KIRCHHOFF'S LAWS

Many circuits are too complex to be solved using the rules for series or parallel circuits or the techniques for conversion to simpler
circuits described in previous chapters. For these circuits we need more general solution methods. The most general method is given
by Kirchhoff’s laws, which permit the calculation of all circuit voltages and currents of circuits by a solution of a system of linear
equations.

There are two Kirchhoff laws, the voltage law and the current law. These two laws can be used to determine all voltages and currents
of circuits.

Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL) states that the algebraic sum of the voltage rises and voltage drops around a loop must be zero.

A loop in the above definition means a closed path in the circuit; that is, a path that leaves a node in one direction and returns to that
same node from another direction.

In our examples, we will use clockwise direction for loops; however, the same results will be obtained if the counterclockwise
direction is used.

In order to apply KVL without error, we have to define the so called reference direction. The reference direction of the unknown
voltages points from the + to the – sign of the assumed voltages. Imagine using a voltmeter. You would place the voltmeter positive
probe (usually red) at the component’s reference + terminal. If the real voltage is positive, it is in the same direction as we assumed,
and both our solution and the voltmeter will show a positive value.

When deriving the algebraic sum of the voltages, we must assign a plus sign to those voltages where the reference direction agrees
with the direction of the loop, and negative signs in the opposite case.

Another way to state Kirchhoff’s voltage law is: the applied voltage of a series circuit equals the sum of the voltage drops across the
series elements.

The following short example shows the use of Kirchhoff’s voltage law.
Find the voltage across resistor R2, given that the source voltage, VS = 100 V and that the voltage across resistor R1 is V1 = 40 V.

The figure below can be created with TINA Pro Version 6 and above, in which drawing tools are available in the schematic editor.

The solution using Kirchhoff’s voltage law: -VS + V1 + V2 =0,

or VS = V1 + V2

hence: V2 = VS – V1 = 100-40 = 60V

Note that normally we don’t know the voltages of

the resistors (unless we measure them), and we
need to use both Kirchhoff’s laws for the solution.

Kirchhoff’s current law (KCL) states that the

algebraic sum of all the currents entering and
leaving any node in a circuit is zero.

In the following, we give a + sign to currents leaving a node and a - sign to currents entering a node.

Here’s a basic example demonstrating Kirchhoff’s current law.

Find the current I2 if the source current IS = 12 A, and I1 = 8 A.

Using Kirchhoff’s current law at the circled node: -IS + I1 + I2 = 0 , hence: I2= IS – I1 = 12 – 8 = 4 A, as you can check using
TINA (next figure).
In the next example, we will use both Kirchhoff’s laws plus Ohm’s law to calculate the current and the voltage across the resistors.

In the figure below, you will note the Voltage Arrow above resistors. This is a new component available in Version 6 of TINA and
works like a voltmeter. If you connect it across a component, the arrow determines the reference direction (to compare to a voltmeter,
imagine placing the red probe at the tail of the arrow and the black probe at the tip). When you run DC analysis, the actual voltage on
the component will be displayed on the arrow.

Click here to load or save this circuit

To begin using Kirchhoff’s current law, we see that the currents through all the components are the same, so let’s denote that current
by I.

According to Kirchhoff’s voltage law: VS = V1+V2+V3

Now using Ohm’s law: VS=I*R1+ I*R2+I *R3

And from here the current of the circuit:

I=VS /(R1+R2+R3)= 120/(10+20+30) = 2 A

Finally the voltages of the resistors:

 V1=I*R1 = 2*10 = 20 V; V2 = I*R2 = 2*20 = 40 V; V3 = I*R3 =2*30 = 60 V

The same results will be seen on the Voltage Arrows by simply running TINA’s interactive DC analysis.

In this next, more complex circuit, we also use both Kirchhoff’s laws and Ohm’s law, but we find that we most solve a linear system
of equations.

The total number of independent applications of Kirchhoff’s laws in a circuit is the number of circuit branches, while the total number
of unknowns (the current and voltage of each branch) is twice that . However, by also using Ohm’s law at each resistor and the simple
equations defining the applied voltages and currents, we get a system of equation where the number of unknowns is the same as the
number of equations.

