Thevenin and Norton

Equivalent Circuits
http://hyperphysics.phyastr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/thevenin.html
http://www.calvin.edu/~svleest/circuitExamples/Theven
inNorton/
http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_1/chpt_10/8.html

Thevenin Equivalent Circuit

Thevenin's Theorem
Any combination of batteries and resistances with two terminals can be replaced
by a single voltage source e and a single series resistor r. The value of e is the
open circuit voltage at the terminals, and the value of r is e divided by the current
with the terminals short circuited

Thevenin Voltage
The Thevenin voltage VTh. used in Thevenin's Theorem is an
ideal voltage source equal to the open circuit voltage at the terminals. In
the example below, the resistance R2 does not affect this voltage and
the resistances R1 and R3 form a voltage divider

Thevenin/Norton Resistance
The Thevenin resistance RTh. used in Thevenin's Theorem is the
resistance measured at terminals AB with all voltage
sources replaced by short circuits and all current sources replaced
by open circuits. It can also be calculated by dividing the open circuit
voltage by the short circuit current at AB, but the previous method is
usually preferable and gives

Examples

Vt = Vo - RoIL

Problem 1

Find the Thevenin equivalent with respect to the 7k ohm

resistor.

Solution 1

Problem 2
Let's suppose that we decide to
designate R2 as the load resistor
in this circuit

Problem: Determine the

Thevenin equivalent circuit !

Solution 2

We can determine the voltage across

the open load terminals by applying
the rules of series circuits, Ohm's
Law, and Kirchhoff's Voltage Law:

AC Thevenin's Theorem
Any combination of sinusoidal AC sources and impedances with two
terminals can be replaced by a single voltage source e and a single series
impedance z.

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Norton's Theorem
Any collection of batteries and resistances with two terminals is electrically
equivalent to an ideal current source i in parallel with a single resistor r. The
value of r is the same as that in the Thevenin equivalent and the current i can
be found by dividing the open circuit voltage by r.

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Norton Current
The value i for the current used in Norton's Theorem is
found by determining the open circuit voltage at the
terminals AB and dividing it by the Norton resistance r.

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Problem 3
2. Find the Norton Equivalent
with respect to the 20uF
capacitor.

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Solution 3
In order to find the Norton Short-circuit
current, short the terminals where the
capacitor used to be. Since we are finding the
Norton Superposition analysis to find the
current through the short means we solve
several simpler circuits (one for each source.
Since there are three sources, we have three
simpler circuits to solve.

Isc = Isc15 + Isc12 + Isc20

I-Norton

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1). Isc15 = 15V/6k = 2.5mA

2). Isc12 = -12V/6k = -2mA

3). Isc20 = 20mA

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Isc = Isc15 + Isc12 + Isc20= 2.5mA - 2mA + 20mA= 20.5 mA

R Norton = R Thevenin
In order to find the Norton Short-circuit current, short the terminals
where the capacitor used to be, since we are finding the Norton

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Mesh-current
analysis to find the
current through the
short.

I3 is the current we are particularly interested in.

Here are the mesh current equations:
KVL for i1:
12k*i1 -1k*i4 -12 = 0
KVL for i2:
-15 + 4k*i2 - 4k*i3 = 0
KVL for i3:
-4k*i2 + 10k*i3 -6k*i4 + 12 = 0
KVL for i4: We have trouble writing the voltage
over the current source, so we either must add
another variable, or simply write:
i4 = 20mA
Now solve the system of equations.
Solving the second equation for i2, we get:
i2 = (15 + 4k*i3) / 4k
Now rewrite equation 3, plugging in our formulas
for i2 and i4:
-4k*(15 + 4k*i3)/4k + 10k*i3 - 6k*20mA + 12 = 0
Solve for i3:
-15 - 4k*i3 + 10k*i3 -120 + 12 = 0
i3 = 123/6k = 20.5mA
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