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TEXTBOOK
What is Norton’s Theorem and the Norton Equivalent Circuit?

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  Home
 Textbook
 Vol. I - Direct Current (DC)
 DC Network Analysis
 What is Norton’s Theorem and the Norton Equivalent Circuit?

 DC Network Analysis
 What is Network Analysis?

 Branch Current Method Analysis

 Mesh Current Method (Loop Current Method)

 Solving Unbalanced Wheatstone Bridge Circuits Via Mesh Current Method

 Node Voltage Method

 Introduction to Network Theorems for Circuit Analysis

 Millman’s Theorem

 Superposition Theorem

 How to Use Thevenin’s Theorem

 What is Norton’s Theorem and the Norton Equivalent Circuit?

 Converting Between Thevenin and Norton Equivalent Circuits

 Millman’s Theorem Revisited

 Maximum Power Transfer Theorem

 Δ-Y and Y-Δ Conversions

What is Norton’s
Theorem and the
 Norton Equivalent
Circuit?
Chapter 10 - DC Network Analysis

 PDF Version

What is Norton's Theorem in Circuit Analysis?

Norton’s theorem states that any linear circuit can be simplified to an equivalent circuit
consisting of a single current source and parallel resistance that is connected to a load. 
This article explains the step-by-step process for determining the Norton
equivalent circuit and Norton’s theorem. Norton’s theorem is similar
to Thevenin’s theorem in that it also allows us to simplify any linear circuit to
an equivalent circuit. However, instead of using a voltage source and a series
resistance, the Norton equivalent circuit consists of a current source with a
parallel resistance. Applying Norton’s theorem to simplify a network can make
it much easier to evaluate variable loads. 

Applying Norton’s Theorem to a Linear

Circuit
Just as for Thevenin’s theorem and the superposition theorem, Norton’s
theorem is limited to use with linear circuits where all the underlying
equations do not include exponents or roots. A circuit is linear if it uses
only standard passive components such as resistors, inductors, and capacitors.
Furthermore, most voltage sources, batteries, and current sources are also
linear.
Diving in, let’s explain Norton’s theorem using the same example circuit
(Figure 1) we are using to explain many of our other network analysis
methods, including:

 Branch Current
 Mesh Current
 Superposition Theorem
 Thevenin’s Theorem
 Millman’s Theorem 

This will make it easier for you to compare the various methods.

 
 Figure 1. Circuit schematic for explaining Norton’s theorem.

What is a Norton Equivalent Circuit?

Norton’s theorem allows us to temporarily remove the load resistance from
the original circuit of Figure 1 and reduce what’s left to an equivalent circuit
composed of a single current source and a parallel resistance. 

Next, the load resistance can then be re-connected to the Norton equivalent
circuit to allow calculations as if the whole network is a simple parallel circuit. 

After Norton conversion, our circuit of Figure 1 will be reduced to the Norton
equivalent circuit of Figure 2.

 
 Figure 2. Norton equivalent circuit with the load resistor.

 
Remember that a current source is a component whose job is to provide a
constant amount of current, outputting as much or as little voltage as
necessary to maintain that constant current.

Calculating Norton Equivalent Circuits—

Norton Current and Norton Resistance 
As with Thevenin’s theorem, everything in the original circuit except the load
resistance has been reduced to an equivalent circuit that is simpler to analyze.
Like Thevenin’s theorem, the steps used in Norton’s theorem to calculate the
Norton source current (I Norton) and Norton resistance (R Norton) will be generally
similar.

Step 1: Remove the Load Resistor

The first step is to identify the load resistance and remove it from the original
circuit, as shown in Figure 3.
 

Figure 3. Remove the load resistor.

Step 2: Calculate the Norton Current

To find the Norton current (for the current source in the Norton equivalent
circuit), place a direct wire (short circuit) connection between the load points
and determine the resultant current (Figure 4). 
 
 Figure 4. Calculate the Norton current.

 
Note that this step is opposite the respective step in Thevenin’s theorem,
where we replaced the load resistor with a break (open circuit) and calculated
the voltage.

The current calculation is relatively straightforward for the circuit of the figure
since the node between R 1 and R3 is now shorted to the negative terminal of
both batteries. Using Kirchhoff's current law (KCL), we know that: 

I s h or t = IR1 + IR2 Ishort=IR1+IR2

 

Now, applying Ohm’s law to each of the individual branch currents:

I s h or t = IR1 + IR2 = V1R1 + V2R2 Ishort=IR1+IR2=V1R1+V2R2

 
We can solve for the short circuit current:

IN or t on = I s h or t = 284 + 71 = 7 + 7 = 14 A INorton=Ishort=

284+71=7+7=14 A
 

Step 3: Replace the Power Sources

To find the Norton resistance for our equivalent circuit, we can now replace
the power sources from our circuit in Figure 3, as shown in Figure 5. 
 

Figure 5. Replace the power sources in the circuit.

The voltage sources are replaced with short circuits, and the current sources
are replaced with open circuits. This process of replacing the power supplies is
identical to that used for the superposition theorem and Thevenin’s theorem.
 
Step 4: Calculate the Nortan Resistance
After replacing the two voltage sources, the total resistance measured at the
location of the removed load is equal to R 1 and R3 in parallel, as shown in
Figure 6. 

Figure 6. Calculate the Norton resistance.