Find the branch currents I1, I2, I3 in the circuit below.

The set of equations follows:

The nodal equation for the circled node:

- I1 - I2 - I 3 = 0

or multiplying by -1

I1 + I2 + I 3 = 0

The loop equations (using the clockwise direction) for the loop L1, containing V1, R1 and R3

-V1+I1*R1-I3*R3 = 0

and for the loop L2, containing V2, R2 and R3

I3*R3 – I2*R2 +V2 = 0

Substituting the component values:

I1+ I2+ I3 = 0 -8+40*I1 – 40*I3 = 0 40*I3 –20*I2 +16 = 0

Express I1 using the nodal equation: I1 = -I2 – I3

then substitute it into the second equation:

-V1 – (I2 + I3)*R1 –I3*R3 = 0 or –8- (I2 + I3)*40 – I3*40 = 0

Express I2 and substitute it into the third equation, from which you can already calculate I3:

I2 = - (V1 + I3*(R1+R3))/R1 or I2 = -(8 + I3*80)/40

I3*R3 + R2*(V1 + I3*(R1+R3))/R1 +V2 = 0 or I3*40 + 20*(8 + I3*80)/40 + 16 = 0

And: I3 = - (V2 + V1*R2/R1)/(R3+(R1+R3)*R2/R1) or I3 = -(16+8*20/40)/(40 + 80*20/40)

Therefore I3 = - 0.25 A; I2 = -(8-0.25*80)/40 = 0.3 A and I1 = - (0.3-0.25) = - 0.05 A

Or: I1 = -50 mA; I2 = 300 mA; I3 = -250 mA.

Now let’s solve the same equations with TINA’s interpreter:

{Solution by TINA's Interpreter}

Sys I1,I2,I3
I1+I2+I3=0
-V1+I1*R1-I3*R3=0
I3*R3-I2*R2+V2=0
end;
I1=[-50m]
I2=[300m]
I3=[-250m]

Finally let’s check the results using TINA:

Next, let’s analyze the following even more complex circuit and determine its branch currents and voltages.

Let’s denote the unknown voltages and currents by

adding voltage and current arrows to components, and
also show the loops (L1,L2, L3) and the nodes (N1,N2)
where we will use the Kirchhoff’s equations.

Here is the set of Kirchhoff equations for the loops

(using the clockwise direction) and the nodes.
 -IL + IR1 - Is = 0 (for N1)

- IR1 + IR2 + Is3 = 0 (for N2)

-Vs1 - VR3 + VIs + VL = 0 (for L1)

-VIs + Vs2 +VR2 +VR1 = 0 (for L2)

-VR2 - Vs2 + Vs3 = 0 (for L3)

Applying Ohm’s law:

VL = IL*RL

VR1 =IR1*R1

VR2 = IR2*R2

VR3 = - IL*R3

This is 9 unknowns and 9 equations. The easiest way to solve this is to use TINA’s

interpreter. However, if we are pressed to use hand calculations, we note that this set of equations can be easily reduced to a system of
5 unknowns by substituting the last 4 equations into the L1, L2, L3 loop equations. Also, by adding equations (L1) and (L2), we can
eliminate VIs , reducing the problem to a system of 4 equations for 4 unknowns (IL, IR1 IR2, Is3). When we have found these currents, we
can easily determine VL , VR1, VR2, and VR3 using the last four equations (Ohm’s law).

Substituting VL ,VR1,VR2 ,VR3 :

-IL + IR1 - Is = 0 (for N1)

- IR1 + IR2 + Is3 = 0 (for N2)

 -Vs1 + IL*R3 + VIs + IL*RL = 0 (for L1)

-VIs + Vs2 + IR2*R2 + IR1*R1 = 0 (for L2)

- IR2*R2 - Vs2 + Vs3 = 0 (for L3)

Adding (L1) and (L2) we get

-IL + IR1 - Is = 0 (for N1)

- IR1 + IR2 + Is3 = 0 (for N2)

-Vs1 + IL*R3 + IL*RL + Vs2 + IR2*R2 + IR1*R1 = 0 (L1) + (L2)

- IR2*R2 - Vs2 + Vs3 = 0 (for L3)

After substituting the component values, the solution to these equations comes readily.

