Network Analysis

Thevenin’s Theorem
(13th Week)
 Objectives
At the end of this topic you should be able to:

 State and use Thevenin’s Theorem to determine unknown

currents and voltages in d.c. circuits
 Introduction

• Named after M. L. Thevenin, a French engineer, Thevenin’s

theorem is very useful in simplifying the process of solving for
the unknown values of voltage and current in a network.

• By Thevenin’s theorem, many sources and components, no

matter how they are interconnected, can be represented by
an equivalent series circuit with respect to any pair of
terminals in the network.
 Introduction
• In figure below, imagine that the block at the left contains a
network connected to terminals A and B.

• Thevenin’s theorem states that the entire network connected

to A and B can be replaced by a single voltage source VTH in
series with a single resistance RTH, connected to the same two
terminals.

• Voltage VTH is the open-circuit voltage across terminals A and

B.
 Introduction
• This means finding the voltage that the network produces
across the two terminals with an open circuit between A and
B.

• The polarity of VTH is such that it will produce current from A

to B in the same direction as in the original network.
 Introduction
• Resistance RTH is the open-circuit resistance across terminals A
and B, but with all sources killed.

• This means finding the resistance looking back into the

network from terminals A and B

• Although the terminals are open, an ohmmeter across AB

would read the value of RTH as the resistance of the remaining
paths in the network without any sources operating.
 Thevenizing a Circuit
• As an example, refer to the circuit,
where we want to find the voltage VL
across the 2- RL and its current IL.

• To use Thevenin’s theorem, mentally

disconnect RL.

• The two open ends then become

terminals A and B.

• Now we find the Thevenin equivalent

of the remainder of the circuit that is
still connected to A and B.
 Thevenizing a Circuit
• In general, open the part of the circuit to be analyzed and
“thevenize” the remainder of the circuit connected to the two
open terminals.

a. b.
• Our only problem now is to find the value of the open-circuit
voltage VTH across AB and the equivalent resistance RTH.

• The Thevenin equivalent always consists of a single voltage

source in series with a single resistance, as in circuit b.
 Thevenizing a Circuit
• The effect of opening RL is shown in the circuit below.

• As a result, the 3- R1 and 6- R2 form a series voltage

divider without RL.

• Furthermore, the voltage across R2 now is the same as the

open-circuit voltage across terminals A and B. Therefore VR2
with RL open is VAB.

• This is the VTH we need for the Thevenin equivalent circuit.

 Thevenizing a Circuit
• Using the voltage divider formula,
 Thevenizing a Circuit
• To find RTH, the 2- RL is still disconnected.

• However, now the source V is short- circuited.

• So the circuit looks like as shown.

 Thevenizing a Circuit
• The 3- R1 is now in parallel with the 6- R2 because both are
connected across the same two points.

• This combined resistance is the product over the sum of R1

and R2.
RTH = 18/9 = 2

• Again, we assume an ideal voltage source whose internal

resistance is zero.
 Thevenizing a Circuit
• As shown, the Thevenin circuit to the left of terminals A and B
then consists of the equivalent voltage VTH, equal to 24-V, in
series with the equivalent series resistance RTH, equal to 2-.

• This Thevenin equivalent applies for any value of RL because

RL was disconnected.

• We are actually thevenizing the circuit that feeds the open AB

terminals.
 Thevenizing a Circuit
• To find VL and IL, we can finally reconnect RL to terminals A
and B of the Thevenin equivalent circuit, as shown in figure
below.

• Then RL is in series with RTH and VTH.

 Thevenizing a Circuit
• Using the voltage divider formula for the 2- RTH and 2- RL,

VL = 1/2 x 24V
= 12V

• To find IL as VL /RL, the value is 12V / 2, which equals 6A.

 Thevenizing a Circuit
• These answers of 6-A for IL and 12-V for VL apply to RL in both
the original circuit and the equivalent circuit in “Thevenized”.

• Note that the 6-A IL also flows through RTH.

 Thevenizing a Circuit
• The same answers could be obtained by solving the series-
parallel circuit in Fig. 10–3a, using Ohm’s law.