 
The Norton equivalent resistance is calculated as:

RN or t on = 11R1 + 1R3 = 114 + 11 = 0.8   Ω RNorton=11R1+1R3=1

14+11=0.8 Ω 
 

This value of 0.8 Ω is our Norton resistance (R Norton). 

 
Step 5: Draw the Norton Equivalent Circuit
The simplified Norton equivalent circuit, shown in Figure 7, can now be used
for calculations for any linear load device connected between the connection
points. 

Figure 7. Draw the Norton equivalent circuit.

 
In this figure, we reattached our 2 Ω load resistor from the original circuit.

Using the Norton Equivalent Circuit

After following all of those steps, we can next analyze the Norton circuit,
shown in Figure 7, to determine the current through the load resistor and
the voltage drop across it. This is now simply two resistors in parallel, so we
can determine the total resistance seen by the Norton current source as
follows:
 

RT o t a l = 11RN or t on + 1RL oa d = 110.8 + 12 = 0.57143   Ω RTotal

=11RNorton+1RLoad=110.8+12=0.57143 Ω 
 

Using the Table Method, we can plug the value for the total resistance into
Table 1 and then fill out the rest of the table. The load resistor has a current of
4.0 A and a voltage drop of 8 V.
 
Table 1. Calculating the load current and voltage drop.

RNorton RLoad Total Units

V 8.0 8.0 8.0 V
I 10.0 4.0 14.0 A
R 0.8 2.0 0.57143 Ω
 
As with the Thevenin equivalent circuit, the only useful information from this
analysis is the voltage and current values for our load resistor, R2. The rest of
the information is irrelevant to the original circuit. 

However, the same advantages seen with Thevenin’s theorem apply to

Norton’s theorem as well. Namely, if we wish to analyze load resistor voltage
and current over several different values of load resistance, we can use the
Norton equivalent circuit again and again, applying nothing more complex
than simple parallel circuit analysis to determine what’s happening with each
trial load.

Review of Norton’s Theorem and the

Norton Equivalent Circuit
Norton’s theorem states that all linear circuits can be simplified to an
equivalent circuit with a single current source in parallel with a single resistor
connected to a load. 
  Step 1: Remove the load resistor and replace it with a short circuit.
 Step 2: Calculate the Norton current—the current through the short
circuit.
 Step 3: Replace the power sources. All voltage sources are replaced with
short circuits, and all current sources are replaced with open circuits.
 Step 4: Calculate the Norton resistance—the total resistance between
the open circuit connection points after all sources have been removed.
 Step 5: Draw the Norton equivalent circuit, with the Norton current
source in parallel with the Norton resistance. The load resistor re-
attaches between the two open points of the equivalent circuit.
 Analyze the voltage and current for the load following the rules for
parallel circuits.

Related Content
You can find additional resources concerning circuit analysis and Norton's
theorem down below:

Calculators:

 Ohm's Law Calculator

 Parallel Resistor Calculator

Worksheets:

 Thevenin’s, Norton’s, and Maximum Power Transfer Theorems

Worksheet
 Ohm's Law Worksheet
 Kirchhoff's Laws Worksheet

Video Tutorials and Lectures:

  Parallel Circuits
 Electrical Quantities Part A
 Electrical Quantities Part B

Technical Articles:

 Learn About Thevenin Theorem and Dependent Source Circuits

 Learning to Simplify: Thevenin and Norton Equivalent Circuits
 Analyzing Circuits via Source Transformation

LESSONS IN ELECTRIC CIRCUITS

Volumes»

 I Direct Current (DC)

Chapters»

o 1 Basic Concepts Of Electricity

o 2 Ohm's Law

o 3 Electrical Safety

o 4 Scientific Notation And Metric Prefixes

o 5 Series And Parallel Circuits

o 6 Divider Circuits And Kirchhoff's Laws

o 7 Series-parallel Combination Circuits

o 8 DC Metering Circuits

o 9 Electrical Instrumentation Signals

o 10 DC Network Analysis

Pages»

 What is Network Analysis?

 Branch Current Method Analysis

 Mesh Current Method (Loop Current Method)

 Solving Unbalanced Wheatstone Bridge Circuits Via Mesh Current Method

 Node Voltage Method

 Introduction to Network Theorems for Circuit Analysis

 Millman’s Theorem

 Superposition Theorem

 How to Use Thevenin’s Theorem

 What is Norton’s Theorem and the Norton Equivalent Circuit?

 Converting Between Thevenin and Norton Equivalent Circuits

 Millman’s Theorem Revisited

 Maximum Power Transfer Theorem

 Δ-Y and Y-Δ Conversions

o 11 Batteries And Power Systems

o 12 Physics Of Conductors And Insulators

o 13 Capacitors

o 14 Magnetism and Electromagnetism

o 15 Inductors

o 16 RC and L/R Time Constants

o 17 Contributor List

 II Alternating Current (AC)

 III Semiconductors

 IV Digital

 V Reference

 VI Experiments

 Advanced Textbooks

I Practical Guide to Radio-Frequency Analysis and Design

CONTENT FROM PARTNERS

 Microchip is Industrial
Content from Microchip Technology

RELATED CONTENT

 What Is RF Integrated Circuit Design?

 Learning to Simplify: Thevenin and Norton Equivalent Circuits

 What Is Digital IC Design?

 What Is Mobility as a Service? The Future of Autonomous Vehicles

 Learn About Thevenin Theorem and Dependent Source Circuits

 What is a CPLD?

Published under the terms and conditions of the Design Science License

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