Laboratory # 6:

NETWORK ANALYSIS USING THEVENIN’S THEOREM

 Theory:

Thevenin's Theorem states that it is possible to simplify any linear circuit, no matter how complex, to
an equivalent circuit with just a single voltage source and series resistance connected to a load. The
qualification of “linear” is identical to that found in the Superposition Theorem, where all the
underlying equations must be linear (no exponents or roots). If we're dealing with passive
components (such as resistors, and later, inductors and capacitors), this is true. However, there are
some components (especially certain gas-discharge and semiconductor components) which are
nonlinear: that is, their opposition to current changes with voltage and/or current. As such, we would
call circuits containing these types of components, nonlinear circuits. Thevenin's Theorem is
especially useful in analyzing power systems and other circuits where one particular resistor in the
circuit (called the “load” resistor) is subject to change, and re-calculation of the circuit is necessary
with each trial value of load resistance, to determine voltage across it and current through it.
Thevenin's Theorem makes this easy by temporarily removing the load resistance from the original
circuit and reducing what's left to an equivalent circuit composed of a single voltage source and
series resistance. The load resistance can then be re-connected to this “Thevenin equivalent circuit”
and calculations carried out as if the whole network were nothing but a simple series circuit.

 Objectives:
• To study the use of Thevenin’s theorem in simple type of analyzing a dc circuit.
• To determine Thevenin’s equivalent of an electric circuit.
• To use Thevenin’s theorem and determine current through various branches of a circuit
and to verify the results theoretically.

 Material Required:

1. Resistors variable in size

2. DC power supply unit
3. Circuit construction board
4. Digital multimeter
5. Connecting wire

 Procedure:

1. Construct the circuit shown below.

R1=1.5MΩ
R2=6.79MΩ
R3=3.301MΩ
R4=1.498MΩ
2. For the figure shown above calculate the values of VTH and RTH by using Thevenin’s theorem
solution.
Steps 1 and 2 : produce the network of Fig. below. Note that the load resistor RL has been removed and
the two “holding” terminals have been defined as a and b.

Step 3 and 4: Replacing the voltage source vs with a short-circuit equivalent yields the network of below
They are the two terminals across which the Thévenin resistance is measured

R1 and R4 are in series:

R1+R4=1.5MΩ+1.498MΩ=2.998MΩ

And also 2.998MΩ and R3 are in parallel:

2.998M Ω||R3=2.998MΩ*3.301M Ω/(2.998M Ω +3.301MΩ)=1.5736M Ω

And finally 1.5736M Ω and R2 are in series:

1.5736M Ω+R2=1.5736M Ω+6.79M Ω=8.36M Ω

Rth=8.36M Ω

Step 5: See Fig's . In this case, the network can be redrawn as shown in Fig.and now we can find Vth

By using mesh analysis:

1.5Mi1+3.301Mi1+1.498Mi1=10

6.299Mi1=10

I1=10/6.299M=0.00008319
The voltage across R3 is : R3*i1=3.301M*0.00008319=5.24V

Vth=5.24V

Step 6:

and also we can find Norton circuit

And also we can find Norton circuit

IN=Vth/Rth=5.24V/8.36M Ω=0.627*10-6A

3.Measure the open circuit voltage VAB and record this as VTH .
We measured the voltage of open circuit and the result is

Vth=4.59V

4. Replace the source with short circuit, and measure the resistance between the terminals A and
B & record this as RTH.

And also, we measured the resistance of of resistor after we replace the source with short
circuit(removing sources)
The the result is Rth=8.36MΩ
 5.Calculate the voltage across and current through a 219,2KΩ,80.4KΩ and 100KΩ load that is to
be placed across the terminals A and B & record this as VRL (calc.) and as IRL (calc.) respectively.

RL VRL(calclulated) VRL(measure) IL(calculated)

219.3KΩ 0.137V 0.131V 0.611*10-6A

80.4KΩ 0.05V 0.049V 0.621*10-6A

100KΩ 0.062 0.061V 0.619*10-6A

 Conclusive questions :
1. When would you use Thevenin’s and Norton’s equivalents circuit analysis?
Thevenin's and Norton's theorems are two circuit analysis techniques that can be used to
simplify complex circuits. They are based on the idea that any circuit can be replaced with a
single voltage source and resistor (Thevenin's theorem) or a single current source and resistor
(Norton's theorem) without changing the behavior of the circuit as seen from the terminals of the
replaced circuit.

