Xavier University

College of Engineering
Electrical Engineering Department

Experiment No. 1

DC CIRCUITS

ACE 13.1 LE1F

September 25,
2021

Group Members:

(1) GUERRERO II, PATRICK TEJERO

(2) HINAMPAS, JOHVILLE CACHAPERO
(3) INTA, RAPAHEL ART AENECITO
(4) LABIS, CARLO JEMBO JAMAGO

ENGR. EULJUN SALARDA

I. Objectives

• Better understand the DC circuit concepts, laws, theorems and approaches.

• Learn to use LTspice for circuit simulations.

II. Introductory Information or Theory

Electricity is the movement (flow) of electrons. Electrons are atomic particles with a
negative charge. Moving these charges can be harnessed to do work. A light bulb, a fan, a
radio, a mobile phone, etc., are all harnessing the movement of the electrons in order to
perform some function. They all operate using the same basic energy source: the storage and
movement of electrons.

The three basic principles for this activity can be explained using electrons, or more
specifically, the charge they create:
1. Voltage is the difference in charge (more electrons, less electrons) between two points
in space.
2. Current is the rate at which charge (electrons) is flowing between two points usually
through some material.
3. Resistance is a material's tendency to resist the flow of charge (electrical current).
Materials with very low resistance are called conductors. Materials with a very high
resistance are called insulators.

These are the three basic quantities required to understand and use electricity. A circuit is a
closed loop that allows charge to move from one place to another. Components in the circuit
allows us to control this charge and use it to do work.

Ohm’s law relates the current, I, passing through a resistor of resistance, R, to the potential
difference or voltage, V, between the end terminals: V = IR. Given two resistors, R1 and R2,

which obey Ohm’s law: V 1 = I 1 R1 and V 2 = I 2 R2.

If they are connected end-to-end, series connection, the same current flows through each, I series

= I 1 = I 2, while the potential difference is the sum of that across each individual resistor, V series =
V 1 = V 2. Therefore,

𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 I series R series = V series = I 1 R1 + I 2 R2=I series ( R1 + R2 )

R series=( R1 + R2 )

If they are connected side-by-side, parallel connection, the same potential difference

appears across each, while the current divides between them

Power dissipated in a resistor is equal to

Kirchhoff's Voltage Law states that the algebraic sum of all the voltages around any
closed path (loop or mesh) is zero.

While Kirchhoff's Current Law states that the algebraic sum of all the currents at any
node is zero.
III. Materials Needed

• Computer with Windows or Mac OS

• LTspice Software

IV. Procedure

Step 1. Create a new schematic file.

Step 2. Input the needed components which includes the power source, wire, resistors, and
ground. And put them in the designated place based on the instructions.

Step 3. Right click on the components and change their values based on the given instructions.

Step 4. “Run” the simulation. Set the stop time to 10 millisecond and the timestep to 1
millisecond. Click “OK”.

Step 5. View the Output. Left click on the components to view the measured values and record.

Step 6. Compare the results from LTspice to a handwritten calculation.

Step 7. Gather the data and create an analysis from them.

Step 8. Come up with a conclusion and answer the guide question.

V. Data and Results

PART A.
V out (V) I R 1(mA) I R 2 (mA) I R 3 (mA)

Circuit Hand 3V -10mA 2.5mA 7.5mA

A Calculation

LTspice 3V -9.99mA 2.49mA 7.49mA

Simulation

Circuit Hand 3V 15mA -10mA -10mA

B Calculation

LTspice 3V 15 mA -9.99mA -9.99mA

Simulation

CIRCUIT A
CIRCUIT B
PART B.

R total

Lt Spice Hand Calc.

CIRCUIT C 18.07 17.15

CIRCUIT D 15.05 15.41

**FOR CIRCUIT C. Using the formula 12/lo, where lo is measured by LTspice. lo=664.097mA
**FOR CIRCUIT D. Using the formula (10/lo)-5; where lo is measured by LTspice.
lo=498.707mA
CIRCUIT C

CIRCUIT D
PART C.
 V(V) I1(A) I2(A) I(A)

Hand Calculation 109V 0.18A 5.27A 5.45A

Circuit E
LTspice Simulation 108.93V 0.18A 5.27A 5.45A

CIRCUIT E

A.

B. Total power dissipated in Circuit E

 I1(A) I2(A) I3(A)

Hand Calculation 2.16A 0.75A -2.35A

Circuit F
LTspice Simulation 2.16A 0.75A -2.35A

CIRCUIT F
VI. Analysis and Conclusion
There are different methods for calculating the resistances, currents, and voltages in a
circuit. One method of solving is through hand calculation, which requires thorough study in
order to apply the relevant circuit rules/laws and theorems. Simulation is another method of
obtaining outcomes. The unknown values are gathered from circuits that are formed using the
LTspice simulation software.
The results gathered from LTspice is much accurate than hand calculation. The
difference just involves down to the decimals. The corresponding values determined by hand
calculations and LTspice simulation are closely identical to each other so it’s not a drastic
change from one method to another. The huge advantage of LTspice is that it gives answers
more quickly. This simply means that the LTspice software is a useful tool for modeling circuits
and obtaining reliable results. On top of that, it’s more efficient especially when the software is
mastered.

VII. Answers to Guide Questions

Is Simulation important? Why or why not?
Simulation is important because it helps us verify the results of our calculations. It is an
ideal way to perform our experiments than doing it hands-on. Moreover, the result on the
simulation is much more accurate than handwritten calculations since values are more specific
including the smallest value of the decimal, while hand calculations are simplified and rounded
off, making the margin of error greater. Thus, simulation is important to prevent or minimize
errors and get more accurate results, effectively.