Experiment
dc
Thevenin's Theorem and
Maximum Power Transfer
4
Objectives:
To verify Thevenin's theorem and the maximum power transfer principle.
Equipment :
- Resistors : ( 91 Ω, 220 Ω, 330 Ω, 470 Ω ).
- 1 k Ω potentiometer
- DMM( Digital Multimeter ) .
- Dc Power supply.
Theory :
Through the use of Thevenin's theorem, a complex two-terminal, linear multi source
dc network can be replaced by one having a single source and resistor.
The Thevenin equivalent circuit consists of single dc source referred to as the
Thevenin voltage and a single fixed resistor called the Thevenin resistance. The
Thevenin voltage is the open-circuit voltage across the terminals in question. The
Thevenin resistance is the resistance between these terminals with all of the voltage
and current sources replaced by their internal resistances.
If adc voltage source is deliver maximum power to resistor, the resistor have a value
equal to the internal resistance of the source. In a complex network maximum power
transfer to a load will occur when the load resistance is equal to the Thevenin
resistance "seen" by the load. For this value, the voltage across the load will be one-
half of Thevenin voltage. In equation form, the maximum power is given by
Pmax = E2Th / 4RTH Eq (4.1)
1- Open circuit the terminals to which the Thevenin equivalent is desired. In other word
disconnect all of the circuitry that will not be replaced by the equivalent circuit.
2- RTH is the total resistance at the open-circuit terminals, when all voltage sources are
replaced by short circuit, and current sources are replaced by open circuit.
3- VTH is the voltage a cross the open-circuited terminals.
4- Replace the original circuitry by its Thevenin equivalent circuit, with the Thevenin
terminal occupying the same position as the original terminals. The external circuit removed
in step 1 may now be connected
1
Procedure:
Part 1 : Thevenin's theorem
(a) Insert the measured resistor values into Fig 4.1 and measure the Thevenin
voltage and resistance for the network to the left of point a-a'.
(b) Calculate the Thevenin voltage and resistance for the network to the left of
point a-a'. ( Report )
Figure 4.1
Parameter Unit Theoretical Experimental % Error
Vs 10
V TH V
VL
R1
R2 KΩ
R3
RTH
IL mA
Table 4.1
( c ) Insert the vales obtained in (a) in the schematic of Fig 4.2 and measure
IL and compare your result with the original circuit . ( Report )
Figure 4.2
2
Part 2: Maximum Power Transfer
(a) Construct the network of Fig 4.3 and set the potentiometer to 50 Ω. Measure
the voltage across R as you vary R through the following: 50, 100, 200, 300,
330, 400, 600, 800, 1000 Ω. Be sure to set the resistance with the ohmmeter
section of your meter before each reading. (Remember to disconnect the dc
supply when setting the resistance level.). Complete Table 4.3 and plot power
versus R on Graph 4.1.
R VR PR = V2R/R
50 Ω
200 Ω
300 Ω
600 Ω
800 Ω
1000 Ω
Table 4.3
Figure 4.3
3
Graph 4.1
(b) Theoretically, for what values of R will the power delivered to R be
Maximum? Check this value against that obtained from the graph. ) Report )
R =-----------------------
(c) In addition, what should the voltage across R be when R is set for maximum
power? Do your experimental data substantiate this?
VR =---------------------
(d) Construct the network of Fig 4.4 and set the potentiometer to 10 Ω. Complete
Table 4.4 for each value of R.
4
Figure 4.4
R VR PR
50 Ω
150 Ω
200 Ω
250 Ω
350 Ω
400 Ω
Table 4.4
(e) What value of R would appear to result in a maximum power transfer to the
load? How does it compare to the value of RTh determined in Part 1(a)?
R =----------------------
