FACULTY OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

BASIC ELECTRICAL FOR ENGINEERING LABORATORY

(ELE 291)

EXPERIMENT 3

DC CIRCUIT ANALYSIS (SIMULATION)

OBJECTIVES
1. To understand the concepts of Kirchoff’s Law concepts and DC circuit analysis.
2. To understand the concepts of circuit connection in circuit analysis.

LIST OF EQUIPMENTS
1. Psim software
2. Breadboard – 1 unit
3. DC power supply – 1 unit
4. Digital Multimeter – 1 unit
5. Wires
6. Resistor : i) 1 kΩ - 2 pcs
ii) 1.5 kΩ – 2 pcs
iii) 3.3 kΩ – 1 pcs

THEORY
In a series and parallel connections of resistor, there are certain conditions relating to each
type of connection. In a series circuit, the sum of the voltage across all the series component
is equal to the applied voltage, and for parallel networks, the sum of the currents in the
branches is equal to the supply current. These two conditions can be described using
Kirchhoff’s Law.

Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL): The algebraic sum of the currents entering a node is zero.

I2
I1
I3

I4

Figure 3.1 : Illustration of Kirchhoff’s Current Law

From Figure 3.1, the relationship between I1 , I2 , I3 and I4 can be described as :

 in  0
n 1

𝐼1 − 𝐼2 + 𝐼3 + 𝐼4 = 0 (1)

Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL): The algebraic sum voltage around the closed a loop is zero.

+ V1 -

+ V4 -

+ V2 -
+ V3 -

Figure 3.2: Illustration of Kirchhoff’s Voltage law.

From Figure 3.2, the relationship between V1, V2, V3 and V4 can be described as:

v
m 1
m 0

V1  V2  V3  V4  0 (2)

PROCEDURE
KIRCHOFF’S LAWS
PART A: KIRCHHOFF’S CURRENT LAW (KCL)

1) Consider the circuit in Figure 3.3. Calculate theoretically all the currents when Vs = 5 V.
Record the value and verify the theoretically Kirchhoff’s current law between node a and
node b in pre-lab calculation.
R2
I2 1kΩ

R1 R3
I1 1kΩ I3 1.5kΩ I5
Node a Node b
R4 R5
3.3kΩ 1.5kΩ
VS = 5V I4

Figure 3.3: Experimental circuit

2) Construct the circuit as shown in Figure 3.3 using PSIM software.
3) Set the DC power supply at 5 V. By using the multimeter, measure the current flow I1, I2,
I3, I4 and I5 through each resistor and record the value.
4) Complete Table 3.1 by calculating the Kirchhoff’s law theoretically and then compare to
the results.
5) Repeat step 3 and 4 by increasing the power supply to 10 V and 15 V.
6) Record the value in Table 3.1.
7) From the result in Table 3.1, complete the Table 3.2. Then, what can you conclude?.
.............................................................................................................................................

Table 3.1: Result of Kirchhoff’s Current Law

DC power supply voltage (V)

Current
VDC=5V VDC=10V VDC=15V
(mA)
Calculation Measurement Calculation Measurement Calculation Measurement

I1

I2

I3

I4

I5

Table 3.2: Result of Kirchhoff’s Current Law

DC power supply voltage (V)

Current
VDC=5V VDC=10V VDC=15V
(mA)
Measurement Measurement Measurement

I1

I2 + I3 + I4
PART B: KIRCHHOFF’S VOLTAGE LAW (KVL)

1) By referring the circuit in Figure 3.3, calculate theoretically voltage across every resistor
when V = 5 V. Record the calculation and verify theoretically Kirchhoff’s voltage law for
all closed loops below:
i) R1,R2,R5 ii) R1,R3,R5 iii) R1,R4,R5
2) Set the DC power supply at 5V. By using multimeter, measure voltage drop across every
resistor. Record all measurements in Table 3.3.
3) Complete Table 3.3 by calculating the Kirchhoff’s law theoretically and then compare to
the results.
4) Repeat step 2 and 3 by increasing the power supply to 10 V and 15 V.
8) From the result in Table 3.3, complete the Table 3.4. Then, what can you conclude?.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table 3.3: Result of Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law

Voltage DC power supply voltage (V)

drop
VDC=5V VDC=10V VDC=15V
across
resistor Calculation Measurement Calculation Measurement Calculation Measurement

VR1

VR2

VR3

VR4

VR5
 Table 3.4: Result of Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law

DC power supply voltage (V)

VS = VDC=5V VS = VDC=10V VS = VDC=15V

Measurement Measurement Measurement

VR1 + VR2 + VR5

VS - VR1 - VR2 - VR5

DISCUSSION:

1) Do the values from Part A verify Kirchhoff’s Current Law? Explain.

2) Do the values from Part B verify Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law? Explain.