ECLAB_Experiment_6

School of Natural Resources Engineering & Management
Department Of Energy Engineering

Electrical Circuits Lab (ENE 213)
Experiment 06
6. Thevenin's and Norton’s theorems and maximum power transfer
6.1 Objectives
 To study Thevenin's and Norton's theorems and their application in circuit analysis.
 To demonstrate the maximum power transfer condition.
6.2 Introduction and theory
In this experiment we will study two theorems which greatly simplify analysis of many linear circuits.
The first of these theorems is named after a French engineer working in telegraphy, M. L. Thevenin.
He first published a statement of his theorem in 1883. The second theorem, credited to E. L.
Norton, may be considered as a corollary to the Thevenin's theorem. Using Thevenin's theorem, it is
possible to obtain an equivalent circuit of any linear circuit composed of an independent voltage
source in series with a resistor as shown in Figure 6.1. Equivalent circuit obtained using Norton's
theorem consists of an independent current source in parallel with a resistor is shown in Figure 6.2.
Figure ‎6.1: Thevenin’s Equivalent Circuit. Figure ‎6.2: Norton’s Equivalent Circuit.
Thevenin's Model
In the laboratory the Thevenin's model (VTH and RTH) may be obtained by the following steps:
1. Measure voltage at the open circuited terminals of the network. This voltage is VOC or VTH.
2. Using a multimeter measure the resistance between terminals of network, after all
independent voltage and current sources have been replaced with short-circuits and open-
circuits, respectively.
1
Norton's Model
The following outlines the steps needed for evaluating IN and RN in the laboratory:
1. Measure current flowing between short circuited terminals of network. This is ISC or IN.
2. Using a multimeter measure equivalent resistance between terminals of network, after all the
independent current and voltage sources have been replaced with open-circuits and short-
circuits, respectively.
In many practical applications, a circuit is designed to provide

power to the load. It is important to take into consideration that
there are losses on internal elements of the circuit. Taking a
simple circuit, voltage source in series with internal resistance, as
an example, as shown in Fig 6.3.
𝑃𝐿 = 𝑣𝐿 × 𝑖𝐿
𝑅𝐿 𝑣𝑠 𝑣𝑠 𝑅𝐿 𝑣𝑠2 Figure ‎6.3: Thevenin’s Equivalent Circuit.
= × =
𝑅𝐿 + 𝑅𝑇𝐻 𝑅𝐿 + 𝑅𝑇𝐻 [𝑅𝐿 + 𝑅𝑇𝐻 ]2
2 [𝑅 2 2
𝑑𝑃𝐿 𝐸𝑇ℎ 𝐿 + 𝑅𝑇𝐻 ] − 2𝑅𝐿 𝑣𝑠 [𝑅𝐿 + 𝑅𝑇𝐻 ]
= = 0 → [𝑅𝐿 + 𝑅𝑇𝐻 ] − 2𝑅𝐿 = 0
𝑑𝑅𝐿 [𝑅𝐿 + 𝑅𝑇𝐻 ]4
→ 𝑅𝐿 = 𝑅𝑇𝐻
Maximum Power transfer occurred when:𝑅𝐿 = 𝑅𝑇𝐻
Thus, maximum power is:
𝑣𝑠2
𝑃𝑀𝑎𝑥 =
4𝑅𝑇𝐻
2
6.3 Procedures
Part 1
1- Connect the circuit in Figure 6.4 on your bread board. Use R1 = R2 = 1.5 kΩ, R3 = R4 = 0.68
kΩ and RL = 2.2 kΩ. Set the power Supply E1 to 17V and E2 to 7V.
Figure ‎6.4: Circuit for part 1.
2- Apply Thevenin’s theorem by removing RL from the circuit.

3- To calculate Vth, measure the voltage across the open circuit terminals ab.
4- To calculate Rth, kill the sources by replacing them with a short circuit and measure the
resistance on the terminals ab.
5- Fill in Table 6.1 the resulted measurements.
6- Simulate the circuit using LT spice and compare the simulation results with the experimental
results.
7- Draw Thevenin and Norton equivalent circuits.
Table ‎6.1: Practical results for part 1
Vth
Rth
IN
Part 2
1- Keep the circuit in Figure 6.4 connected on your bread board, just replace RL with a
potentiometer.
2- Measure the voltage for RL values mentioned in table 6.2. And then calculate PL based on the
measured voltages.
3- Draw the relationship between RL and PL using Excel software, and find out on which
resistance did the maximum power occurred.
3
4- Simulate the circuit using LT spice and compare the simulation results with the experimental
results.
Table ‎66.2: Practical results for part 2
RL VL PL
100 Ω
200 Ω
500 Ω
600 Ω
700 Ω
800 Ω
900 Ω
1000 Ω
1500 Ω
2000 Ω
2500 Ω
3000 Ω
3500 Ω
5000 Ω

ECLAB_Experiment_6

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ECLAB_Experiment_6

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School of Natural Resources Engineering & Management

Department Of Energy Engineering

6.2 Introduction and theory

In many practical applications, a circuit is designed to provide

Maximum Power transfer occurred when:𝑅𝐿 = 𝑅𝑇𝐻

Thus, maximum power is:

Figure ‎6.4: Circuit for part 1.

2- Apply Thevenin’s theorem by removing RL from the circuit.

Table ‎66.2: Practical results for part 2

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