Lesson Notes Lecture 14
Lesson Notes Lecture 14
Lesson Notes Lecture 14
Lecture 14
Mesh Analysis with current sources
When the circuit contains current sources, the above procedure is modified.
Example 4:
Figure 10
Solution:
We cannot directly replace Vx by mesh currents, because Ohm’s Law does not apply to current
sources.
4V 3
i3
2 4
+
1 i1 Vx 5
i2
3A
Figure 11
What to do in this case? ⇒ Combine mesh 1 & 2 ⇒ Super Mesh (SM)
Solving (1) & (2) & (3) ⇒ i1 = −2.767 A & i2 = 0.233 A & i3 = −0.956 A
Figure 12
3) Apply KCL
Example 5:
Figure 13
Solution:
Mesh 1 & 2 do not contain current sources ⇒ Just Apply KVL around mesh (1) & (2)
Do not apply KVL (because KVL involves voltage across the current source)
i3 = 3 (3)
[Note: Since we need just one equation from mesh 3, KCL provides it in this case]
Solving (1) & (2) & (3) ⇒ i1 = 1.000 A & i2 = 1.714 A & i3 = 3.000 A
Figure 14
Current source in one mesh only (not shared) ⇒ No KVL ⇒ Only KCL
The answer depends on the circuit under consideration. The method that results in the least number
of actual unknowns is generally more efficient.
Example 4:
8
10V
6 4
2A 5A 2
Figure 7
∴ Number of actual unknowns is 3 (only v2 & v3 & v4 are unknown, since v1 = 10V )
Figure 8
KCL ⇒ i1 − i2 = 5 ⇒ 2 − i2 = 5 ⇒ i2 = −3 A
Figure 9