Thevenin's theorem is more commonly used than Norton's theorem, but both theorems can be
used to solve the same problems. The choice of which theorem to use is usually based on
personal preference.

Thevenin's and Norton's theorems can be used to simplify circuits for a variety of purposes,
such as:

 Calculating the voltage or current at a particular point in a circuit

 Analyzing the effects of changes to the circuit
 Designing new circuits

Here are some examples of when you might use Thevenin's or Norton's theorems:

 You are designing a new circuit and you need to calculate the voltage or current at a particular
point in the circuit.
 You are troubleshooting a circuit and you need to isolate the source of a problem.
 You are trying to understand how a circuit works and you want to simplify it so that it is easier to
analyze.
 Thevenin's and Norton's theorems are powerful tools that can be used to simplify complex
circuits. They are a valuable asset for any electrical engineer.

Here are some additional details about Thevenin's and Norton's theorems:

 Thevenin's theorem: A Thevenin equivalent circuit consists of a voltage source and a resistor
connected in series. The voltage source is equal to the open-circuit voltage of the original
circuit, and the resistor is equal to the equivalent resistance of the original circuit.
 Norton's theorem: A Norton equivalent circuit consists of a current source and a resistor
connected in parallel. The current source is equal to the short-circuit current of the original
circuit, and the resistor is equal to the equivalent resistance of the original circuit.

To find the Thevenin or Norton equivalent of a circuit, you can follow these steps:

1. Disconnect the load from the circuit.

2. Calculate the open-circuit voltage of the circuit. This is the Thevenin voltage.
3. Calculate the short-circuit current of the circuit. This is the Norton current.
4. Calculate the equivalent resistance of the circuit. This is the Thevenin resistance or the Norton
resistance.
5. Replace the original circuit with the Thevenin or Norton equivalent circuit.

Once you have replaced the original circuit with the Thevenin or Norton equivalent circuit, you
can analyze the circuit as if it were a simple circuit with a single voltage source and resistor or a
single current source and resistor.

2. Compare this theorem with the pervious theorems.

Thevenin and Norton theorems are two of the most important theorems in circuit analysis. They
can be used to simplify complex circuits and to analyze the effects of changes to the circuit.

Thevenin's theorem states that any circuit can be replaced by a single voltage source and a
resistor connected in series. The voltage source is equal to the open-circuit voltage of the
original circuit, and the resistor is equal to the equivalent resistance of the original circuit.

Norton's theorem states that any circuit can be replaced by a single current source and a
resistor connected in parallel. The current source is equal to the short-circuit current of the
original circuit, and the resistor is equal to the equivalent resistance of the original circuit.

Thevenin's and Norton's theorems are similar in that they both allow you to replace a complex
circuit with a simpler one. However, there are some key differences between the two theorems .

 Thevenin's theorem uses a voltage source, while Norton's theorem uses a current source.
 Thevenin's theorem is more commonly used, but Norton's theorem can be more convenient in
some cases.

In general, the superposition theorem is the most versatile of the three theorems, but it can be
the most complex to use. Thevenin's theorem is a good choice for circuits that are dominated by
voltage sources, while Norton's theorem is a good choice for circuits that are dominated by
current sources.

Here are some examples of when each theorem might be used:

 Superposition theorem: You are designing a circuit that has both voltage and current sources,
and you want to calculate the voltage or current at a particular point in the circuit.
 Thevenin's theorem: You are troubleshooting a circuit that is dominated by voltage sources, and
you want to isolate the source of a problem.
 Norton's theorem: You are designing a circuit that is dominated by current sources, and you
want to calculate the voltage or current at a particular point in the circuit.

The superposition theorem, Thevenin's theorem, and Norton's theorem are all powerful tools
that can be used to analyze circuits. They each have their own strengths and weaknesses, and
the best one to use in a particular situation will depend on the specific circuit and the desired
outcome.

3. Measure the value of load resistance required to transfer maximum power to the load.

The value of load resistance required to transfer maximum power to the load is equal to the
Thevenin equivalent resistance of the source. The Thevenin equivalent resistance can be
calculated by disconnecting the load and then measuring the open-circuit voltage and the short-
circuit current of the source. The open-circuit voltage is the voltage across the source when the
load is disconnected, and the short-circuit current is the current through the source when the
load is shorted. Once the open-circuit voltage and the short-circuit current are known.