Basics of Electrical & Electronics Engineering

21BTEC001
EXPERIMENT NO. 03

Aim: To verify Thevenin’s theorem and to find the load current for the given circuit.

Apparatus: Power supply (0-30 volt), Resistors, Breadboard, connecting wires

Theory: Thevenin’s Theorem 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”. The voltage source is called the Thevenin equivalent voltage,
and the resistor is called the Thevenin equivalent resistance

Steps to apply Thevenin’s theorem

• Remove the load resistance RL.
• Find the open-circuit voltage Voc that appears across the two terminals from where
resistance has removed. It also called Thevenin voltage Vth.
• Compute the resistance of the whole network as looked into from these two terminals after
all sources of e.m.f. have been removed. It also called Thevenin resistance Rth.
• Replace the entire network by single source whose voltage is Vth and whose single
resistance is Rth.
• Connect RL back to its terminals where it previously removed.
• Finally, calculate the current flowing through RL by IL = Vth/(Rth + RL)
Procedure
1) Make the connection on bread board as shown in Circuit diagram.
2) Ensure that supply is on ZERO position at start.
3) Calculate Rth, Vth, IL and IL’

Observation Table:

Vin Vth Rth IL IL’

Theoretical

Practical

Thevenin Equivalent Circuit

IL = Vth / ( Rth + RL)

Result
Hence the Thevenin’s theorem is verified both practically and theoretically in given circuit.

Post Lab Questions

Q1) Apply Thevenin’s theorem to the following circuit and calculate the current flowing
through 2 ohm resistance.
R2

5Ω

R3 R1
V1 8Ω 2Ω
12V