Thevenin's Theorem 2 February 2005

Thevenin’s Theorem

ELEC 111

Thevenin’s Theorem Procedure

• Identify and remove the load
• Look in the load terminals and calculate VTH
• Remove all sources by replacing:
– voltage sources with a short
– current sources with an open
– If the source has an internal resistance, keep the resistance in the circuit
• Look in the load terminals and calculate RTH
• Create a series circuit consisting of VTH, RTH, and the load
• Calculate the load current or voltage as desired

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Thevenin's Theorem 2 February 2005

Thevenin Example 1

Identify Load Use RL

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Thevenin Example 1

Calculate VTH Replace all current

sources with an open
Replace voltage sources
with a short
Calculate RTH

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Thevenin's Theorem 2 February 2005

Thevenin Example 1

Draw Thevenin Equivalent Circuit with

RL as the load
It is a series circuit
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Thevenin Example 2

Identify Load Use RL

Identify Load Use RL

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Thevenin's Theorem 2 February 2005

Thevenin Example 2

Calculate VTH1 Calculate VTH2

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Thevenin Example 2

Calculate RTH Thevenin Equivalent Circuit

VTH = VTH1 + VTH2

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Thevenin's Theorem 2 February 2005

Thevenin Example 2 Solution

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Thevenin Example 3

Identify Load Use RL

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Thevenin's Theorem 2 February 2005

Thevenin Example 3

Calculate VTH = VTHA - VTHB

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Thevenin Example 3

Calculate RTH either separately or combined

R1 R3 R2 R4
RTH1 = RTH2 =
R1 + R3 R2 + R4
R1 R3 R2 R4
RTH = RTH1 + RTH2 = +
R1 + R3 R2 + R4

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Thevenin's Theorem 2 February 2005

Thevenin Example 3

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Thevenin Example 3 Solution

VL = VA - VB
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Thevenin's Theorem 2 February 2005

Thevenin Example 4

VS = 10V
R1 = 1kΩ
R2 = 10kΩ
R3 = 4.2kΩ
R4 = 51kΩ
RM = 2kΩ

Identify Load Use RM

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Thevenin Example 4

Calculate VTH Calculate RTH

VTH = VA - VB RTH = R1//R3 + R2//R4

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Thevenin's Theorem 2 February 2005

Thevenin Example 4

VTH = VA - VB

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Thevenin Example 4

Draw Thevenin Equivalent Circuit with

RM as the load

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Thevenin's Theorem 2 February 2005

Thevenin Example 4

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Maximum Power Transfer

• Maximum Power is transferred to a load when RL = RTH

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Thevenin's Theorem 2 February 2005

Thevenin & Maximum Power Transfer

• Solve for VTH1 and VTH2

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Thevenin & Maximum Power Transfer

Open IS Short VS
Calculate VTH1
Calculate VTH2

VTH = VTH1 + VTH2

Be sure to observe polarity

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Thevenin's Theorem 2 February 2005

Thevenin & Maximum Power Transfer

Open IS and short VS

VTH = VTH1 + VTH2
Calculate RTH
Maximum power is
transferred to he load
when RL = RTH

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RL < RTH

PL

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Thevenin's Theorem 2 February 2005

RL = RTH

PL

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RL > RTH

PL

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