-IL+IR1 – 2 = 0 (for N1)

-IR1 + IR2 + IS3 = 0 (for N2)

-120 - + IL*90 + IL*20 + 60 + IR2*40 + IR1*30 = 0 (L1) + (L2)

-IR2*40 – 60 + 270 = 0 (for L3)

from L3 IR2 = 210/40 = 5.25 A (I)

from N2 IS3 – IR1 = - 5.25 (II)

from L1+L2 110 IL + 30 IR1 = -150 (III)

and for N1 IR1 – IL = 2 (IV)

Multiply (IV) by –30 and add to (III) 140 IL = -210 hence IL = - 1.5 A

Substitute IL into (IV) IR1 = 2 + (-1.5) = 0.5 A

and IR1 into (II) IS3 = -5.25 + IR1 = -4,75 A

And the voltages: VR1 = IR1*R1 = 15 V; VR2 = IR2*R2 = 210 V;

VR3 = - IL*R3= 135 V; VL = IL*RL = - 30 V; VIs = VS1+VR3-VL = 285 V

{Solution of the original equations by TINA's Interpreter}

Sys IL,IR1,IR2,Is3,VIs,VL,VR1,VR3,VR2
-IL-Is+IR1=0
-IR1+IR2+Is3=0
-Vs1+VR3+Vis-VL=0
-Vis+VR1+VR2+Vs2=0
-Vs3+VR2+Vs2=0
VR1=IR1*R1
VR2=IR2*R2
VR3=-IL*R3
VL=IL*RL
end;
IL=[-1.5]
IR1=[500m]
IR2=[5.25]
Is3=[-4.75]
VIs=[285]
VL=[-30]
VR1=[15]
VR2=[210]
VR3=[135]
Solution of the reduced set of equations using the interpreter:

{Solution of the reduced set of equations by TINA's Interpreter}

Sys Il,Ir1,Ir2,Is3
-Il+Ir1-2=0
-Ir1+Ir2+Is3=0
-120+110*Il+60+40*Ir2+30*Ir1=0
-40*Ir2+210=0
end;
Il=[-1.5]
Ir1=[500m]
Ir2=[5.25]
Is3=[-4.75]

We can also enter expressions for the voltages and have TINA’s Interpreter calculate them:

Il:=-1.5;
Ir1:=0.5;
Ir2:=5.25;
Is3:=-4.75;
Vl:=Il*RL;
Vr1:=Ir1*R1
Vr2:=Ir2*R2;
Vr3:=-Il*R3;
VIs:=Vs1-Vl+Vr3;
Vl=[-30]
Vr1=[15]
Vr2=[210]
Vr3=[135]
VIs=[285]
We can check the result with TINA by simply turning on TINA’s DC interactive mode or using Analysis / DC
Analysis / Nodal Voltages

NODE POTENTIAL METHOD

KIRCHHOFF'S LAWS MESH AND LOOP CURRENT METHODS

The complete set of Kirchhoff’s equations can be significantly simplified by the node potential
method described in this chapter. Using this method, Kirchhoff’s voltage law is satisfied automatically, and
we need only write node equations to satisfy Kirchhoff’s current law, too. Satisfying Kirchhoff’s voltage law is
achieved by using node potentials (also called node or nodal voltages) with respect to a particular node
called the reference node. In other words, all the voltages in the circuit are relative to the reference node,
which is normally considered to have 0 potential. It is easy to see that with these voltage definitions
Kirchhoff’s voltage law is satisfied automatically, since writing loop equations with these potentials leads to
identity. Note that for a circuit having N nodes you should write only N - 1 equations. Normally, the node
equation for the reference node is left out.

The sum of all currents in the circuit is zero since each current is flowing in and out of a node. Therefore, the Nth node equation is not
independent from the previous N-1 equations. If we included all the N equations, we would have an unsolvable system of equations.

The node potential method (also called nodal analysis) is the method best suited to computer applications. Most circuit analysis
programs--including TINA--are based on this method.

