4 Thevenin’s Theorem & Maximum Power Transfer

Objectives
• To verify Thevenin’s theorem with dependent sources by measuring the open-circuit
voltage and short-circuit current.
• To verify and measure maximum power transferred to a load.

Theory

Part I: Thevenin’s Theorem

Thevenin’s theorem states that a linear two-terminal circuit can be replaced by an equivalent
circuit consisting of a voltage source 𝑉!" in series with a resistor 𝑅!" , where 𝑉!" is the open-
circuit voltage at the terminals and 𝑅!" is the input or equivalent resistance at the terminals
when the independent sources are turned off.

(a) Original Circuit (b) Thevenin Equivalent Circuit

Figure 4-1: Thevenin equivalent

Part II: Maximum Power Transfer

Maximum power is transferred to the load when the load resistance equals the Thevenin
resistance as seen from the load (𝑅# = 𝑅!" ).
If the entire circuit is replaced by its Thevenin equivalent except for the load, as shown in the
circuit in Figure 4-2, the power delivered to the load is,
$
$
𝑉!"
𝑝 = 𝑖 𝑅# = & ( 𝑅#
𝑅!" + 𝑅#

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(a) The circuit used for maximum (b) Power delivered to the load as a
power transfer. function of 𝑹𝑳 .

Figure 4-2: Maximum Power Transfer

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 OrCAD Simulation (Pre-Lab)

Part I: Thevenin’s Theorem

Simulate the circuit shown in Figure 4-3 in OrCAD with the following steps.

[a] Measuring 𝑰𝑹𝑳 , the current passing through load, directly:

1. Start OrCAD.
2. Add Resistors 𝑅' = 𝑅$ = 2 𝑘𝛺 ; 𝑅( = 3.9 𝑘𝛺 ; 𝑅) = 5.1 𝑘𝛺 ; and 𝑅# = 1 𝑘𝛺.
3. Add DC Voltage Source 𝑉* .
Note: Voltage supply value will be given by your lab instructor.
4. Add the ground and connect the components together with wires.
5. Simulate the circuit using bias point simulation analysis.
6. Enable the bias current display from the toolbar to measure the current 𝐼+" passing
through the load resistor 𝑅# with the indicated direction.

[b] Measuring 𝑽𝑻𝒉 , the open-circuit voltage across terminals ‘𝑿’ and ‘𝒀’:
7. To compute the open-circuit voltage, change the load resistor value to a value that much
larger than the value of other resistors in the circuit, in this case 𝑅# = 1 𝐺𝛺 [1 × 10. 𝛺].
8. Simulate the circuit using bias point simulation analysis.
9. Enable the bias voltage display from the toolbar to measure the open-circuit voltage 𝑉!"
across the terminals ‘𝑋’ and ‘𝑌’.

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[c] Measuring 𝒊𝒔𝒄 , the short-circuit at terminals ‘𝑿’ and ‘𝒀’:
10. To compute the short-circuit current, change the load resistor value to a value that much
smaller than the value of other resistors in the circuit, in this case 𝑅# = 1 𝑛𝛺
[1 × 101. 𝛺].
11. Simulate the circuit using bias point simulation analysis.
12. Enable the bias current display from the toolbar to measure the short-circuit current 𝑖*2
passing through the shorted terminals ‘𝑋’ and ‘𝑌’.

[d] Calculating 𝒊𝑹𝑳 using the obtained Thevenin equivalent circuit.

13. Use Ohm’s law to calculate the equivalent resistance 𝑅!" at the terminals ‘𝑋’ and ‘𝑌’
when all independent sources are turned off.
𝑉!"
𝑅!" =
𝑖*2
14. Calculate the current 𝐼+" through the load 𝑅# using the obtained Thevenin equivalent.
𝑉!"
𝐼+" =
𝑅!" + 𝑅#
15. Complete the simulated values in Table 4-2 in the datasheet.

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Part II: Maximum Power Transfer
Simulate the circuit shown in Figure 4-4 in OrCAD with the following steps.

RTH

I
+
RL
VTH

Figure 4-4: Circuit Diagram

1. Start OrCAD.
2. Add a resistor 𝑅!" = 1 𝑘𝛺.
3. Add a resistor 𝑅# = 0.25 𝑘𝛺 as shown in Table 4-3 in the datasheet.
4. Add DC Voltage Source 𝑉!" = 10 𝑉.
5. Add the ground and connect the components together with wires.
6. Simulate the circuit using bias point simulation analysis.
7. Enable the bias current display from the toolbar to measure the current 𝐼.
8. Enable the bias power display from the toolbar to measure the power delivered to the
load resistor 𝑃# .
9. Complete the simulated values in Table 4-3 in the datasheet.
10. Vary the resistor 𝑅# value as indicated in Table 4-3 and repeats the steps.

