Pamantasan ng Cabuyao

College of Computing and Engineering

2ND SEMESTER & AY 2020-2021

ECA103: CIRCUITS 1

LABORATORY ACTIVITY 5
MESH ANALYSIS

NAME: ___________________________

SECTION: _____________

DATE OF SUBMISSION: _____________

INSTRUCTOR:

ENGR. MONICA B. MAGNATE

 Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
College of Computing and Engineering
2ND SEMESTER & AY 2020-2021

MODULE

5 MESH ANALYSIS

INTRODUCTION

Multi-source DC circuits may be analyzed using a mesh current technique. The process
involves identifying a minimum number of small loops such that every component exists in at
least one loop. Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law is then applied to each loop. The loop currents are
referred to as mesh currents as each current interlocks or meshes with the surrounding loop
currents. As a result there will be a set of simultaneous equations created, an unknown mesh
current for each loop. Once the mesh currents are determined, various branch currents and
component voltages may be derived.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this module you should be able to:

1. become familiar with multi-source DC circuits.

2. analyze circuit using mesh analysis by constructing equations of mesh currents;
3. compare the result of computation to the Multisim simulation.

5.1] SCHEMATICS

(a) (b)
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College of Computing and Engineering
2ND SEMESTER & AY 2020-2021

Figure 5.1: Circuit for Mesh Analysis

5.2] MESH ANALYSIS CONSTRUCTED IN PCB/BREADBOARD

Procedures:

1. Consider the dual supply circuit of Figure 5.1 (a) using E1 = 9volts, E2 = 12 volts, R1 = 4.7 k,
R2 = 6.8 k and R3 = 10 k. To find the voltage from node A to ground, mesh analysis may be
used. This circuit may be described via two mesh currents, loop one formed with E1, R1, R2
and E2, and loop two formed with E2, R2 and R3. Note that these mesh currents are the
currents flowing through R1 and R3 respectively.

2. Using KVL, write the loop expressions for these two loops and then solve to find the mesh
currents. Note that the third branch current (that of R2) is the combination of the mesh currents
and that the voltage at node A can be determined using the second mesh current and Ohm’s
Law. Compute these values and record them in Table 5.1. Attach your solution in Solution 5.1.

3. Build the circuit of Figure 5.1 (a) using the values specified in step one. Measure the three
branch currents and the voltage at node A and record in Table 5.1. Be sure to note the
directions and polarities. Finally, determine and record the deviations in Table 5.1.

4. Take a photo of your constructed circuit (in PCB or breadboard) and attach it in Circuit 5.1.

5. Consider the dual supply circuit of Figure 5.1 (b) using E1 = 9 volts, E2 = 12 volts, R1 = 4.7 k,
R2 = 6.8 k, R3 = 10 k, R4 = 22 k and R5 = 33 k. This circuit will require three loops to describe
fully. This means that there will be three mesh currents in spite of the fact that there are five
branch currents. The three mesh currents correspond to the currents through R1, R2, and R4.

6. Using KVL, write the loop expressions for these loops and then solve to find the mesh
currents. Note that the voltages at nodes A and B can be determined using the mesh currents
and Ohm’s Law. Compute these values and record them in Table 5.2. Attach your solution in
Figure 5.2.

7. Build the circuit of Figure 5.1 (b) using the values specified in step four. Measure the three
mesh currents and the voltages at node A, node B, and from node A to B, and record in Table
5.2. Be sure to note the directions and polarities. Finally, determine and record the deviations in
Table 5.2.

8. Take a photo of your constructed circuit (in PCB or breadboard) and attach it in Circuit 5.2.

5.3] MESH ANALYSIS USING CIRCUIT SIMULATION TOOL

1. Construct the circuit in Figure 5.1 (a) in Multisim (or any circuit simulation tool).

2. Use DMM to measure the needed parameters. Record your measured values in Table 5.1.
Compute also for the deviation.

3. Screenshot your constructed circuit and attach in Circuit 5.3.

 Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
College of Computing and Engineering
2ND SEMESTER & AY 2020-2021

4. Construct the circuit in Figure 5.1 (b) in Multisim (or any circuit simulation tool).

5. Use DMM to measure the needed parameters. Record your measured values in Table 5.2.
Compute also for the deviation.

6. Screenshot your constructed circuit and attach in Circuit 5.4.

5.4] OUTPUTS

Parameter Theory Experimental Multisim Deviation Deviation

(Theory VS (Theory VS
Exp.) Multisim)
IR1 106uA 105.70 106 0
IR2 744uA 743.75 744 0
IR3 850uA 848.75 850 0
VA 8.5V 8.9V 8.5 0
Table 5.1

Parameter Theory Experimental Multisim Deviation Deviation

(Theory VS (Theory VS
Exp.) Multisim)
IR1 524 527 524 0
IR2 556 559 556 0
IR4 130 131 130 0
VA 6.54V 6.70V 6.54 0
VB 9.25V 9.50V 9.25 0
VAB 2.71V 2.90V 2.71 0
Table 5.2
Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
College of Computing and Engineering
2ND SEMESTER & AY 2020-2021

Solution 5.1: Attached solution

Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
College of Computing and Engineering
2ND SEMESTER & AY 2020-2021

FIGURE 5.2

Solution 5.2: Attached solution

FIGURE 5.2

Solution 5.2: Attached solution

Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
College of Computing and Engineering
2ND SEMESTER & AY 2020-2021

Circuit 5.1: Constructed circuit in Figure 5.1 (a) – PCB/Breadboard

Circuit 5.2: Constructed circuit in Figure 5.1 (b) – PCB/Breadboard

Solution 5.2: Attached solution

Circuit 5.3: Constructed circuit in Figure 5.1 (a) – Multisim

 Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
College of Computing and Engineering
2ND SEMESTER & AY 2020-2021

Circuit 5.2: Constructed circuit in Figure 5.1 (b) – Multisim

5.5] QUESTIONS

1. Do the polarities of the sources in Figure 5.1 (a) matter as to the resulting currents? Will the
magnitudes of the currents be the same if one or both sources have an inverted polarity?

2. In both circuits of this exercise the negative terminals of the sources are connected to ground.
Is this a requirement for mesh analysis? What would happen to the mesh currents if the
positions of E1 and R1 in Figure 5.1 (a) were swapped?

3. If branch current analysis (BCA) was applied to the circuit of Figure 5.1 (b), how many
unknown currents would have to be analyzed and how many equations would be needed? How
does this compare to mesh analysis?

5.6] CONCLUSION

What have you learned from this activity?

REFERENCES
 Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
College of Computing and Engineering
2ND SEMESTER & AY 2020-2021

[1] EE188L Electrical Engineering I, College of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Northern
Arizona University [Retrieved: October, 2020]