The steps of the nodal analysis:

1. Pick a reference node with 0 node potential and label each remaining node with V1, V2 or 1, 2 and so on.

2. Apply Kirchhoff’s current law at each node except the reference node. Use Ohm’s law to express unknown currents from node
potentials and voltage source voltages when necessary. For all unknown currents, assume the same reference direction (e.g.
pointing out of the node) for each application of Kirchhoff’s current law.

3. Solve the resulting node equations for the node voltages.

4. Determine any requested current or voltage in the circuit using the node voltages.

Let us illustrate step 2 by writing the node equation for node V 1 of the following circuit
fragment:

First, find the current from node V1 to node V2. We will use Ohm’s Law at
R1. The voltage across R1 is

V1 - V2 - VS1
And the current through R1 (and from node V1 to node V2) is

Note that this current has a reference direction pointing out of the V 1 node. Using the convention for currents pointing out of a node, it
should be taken into account in the node equation with a positive sign.

The current expression of the branch between V 1 and V3 will be similar, but since VS2 is in the opposite direction from V S1 (which
means the potential of the node between VS2 and R2 is V3-VS2), the current is

Finally, because of the indicated reference direction, IS2 should have a positive sign and IS1 a negative sign in the node equation.

The node equation:

Now let’s see a complete example to demonstrate the use of the node potential method.

Find the voltage V and the currents through the resistors in the circuit below
Click here to load or save this circuit

Since we have only two nodes in this circuit, we can reduce the solution to the determination of one unknown quantity. By
choosing the lower node as a reference node, the unknown node voltage is the voltage we’re solving for, V.

Click here to load or save this circuit

The nodal equation for the upper node:

Numerically:

Multiply by 30: 7.5+3V – 30 + 1.5 V + 7.5.+ V – 40 = 0 5.5 V –55 = 0

Hence: V = 10 V

{Solution by TINA's Interpreter}

Sys V
I+(V-Vs1)/R1+(V+Vs2)/R2+(V-Vs3)/R3=0
end;
V=[10]

Now let’s determine the currents through the resistors. This is easy, since the same currents are used in the nodal equation above.
{Solution by TINA's Interpreter}
{Use node potential method !}
Sys V
I+(V-Vs1)/R1+(V+Vs2)/R2+(V-Vs3)/R3=0
end;
V=[10]
{The currents of the resistors}
IR1:=(V-Vs1)/R1;
IR2:=(V+Vs2)/R2;
IR3:=(V-Vs3)/R3;
IR1=[0]
IR2=[750.0001m]
IR3=[-1000m]

We can check the result with TINA by simply turning on TINA’s DC interactive mode or using the Analysis / DC Analysis / Nodal
Voltages command.
Next, let’s solve the problem which was already used as the last example of the Kirchhoff’s laws chapter-

Click here to load or save this circuit

Find the voltages and currents of each element of the circuit.

Choosing the lower node as a reference node of 0 potential, the nodal voltage of N2 will be equal to VS3, : 2 = therefore we have only
one unknown nodal voltage. You may remember that previously, using the full set of Kirchhoff’s equations, even after some
simplifications, we had a linear system of equations of 4 unknowns.

Writing the node equations for node N1, let us denote the nodal voltage of N1 by 1

The simple equation to solve is:

Numerically:

Multiply by 330, we get:

31-360 – 660 + 111 – 2970 = 0  1= 285 V

After calculating 1, it is easy to calculate the other quantities in the circuit.

The currents:
 IS3 = IR1 – IR2 = 0.5 – 5.25 = - 4.75 A

And the voltages:

VIs = 1 = 285 V

VR1= (1 – VS3) = 285 – 270 = 15 V

VR2 = (VS3 – VS2) = 270 – 60 =210 V

VL = -(1-VS1-VR3) = -285 +120 +135 = - 30 V

You may note that with the node potential method you still need some extra calculation to determine the currents and voltages of the
circuit. However these calculations are very simple, much simpler than solving linear equations systems for all circuit quantities
simultaneously.

We can check the result with TINA by simply turning on TINA’s DC interactive mode or using Analysis / DC Analysis / Nodal
Voltages command.
 Let’s see further examples.

Example 1

Find the current I.

