Thevenin’s and Norton’s

Theorems
 THEVENIN & NORTON
THEVENIN’S THEOREM:
Consider the following:

A
Network • Network
B
1 • 2
Figure 5.1: Coupled networks.

For purposes of discussion, at this point, we consider

that both networks are composed of resistors and
independent voltage and current sources

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 THEVENIN & NORTON
THEVENIN’S THEOREM:

Suppose Network 2 is detached from Network 1 and

we focus temporarily only on Network 1.

Network •A
1 •B
Figure 5.2: Network 1, open-circuited.

Network 1 can be as complicated in structure as one

can imagine. Maybe 45 meshes, 387 resistors, 91
voltage sources and 39 current sources.

2
 THEVENIN & NORTON
THEVENIN’S THEOREM:

Network •A
1 •B
Now place a voltmeter across terminals A-B and
read the voltage. We call this the open-circuit voltage.

No matter how complicated Network 1 is, we read one

voltage. It is either positive at A, (with respect to B)
or negative at A.

We call this voltage Vos and we also call it VTHEVENIN = VTH

3
 THEVENIN & NORTON
THEVENIN’S THEOREM:

• We now deactivate all sources of Network 1.

• To deactivate a voltage source, we remove

the source and replace it with a short circuit.

• To deactivate a current source, we remove

the source.

4
 THEVENIN & NORTON
THEVENIN’S THEOREM:
Consider the following circuit.
I2
V3
_+ A
R1 R3
R2
R4
_+ V1 _ I1
V2 +
B

Figure 5.3: A typical circuit with independent sources

How do we deactivate the sources of this circuit?
5
 THEVENIN & NORTON
THEVENIN’S THEOREM:
When the sources are deactivated the circuit appears
as in Figure 5.4.

A
R1 R3
R2 R4

B
Figure 5.4: Circuit of Figure 5.3 with sources deactivated
Now place an ohmmeter across A-B and read the resistance.
If R1= R2 = R4= 20  and R3=5  then the meter reads 15 .
6
 THEVENIN & NORTON
THEVENIN’S THEOREM:

We call the ohmmeter reading, under these conditions,

RTHEVENIN and shorten this to RTH. Therefore, the
important results are that we can replace Network 1
with the following network.
A
•
RTH
+
_ VTH

B
•
Figure 5.5: The Thevenin equivalent structure.
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 THEVENIN & NORTON
THEVENIN’S THEOREM:
We can now tie (reconnect) Network 2 back to
terminals A-B. A
•
RTH
+ Network
_ VTH
2

•
B
Figure 5.6: System of Figure 5.1 with Network 1
replaced by the Thevenin equivalent circuit.
We can now make any calculations we desire within
Network 2 and they will give the same results as if we
still had Network 1 connected.
8
 THEVENIN & NORTON
THEVENIN’S THEOREM:
It follows that we could also replace Network 2 with a
Thevenin voltage and Thevenin resistance. The results
would be as shown in Figure 5.7.

A
•
RTH 1 RTH 2
+
_ VTH 1 VTH 2 _+

•
B
Figure 5.7: The network system of Figure 5.1
replaced by Thevenin voltages and resistances.
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 THEVENIN & NORTON
THEVENIN’S THEOREM: Example 5.1.
Find VX by first finding VTH and RTH to the left of A-B.

12  4 A
•
+

30 V +
_ 6 2 VX
_
•
B
Figure 5.8: Circuit for Example 5.1.

First remove everything to the right of A-B.

5
 THEVENIN & NORTON
THEVENIN’S THEOREM: Example 5.1. continued
12  4 A
•

30 V +
_ 6

•
B
Figure 5.9: Circuit for finding VTH for Example 5.1.
(30)(6)
VAB = = 10V
6 + 12
Notice that there is no current flowing in the 4  resistor
(A-B) is open. Thus there can be no voltage across the
resistor.
11
 THEVENIN & NORTON
THEVENIN’S THEOREM: Example 5.1. continued
We now deactivate the sources to the left of A-B and find
the resistance seen looking in these terminals.
12  4 A
•
RTH
6

•
B

Figure 5.5: Circuit for find RTH for Example 5.5.

