Lecture 6

EO 101

Basic Electrical Engineering

Instructor: Dr. Subhendu Dutta

(sd.eee@iitbhu.ac.in)
Topics to be covered in lecture 6

• Thevenin’s theorem and its application to solve dc

circuits.

• Maximum power transfer theorem and power

transfer efficiency.

• Norton’s theorem for analysis of dc circuits

• Star-delta conversion and vice-versa.

• Application of Star-Delta transformation.

• Superposition Theorem.

• Application of Superposition theorem if only

independent sources are present.

• Application of Superposition theorem if both the

independent and dependent sources are present.

• Limitations of Superposition theorem.

Consequence of : y  a1u1  a2u2   amum

Superposition theorem:

In any linear circuit containing more than one

independent source, any output (voltage or
current) in the circuit may be calculated by
adding together the contributions due to each
independent source acting alone, with
remaining independent sources deactivated.
 Steps to follow while applying Superposition
theorem in a circuit containing independent
sources only

Step-1: Retain one source at a time in the circuit and deactivate

the other sources.

Step-2: Determine the output (current or voltage) due to the single

source acting alone.

Step-3: Repeat steps 1 and 2 for each of the other independent

sources.

Step-4: Find the total contribution by adding algebraically all the

contributions due to the independent sources (Don’t miss to take
the appropriate sign of the voltages and currents).
 How to deactivate independent sources

If the source is a voltage source, short the source by its

internal resistance.

Example:
 How to deactivate independent sources

If the source is a current source, open the terminals of

the source.

Example:
 Steps to follow while applying Superposition
theorem in a circuit containing both dependent
and independent sources
Same steps what is mentioned in case of the circuit containing
independent sources only, to be followed in this case as well.
However, few important points which are mentioned below to be
kept into account:

•Don’t deactivate any of the dependent sources, i.e. don’t

short the terminals of any dependent voltage source or don’t
open the terminals of any dependent current source.

•Keep all the dependent sources as it is in the circuit, and

take their voltage or current into account while applying KCL
and/or KVL in the circuit.
 Example-2
50  200 

40 

Is1 Vout V3 Vs2

V3 Compute Vout
 50  200 
V31 V3  V3
1 1

  is1
40 
200 40
Is1 1 V1
Vout 3
or
V31
200 I s1
V 1

(6  5 )
3

Therefore, 500  250

Vout1  50I s1  V31  I s1
6  5
 50  200 
V32  Vs 2 V32  V32
 0
40  200 40
2
Vout V32 Vs2
V32
or

1
Vout  V 
2
Vs 2
6  5
3

Therefore,

500  250 1
Vout  V  V 
1 2
I s1  Vs 2
6  5 6  5
out out
 Limitation of Superposition theorem:
Superposition theorem doesn’t work for power
calculation.

Reason: Power calculations involve either the product of

voltage and current, the square of current or the square of the
voltage, they are not linear operations.
 Limitation of Superposition theorem:

• Superposition theorem can not be applied for non

linear circuit ( Diodes or Transistors ).

• In order to calculate load current IL or the load

voltage for the several choices of load resistance
of the resistive network, one needs to solve for
every source voltage and current, perhaps several
times. With the simple circuit, this is fairly easy but
in a large circuit this method becomes an painful
experience.
• Mesh current method needs 3 equations to be solved

• Node voltage method requires 2 equations to be solved

• Superposition method requires a complete solution

through load resistance (RL) by considering each
independent source at a time and replacing other sources
by their internal source resistances.
Thevenin’s Theorem:

Given an arbitrary two-terminal linear network N, for almost all such

N, there exists an equivalent two-terminal network consisting of an
resistance (impedance), Rth in series with an independent voltage
source, Voc or Vth. The voltage source, Voc or Vth, called the open circuit
voltage, is what appears across the two terminals of N when no other
network is attached. Rth is called the Thevenin equivalent resistance,
is the equivalent resistance of N when all independent sources are
deactivated.
 Thevenin’s Theorem:
A iL
Resistances
and Arbitrary
independent
VL Network
sources

Rth A iL

Arbitrary
Voc VL Network

This circuit was developed in 1883 by M. Leon Thevenin

(1857–1926), a French telegraph engineer.
Thevenin’s Theorem:
Steps of Thevenin’s Theorem
Step-1: Identify the load terminal