Click here to load or save this circuit

Click here to load or save this circuit

In this circuit there are four nodes, but since we have an ideal voltage source that determines the node voltage at its positive pole, we
should chose its negative pole as the reference node. Therefore, we really have only two unknown node potentials: 1 and 2 .
Click here to load or save this circuit

The equations for the nodes of potentials 1 and 2:

Numerically:

so the system of linear equations is:

To solve this, multiply the first equation by 3 and the second by 2, then add the two equations:

111 =220

and hence 1 = 20V, 2 = (50 + 51) / 6= 25 V

Finally the unknown current:

The solution of a system of linear equations can be also calculated using Cramer’s rule.

Let’s illustrate the use of Cramer’s rule by solving the system above again..

1. Fill in the matrix of the coefficients of unknowns:

2. Calculate the value of the determinant of the D matrix.

D = 7*6 – (-5)*(-4) = 22

3. Place the values of the right hand side in the column of the coefficients of the unknown variable then calculate the value
of the determinant:
 4. Divide the newly found determinants by the original determinant, to find the following ratios:

Hence 1 = 20 V and 2 = 25 V

To check the result with TINA, simply turn on TINA’s DC interactive mode or use Analysis / DC Analysis / Nodal Voltages command.
Note that using theVoltage Pin component of TINA, you can directly show the node potentials assuming that the Ground component
is connected to the reference node.

Click here to load or save this circuit

{Solution by TINA's Interpreter}

Sys fi1,fi2
(fi1-fi2)/R2+(fi1-VS1)/R3+fi1/R4=0
(fi2-fi1)/R2+(fi2-VS1)/R1-Is=0
end;
fi1=[20]
fi2=[25]
I:=(fi2-VS1)/R1;
I=[500m]

Example 2.

Find the voltage of the resistor R4.

R1 = R3 = 100 ohm, R2 = R4 = 50 ohm, R5 = 20 ohm, R6 = 40 ohm, R7 = 75 ohm

In this case, it is practical to choose the negative pole of the voltage source V S2 as the reference node because then the positive pole of
the VS2 voltage source will have VS2 = 150 node potential. Because of this choice, however, the required V voltage is opposite to the
node voltage of the node N4; therefore V4 = - V.

The equations:
We do not present the hand calculations here, since the equations can be easily solved by TINA’s interpreter.

{Solution by TINA's Interpreter}

{Use node potential method !}
Sys V,V1,V2,V3
V1/R2+(V1-Vs2)/R1-Is=0
(V2+V)/R6+(V2-V3+Vs1)/R5+Is=0
(V3+V)/R7+(V3-Vs2)/R3+(V3-Vs1-V2)/R5=0
(-V-V2)/R6-V/R4+(-V-V3)/R7=0
end;
V1=[116.6667]
V2=[-91.8182]
V3=[19.697]
V=[34.8485]

To check the result with, TINA simply turn on TINA’s DC interactive mode or use Analysis / DC Analysis / Nodal Voltages command.
Note that we have to place a few voltage pins on the nodes to show the node voltages.
 MESH AND LOOP CURRENT METHODS

NODE POTENTIAL METHOD COMPLEX NUMBERS

Another way of simplifying the complete set of Kirchhoff’s equations is the mesh or loop current method.
Using this method, Kirchhoff’s current law is satisfied automatically, and the loop equations that we write
also satisfy Kirchhoff’s voltage law. Satisfying Kirchhoff’s current law is achieved by assigning closed current
loops called mesh or loop currents to each independent loop of the circuit and using these currents to
express all the other quantities of the circuit. Since the loop currents are closed, the current that flows into a
node must also flow out of the node; so writing node equations with these currents leads to identity.

Let us first consider the method of mesh currents.

We first note that the mesh current method is only applicable for “planar” circuits. Planar circuits have no
crossing wires when drawn on a plane. Often, by redrawing a circuit which appears to be non-planar, you
can determine that it is, in fact, planar. For non-planar circuits, use the loop current methoddescribed later in
this chapter.

To explain the idea of mesh currents, imagine the branches of the circuit as “fishing net” and assign a mesh
current to each mesh of the net. (Sometimes it is also said that a closed current loop is assigned in each
“window” of the circuit.)

