Thévenin’s and Norton’s Equivalents and

Dependent Sources
In case we have a dependent source, we cannot use
the shortcut method. This means we cannot “kill” the
independent source(s) and make series and parallel
combinations of resistors to find the RTH

• In this case, we need to refer to general method:

First calculate the open-circuit voltage and then the
short-circuit current. RTH is calculated from the ratio

• If the circuit has dependent sources but no

independent sources, the Thevenin voltage and
Norton current are both zero. In this case we will use
the test source method (which will be explained).
Example 1 :

Find the Thevenin

equivalent w.r.t the
terminals a,b

a- Find voc using the node voltage method:

 voc  24 voc
At voc : 4  3ix  0
2 8
voc
for the dependent variable : ix 
8

Solving : voc  8 V

Now, we need the short circuit current isc

b) Find the short circuit current isc

The short circuit eliminates the 8  resistor from the circuit, which
sets ix = 0 and eliminates the dependent source. The simplified
circuit is shown below:
We can do a source transformation here

We find the short circuit current is 8A

Isc=8[A]
c) Find the RTh and draw the Thevenin equivalent circuit

voc 8
RTh    1[]
isc 8
 Example 2 :
Find the Thevenin equivalent w.r.t the terminals a,b

=vTH

a- Find voc (vTH):

vTH=vab= -20i(25)= -500 i
We note that v =vTH

Combining the two equations we find vTH = -5[V]

Note that polarity is negative
b) Find the short circuit current isc

25 Ohm resistor can be removed as it is shorted.

iSC= −20i= −20 (5/2000)= -0.05 [A]

c) Find the RTh and draw the Thevenin equivalent circuit

voc 5
RTh    100[]
isc  0.05
Thevenin equivalent circuit

Note that since VTH= -5[V], polarity has been

changed as shown in the figure
AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD FOR CIRCUITS WITH
DEPENDENT SOURCES- USING A TEST SOURCE

Whenever, we have a circuit containing dependent

sources, an alternative method for finding the Thévenin
resistance is as follows:

• First deactivate all independent sources

• Apply either a test voltage source or a test current

source to the Thévenin terminals a,b.

• The Thévenin resistance equals the ratio of the

voltage across the test source to the current delivered
by the test source
• Apply either a test voltage source or a test current
source to the Thévenin terminals a,b.

1) If you apply a voltage source, find the current

through that voltage source.

2) If you apply a current source, find the voltage

across that current source.

3) Then, find the ratio of the voltage to the

current, which will be the equivalent
resistance.
Example 3 : Find the Thevenin Resistance using a test voltage
source for the previous example:

1) First kill all independent sources (replace 5V source with a

short) and apply a test voltage source from terminals a-b
Need to determine test current iT

iT=20i+vT/25

i= -3vT/2000 iT=-0.03vT+0.04vT
iT=0.01vT
vT
RTH   100[] We obtained the very same
iT result using this technique
ASSIGNING A VALUE FOR THE TEST SOURCE

For simplicity, we can also assign a value for a test

source. It would be logical to give a value like 1[V] (in
the case of a test voltage), and a value like 1[A] (for the
case of test current source)
Let’s redo the previous example with a 1[V] Source

This would be
3V
Need to determine test current iT

iT=20i+1/25

i= -3(1)/2000 iT= - 0.03+0.04

iT=0.01
vT 1
RTH    100[] Same result!
iT 0.01
Example 5:
Find the Thevenin equivalent w.r.t the terminals a,b
We will use a 1A test course from Terminals a-b to get Rth

1- Find voc using the node voltage method:

1- Find voc using the node voltage method -contd

Our Rule: If the voltage source is in series with another element, we

use that series element to come up with an expression for the current.

v v  (160i  voc )
At node v : 4 0
60 20
(160i  voc )  v voc voc
At node voc :   0
20 80 40
v
for dependent variable : i  oc
40
Solving : voc  30 V
 For RTH :Use the test source method.

don’t forget to kill the independent sources!:

Open
circuit
NVM

vT  160i vT vT
At vT :   1  0
80 80 40
v
d.s. constraint : i  T Solving : vT  10 V
40
v 10
 RTh  T   10
iT 1

Thevenin
Equivalent
SUMMARY

In order to find Norton or Thevenin Equivalent on circuit

having dependent sources, use one of the following methods:

Method1: Calculate the open-circuit voltage and then the

short-circuit current. RTH is calculated from the ratio

Method2: Applying a test source.

• Deactivate all independent sources

• Apply either a test voltage source or a test current
source to the Thévenin terminals a,b. You can even
assign a numerical value like 1[V] or 1[A] if you wish
• The Thévenin resistance equals the ratio of the voltage
across the test source to the current delivered by the test
source
Some Notes:
We assume that there are no negative-valued resistors. However,
when modeling a circuit that contains dependent sources, it is possible
that the Thevenin Equivalent resistance is negative.

This does not mean that we can have negative valued resistors. It
means that the circuit model includes a negative resistance. That
resistance is simply part of the model; it is not an actual circuit
component.

Only circuits with dependent sources can have negative RTH. But just
because a circuit has a dependent source does not mean it will have a
negative RTH.

If the circuit contains only resistances and dependent sources (or only
dependent sources), the open circuit voltage and short circuit current
will again be 0. In that case, there is no choice but to use a test source.