Module 4

DC Network Theorems

Engr. Gerard Ang

School of EECE
 THEVENIN’S THEOREM
• It states that any two-terminal network may be replaced by an
equivalent voltage source and a series resistance, the values
of which are the open-circuit voltage available between the
two terminals and the resistance of the network measured
between these two terminals respectively.
• This was developed by the French telegraph engineer Charles
Léon Thévenin (1857 - 1926).

R1
Rth
a
a

E R2 Vth

b
b
Two Terminal Network Thevenin’s Equivalent
Network
 THEVENIN’S THEOREM (cont…)

If a load resistance RL be connected between terminals a

and b then the load current through RL would be.

Rth
a

Vth IL RL

b
 THEVENIN’S THEOREM (cont…)

Steps to Thevenize a Given Circuit:

a. Temporarily remove the load resistance RL from the circuit
whose current is required.
b. Find the open-circuit Vth which appears across the two terminals
from where the load resistance has been removed. It is also
called the Thevenin’s equivalent voltage.
c. Compute the resistance of the whole network as looked back
from these two terminals after short-circuiting all the voltage
sources leaving behind their internal resistances and (if any)
open-circuiting all the current sources leaving behind their
internal resistances. It is called as the Thevenin’s equivalent
resistance Rth.
d. Replaced the entire circuit by the Thevenin’s equivalent circuit.
e. Connect RL back to its terminals from where it was previously
removed.
f. Finally, calculate the current flowing through RL.
 Sample Problem on
Thevenin’s Theorem
1. Find IL using Thevenin’s theorem.

8Ω

15 Ω
30 Ω
200 V IL RL = 5 Ω

12 Ω 150 V
 Sample Problem on
Thevenin’s Theorem

2. Find IL using Thevenin’s theorem.

19.2 Ω 8Ω
A

25 V

100 V 50 V
0.8 Ω IL RL = 10 Ω

30 Ω

B
 Sample Problem on
Thevenin’s Theorem
3. Use Thevenin’s theorem to find the current flowing through the
6 ohm resistor in the network shown.

4Ω

4Ω 12 V
C
A

2A 2Ω 6Ω

D
B
 NORTON’S THEOREM
It states that any two-terminal network may be replaced by an
equivalent current source and a parallel resistance, the values
of which are the short-circuit current that would flow between
these two terminals if these two terminals were short-circuited
and the resistance of the network measured between these
two terminals respectively.
This was developed by the Bell Labs engineer Edward Lawry
Norton (1898 - 1983).

R1
a
a

E R2 Isc RN

b
b
Two Terminal Network Norton’s Equivalent
Network
 NORTON’S THEOREM (cont…)

If a load resistance RL be connected between terminals a and b

then the load current through RL would be.

Isc RN
IL
RL
𝐈𝐋 =𝐈𝐒𝐂
( 𝐑𝐍
𝐑 𝐋 +𝐑 𝐍 )
b
NORTON’S THEOREM (cont…)
 Sample Problem on
Norton’s Theorem
1. Find IL using Norton’s theorem.

10 Ω 8Ω 50 V 15 Ω
a

200 V IL 30 Ω 100 V
RL = 12 Ω

5Ω 5Ω

b
 Sample Problem on
Norton’s Theorem
2. Find IL using Norton’s theorem.
20 Ω 20 Ω 40 Ω

100 V

10 Ω
300 V 60 Ω
a

15 Ω IL RL
5Ω
30 Ω 5Ω

b
 Sample Problem on
Norton’s Theorem
3. Using Norton’s theorem, calculate the current in
the 6 ohm resistor of the network shown.

4Ω 10 Ω
A C

12 A 8Ω 6Ω 2Ω

B D
 SOURCE TRANSFORMATION OR
CONVERSION
A given voltage source with a series resistance can be converted into (or replaced
by) an equivalent current source with a parallel resistance. Conversely, a current
source with a parallel resistance can be converted into a voltage source with a series
resistance.
Voltage Source to Current Source

R
a a
𝐄
𝐈=
E
I R
𝐑
b b
Voltage Source Equivalent Current Source

Current Source to Voltage Source

R
a a

I R E
𝐄=𝐈𝐑
b b
Current Source Equivalent Voltage Source
 Sample Problem on
Source Transformation
1. Use source transformation technique to find the load current
in the load resistor RL in the circuit below.

3Ω 2Ω 1Ω

6V 6Ω 3A RL 8Ω

B
 Sample Problem on
Source Transformation
2. Referring to terminals A and B, use source
transformation to find the current IL.

40 V
20 Ω 8Ω

A
IL RL 60 Ω
100 V 10 A
30 Ω

B
 MAXIMUM POWER
TRANSFER THEOREM
It states that a resistive load will abstract maximum
power from a network when the load resistance is
equal to the resistance of the network as viewed
from the output terminals, with all energy sources
removed leaving behind their internal resistances.
It is claimed that the Prussian engineer Moritz Hermann
(Boris Semyonovich) von Jacobi (1801 – 1874) was first
to discover the maximum power (transfer) theorem
which is referred to as "Jacobi’s Law". This theorem is
particularly useful for analyzing communication
networks.
 MAXIMUM POWER TRANSFER

Condition for Maximum Power

Transfer
R
Load Resistance = Source Resistance
Rg

𝐑 𝐋 =𝐑 𝐠 RL
Gen.
E

Maximum Power Delivered to the

Load, PL(max)
Source Load

𝐄𝟐 Note:
𝐏𝐋 (𝐦𝐚𝐱) = The over-all efficiency of a
𝟒 𝐑𝐋 network supplying maximum
power to any branch is 50%.
 Sample Problem on
Maximum Power Theorem
1. In the network shown, find the value of R L such that
maximum possible power will be transferred to R L. Find also the
maximum power under these conditions.

3Ω 2Ω A

15 V 3Ω RL

4Ω B
 Sample Problem on
Maximum Power Theorem
2. Calculate the value of R which will absorb
maximum power from the circuit shown. Also,
compute the value of maximum power.

10 Ω

120 V RL 5Ω 6A