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 Experimental Work

Equipment:

1. DC Voltage Source. 2. Breadboard.

3. Digital Multimeter (DMM). 4. Discrete Resistors and Resistor Box.

Procedure:
Part I: Thevenin’s Theorem
1. Select five resistors as indicated in Table 4-1 in the datasheet using the color code and
measure their resistance value using the ohmmeter function in the digital multimeter
(DMM) and record the measured values in Table 4-1.
2. Connect the circuit shown in Figure 4-3 on the breadboard and set the voltage supply as
required.
[a] Measuring 𝑰𝑹𝑳 , the current passing through load, directly:
3. Measure the current 𝐼+" passing through the load resistor 𝑅# using the ammeter function
in the digital multimeter (DMM).
[b] Measuring 𝑽𝑻𝒉 , the open-circuit voltage across terminals ‘𝑿’ and ‘𝒀’:
4. Remove the load resistor 𝑅# from the circuit to measure the open-circuit voltage 𝑉!"
across the terminals ‘𝑋’ and ‘𝑌’ using the voltmeter function in the digital multimeter
(DMM).
[c] Measuring 𝒊𝒔𝒄 , the short-circuit at terminals ‘𝑿’ and ‘𝒀’:
5. Place a jumper wire across the terminals ‘𝑋’ and ‘𝑌’ to short-circuit them and measure
the short-circuit current 𝑖*2 at the terminals using the ammeter function in the digital
multimeter (DMM).
[d] Calculating 𝒊𝑹𝑳 using the obtained Thevenin equivalent circuit.
6. Use Ohm’s law to calculate the equivalent resistance 𝑅!" at the terminals ‘𝑋’ and ‘𝑌’
when all independent sources are turned off.
𝑉!"
𝑅!" =
𝑖*2
7. Calculate the current 𝐼+" through the load 𝑅# using the obtained Thevenin equivalent.
𝑉!"
𝐼+" =
𝑅!" + 𝑅#
8. Complete the measured values in Table 4-2 in the datasheet.

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Part 2: Maximum Power Transfer
1. Connect the circuit shown in Figure 4-4 using a discrete resistor for 𝑅!" = 1 𝑘𝛺 and a
variable resistor for 𝑅# [start with the first value of 𝑅# as in Table 4-3].
2. Set the voltage supply to 𝑉!" = 10 𝑉.
3. Measure the current 𝐼 passing through the circuit using the ammeter function in the digital
multimeter (DMM).
4. Calculate the power delivered to the load resistor.
𝑃# = 𝑖 $ 𝑅#
5. Complete the measured values in Table 4-3 in the datasheet.
6. Vary the resistor 𝑅# value as indicated in Table 4-3 and repeats the steps.

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 Datasheet

Part I: Thevenin’s Theorem

Table 4-1 Resistance values of each resistor

Resistor 𝑅' (𝑘𝛺) 𝑅$ (𝑘𝛺) 𝑅( (𝑘𝛺) 𝑅) (𝑘𝛺) 𝑅# (𝑘𝛺)

Simulated 2 2 3.9 5.1 1

Measured

Table 4-2 Thevenin’s Theorem

𝑅!" (𝛺) 𝐼+" (𝑚𝐴)
Measurement 𝐼+" (𝑚𝐴) 𝑉!" (𝑉) 𝑖*2 (𝑚𝐴)
[𝑉#$ ⁄𝑖%& ] [𝑉#$ ⁄(𝑅#$ + 𝑅' )]

Simulated

Measured

Part II: Maximum Power Transfer

Table 4-3 Maximum Power Transfer
Simulated Measured
𝑅# (𝑘𝛺)
𝐼 (𝑚𝐴) 𝑃# (𝑚𝑊) 𝐼 (𝑚𝐴) 𝑃# (𝑚𝑊)

0.25

0.5

0.75

1.25

1.5

1.75

2.25

2.5

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 Post Lab Questions
Answer the following questions regarding the lab and write your answers in the dissection
and analysis part of your lab report.

Part I: Thevenin’s Theorem

For the following questions:

• Use the value of 𝑉* as in your lab experiment.
• Show your steps in your calculations and use drawn circuit schematics if required.

Q1: Remove the load resistor 𝑅# to find the theoretical value of the open-circuit voltage 𝑉!" .

Q2: Short the terminals ‘𝑋’ and ‘𝑌’ to find the theoretical value of the short-circuit current 𝑖*2 .

Q3: Use Ohm’s law to find the value of the equivalent resistance 𝑅!" and construct the
Thevenin’s equivalent circuit.

Q4: Since the circuit has only independent source, determine the equivalent resistance 𝑅!"
directly [i.e. without using the values of 𝑉!" and 𝑖*2 ] by turning off the voltage supply [i.e. set
it to zero (short circuit)]. 𝑅!" is the input resistance of the circuit looking between the terminals
‘𝑋’ and ‘𝑌’.

Part II: Maximum Power Transfer

Q5: Plot the power 𝑃# delivered to the load resistor 𝑅# versus the resistance of the load resistor
𝑅# using the measured values in Table 4-3 to validate that the maximum power delivered to
the load is when 𝑅!" = 𝑅# .

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