first determine the thevenin's equivalent circuit. For this alone you will get some 65% of marks alloted to that question. 2. After determining the thevenin's equivalent circuit, there is nothing difficult in solving the problem. You can easily substitute Rl = Rth and you can proceed to find the maximum power. 3. So if you solve problems on maximum power transfer theorem, you can master thevenin's theorem. Points on Star-delta conversion & duality: 1. Regarding star-delta conversion, the very important thing is you should know the star connection and delta connection and the formulas for conversion. 2. After all this, you need to practice more problems to get confidence. 3. Regarding duality, it is not of that much importance. Give least priority to this topic. questions may be asked for about 4 marks or 2 marks.

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