Nodal Analysis with Voltage Sources

Case 1:
If a voltage source is connected between the reference node and a non reference
node
Case 2:
If the voltage source (dependent or independent) is connected between two non
reference nodes, the two non reference nodes form a generalized node or supernode; we
apply both KCL and KVL to determine the node voltages.

 A supernode is formed by enclosing a (dependent or independent) voltage source

connected between two non reference nodes and any elements connected in
parallel with it.
 4Ω

V
2Ω

5
Ω
8
10 V

Ω
6
4Ω
V

2Ω
5
Ω
8

10 V
Ω
6

A circuit with a supernode

Case 1:KCL:
V1= 10V
Case 2: KCL
i1 + i4 = i2 + i3 or (V1 – V2 )/2 + (V1 – V2)/4 = V2/8 + V3/ 6 (2)

at supernode KVL
 - V2 + 5 + V3 = 0
V2 – V3 = 5  (3)

V
5
+V2 +V3
- -

Properties of a Supernode:
1. The voltage source inside the supernode provides a constraint equation needed to
solve for the node voltages.
2. A supernode has no voltage of its own
3. A supernode requires the application of both KCL and KVL.

Example 2. For the circuit shown, find the node voltages.

Solution:
The supernode contains the 2V source, nodes 1 and 2, and the 10 Ω resistor.

By KCL,
10 Ω
2= i1 + i2 + 7;
2= (V1/2) + (V2/4)+ 7
V1 V2
8 = 2V1 + V2 + 28
Or I1
V2 = -20 – 2V1  (1)

V
2
+
By KVL,
A 2A
Ω

Ω
2

4
-V1 – 2 + V2 = 0 7A A
V2 = V1 + 2  (2) +

Equate (1) and (2)

V2 = V1 + 2 = -20 -2 V1
Or V1 V2
3 V1 = -22
V1 = -7.33V I1 i2
V2 = V1 + 2 +
A 2A
Ω
Ω

4
2

V2 = -5.33V 7A A
+

 Note that the 10Ω resistor does not

make any difference because it is
connected across the supernode. + +
V
2

V1 V2

- -
 Example 3. Find the node voltages in the current
3Ω

+Vx-
3 3V
20

1 6Ω
V

x 4
+ -

Ω
Ω

1
2

10
A

3Ω

i1 i1
+Vx- I3
V2 V3 3V
20

V1 6Ω
V

+x-
V4

I2 I5 I4
I3
Ω

Ω
Ω

1
2

10
A

KCL to the 2 supernodes

3Ω
L3

3Vx
20
V

6Ω KVL to the Loops

+
+ + +
L1 L2
V2
V1 V3 V4
-
- - -

Solution
At supernode 1-2:
I3 + 10 = I1 + I2
Or
(V3 - V2 )/6 + 10 = (V1 – V4) /3 + V1 / 2
5 V1 + V2 - V3 - 2 V4 = 60  (1)

At supernode 3-4
i1 = i3 + i4 + i5
(V1 – V4)/3 = (V3 – V2)/6 + V4 + V3 /4
4 V1 + 2 V2 - 5 V3 - 16 V4 = 0 (2)

Apply KVL to the branches involving the voltage sources:

Loop 1:
-V1 + 20 + V2 = 0
V1 – V2 =20  (3)
Loop 2:
- V3 + 3Vx + V4 = 0
But Vx = V1 - V4 so that
3 V1 – V3 - 2 V4 = 0 (4)
Loop 3:
Vx - 3 Vx + 6 i3 -20 = 0
But 6 i3 = V3 – V2 + V3 + 2 V4 = 20  (5)

Although the 5th equation is redundant , it can be used to check results. Use equation 1 to
4 only to solve V1, V2 , V3 and V4 . Eliminate one node voltage so that we solve 3
simultaneous equations instead of 4.
From equation 3
V2=20- V1  substitute to equation 1 and 2
6 V1 – V3 -2 V4 = 80  (1’)
6 V1 - 5 V3 - 16 V4 = 40  (2’)
In matrix form,
3 −1 −2 V 1 0
6 −1 −2 V 3 = 80
6 −5 −16 V 4 40

D = -18; D1 = -480 ; D3 = -3120, D4 = 840

V1 = 26.67V
V3 = 173.33V
V4 = -46.67V
V2 = 6.667V
 Additional Problems
1. Find v and I in the circuit using nodal analysis.

