How to make sure that all lines are connected in a Wheatstone bridge using circuitikz?

Question

I recently discovered circuitikz which is great because I need to illustrate a diagonally configured Wheatstone bridge. I came across this question which I modified to become more compact:

\documentclass[tikz,border=5mm]{standalone}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usepackage[europeanresistors,americaninductors,americancurrents,siunitx]{circuitikz}
\begin{document}

\begin{circuitikz}[declare function = {hypo = 4; x = 1; r ={1/2};}]
    \ctikzset{label/align = straight}
    \draw(0,0) to [dcvsource , l= $V_\textrm{in}$] ++({hypo*sqrt(2) + 0},0);
    \draw(0,0) to[short, i = $I$] ++(0, -4) to[short, -*] ++(0, 0) node[label={below:$C$}](C){} to [R, l_= $R_1$, i&gt;_= $I_\mathrm{A}$, -*] ++(45:hypo) node[label={above:$A$}](A){} to[R, l_=$R_2$, -*, fill=black] ++(-45:hypo) node[label = {below:$D$}](D){} to [short] ++(0, 0) to [short, i = $I$] ++(0,4);
    \draw(C) to[R, l^= $R_3$, i&gt;^= $I_\mathrm{B}$, -*, fill=black] ++(-45:hypo) node[label = {below:$B$}](B){} to [R, l^=$R_4$] ++(45:hypo);
    \draw(A) to [rmeter, t=$V_\mathrm{out}$] (B);
\end{circuitikz}

\end{document}

All appear to be fine except the lines do not intercept at three places (at C and between A and B):

This is strange because the image in the other question appears to be fine (although the same problem arises when I run it on my computer).

What am I doing wrong? Why are the lines not properly connected?

If you look at the circuitikz manual, the first entry in the FAQ section (8.1) will explain what's happening. Both the answer here are correct. — Rmano, Jul 30 '21 at 21:34
Thank you, @Rmano. I read the section you mentioned -- hilarious footnotes! — naughty_waves, Jul 31 '21 at 09:27

Zarko · Accepted Answer · 2021-07-31T05:38:14.880

All nodes with labels you should replace with coordinate:

\documentclass[tikz,border=5mm]{standalone}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usepackage[europeanresistors,americaninductors,americancurrents,siunitx]{circuitikz}
\begin{document}
\begin{circuitikz}[

declare function = {hypo = 4; x = 1; r ={1/2};}
                    ]
\ctikzset{label/align = straight}
\draw (0,0) to [dcvsource , l= $V_\textrm{in}$] ++ ({hyposqrt(2) + 0},0);
\draw (0,0) to [short, i = $I$] ++(0,-4) 
            to [short, -] ++(0, 0) coordinate[label={below:$C$}] (C)   % <---
            to [R, l_= $R_1$, i>= $I\mathrm{A}$, -] ++(45:hypo) coordinatelabel=$A$
            to [R, l_=$R_2$, -, fill=black] ++(-45:hypo) coordinatelabel = below:$D$ 
            to [short] ++(0, 0) to [short, i = $I$] ++(0,4);
\draw(C)    to[R, l^= $R_3$, i>^= $I_\mathrm{B}$, -*, fill=black] ++(-45:hypo) coordinatelabel=below:$B$
            to [R, l^=$R_4$] ++(45:hypo);
\draw(A) to [rmeter, t=$V_\mathrm{out}$] (B);
    \end{circuitikz}
\end{document}

Addendum: Code for our circuit can be simpler:

\documentclass[border=5mm]{standalone}
\usepackage[european]{circuitikz}
\begin{document}
\begin{circuitikz}
\ctikzset{resistors/scale=0.8}

\draw (0,0) coordinate[label=left:$C$] (C)
            to [R, a=$R_1$,i>=$I\mathrm{A}$, -] ++ (3,3) coordinate[label=$A$] (A)
            to [R,a=$R_2$,fill=black, -*] ++ (3,-3) coordinate[label=right:$D$] (D)
            to [R,a=$R_4$,-*] ++ (-3,-3) coordinate[label=below:$B$] (B)
    (C)     to [R=$R_3$, fill=black,i>^=$I_\mathrm{B}$, -]  (B)
    (A)     to [rmeter, t=$V_\mathrm{out}$] (B)
    (D)     to [short, i = $I$] ++ (0,4)
            to [dcvsource, a=$V_\textrm{in}$] ++ (-6,0)
            to [short, i = $I$] (C);
    \end{circuitikz}
\end{document}

And result is almost the same:

Thank you, @Zarko. It works like a charm. Also thank you for the simplified version. — naughty_waves, Jul 31 '21 at 09:28

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 30 '21 at 20:07

On selected nodes: user nodename.center:

\documentclass[tikz,border=5mm]{standalone}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usepackage[europeanresistors,americaninductors,americancurrents,siunitx]{circuitikz}
\begin{document}
\begin{circuitikz}[declare function = {hypo = 4; x = 1; r ={1/2};}]
    \ctikzset{label/align = straight}
    \draw(0,0) to [dcvsource , l= $V_\textrm{in}$] ++({hyposqrt(2) + 0},0);
    \draw(0,0) to[short, i = $I$] ++(0, -4) to[short, -] ++(0, 0) nodelabel={below:$C$}{} to [R, l_= $R_1$, i>= $I\mathrm{A}$, -] ++(45:hypo) nodelabel={above:$A$}{} to[R, l_=$R_2$, -, fill=black] ++(-45:hypo) nodelabel = {below:$D$}{} to [short] ++(0, 0) to [short, i = $I$] ++(0,4);
    \draw(C.center) to[R, l^= $R_3$, i>^= $I_\mathrm{B}$, -*, fill=black] ++(-45:hypo) nodelabel = {below:$B$}{} to [R, l^=$R_4$] ++(45:hypo);
    \draw(A.center) to [rmeter, t=$V_\mathrm{out}$] (B.center);
\end{circuitikz}
\end{document}

Thank you, @Jesse op den Brouw. I wish I could accept both answers because yours is also correct! — naughty_waves, Jul 31 '21 at 09:29

How to make sure that all lines are connected in a Wheatstone bridge using circuitikz?

2 Answers2