SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

THEVENIN’S
THEOREM
Prepared by:
Engr. Mark Daries Q. Sardea
THEVENIN’S THEOREM
 Formulated by Léon Charles Thévenin, a French
engineer.
 States that:
“Any linear circuit containing several voltages and
resistances can be replaced by just one single
voltage in series with a single resistance connected
across the load“
THEVENIN’S THEOREM
 In other words, it is possible to simplify any
electrical circuit, no matter how complex, to an
equivalent two-terminal circuit with just a single
constant voltage source in series with a resistance
(or impedance) connected to a load.
 This theorem can only be applied to linear
circuits/networks.
THEVENIN’S EQUIVALENT CIRCUIT

RTH where:
VTH = Thevenin’s Equivalent Voltage
RTH = Thevenin’s Equivalent Resistance
VTH IL RL
RL = Load resistance
IL = Load current
SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
 Using Thevenin’s Theorem, solve for the load
current of the circuit below.
R1 R2

RL
12V 9V
SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
 Step 1: Remove the load resistor, then compute for the
open circuit voltage (VAB) which is also equal to Thevenin’s
equivalent voltage (VTH).
R1 R2

12V 9V

B
SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
 By Nodal Analysis:  @Node A
𝐼1 + 𝐼2 = 0
R1 R2
12 − 𝑉A 9 − 𝑉A
+ = 0 (20)
I2
10 20
I1
A 24 − 2𝑉A + 9 − 𝑉A = 0
−3𝑉A = −33
12V 9V 𝑉A = 11 𝑉
B

By examining the circuit:

𝑽𝑨 = 𝑽𝐀𝑩 = 𝑽𝐓𝐇 = 𝟏𝟏 𝑽
SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
 Step 2: Replace the sources
with its internal impedances. R1 R2

If the sources if ideal, simply

short-circuit every voltage A
source and open-circuit
every current source. Then
compute for the Thevenin’s B

equivalent resistance (RTH)

with points A and B treated
as the main terminal.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
 Solving for the Thevenin’s equivalent resistance (RTH).
R1 R2
By examining the circuit:

𝑹𝟏 𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒍 𝒕𝒐 𝑹𝟐
A
−1 −1
1 1 1 1
𝑹𝒆𝒒 = + = +
𝑅1 𝑅2 10 20
B

𝑹𝒆𝒒 = 𝑹𝑻𝑯 = 𝟔. 𝟔𝟔𝟔𝟕 Ω

SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
 Step 3: Draw the Thevenin’s Equivalent Circuit and
solve for the load current:
 Solving for IL:
RTH 𝑉TH
6.667 Ω 𝐼L =
𝑅TH + 𝑅L
VTH 11
IL RL 𝐼L =
11V 6.667 + 40
40 Ω
𝑰𝑳 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟑𝟓𝟕 𝑨
SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
 Checking by Mesh Analysis:
R1 R2
@ loop A
+ - - + By Cal. Tech.:
12 − 10𝑖𝑎 − 40(𝑖𝑎 − 𝑖𝑏 ) = 0
I1 I2 𝒊𝒂 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟓𝟕𝟏
12 − 10𝑖𝑎 − 40𝑖𝑎 + 40𝑖𝑏 = 0
+ −𝟓𝟎𝒊𝒂 + 𝟒𝟎𝒊𝒃 = −𝟏𝟐 → 𝑬𝒒. 𝟏 𝒊𝒃 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟐𝟏𝟒
RL
12V
ia IL ib 9V
@ loop B Solving for IL :
-
40 𝑖𝑎 − 𝑖𝑏 + 20(−𝑖𝑏 ) − 9 = 0 𝐼𝐿 = 𝑖𝑎 − 𝑖𝑏
40𝑖𝑎 − 40𝑖𝑏 − 20𝑖𝑏 = 9 𝐼𝐿 = 0.2571 − 0.0214
𝟒𝟎𝒊𝒂 − 𝟔𝟎𝒊𝒃 = 𝟗 → 𝑬𝒒. 𝟐 𝑰𝑳 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟑𝟓𝟕 𝑨
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
 Using Thevenin’s Theorem, solve for the load
current of the circuit below.
R1 R2

RL
10V 2A
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
 Step 1: Remove the load resistor, then compute for the
open circuit voltage (VAB) which is also equal to Thevenin’s
equivalent voltage (VTH).
R1 R2

10V 2A

B
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
 By Nodal Analysis:  @Node A
𝐼1 + 𝐼2 = 0
R1 R2
10 − 𝑉A
+ 2 = 0 (50)
50
I1 I2
A 10 − 𝑉A + 100 = 0
−𝑉A = −110
10V 2A 𝑉A = 110 𝑉

B By examining the circuit:

𝑽𝑨 = 𝑽𝐀𝑩 = 𝑽𝐓𝐇 = 𝟏𝟏𝟎 𝑽

SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
 Step 2: Replace the sources
with its internal impedances. R1 R2

If the sources if ideal, simply

short-circuit every voltage A

source and open-circuit

every current source. Then 2A

compute for the Thevenin’s B

equivalent resistance (RTH)
with points A and B treated
as the main terminal.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
 Solving for the Thevenin’s equivalent resistance (RTH).

R1

A By examining the circuit:

B 𝑹𝒆𝒒 = 𝑹𝑻𝑯 = 𝟓𝟎Ω

SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
 Step 3: Draw the Thevenin’s Equivalent Circuit and
solve for the load current:
 Solving for IL:
RTH 𝑉TH
50 Ω 𝐼L =
𝑅TH + 𝑅L
VTH 110
IL RL 𝐼L =
110V 50 + 50
50 Ω
𝑰𝑳 = 𝟏. 𝟏 𝑨
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
 Checking by Mesh Analysis:
R1 R2
@ loop B
+ - - + Solving for IL :
𝒊𝒃 = −𝟐 𝑨
I1 I2 𝐼𝐿 = 𝑖𝑎 − 𝑖𝑏
+ @ loop A 𝐼𝐿 = −0.9 − −2
RL
10 − 50𝑖𝑎 − 50(𝑖𝑎 − 𝑖𝑏 ) = 0 𝑰𝑳 = 𝟏. 𝟏 𝑨
10V ia IL ib 2A
10 − 50𝑖𝑎 − 50(𝑖𝑎 − (−2)) = 0
-
10 − 50𝑖𝑎 − 50𝑖𝑎 − 100 = 0
−100𝑖𝑎 = 90
𝒊𝒂 = −𝟎. 𝟗 𝑨