Republic of the Philippines

CAVITE STATE UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING

EENG 55 – Electrical Circuits 1

Learning Element 3

Prepared by

Joel C. Gammayao, REE

October 2020
Objectives:

This course learning elements will help the students to gain essential knowledge in basic
electrical circuits to complex networks. They will learn more about the nature of electricity and
how power works in electrical circuits.

After the completion of the chapter, students should be able to:

1. Discuss the superposition theorem and apply it to find currents in d.c. circuits
2. Discuss Thevenin’s theorem and apply a procedure to determine unknown currents in
d.c. circuits
3. Discuss Norton’s theorem and apply a procedure to determine unknown currents in d.c.
circuits
4. state the maximum power transfer theorem and use it to determine maximum power in a
d.c. circuit
5. Convert wye to delta and vice versa

Definition of terms

Superposition – this method is used when a circuit has a multiple input or multiple power
sources. Where the individual resistor current is equal to the sum of the currents given by each
source, provided they are independent sources with respect to each other.

Thevenin Theorem – if a given resistor be connected between any two terminals of a linear
network, the resulting steady state current through the resistor is the ratio of the potential
difference and the sum of the values of the resistance and the connected resistance.

Norton Theorem – it is similar to Thevenin’s Theorem but uses the short circuit test and the
equivalent circuit is parallel.

Millman’s Theorem – when any number of voltage sources of arbitrary generated voltage and
finite internal resistance different from zero are connected in parallel, the resulting voltage
across the parallel combination is the ratio of the algebraic sum of the currents that each source
individually delivers when short circuited to the algebraic sum of the internal conductance.

Maximum power transfer Theorem – it occurs only when the said resistor has a value equal to
the resistance (R0) of the network looking back from the terminals.
DISCUSSION

Thevenin’s Theorem

If a given resistor be connected between any two terminals of a linear network, the
resulting steady state current through the resistor us the ratio of the potential difference and the
sum of the values of the resistance and the connected resistance. Given below is the
Thevenin’s equivalent diagram and its equivalent equation.

VTH – The Thevenin equivalent voltage is the open circuit (no load) voltage between two specific
output terminals in a circuit.

RTH – The Thevenin equivalent resistance is the total resistance appearing between two
specified terminals in a circuit with all sources replaced by their internal resistance.

A Statement of Thevenin’s Theorem

1. Given any linear circuit, rearrange it in the form of two networks, A and B, connected by two
wires. Network A is the network to be simplified; B will be left untouched.

2. Disconnect network B. Define a voltage VTH as the voltage now appearing across the
terminals of network A.

3. Turn off or “zero out” every independent source in network A to form an inactive network.
Leave dependent sources unchanged.

4. Connect an independent voltage source with value VTH in series with the inactive network. Do
not complete the circuit; leave the two terminals disconnected.
5. Connect network B to the terminals of the new network A. All currents and voltages in B will
remain unchanged.

Example:

(source: https://www.electricaltechnology.org/2014/01/norton-theorem.html)

Find VTH, RTH and the load current IL flowing through and load voltage across the load resistor in
fig (1) by using Thevenin’s Theorem.

Step 1.

Open the 5kΩ load resistor (Fig 2).

Step 2.

Calculate / measure the open circuit voltage. This is the Thevenin Voltage (VTH). Fig (3).

We have already removed the load resistor in figure 1, so the circuit became an open circuit as
shown in fig 2. Now we have to calculate the Thevenin’s Voltage. Since 3mA current flows in
both 12kΩ and 4kΩ resistors as this is a series circuit and current will not flow in the 8kΩ
resistor as it is open.

This way, 12V (3mA x 4kΩ) will appear across the 4kΩ resistor. We also know that current is
not flowing through the 8kΩ resistor as it is an open circuit, but the 8kΩ resistor is in parallel
with 4k resistor. So, the same voltage i.e. 12V will appear across the 8kΩ resistor as well as
4kΩ resistor. Therefore,12V will appear across the AB terminals. i.e, VTH = 12V
Step 3.

Open current sources and short voltage sources as shown below. Fig (4)

Step 4.

Calculate / measure the open circuit resistance. This is the Thevenin Resistance (RTH)

We have removed the 48V DC source to zero as equivalent i.e. 48V DC source has been
replaced with a short in step 3 (as shown in figure 3). We can see that 8kΩ resistor is in series
with a parallel connection of 4kΩ resistor and 12k Ω resistor. i.e.:

8kΩ + (4k Ω || 12kΩ) ….. (|| = in parallel with)

RTH = 8kΩ + [(4kΩ x 12kΩ) / (4kΩ + 12kΩ)]

RTH = 8kΩ + 3kΩ

RTH = 11kΩ
Norton’s Theorem

It is similar to Thevenin’s Theorem but uses the short circuit test and the equivalent
circuit is parallel.

A Statement of Norton’s Theorem

1. Given any linear circuit, rearrange it in the form of two networks, A and B, connected by two
wires. Network A is the network to be simplified; B will be left untouched. As before, if either
network contains a dependent source, its controlling variable must be in the same network.

2. Disconnect network B, and short the terminals of A. Define a current isc as the current now
flowing through the shorted terminals of network A.

3. Turn off or “zero out” every independent source in network A to form an inactive network.
Leave dependent sources unchanged.

4. Connect an independent current source with value isc in parallel with the inactive network. Do
not complete the circuit; leave the two terminals disconnected.

