Thevenin’s theorem

What is Thevenin’s theorem?

Thevenin’s theorem for linear electrical networks states that any combination of voltage
sources, current sources and resistors with two terminals is electrically equivalent to a single
voltage source V and a single series resistor R. For single frequency AC systems, the theorem
can also be applied to general impedances, not just resistors. Any complex network can be
reduced to a Thevenin's equivalent circuit consist of a single voltage source and series
resistance connected to a load.

Where did Thevenin’s theorem originated from?

The theorem was independently derived in 1853 by the German scientist Hermann von
Helmholtz and in 1883 by Léon Charles Thévenin (1857–1926), an electrical engineer with
France's national Postes et Télégraphes telecommunications organization.

Where can it be used?

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.
Source modeling and resistance measurement using the Wheatstone bridge(A Wheatstone
bridge is an electrical circuit used to measure an unknown electrical resistance by
balancing two legs of a bridge circuit, one leg of which includes the unknown
component) provide applications for Thevenin’s theorem.
How to calculate Thevenin’s theorem?
First to note…
VTH is the open circuit voltage at the terminals. The Voltage between A and B.
- RTH is the input or equivalent resistance at the terminals when the sources are turned
off. The equivalent resistance between A and B.
Steps in calculating the theorem
1. Find the Thevenin source voltage by removing the load resistor from the original
circuit and calculating voltage across the open connection points where the
load resistor used to be.

2. Find the Thevenin resistance by removing all power sources in the original circuit
(voltage sources shorted and current sources open) and calculating total resistance
between the open connection points.
 3. Draw the Thevenin equivalent circuit, with the Thevenin voltage source in series with
the Thevenin resistance. The load resistor re-attaches between the two open points of
the equivalent circuit.
4. Analyze voltage and current for the load resistor following the rules for series circuits.

Examples:

Firstly, we have to remove the centre 40Ω resistor and short out (not physically as this would
be dangerous) all the emf´s connected to the circuit, or open circuit any current sources. The
value of resistor Rs is found by calculating the total resistance at the terminals A and B with
all the emf´s removed, and the value of the voltage required Vs is the total voltage across
terminals A and B with an open circuit and no load resistor Rs connected. Then, we get the
following circuit;

Find the Equivalent Resistance (Rs):

10ΩResistor in parallel with the 20ΩResistor:
We therefore use product over sum method….

Find the Equivalent Voltage (Vs):

We now need to reconnect the two voltages back into the circuit, and as VS = VAB the
current flowing around the loop is calculated as:

So the voltage drop across the 20Ω resistor can be calculated as:
VAB = 20 - (20Ω x 0.33amps) = 13.33 volts.

Then the Thevenin’s Equivalent circuit is shown below with the 40Ω resistor connected.

Example 2:
Remove your load and label your terminals a and b.
 1. Remove your load and label your terminals a and b.

2. Solve for VTH

The Thevenin voltage is the voltage between a and b with the load removed.
Follow the path of current leaving the source to see if it divides and it goes through
the 40 Ohms resistor. Note that no matter if you have resistors on the open terminals
since no current can flow through them. In this case this is a closed loop where the
voltage between a and b V V ab TH =, and is also the voltage drop across the 40Ω resistor,
that can be solved using the VDR .

3. Solve for RTH . Turn off your Source.

- If it is a Voltage source ( Es) Short Circuit.
- If it’s a Current source ( sI )  Open Circuit.
Then your RTH is the value of resistance between terminals a and b.
To see how to combine the resistors, try to follow the path of the current from a to
b to check where splits or merge or where simply is not going through because there
is an open circuit (due to the current source that you turned off) or a short circuit in
the same node (due to the voltage source that you turned off).
4. Finally: Draw your new Thevenin equivalent circuit plugging
E R TH , TH and RLD