Lab number 9

Mesh Analysis & Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL)

Objectives

1. To understand the principle of Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL).

2. To derive the voltage equations from KVL.

3. To perform mesh analysis on a circuit and verify results experimentally.

Apparatus

 Breadboard
 Multimeter
 Resistors
 DC Power Supply
 Connecting Wires
 Proteus Software
 Laptop

Introduction

The study of electrical circuits and network analysis is fundamental to understanding the
behaviour of electrical systems. One of the core principles in circuit analysis is Kirchhoff’s
Voltage Law (KVL), which plays a pivotal role in analysing complex electrical circuits. KVL
states that the sum of the electric potential differences (voltages) around any closed loop or
mesh in a circuit must equal zero. This principle arises from the conservation of energy,
ensuring that the energy supplied by sources is fully consumed by resistive elements in the
circuit.

In practical circuit analysis, KVL helps in deriving the voltage equations for each loop, which
are crucial for determining unknown voltages and currents in the network. When combined
with mesh analysis, KVL provides a systematic approach for solving circuit problems,
especially in networks with multiple power sources and loops. Mesh analysis simplifies the
process by defining currents in loops (meshes) and solving simultaneous equations to find
unknowns.
The purpose of this experiment is to provide a hands-on understanding of KVL and mesh
analysis. Through this experiment, we will not only verify the theoretical principles of KVL
but also apply them to real-world circuits, comparing calculated values with measured ones.
This exercise will enhance our ability to analyse electrical circuits, ensuring a solid
foundation for tackling more advanced topics in electrical and energy systems engineering.

Theory

A combination DC circuit integrates resistors connected in both series and parallel

configurations within a single circuit. The behaviour of current, voltage, and resistance differs
based on the configuration.

Series Circuit

In a series connection, resistors are connected end-to-end, allowing the same current to flow
through each component. The total resistance in a series circuit is simply the sum of the
individual resistances, while the voltage drops across each resistor varies according to Ohm’s
Law.

V =IR Eq. (9.1)

RT (Series)=R 1+ R 2+ R 3 … Eq. (9.2)
I 1=I 2=I 3 =I T Eq. (9.3)
Dual Voltage Source

In circuits with multiple voltage sources, such as two voltage sources connected to a network,
the analysis can be slightly more complex due to the interaction between the sources. When
two voltage sources are present in a circuit, they create different potential differences, and the
resulting voltage and current distribution must account for both sources simultaneously. This
scenario can be modelled using Mesh Analysis or Superposition Theorem.

Analysing the circuit

 Determine the Direction of Currents

 Apply Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL)
 Solve the Equations
 Consider the Effect of Both Sources
 Superposition Theorem (Optional)
Procedure

Part 1:

 Connect the circuit as shown in the experimental setup diagram.

 Set the direction of current flow in the circuit.

 Measure the voltage drop across each resistor.
 Use the measured voltage values to write the Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law equation for
the loop.
 Record the calculated and measured values in the observation table.

Part 2

 Set the direction of current in both loops.

 Calculate the currents for Loop 1 and Loop 2.

 Calculate the voltages for Loop 1 based on the sequence of the set of letters.
 Calculate the voltages for Loop 2 based on the sequence of the set of letters.
 Measure the currents in both Loop 1 and Loop 2.
 Measure the voltages in Loop 1 based on the sequence of the set of letters.
 Measure the voltages in Loop 2 based on the sequence of the set of letters.
 Substitute the measured values into the KVL equation.
 Verify the experimental results with you theoretical and simulation results
Observation and Calculations

Table 9.1 Observations and calculation of part 1

Parameters Theoretical Simulation Practical % Error % Error % Error

Value Value (Hardware) (Theory vs (Theory vs (Simulation
Value Simulation) Hardware) vs
Hardware)

Total Current I T

Drop Voltage V 1

Drop Voltage V 2

Drop Voltage V 3

Drop Voltage V 4

Total Resistance
RT

Table 9.2 Observations and calculation of part 2 for loop 1

Parameters Theoretical Simulation Practical % Error % Error % Error

Value Value (Hardware) (Theory vs (Theory vs (Simulation
Value Simulation) Hardware) vs
Hardware)

Loop Current I 1

Voltage Across R3

Voltage Across R4

Table 9.3 Observations and calculation of part 2 for loop 2

Parameters Theoretical Simulation Practical % Error % Error % Error

Value Value (Hardware) (Theory vs (Theory vs (Simulation
Value Simulation) Hardware) vs
Hardware)

Loop Current I 1
 Voltage Across R1

Voltage Across R5

Voltage Across R3

Table 9.4 Overall KVL Validation for both loops part 2 circuit

Parameters Sum of Sum of Sum of % Error % Error % Error

Voltages Voltages Voltages (Theory vs (Theory vs (Simulation
(Calculated) (Measured (Simulated) Simulation) Hardware) vs
) Hardware)

Loop 1

Loop 2

Results and Discussion

Software Simulation Part 1

Hardware Circuit Part 1

Software Simulation Part 2 Circuit

Hardware Circuit part 2

Discussion

 Compare the theoretical, simulation, and hardware values.

 Discuss any differences observed and possible sources of error (e.g., resistor
tolerances, connection issues, multimeter precision, or software assumptions).
 Suggest improvements for minimizing errors in future experiments.

Conclusion

In this lab, we successfully demonstrated the application of Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL)
and mesh analysis for analysing electrical circuits. The theoretical, simulation, and practical
results closely aligned, validating the accuracy of KVL and its role in circuit analysis. By
comparing the voltage drops and loop currents across different resistors in both single-source
and dual-source circuits, we observed a clear correlation between calculated, simulated, and
hardware values. Minor discrepancies, attributed to experimental errors or component
tolerances, highlighted the importance of precision in measurements. Overall, this lab
reinforced the significance of KVL as a foundational tool for analyzing complex electrical
networks and provided practical experience in using theoretical principles to solve real-world
circuit problems.