5. Connect network B to the terminals of the new network A. All currents and voltages in B will
remain unchanged.

Example:

Source: (https://www.electricaltechnology.org/2014/01/norton-theorem.html)

Find RN, IN, the current flowing through and Load Voltage across the load resistor in fig (1) by
using Norton’s Theorem.
Step 1.

Short the 1.5Ω load resistor as shown in (Fig 2).

Step 2.

Calculate / measure the Short Circuit Current. This is the Norton Current (IN).

We have shorted the AB terminals to determine the Norton current, IN. The 6Ω and 3Ω are then
in parallel and this parallel combination of 6Ω and 3Ω are then in series with 2Ω.

So the Total Resistance of the circuit to the Source is:-

2Ω + (6Ω || 3Ω) ….. (|| = in parallel with).

RT = 2Ω + [(3Ω x 6Ω) / (3Ω + 6Ω)] → IT = 2Ω + 2Ω = 4Ω.

RT = 4Ω

IT = V / RT

IT = 12V / 4Ω

IT = 3A..

Now we have to find ISC = IN… Apply CDR… (Current Divider Rule)…

ISC = IN = 3A x [(6Ω / (3Ω + 6Ω)] = 2A.

ISC= IN = 2A.
Step 3.

Open Current Sources, Short Voltage Sources and Open Load Resistor. Fig (4)

Step 4.

Calculate /measure the Open Circuit Resistance. This is the Norton Resistance (RN)

We have Reduced the 12V DC source to zero is equivalent to replace it with a short in step (3),
as shown in figure (4) We can see that 3Ω resistor is in series with a parallel combination of 6Ω
resistor and 2Ω resistor. i.e.:

3Ω + (6Ω || 2Ω) ….. (|| = in parallel with)

RN = 3Ω + [(6Ω x 2Ω) / (6Ω + 2Ω)]

RN = 4.5Ω

Step 5.

Connect the RN in Parallel with Current Source IN and re-connect the load resistor. This is
shown in fig (6) i.e. Norton Equivalent circuit with load resistor.

Step 6.

Now apply the last step i.e. calculate the load current through and Load voltage across load
resistor by Ohm’s Law as shown in fig 7.

Load Current through Load Resistor…

IL = IN x [RN / (RN+ RL)]

IL = 1. 5A

And

Load Voltage across Load Resistor…

VL = IL x RL

VL = 1.5A x 1.5Ω

VL = 2.25V
Millman’s Theorem

(Source: https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/direct-current/chpt-10/millmans-theorem/)

When any number of voltage sources of arbitrary generated voltage and finite internal
resistance different from zero are connected in parallel, the resulting voltage across the parallel
combination is the ratio of the algebraic sum of the currents that each source individually
delivers when short circuited to the algebraic sum of the internal conductance.

Given below is a circuit diagram and the equation for Millman’s theorem. Note that
battery supplies are labelled with B.

source: allaboutcircuits.com

Millman’s Theorem Equation

Example:

Given the circuit below, determine the voltage across each branch.
Step 1.

Redraw the circuit for the sake of applying Millman’s Theorem.

Step 2.

Using the Millman’s Theorem Equation, substitute the values.

Maximum power transfer Theorem

It occurs only when the said resistor has a value equal to the resistance (R0) of the
network looking back from the terminals.

According to Janzen (2015), maximum power transfer theorem is applicable in

Consider the circuit image below and the derivation of formula to fully understand it.
Example

What is the maximum amount of power that can be dissipated in RL?

Note: The maximum

Step 1

Determine the VTH and RTH.

With RL replaced by an open circuit, there are two loops: one, passing through V1, R1, R2, and
V2; the other, passing through V2, R2, and R3. We will calculate the current through R3 using
Mesh Analysis techniques developed earlier, then determine VTH=VR3 using Ohm’s law. Note
that we do not actually need to calculate any other currents, since VTH, the potential difference
between a and b, must equal VR3 regardless which branch be taken.

To find RTH, note that with respect to connection points a and b, R1, R2, and R3 are all connected
in parallel.

Step 2.

Compute for the value of VTH.

Step 3
Compute for the value of RTH.

Step 4

Compute for the maximum power transferred.

Note: RL = RTH

therefore:

Superposition Theorem

This method is used when a circuit has a multiple input or multiple power sources.
Where the individual resistor current is equal to the sum of the currents given by each source,
provided they are independent sources with respect to each other.

In solving using Superposition Theorem remember these points:

1. Replace all potential sources but one with a short circuit; find the voltage/current through
each branch of the network.
2. Repeat for each potential source.
3. Add up all the separate voltages/currents in each branch.

Example:

Find the power supplied by the voltage sources and the power dissipated by the resistors in the
given figure below, using the superposition approach.
Step 1

First, removing V2, the short means that the potential must be the same on either side of R2—
i.e. there is no potential difference across R2 due to V1, and current preferentially flows
(counter-clockwise) through the short. The potential difference across R1 is simply V1. Thus,

Step 2

With V1 replaced by a short, V2 is now connected across both resistors in parallel. Due to the
orientation of V2, current flows through R1 to the right and flows up through R2, with values,

Note: note that IV1=IR1=0.5A and points downwards, since V1 is in series with R1; and, by the
junction rule, Iv2= IR2 - IR1=0.5A.

Step 4

Sum up the power supplied by the voltage source.

Step 5

Sum up the power dissipated by the resistors.