4Ω
Ans.
V = -0.2V
V
3

i
I = 1.4A

Ω
6
3V +
V-

7V
Ω
2

2. Find V1, V2 and V3 in the circuit using nodal analysis

6Ω
Answer
V1 = 3.043 V
5i
V2 = -6.956V
10
V

V3 = 0.6255V
i
Ω

Ω
4

3
Ω
2

3. Determine the node voltage

 2S

-3A

10
V
1 R3 1k 2

S
3

S
3
A
6

12
A
Nodal Analysis
Node – a point at which to or more elements have a common connection

R
2

+ +
R
1

A I A I
R
3

1 2

Rules:
1. The network diagram must strictly be planar or 2 dimensional.
2. The node format requires all sources to be current sources. If there are any
voltage source, convert it to its equivalent current source.

Steps:
1. Identify the nodes of the given circuit (including the reference node). All
nodes have corresponding voltages (except the reference node) and must have
the same voltage sign convention where the given node is positive and the
reference node is negative.
2. Formulate node equations following the pattern. For an n-node network, we
have n-1 node equations.
I1 = G11V1 – G12V2….. - GinVn
I2 = G21V1 – G22V2….. – G2nVn
. . . .
. . . .
. . . .
In = Gn1V1 – Gn2V2….. -+GnnVn
Where:
I1, I2, In = algebraic sum of all current sources connected to a node
 G1, G22,Gnn =sum of all conductance connected to a node.
G12, G21,Gn = common conductance between two nodes
V1, V2,Vn = unknown node voltages

Node 1:
I1 = ((1/R1) + (1/R2))V1 – (1/R2)V2
I1 = (G1 + G2)V1 – G2V2  (1)

Node 2:
I2 = ((1/R2) + (1/R3))V2 – (1/R2)V1
I2 = (G2 + G3)V2 – G2V1  (2)
= -G2V1 + (G2+G3) V2  (2)

Sample Problems:

1. Determine node voltages if element A is

A a. a 2A current
source pointing
+ to its right.
Ω
2

A b. An 8Ω resistor
Ω

9A
Ω
6

17A A
+

a. A 2A current source pointing to the right

V1 V2

A+
A
2

+
Ω
2

A
Ω

9A
6

17A A
+

Node 1:
Node 2:
KCL: 2-17 = (V2/4) + (V2/2)
9-2 = (V1/6) -15 = ((1/4)+ (1/2))V2
7 = (V1/6) -15 = (3/4)V2
V1= 42V -20 = V2

b. An 8Ω resistor
 V1 8Ω V2

Ω
2
6Ω

A 9A

Ω
4
17A A
+

Node 1 : Node 2:
9 = (1/6)V1 + (1/8)(V1-V2) -17 = (1/4)V2 + (1/2)V2 + (1/8)(V2-V1)
216 = 4V1 + 3(V1 – V2) -136 = 2V2 + 4V2 + V2 – V1
216 = 7 V1 - 3 V2  (1) -136 = -V1 + V2  (2)
Equate 1 and 2
V1 = 24V V2 = -16V
2. Determine the node voltages

A+
10
A

4S
Node 1:
20-10 = 4 V1 + 5
V2 +4 (V1 – V2 )
10 = 13 V1- 4V2
S
4

V1
+ = (10+4 V2 )/13
S
2

A 5A (1)
S
8

5V
S
5

Node 2:
10+5 = 2 V2 +8
V2 + 4(V2- V1)
15 = 2 V2 + 8 V2 + 4 V2 - 4 V1
15 = 14 V2 - 4 V1
15 = -4 V1 + 14 V2
15 = -4((10+4
V2)/13)+ 14 V2
A+ 195 = -40 - 16
10

V1 V2
4S V2 + 182
16 V2 = -40 +
182 – 195
16 V2 = -53
V2 = -3.3125V
S
4

+
A 20A
+
8s

S
2

A 5A
S
5
 V1 = (10 – 4(3.3125))/13
V1 = -0.25V

Additional Problems
1. Determine node voltages
3S 1S

2V
S
2

S
4

8V

2. Calculate the node voltages in the circuit shown

Answer
V1 = 13.33V
5A

V2 = 20V
+
A
1 4Ω 2

+
Ω
Ω

6
2

A 10A