• However, the advantage of thevenizing the circuit is that the

effect of different values of RL can be calculated easily.
 Thevenizing a Circuit
• Suppose that RL is changed to 4 .

4-

• In the Thevenin circuit, the new value of VL would be

4  /6  x 24V = 16V.

• The new IL would be 16V/4, which equals 4-A.

• If we used Ohm’s law in the original circuit, a complete, new

solution would be required each time RL was changed.
 Looking Back from Terminals A and B
• The way we look at the resistance of a series-parallel circuit
depends on where the source is connected.

• In general, we calculate the total resistance from the outside

terminals of the circuit in toward the source as the reference.

• When the source is short-circuited for thevenizing a circuit,

terminals A and B become the reference.
 Looking Back from Terminals A and B
• Looking back from A and B to calculate RTH, the situation
becomes reversed from the way the circuit was viewed to
determine VTH.

• For RTH, imagine that a source could be connected across AB,

and calculate the total resistance working from the outside in
toward terminals A and B.

• Actually, an ohmmeter placed across terminals A and B would

read this resistance.
 Looking Back from Terminals A and B
• This idea of reversing the reference is illustrated in the figures
below. The circuit in a has terminals A and B open, ready to be
thevenized.

• This circuit is similar to the previous example but with the 4-
R3 inserted between R2 and terminal A.

• The interesting point is that R3 does not change the value of

VAB produced by the source V, but R3 does increase the value
of RTH.
 Looking Back from Terminals A and B
• When we look back from terminals A and B, the 4 of R3 is in
series with 2- to make RTH = 6-, as shown for RAB in b and
RTH in c.

• Let us consider why VAB is the same 24-V with or without R3.

• Since R3 is connected to the open terminal A, the source V

cannot produce current in R3.

• Therefore, R3 has no IR drop.

 Looking Back from Terminals A and B
• A voltmeter would read the same 24 V across R2 and from A
to B.

• Since VAB equals 24 V, this is the value of VTH.

 Looking Back from Terminals A and B
• Now consider why R3 does change the value of RTH.

• Remember that we must work from the outside in to calculate

the total resistance.

• Then, A and B are like source terminals.

• As a result, the 3- R1 and 6- R2 are in parallel, for a

combined resistance of 2-.
 Looking Back from Terminals A and B
• Furthermore, this 2- is in series with the 4- R3 because R3
is in the mainline from terminals A and B.

• Then RTH is 2- + 4- = 6-. As shown in c, the Thevenin

equivalent circuit consists of VTH = 24 V and RTH 6-.
 Thevenizing a Circuit
with Two Voltage Sources
• Use Thevenin’s theorem to find the current I3 through the
middle resistance R3.
 Thevenizing a Circuit
with Two Voltage Sources
• As shown in the original circuit, first mark the terminals A and
B across R3.
 Thevenizing a Circuit
with Two Voltage Sources
• Use Thevenin’s theorem to find the current I3 through the
middle resistance R3.
 Thevenizing a Circuit
with Two Voltage Sources
• To calculate VTH, find VAB across the open terminals by
disconnecting R3.
 Thevenizing a Circuit
with Two Voltage Sources
• Use Superposition Theorem to find that VAB.
 Thevenizing a Circuit
with Two Voltage Sources
• Use Superposition Theorem to find that VAB.
 Thevenizing a Circuit
with Two Voltage Sources
• Use Superposition Theorem to find that VAB.
From:

Both V1 and V2 produce 􏰀 16.8 V across the AB terminals with

the same polarity, then;
VAB = VR1 + VR2
= (-16.8V) + (-16.8V)
VAB = -33.6-V
VTH = -33.6-V
 Thevenizing a Circuit
with Two Voltage Sources
• Short-circuit V1 and V2 to find that RAB is 2.4-.
 Thevenizing a Circuit
with Two Voltage Sources
• Thevenin equivalent with RL reconnected to terminals A and
B.

IL = VTH / RTH + RL

= 33.6-V / 2.4 + 6
IL = 4-A