Unit # 3 : Network Theorem

Thevenin Theorem
&
Norton Theorem

Ray K
1
Who are Thevenin & Norton?
⚫ Léon Charles Thévenin was a French Telegraph
engineer living from 1857 – 1926, and Edward Lawry
Norton was a Bell Labs engineer living from 1898 – 1983
and they developed helpful tools for us electrical
engineers: Thévenin’s Theorem and Norton’s Theorem

Thevenin Norton
2
Objective
⚫ Thevenin's and Norton's theorems are
important for circuit analysis as they are used
to simplify the circuit.
⚫ Thevenin and Norton equivalent circuits are
fundamental approaches to analysing both
DC and AC circuits.

3
Objective
⚫ Thevenin's theorem says that if you take any
two terminal of a complex network you can
replace the circuit across it by a voltage
source and a resistor in series.
⚫ Norton's theorem says that the circuit is
replaced by a current source and a resistor in
parallel.
⚫ This simplifies the circuit drastically. So both
the theorems are important and essential part
of circuit analysis.
4
Simplify Complex Circuits/Network

5
Thevenin & Norton

6
Thevenin Theorem
Thevenin Theorem
Thevenin’s Theorem states that “Any linear circuit
containing several voltages or current sources and
resistances can be replaced by just one single voltage in
series with a single resistance connected across the
load.
In other words, we can simplify any electrical circuit, no
matter how complex, to an equivalent two-terminal circuit
with just a single constant voltage source in series with a
resistance (or impedance) connected to a load as shown
below.

7
Unit 3: Thevenin Theorem
Thevenin’s equivalent circuit.
Rth A
A

A Linear Network
Containing Several
Emfs and RL Eth
Resistances
B

8
Unit 3: Thevenin Theorem
Example 1
Find the Thevenin equivalent circuit for
the network in the shaded area of the
network of Fig. 3.1.

Figure 3.1

Step 1: Remove the load

9
Unit 3:Thevenin Theorem
Step 2: Find the ETh voltage.
▪ Measure the Open Circuit Voltage across the terminals.
▪ This is the Eth Voltage.
Measurement Calculation

Using Current Divider Rule

6
ETh =  9 = 6V
RL

(6 + 3)

10
 Unit 3: Thevenin Theorem
Step 3:Find the RTh - resistance across the terminals
If the linear network is having a voltage source
▪ Remove the voltage source and short the terminals
▪ Measure the resistance across both the terminals
using ohm meter. This is the Thevenin resistance, RTh

Measurement Calculation

RTh = R1 // R2
= 3 // 6
3 6
=
3+ 6
= 2 11
Unit 3: Thevenin Theorem
Thevenin equivalent circuit

RTh= 2Ω
A

Eth= 6 V
RL

12
Unit 3: Thevenin Theorem
Example 2: Find the Thevenin equivalent circuit.

Figure 2
E th = 12 − 4 = 8V

Rth = 6 + 4 = 10  13
 Unit 3: Thevenin Theorem
Example 3:
Find the Thévenin equivalent circuit for the
network in the shaded area of the network
of Fig. 3

Step 1: Remove the load.

Step 2: Use voltmeter to measure the voltage across

the terminals a & b. Figure 3

Measurement Calculation

ETh = 12  4 = 48 V 14
Unit 3: Thevenin Theorem
Step 3: To measure the resistance RTh.
If the linear network is having a current source

❑ Remove the current source and let it open

❑ Use Ohmmeter to measure the resistance across
the output terminals.

Measurement Calculation

Rth = 2 + 4 = 6 
15
Unit 3: Thevenin Theorem
Result:

RTh= 6Ω A

Eth= 48 V RL = 6Ω

16
Unit 3: Norton Theorem

Nortons Theorem states that “Any linear circuit containing several

energy sources and resistances can be replaced by a single
Constant Current generator in parallel with a Single Resistor“.

Norton Equivalent Circuit

17
Unit 3: Norton Theorem
Example 4
Find the Norton equivalent circuit
for the network in the shaded area
of Fig. 4

Figure 5
Figure 4
Step 1: Remove the load resistor.
Step 2: Place an ammeter (low resistance) across the terminals “a”
and “b”. Measure the value of short circuited current, and
named as, I N

V 9
I= = =3A 18
R 3
Unit 3: Norton Theorem
Step 3: To find the resistance
Measurement Calculation
Rn=3Ω

Norton’s Equivalent Circuit

19
Norton Theorem Example
Find the Norton equivalent circuit
for the network in the shaded area
of Fig. 5

Figure 5
Step 1: Remove the load resistor.
Step 2: Place an ammeter (low resistance) across the terminals “a”
and “b”. Measure the value of short circuited current, and
named as, IN (R2 is shorted by ammeter and can be removed)

Measurement Calculation

20
V 9
I = = =3A
R 3
Unit 3: Norton Theorem
Continue

Measurement Calculation

RT = R1 // R2
R1  R2
=
R1 + R2
3 6
=
3+ 6
= 2

21
Norton Theorem Example
Find the Norton equivalent circuit
for the network in the shaded area
of Fig. 6 and then the current IL

Step 1
To find the Norton current
Remove the load RL and
shorted “a” & “b”.
Find the IsC by connecting an ammeter
as shown. Figure 6

Measurement Calculation

 R2 
I N = I sc =    18 A
 R2 + R3 
 6 
=   18
 6 + 2 
= 13.5 A 22
Norton Theorem Example
Step 2
To find the Norton resistance.
Remove the current source and let open.

Measurement Calculation

RN = R3 + R2
= 2+6
= 8
23
Summary

24
Summary

25
Summary

26