BRANCH CURRENT METHOD

Example1:

REQUIRED: I1, I2 & I3

KCL:

I3 = I1 + I2

eq1

KVL @V1:
-84 + 12I1 + 6I3 = 0
-14 + 2I1+ I3 = 0
eq2
KVL @V2:
-21 + 3I2 + 6I3 = 0
-7 + I2 + 2I3 = 0
eq3
From equation 2:
-14 + 2I1 + I3 = 0 ; I3 = I1 + 12
-14 + 2I1 + I1 +I2 = 0
-14 + 3I1 +I2 = 0
3I1 +I2 = 14 ; multiply by -3
-9I1 - 3I2 = -42
eq4
From equation 3:
-7 + I2 + 2I3 = 0
-7 + I2 + 2(I1 + 12) = 0
-7 + 3I2 + 2I1 = 0
2I1 + 3I2 = 7
eq5

Add eq. 4 & 5:

-9I1 - 3I2 = -42
2I1 + 3I2 = 7
-7I1 = -42
I1 = 5A
From equation 5:
2I1 + 3I2 = 7
3I2 = -2I1 + 7
3I2 = - (2 5) + 7
3I2 = -3
I2 = -1A
For I3:
I3 = I1 + I2
I3 = 5 - 1
I3 = 4A

Example2:

REQUIRED: All currents passing through R

Solution:
KCL:

I1 = I2 + I3

eq1

KVL @V1:
-12 + 8I1 + 2I2 = 0 eq2
KVL @V2:
-6 - 2I2 + 8I3 + 2I4 = 0 eq3
From equation 2:
-12 + 8 (I2 + I3) + 2I2 = 0
10I2 + 8I3 = 12 ; divide by 2
5I2 + 4I3 = 6
eq4
From equation 3:
-6 - 2I2 + 8I3 + 2I3 = 0
-2I2 + 10I3 = 6
-I2 + 5I3 = 3 ; multiply by 5
-5I2 + 25I3 = 15 eq5

Add eq. 4 & 5:

5I2 + 4I3 = 6
-5I2 + 25I3 = 15
29I3 = 21
I3 = 724mA
From equation 5:
5I2 + 4I3 = 6
5I2 = -4(724mA) + 6
I2 = 620.8mA
For I1:
I1
I1
I1
I1

=
=
=
=

I2 + I3
620.8mA + 724mA
1344.8mA
1.3A