Step-2: Disconnect the load and calculate VAB

Steps of Thevenin’s Theorem
Step-3: (a) If the circuit contains only independent
sources, deactivate all the sources and find Rth

(b) In case dependent sources are present, deactivate

all independent sources and keep dependent sources
as it is. Then apply a known voltage,Vs e.g. 1 V across
the load terminal, and find the value of current delivered
by the source (Is) to the arbitrary circuit. Now Rth = Vs / Is
Steps of Thevenin’s Theorem
Step-4: Draw the equivalent Thevenin circuit

Step-5: Connect the load across AB terminals

Advantage of Thevenin’s Theorem

With help of this theorem one can find the choice of load
resistance RL that results in the maximum power
transfer to the load.
Find Thevenin equivalent circuits seen at the
terminal A-B

VA VB

i R

5 k 20 k
20 k is3

Vs1 Vs2
 VB  20kis 3
VA VB

i Applying KCL at node - A

5 k 20 k
20 k is3
VA  Vs 2 VA  Vs1
Vs1 Vs2
 0
20k 5k
or,
VA  Vs 2  4VA  4Vs1
0
20k
or 4Vs1  Vs 2
VA 
5
Therefore,
4Vs1  Vs 2
Voc  VAB   20kis 3
5
 VA VB Rth
i
5 k 20 k
20 k is3

Vs1 Vs2

5 k 20 k
A

B
20 k
A 24 k

4 k

B
20 k

B
Find Theven equivalent circuit seen at the
terminal A-B

A i 4k 

50  Vd Vd   101
Rth

B
 voc  isc  0
Applying KCL at node - A

1 1  101
i   0 i
1
50 4 10 3
200
A i 4k 

50  Vd 1
Rth   200
1V Vd
Rth
1

B
200
 Maximum Power Transfer Theorem:

For a two terminal linear network, N, represented by

its Thevenin equivalent, Rth when connected to a
variable load, RL , the maximum instantaneous
Power is transferred to the load when,

RL  Rth
Voltage appearing across load is half of source voltage
For a given circuit, Vth and Rth are fixed. By varying the load
resistance, RL, the power delivered to the load, PL can be
plotted.
Norton’s Theorem:

Given an arbitrary two-terminal linear network N, for almost all such

N, there exists an equivalent two-terminal network consisting of an
resistance (impedance), Rth or RN in parallel with an independent
current source, Isc. The current source, Isc , called the short circuit
current, is what flows through a short circuit of the two terminals of N.
Rth called the Thevenin equivalent resistance, is the equivalent
resistance of N when all independent sources are deactivated
Neq

Resistances
and
Independent isc Rth
sources
Steps of Norton’s Theorem
Step-1: Identify the load terminals

Step-2: Short the load terminals and calculate Isc or IN

Steps of Norton’s Theorem
Step-3: (a) If the circuit contains only independent
sources, deactivate all the sources and find Rth

(b) In case dependent sources are present, deactivate

all independent sources and keep dependent sources
as it is. Then apply a known voltage,Vs e.g. 1 V across
the load terminal, and find the value of current delivered
by the source (Is) to the arbitrary circuit. Now Rth = Vs / Is
Steps of Norton’s Theorem
Step-4: Draw the equivalent Thevenin circuit

Step-5: Connect the load across AB terminals

Advantage of Norton’s Theorem

With help of this theorem one can find the choice of load
resistance RL that results in the maximum power
transfer to the load.
Find Norton equivalent circuits seen at the
terminal A-B

VA VB

i R

5 k 20 k
20 k is3

Vs1 Vs2
 VA VB

i
5 k 20 k
20 k is3

Vs1 Vs2

Calculate Isc or IN by your own.

 VA VB Rth
i
5 k 20 k
20 k is3

Vs1 Vs2

5 k 20 k
A

B
20 k
A 24 k

4 k

B
20 k

B
Bibliography

• Basic Electrical Lectures of Prof. Kishore Chatterjee,

Electrical Engg. Dept., IIT Bombay.

• Basic Electrical Lectures of Prof. N.K. De, Prof. G.D.

Ray, Dr. T.K. Bhattacharya, Electrical Engg. Dept., IIT
Kharagpur.

• Contents from various web sources.