We see,
RTH = 12||6 + 4 = 8 
12
 THEVENIN & NORTON
THEVENIN’S THEOREM: Example 5.1. continued
After having found the Thevenin circuit, we connect this
to the load in order to find VX.
RTH A
•
8 +
+
VTH _ 10 V 2 VX
_
B
•
Figure 5.11: Circuit of Ex 5.1 after connecting Thevenin
circuit.
(10)(2)
VX = = 2V
13
2+8
 THEVENIN & NORTON
THEVENIN’S THEOREM:
In some cases it may become tedious to find RTH by reducing
the resistive network with the sources deactivated. Consider
the following: RTH A
•

VTH + ISS
_

B
•
Figure 5.12: A Thevenin circuit with the output shorted.
We see;
VTH
RTH = Eq 5.1
14
I SS
 THEVENIN & NORTON
THEVENIN’S THEOREM: Example 5.2.
For the circuit in Figure 5.13, find RTH by using Eq 5.1.
12  C 4 A
• •

30 V +
_ 6 ISS

• •
D B
Figure 5.13: Given circuit with load shorted

The task now is to find ISS. One way to do this is to replace

the circuit to the left of C-D with a Thevenin voltage and
Thevenin resistance.

15
 THEVENIN & NORTON
THEVENIN’S THEOREM: Example 5.2. continued
Applying Thevenin’s theorem to the left of terminals C-D
and reconnecting to the load gives,
4 C 4 A
• •

10 V +
_ ISS

• •
D B
Figure 5.14: Thevenin reduction for Example 5.2.
VTH 10
RTH = = = 8
I SS 10
16
8
 THEVENIN & NORTON
THEVENIN’S THEOREM: Example 5.3
For the circuit below, find VAB by first finding the Thevenin
circuit to the left of terminals A-B.
1.5 A

5
• A
10 

20 V _+ 20  17 

•
Figure 5.15: Circuit for Example 5.3.

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 THEVENIN & NORTON
THEVENIN’S THEOREM: Example 5.3 continued
1.5 A

5
• A
10 

20 V _+ 20 

•
Figure 5.16: Circuit for finding VOC for Example 5.3.

20(20)
VOS = VAB = VTH = (1.5)(10) +
(20 + 5)
 VTH = 31V
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 THEVENIN & NORTON
THEVENIN’S THEOREM: Example 5.3 continued

5
• A
10 

20 

•
Figure 5.17: Circuit for find RTH for Example 5.3.

5(20)
RTH = 10 + = 14 
(5 + 20)
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 THEVENIN & NORTON
THEVENIN’S THEOREM: Example 5.3 continued
RTH A
•
14  +
+
VTH _ 31 V 17  VAB
_
B
•
Figure 5.18: Thevenin reduced circuit for Example 5.3.

We can easily find that,

VAB = 17V
20
Norton’s
Theorem
NORTON’S THEOREM:
Assume that the network enclosed below is composed
of independent sources and resistors.

Network

Norton’s Theorem states that this network can be

replaced by a current source shunted by a resistance R.

I R

33
NORTON’S THEOREM:
In the Norton circuit, the current source is the short circuit
current of the network, that is, the current obtained by
shorting the output of the network. The resistance is the
resistance seen looking into the network with all sources
deactivated. This is the same as RTH.

ISS RN = RTH
NORTON’S THEOREM:

R
+ V
_ V R I=
R

In view of the above, if we have the Thevenin equivalent

circuit of a network, we can obtain the Norton equivalent
by using source transformation.
However, this is not how we normally go about finding
the Norton equivalent circuit.
34
NORTON’S THEOREM: Example 5.6.

Apply Norton’s Theorem to calculate current flowing

through 5-ohm resistor.

35
NORTON’S THEOREM: Example 5.7.

Find the Norton equivalent circuit to the left of terminals A-B

for the network shown below. Connect the Norton equivalent
circuit to the load and find the current in the 15  resistor.

35
Seat Work: Referring to the circuit shown,
determine the load current at the load terminal
mn using Norton’s Theorem