The schematic diagram

The “fishing net” or the graph of the circuit

The technique of representing the circuit by a simple drawing, called a graph, is quite powerful.
Since Kirchhoff’s laws do not depend on the nature of the components, you can disregard the concrete
components and substitute for them simple line segments, called the branches of the graph. Representing
circuits by graphs allows us to use the techniques of mathematical graph theory. This helps us explore the
topological nature of a circuit and determine the independent loops. Come back later to this site to read
more about this topic.

The steps of mesh current analysis:

1. Assign a mesh current to each mesh. Although the direction is arbitrary, it is customary to use the clockwise direction.
2. Apply Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL) around each mesh, in the same direction as the mesh currents. If a resistor has two or
more mesh currents through it, the total current through the resistor is calculated as the algebraic sum of the mesh currents.
In other words, if a current flowing through the resistor has the same direction as the mesh current of the loop, it has a
positive sign, otherwise a negative sign in the sum. Voltage sources are taken into account as usual, If their direction is the
 same as the mesh current, their voltage is taken to be positive, otherwise negative, in the KVL equations. Usually, for current
sources, only one mesh current flows through the source, and that current has the same direction as the current of the
source. If this is not the case, use the more general loop current method, described later in this paragraph. There is no need
to write KVL equations for loops containing mesh currents assigned to current sources.

3. Solve the resulting loop equations for the mesh currents.

4. Determine any requested current or voltage in the circuit using the mesh currents.

Let us illustrate the method by the following example:

Find the current I in the circuit below.

Click here to load or save this circuit

We see that there are two meshes (or a left and right window) in this circuit. Let’s assign the clockwise mesh
currents J1 and J2 to the meshes. Then we write the KVL equations, expressing the voltages across the
resistors by Ohm’s law:

-V1 + J1*(Ri1+R1) – J2*R1 = 0

V2 – J1*R1 + J2*(R + R1) = 0

Numerically:
 -12 + J1*17 – J2*2 = 0

6 – J1*2 +J2*14 = 0

Express J1 from the first equation: J1 = and then substitute into the second

equation: 6 – 2* +14*J2 = 0

multiply by 17: 102 - 24 + 4*J2 + 238*J2 = 0 hence J2 =

and J1 =

Finally, the required current:

{Solution using TINA's Interpreter}

{Mesh current method}
Sys J1,J2
J1*(Ri1+R1)-J2*R1-V1=0
J1*R1+J2*(R1+R)+V2=0
end;
J1=[666.6667m]
J2=[-333.3333m]
I:=J1-J2;
I=[1]
Let’s check the results with TINA:

Next, let’s solve the previous example again, but with the more general method of loop currents. Using
this method, the closed current loops, called loop currents, are assigned not necessarily to the meshes of
the circuit, but to arbitrary independent loops. You can ensure that the loops are independent by having at
least one component in each loop that is not contained in any other loop. For planar circuits, the number of
the independent loops is the same as the number of meshes, which is easy to see.

A more precise way of determining the number of independent loops is as follows.

Given a circuit with b branches and N nodes. The number of the independent loops l is:

l=b -N+1

This follows from fact that the number of independent Kirchhoff’s equations must be equal to the branches in
the circuit, and we already know that there are only N-1 independent node equations. Therefore the total
number of the Kirchhoff’s equations is

b = N-1 + l and hence l = b - N + 1

This equation also follows from the fundamental theorem of graph theory which will be described later at this

site.

Now let’s solve the previous example again, but more simply, by using the loop current method. With this
method we are free to use loops in meshes or any other loops, but let’s keep the loop with J 1 in the left mesh
of the circuit. However, for the second loop we choose the loop with J 2, as shown in the figure below. The
advantage of this choice is that J 1 will be equal to the requested current I, since it is the only loop current
passing through R1. This means that we don’t need to calculate J2 at all. Note that, unlike “real” currents, the
physical meaning of loop currents is dependent upon how we assign them to the circuit.

Click here to load or save this circuit

The KVL equations:

J1*(R1+ Ri1) + J2*R i1 – V1 = 0

-V1+J1*Ri1 +J2*(R + Ri) + V2 = 0

and the required current: I = J1

Numerically: J1*(15+2)+J2*15-12 = 0
 -12 + J1*15 + J2*(15+12) + 6 = 0

Express J2 from the second equation:

Substitute into the first equation:

Hence: J1 = I = 1 A

Further examples.

