THEVENIN EQUIVALENT OBJECTIVE: Find the voltage across the current source I1 (Figure 1 shown below) using the

Thevenin Equivalent approach. The Thevenin equivalent simplifies a circuit by replacing it with a single voltage source and a single equivalent resistance. Thevenin equivalent also uses the concept of Superposition. To show how this is done, use Figure 1 below as an example. After finding the Thevenin Equivalent between nodes A and B, then we can find the voltage across the current source I1 by finding the voltage across the series combination of R3 and V2 (since I1 is connected in parallel to the series combination of R3 and V2). To find the Thevenin Equivalent, use the following steps: 1. Find OPEN CIRCUIT VOLTAGE (VOC) across A and B. 2. Find the SHORT CIRCUIT CURRENT (ISC) through A and B. 3. CALCULATE EQUIVALENT RESISTANCE using Req=VOC/ISC A
R1 30 V1 30Vdc R2 20 I1 0.5Adc R3 40 V2 5Vdc

Figure 1. Circuit to Demonstrate Thevenin Equivalent The circuit looking between Nodes A and B can be viewed as
R1 A 30 V1 30Vdc R2 B 20 I1 0.5Adc
VThev enin VOC VOC VOC=VOC1+VOC2 RThev enin A Req=VOC/ISC

Figure 2. Transforming the circuit looking toward the left between Nodes A and B and replacing it with its Thevenin Equivalent.

Professor John Santiago, EE 221, Thevenin Equivalent, 6 May 06

There is an open circuit between Nodes A and B. Basically, you disconnected the LOAD circuit from the SOURCE Circuit between Nodes A and B. The LOAD circuit was the series combination of R3 and V2. The SOURCE circuit consists of V1, R1, R2, and I1. Replace the circuit between Nodes A and B with its Thevenin Equivalent (a single voltage source and a single equivalent resister). STEP 1. Find the OPEN CIRCUIT VOLTAGE across A and B. Since there are two sources you need to use superposition. a. To find how V1 contributes to the voltage across A and B, remove I1 (a current source acts an open circuit also having infinite resistance).
R1 A 30 V1 30Vdc R2 B 20 20 VOC1 R2 B I1 0.5Adc VOC2 30 R1 A

Figure 3. V1 only, I1 removed

Figure 4. I1 only, V1 removed

b. From Figure 3, V1 contributes 30 Volts across A and B (since this is an open circuit). So let VOC1=30 V. Since there is no current flow, there is no voltage drop across R1 and R2. So all of the 30 volts from V1 gets delivered across nodes A and B. c. To find how I1 contributes to the voltage across A and B, remove V1 by shorting out the voltage source (a voltage source acts as a short circuit having zero resistance). d. From Figure 4, the current flow cannot pass between A and B since its open. All of the current I1 passes through R1 and R2. Therefore, VOC2=(.5A)(20+30 ohms)=25 Volts. e. Therefore, the total OPEN CIRCUIT VOLTAGE contributed by both sources is

VOC = VOC1 +VOC2 = 30 V+25 V=55 Volts

STEP 2. Find the SHORT CIRCUIT CURRENT through A and B. Since there are two sources, you need to use superposition. a. To find current contribution for V1, remove I1.

Professor John Santiago, EE 221, Thevenin Equivalent, 6 May 06

R1 A 30 V1 30Vdc R2 B 20 ISC1

R1 A 30 I1 0.5Adc R2 B 20 ISC2

Figure 5. V1 only, I1 removed

Figure 6. I1 only, V1 removed

b. For V1, the current flowing is ISC1=(30 V)/(50 Ohms)=0.6 A c. For I1, all the current of I1 flows through A and B since it has zero resistance. ISC2=0.5 A. d. Therefore, the total SHORT CIRCUIT CURRENT is equal to

ISC=ISC1+ISC2=0.6 A+0.5 A=1.1 A

STEP 3. Calculate Equivalent Resistance:

Req=VOC/ISC=(55V)/(1.1A)=50 Ohm
R1 A 30 V1 30Vdc R2 B 20 I1 0.5Adc
VThev enin RThev enin Req=50 A

VOC=55 B

Figure 7. Final values for Figure 2. Transforming circuit to its Thevenin Equivalent. STEP 4. Now analyze the original circuit with the Thevenin Equivalent in place and as shown in Figure 8 and find voltage between A and B. That is,
RThev enin Req=50 VThev enin

R3 40 V2 5Vdc

VOC=55

Figure 8. Replaced original circuit with its Thevenin Equivalent in Figure 1. Using superposition (adding Voc and V2) and the voltage divider technique yields, VAB= (55+5)(40/(50+40))-5=21.7 V (same result using previous analytical techniques). Professor John Santiago, EE 221, Thevenin Equivalent, 6 May 06