VERIFICATION OF THEVENIN’S THEOREM

& MAXIMUM POWER TRANSFER

EEEN 311 EXPERIMENT 1

10/14/2019
BEng MECHATRONICS & INDUSTRIAL INSTRUMENTATION
Masa Thema
INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this experiment is to study the Thevenin Theorem principle. The Theorem will be
numerically explored by analyzing the circuit provided in the experiment where the very same circuit will
then be experimentally examined in the laboratory. This is carried out to check the similarities of the
calculated and measured circuit response values. Additionally we also carry out this experiment in order
to study the principle of maximum power transfer using the Thevenin equivalent circuit.

The Thevenin principle states that for any linear circuit containing several voltages and resistances can
just be replaced by one single voltage (V) in series with a single resistance (R) connected across the load.
Where the value of (V) is the open circuit voltage at the terminals and ultimately the value of (R) would
be (V) divided by the current with the terminals short circuited. Consequently the Principle of Maximum
Power Transfer also states that to obtain the maximum external power from a source with a finite internal
resistance, the resistance of the load must be equivalent to the resistance of the source as viewed from its
output terminals: it therefore only occurs when the source impedance is exactly matched to the load
impedance.

Since most low voltage DC power supplies have a very low internal resistance (10 ohms or less) great
difficulty would result in trying to affect this condition under actual laboratory experimentation. In
maximum power transfer, an independent voltage source in series with a resistance RS or an independent
current source in parallel with a resistance RS, delivers a maximum power to that load resistance (RL) for
which RL = RS which verifies maximum power is developed in the load resistor. In terms of a Thévenin
Equivalent Circuit, maximum power is delivered to the load resistance RL when RL is equal to the
Thévenin equivalent resistance RTH of the circuit.

OBJECTIVES

 To verify the practical usage of Thevenin Theorem

 To verify the maximum power transfer theorem

TOOLS AND MATERIALS

 Five resistors
 Voltmeter and or Multimeter
 DC Source
 Ammeter

THEORY

Determine the Thevenin Voltage between terminals A and B and determine the Thevenin Resistance
between the same terminals. To attain the Vth first we have to determine the Vth through Thevenin’s
Theorem by simplifying the circuit. The R-load is open circuited across terminals A and B. We then use
mesh analysis to find the currents and we ultimately find the Voltage.
 Figure1: Circuit to be reduced by Thevenin

Figure2: The reduced circuit

Simplifying the 10k//10k resistors gives:

(10 × 10)
𝑅1 = ⁄(10 + 10)=5𝑘

The 5𝑘 resistor is now in series with 4.7𝑘 resistor, therefore

𝑅2 = 4.7 + 5 = 9.7𝑘

T4he 9.7𝑘 is in parallel with the 4.7𝑘

(4.7 × 9.7)
𝑅𝑇ℎ = ⁄(4.7 + 9.7) = 3.17 𝑘Ω

Fig 3 Open circuit

 Final Simplified Circuit
 Calculate the power absorbed by the resistor RL .At which condition is the maximum power
transfer guaranteed?
 Using Matlab, plot the load power when RL varies from 0.47k to 20k in 0.47k steps.

PROCEDURE

Fig2.0 circuit was used below to measure the Thevenin voltage and recorded with a voltmeter (VTH ).Then
using Fig3.0 the Thevenin resistance was measured and recorded with an ammeter and hence ensuring
that the power supply is turned off (RTH ) .An equivalent circuit was then drawn using the obtained values.

Fig2a: Simulated Circuit Replica

THEORATICAL CALCULATIONS

For Loop 1:
10-10k.i1 -10k (i1 –i2) =0

10- 10k.i1 -10k.i1 +10ki2 =0

10- 20k.i1 +10ki2 =0

For Loop 2:
10k (i1 – i2)-4.7k.i2 -4.7k.i2 =0

10k.i1 -10k.i2 -4.7k.i2-4.7k.i2 =0

2(10k.i1-19.4k.i2) =0

-20k.i1 +10k.i2=-10

20k.i1-38.8k.i2=0

+ (-20k.i1+10k.i2=-10)

28.8k.i2=-10

𝑖2=10⁄ = 0.347 × 10−3

28.8𝑘

10-20k.i1+10k (0.347× 10−3 )=0

20k.i1=13.47
𝑖1= 13.47⁄ −3
20𝑘=0.674× 10 Therefore VTH =1.63V
 10k 10k
1⁄ = 1⁄ 1 2
𝑅𝑎 10𝑘 + ⁄10𝑘 = ⁄10𝑘

𝑅𝑢 = 10𝑘⁄2 = 5𝑘

5𝑘 𝑖𝑠 ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 4.7𝑘

𝑅𝑏 = 𝟗. 𝟕𝒌

9.7𝑘 𝑖𝑠 ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 4.7𝑘

1⁄ 1 1 4.7 + 9.7⁄
𝑅𝑇𝐻 = ⁄9.7 + ⁄4.7 = 4.7 + 9.7

𝑅𝑇𝐻 = 4.7 + 9.7⁄4.7 + 9.7 = 45.59⁄14.4 = 3.17𝑘Ω

𝑃 = 𝑉𝐼
𝑉𝑇𝐻
𝐼= ⁄𝑅
𝑇𝐻+𝑅𝐿

𝑉𝑇𝐻2 2
𝑃= ⁄𝑅 = 1.63 ⁄1.37𝑘
𝑇𝐻+𝑅𝐿 +𝑅𝐿

RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

 MEASURED VALUES CALCULATED VALUES
VTH 1.63V

RTH 3.17 𝑘Ω

IL 0.495mA
RL = RTH =3.17 𝑘Ω

POWER TRANSFER CALCULATIONS

Therefore maximum power dissipated is:

2 2
𝑃𝐿 = 𝑉 ⁄𝑅𝐿 =1.63 ⁄ = 838µw
(3.17 ∗ 103 )

PLOTTED GRAPHS

Fig3 & Fig3b: PSpice Plot Results

POWER TRANSFER COMPARISONS

Value Calculated Calculated Simulated Power(W) And Current Current (A)
of RL power Voltage Voltage(V) (A) simulated
(ohms) (W) (V) calculated

0.47k 94.4µ 210.7m 448µ

1k 153.10µ 391.3m 391.3µ

1.5k 183.03µ 524.0m 349.3µ

2.2k 203.02µ 668.3m 303.8µ

207.9 µ
3.3k 831.9m 252.1µ

3.9k 207.6µ 900.0m 230.7µ

4.7k 201.8µ 973.9m 207.2µ

5.7k 192.6µ 1.048 183.8µ

DISCUSION
Thevenin voltage and resistance were calculated and their values used to calculate maximum power
transfer. Mesh analysis was used to find the voltage which was calculated and the value was recorded.
The results indicate that the experimental values are closer to the theoretical values which shows the
methods used were convenient and that are the Mesh Analysis and the Thevenin theorem. Slight
differences are due to the ignored wire resistances and probably the question of calibration of the meters
used.

CONCLUSION

The power that is delivered to the resistance is maximum when the load resistance is equal to the
Thevenin resistance of the source.