Experiment 7 Student’s Manual

American International University – Bangladesh (AIUB)

Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
EEE 1204: Electrical Circuits 1 (DC) Laboratory

Title: Study of Thevenin’s Theorem and Maximum Power Transfer Theorem

Introduction:
Thevenin’s theorem is a very powerful circuit analysis technique. It can convert complex circuit
to a simpler series equivalent circuit for easier analysis. Analysis involves removing part of the
circuit across two terminals to aid calculation, later combining the circuit with the Thevenin’s
equivalent circuit.
Thevenin’s theorem has a lot of applications in electrical engineering. One of the major
applications is the maximum power transfer theorem. In this second part of this experiment, we
will see that the power consumed by a load resistor becomes maximum when the load resistance
becomes equal to the Thevenin’s equivalent resistance.
The purpose of this experiment is to:
 find the Thevenin’s equivalent circuit.
 verification of maximum power transfer theorem.
Theory and Methodology:
Thevenin’s Theorem: Any two-terminal dc network can be replaced by an equivalent circuit
consisting solely of a voltage source and a series resistor.
Thevenin’s Theorem Procedure:
1. Remove that portion of the network where the Thevenin’s equivalent circuit is found.
2. Mark the terminals of the remaining two-terminal network.
3. Calculate RTH by first setting all sources to zero (voltage sources are replaced by short circuits
and current sources by open circuits) and then finding the resultant resistance between the two
marked terminals.
4. Calculate ETH by first returning all sources to their original position and finding the open-circuit
voltage between the marked terminals.
5. Draw the Thevenin’s equivalent circuit with the portion of the circuit previously removed
replaced between the terminals of the equivalent circuit.

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 Experiment 7 Student’s Manual

(a) (b)
Figure 1: Substituting the Thevenin’s Equivalent Circuit for a Complex Network

Maximum power Transfer Theorem:

A load will receive maximum power from a network when its resistance is exactly equal to the
Thevenin’s resistance of the network applied to the load. If the load resistance lower or higher than
the Thevenin’s resistance of the source network, its dissipated power will be less than maximum.
Derivation of power to the load (referring to Figure 1):
𝐸𝑇ℎ
𝐼𝐿 =
𝑅𝑇ℎ + 𝑅𝐿
𝐸𝑇ℎ
𝑃𝐿 = 𝐼𝐿 2 𝑅𝐿 = ( )2 × 𝑅𝐿
𝑅𝑇ℎ + 𝑅𝐿
2
𝐸𝑇ℎ 𝑅𝐿
𝑃𝐿 =
(𝑅𝑇ℎ + 𝑅𝐿 )2

According to Maximum Power Transfer Theorem, RL will receive maximum power when RL =
RTH.
𝐸2𝑇ℎ 𝑅𝑇ℎ 𝐸2𝑇ℎ 𝑅𝑇ℎ 𝐸2𝑇ℎ
𝑃𝐿𝑚𝑎𝑥 = = =
(𝑅𝑇ℎ + 𝑅𝑇ℎ )2 4𝑅𝑇ℎ 2 4𝑅𝑇ℎ

Pre-Lab Homework:
Study the Thevenin’s Theorem and Maximum Power Transfer Theorem from the text book
“Introductory Circuit Analysis (Chapter 9)” by Robert L. Boylestad.
Apparatus:
1. Trainer Board
2. Digital Multimeter
3. DC Source
4. Resistors
5. Connecting Wires

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 Experiment 7 Student’s Manual

Precautions:
 Check whether all the apparatus is working fine or not.
 Implement the circuit carefully where necessary.
 While connecting DC source make sure it is not shorted while placing in the trainer board.
 Do not switch on the DC source while implementing the circuit in the trainer board.
 While measuring voltage, Digital multimeter should be placed in parallel across the
elements of the circuit where the voltage is to be measured, multimeter should be in
voltmeter mode.
 While measuring current, Digital multimeter should be placed in series with the branch of
the circuit where the current is to be measured, multimeter should be in ammeter mode.
 Do not simply place a shorting wire across source E2. This will overload the power supply.
Circuit Diagram:

R1 R3 a

R2 RL
E

Figure 2
Experimental Procedure:
1. Connect the circuit as shown in the figure 2 by removing the portion of the circuit for which
Thevenin’s equivalent circuit will be determined.
2. Measure the open circuit voltage between the terminals a and b (ETH) and fill up data table 1.
3. Remove the voltage source by a short circuit and measure the Thevenin equivalent resistance
(RTH) for the load and fill up data table 1.
4. Connect a pot between terminal a and b and fill up data table 2.
Data Table:
Table-1 (For Thevenin’s Equivalent Circuit):
Value of Resistors: R1 = _____ KΩ, R2 = _____ KΩ, R3 = _____ KΩ; Value of Voltage Source:
E = _____ V.

Measured Value Simulated Value Calculated Value

ETH

RTH

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 Experiment 7 Student’s Manual

Table-2 (For Maximum Power Transfer Theorem):

Measured Value Simulated Value Calculated Value

RL (KΩ) VL (V) PL (mW) PL (mW) VL (V) PL (mW)

RTH =

Simulation and Measurement:

Simulate the circuits of Figure 2 and 3 and fill up the data tables 1 to 4. Attach the screenshot here.

Calculation:
Show brief calculation here and fill up the data tables 1 to 4.
Report Questions:
1. For the circuit given, applying the concept of Thevenin’s Theorem, measure the value of
ETH, RTH and Pmax using your simulation software. Also show details calculation to justify
your simulated result.

Take the values as per your ID:

R1 R3
Suppose your ID is: 12-ABCDE-1,
E
`
E = ED Volt; R1 = C Ω; R2 = D Ω; R3 = R2 RL R4
E Ω; R4 = A Ω. If any of the values of
your ID is zero (0), use 7 instead of 0.

Discussion and Conclusion:

Summarize the experiment here and discuss whether the objectives were fulfilled or not within
a short paragraph.
Reference:
[1] Robert L. Boylestad, “Introductory Circuit Analysis”, 13th Edition, Prentice Hall, New York.

© Dept. of EEE, Faculty of Engineering, American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) 4