Example 1

Find the current I in the circuit below.

Click here to load or save this circuit

In this circuit, we use the method of loop currents. In the left window of the circuit we take a loop current
which we denote with I since it is equal to the requested current. The other loop current is equal to the Is1
source current, so we denote it directly as IS1.
Note that that the direction of this loop current is not clockwise since its direction is determined by the
current source. However, since this loop current is already known, there is no need to write the KVL equation
for the loop where IS1 is taken.

Therefore the only equation to solve is:

-V1 + I*R2 + R1 *(I - IS1) = 0

hence

I= (V1 + R1 *IS1)/( R1 + R2)

Numerically

I=(10+20*4)/(20+10)=3 A

You can also generate this result calling TINA’s symbolic analysis from the Analysis/Symbolic Analysis/DC
Result menu:

Or you can solve the KVL equation by the interpreter:

{Solution by TINA’s Interpreter}
{Use mesh current method}
Sys I
-V1 + I*R2 + R1 *(I - IS1) = 0
end;
I=[3]

The following example has 3 current sources and is very easy to solve by the method of loop currents.

Example 2

Find the voltage V.

In this example, we can choose three loop currents so that each passes through only one current source.
Therefore, all the three loop currents are known, and we only need to express the unknown voltage, V, using
them.

Making the algebraic sum of the currents through R3:

V= (IS3 - IS2)*R3=(10-5)*30 = 150 V. You can verify this with TINA:.

Click here to load or save this circuit

Next, let’s tackle again a problem that we have already solved in the Kirchhoff’s laws and Node potential
method chapters.

Example 3

Find the voltage V of the resistor R4.

Click here to load or save this circuit

R1 = R3 = 100 ohm, R2 = R4 = 50 ohm, R5 = 20 ohm,R6 = 40 ohm, R7 = 75 ohm.

This problem needed at least 4 equations to solve in the previous chapters.

Solving this problem with the method of loop currents, we have four independent loops, but with the proper
choice of loop currents, one of the loop currents will be equal to the source current Is.

Based on the loop currents shown in the figure above, the loop equations are:

VS1+I4*(R5+R6+R7) – IS*R6 –I3*(R5 + R6) = 0

VS2 - I3*(R1+R2) – IS*R2 + I2*(R1 + R2)= 0

-VS1 + I3*(R1 + R2 + R3 + R4 + R5 + R6) + IS*(R2 +R4 + R6) – I4*(R5 + R6) - I2*(R1 + R2) = 0

The unknown voltage V can be expressed by the loop currents:

V = R4 * (I2 + I3)

Numerically:

100+I4*135-2*40-I3*60 = 0

150+I2*150-2*50-I3*150 = 0

–100+I3*360+2*140-I4*60-I2*150 = 0
 V = 50*(2+I3)

We can use Cramer’s rule to solve this system of equations:

I4 = D3/D

where D is the determinant of the system. D4, the determinant for I4, is formed by substituting the right hand
side of the system is placed for the column of I4’s coefficients.

The system of equations in ordered form:

- 60* I3 +135*I4= -20

150*I2-150*I3 = - 50

-150*I2+360*I3 - 60*I4= - 180

So the determinant D:
The solution of this system of equations is:

V = R4*(2+I3) = 34.8485 V

You can confirm the answer via the result calculated by TINA.

{Solution using TINA's Interpreter}

Sys I2,I3,I4
Vs2+I2*(R1+R2)-R2*Is-I3*(R1+R2)=0
-Vs1+I3*(R1+R2+R3+R4+R5+R6)+Is*(R2+R4+R6)-I2*(R1+R2)-I4*(R5+R6)=0
Vs1+I4*(R5+R6+R7)-Is*R6-I3*(R5+R6)=0
end;
I2=[-1.6364]
I3=[-1.303]
I4=[-727.2727m]
V:=R4*(Is+I3);
V=[34.8485]

In this example, each unknown loop current is a branch current (I1, I3 and I4); so it is easy to check the
result by comparison with the DC analysis results of TINA.