I would suggest: "Solving for Norton Equivalent in Tricky Circuit | Wolf's Files

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around solving for the Norton equivalent in a complex circuit that includes dependent sources. Participants explore various methods for calculating the Thevenin and Norton parameters, including Rth, Voc, and Isc, while grappling with the implications of dependent sources on their calculations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant calculates Rth as 56k ohms by shorting Vs and R1, but questions the validity of their approach due to the presence of a dependent current source.
  • Another participant suggests that Rth should be calculated using Voc and Isc instead, indicating a potential flaw in the initial method.
  • There is a discussion about the relationship between Voc and Isc, with one participant deriving expressions for vth and Isc based on the dependent source and circuit parameters.
  • One participant attempts to use a 1 amp test current to find Vs but encounters inconsistencies in their results, leading to doubts about the feasibility of determining Vs.
  • Another participant questions the methodology of applying a test current, noting that it may not be appropriate given the circuit's configuration.
  • There is acknowledgment that Isc is directly related to the unknown variable vs, complicating the ability to isolate vs in calculations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the appropriate methods for calculating Rth and the implications of dependent sources. There is no consensus on the best approach to find Vs, with multiple competing ideas and unresolved questions remaining in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Participants note limitations in their methods, particularly regarding the use of test currents in circuits with dependent sources. There are unresolved mathematical steps and dependencies on definitions that affect the calculations presented.

FocusedWolf
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http://wolfsfiles.googlepages.com/norton.jpg

Well that's the problem. I tried to do this problem several ways but it seems to be impervious to several ways or maybe it's just 3:07 am that's the problem :P

Anyway i got the Rth pretty easy because shorting the Vs also shorts the R1 so R2 = Rth = 56k ohms.

Now i did get close with getting Voc = 5,600,000*I which with my Rth gives 100*I as the norton current. but according to some software it's supposed to be I^2 instead of I for both Voc and Isc.

Here this is what i have so far:

(v2 - v1)/r_1 = i and v_3/r_2 = i*100

so v1 -> Vs and v2 is node over R_1 and v3 = Voc = node over R2
 
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Hi, I don't think you can find Rth that way because there's a dependent current source in the circuit. Instead find Rth by calculating Voc and Isc.
 
Ya i think your right about the Rth in that software is telling me Rth = 56000.001. I just took that value and tried to figure the work to get it.

It now tells me (ya i didn't know how to setup the problem before so softwares answers and mine were totally wrong), that vth = (100 * r2*vs)/R1 = vth = (224/3) * vs. So that probably is the right answer but I'm still trying to unwind it to figure out the technique being used.
 
Ok finally making progress here... the program is right. lol

Basically the unknown variable "i" = -vs/r1
so plug that into the dependent current source and i*b gives (-vs*b)/r1.

Now flip the direction and sign of the dependent source and that takes off the negative so it's current is (vs*b)/r1.

And to get the vth just multiply that current by R2

so ((vs*b)/r1)=Vth and everything but vs is known so vth = (224/3)*vs

Now to get Ishort-circuit... assume a short on the end, and R2 falls off... that leaves the current just discovered at the dependent source to be Inorton = (vs*b)/r1. I believe it to be (1/750)*vs is the norton current.

and you Vth/Isc = Rth

So is this correct? I mean is it really impossible to find the value for Vs?

I'm going to try a 1 amp test charge on the Isc version of the circuit to see if i can figure Vs... not sure at this time if i'll get anything
 
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Ya that 1 amp idea didn't fly to well...

basically i took the thevenin circuit and wired on 1 amp and when working the problem back to get vs... i get 750V... but putting that into my result for the norton circuit is 750/750 = 1 amp and into the thevnin voltage = 56000 Volts... and i think this is a sign that it's not possible to get vs.
 
FocusedWolf said:
It now tells me (ya i didn't know how to setup the problem before so softwares answers and mine were totally wrong), that vth = (100 * r2*vs)/R1 = vth = (224/3) * vs.
Yes I got that as well.

FocusedWolf said:
Ok finally making progress here... the program is right. lol

Basically the unknown variable "i" = -vs/r1
so plug that into the dependent current source and i*b gives (-vs*b)/r1.

Now flip the direction and sign of the dependent source and that takes off the negative so it's current is (vs*b)/r1.

And to get the vth just multiply that current by R2

so ((vs*b)/r1)=Vth and everything but vs is known so vth = (224/3)*vs
Ok so far.

FocusedWolf said:
Now to get Ishort-circuit... assume a short on the end, and R2 falls off... that leaves the current just discovered at the dependent source to be Inorton = (vs*b)/r1. I believe it to be (1/750)*vs is the norton current.
That looks ok.

FocusedWolf said:
and you Vth/Isc = Rth

So is this correct? I mean is it really impossible to find the value for Vs?

I'm going to try a 1 amp test charge on the Isc version of the circuit to see if i can figure Vs... not sure at this time if i'll get anything

Ya that 1 amp idea didn't fly to well...

basically i took the thevenin circuit and wired on 1 amp and when working the problem back to get vs... i get 750V... but putting that into my result for the norton circuit is 750/750 = 1 amp and into the thevnin voltage = 56000 Volts... and i think this is a sign that it's not possible to get vs.
Where did you measure 1A? What extra resistor did you connect and how was it connected? More important was this simulated or actual?
 
Defennder said:
Yes I got that as well.

Ok so far.

That looks ok.

Where did you measure 1A? What extra resistor did you connect and how was it connected? More important was this simulated or actual?

O, well first off this was just done on paper (and not simulated with software or hardware), and basically i was trying to use the technique where you put a 1 Amp test charge across the output terminals (to measure the voltage across that point and use Vth / 1amp = Rth)... but bit more reading suggested this technique is only to be used for finding Rth and to only used if there are no independent sources present in the circuit (only dependent ones). So basically I was wrong to use that technique to find Vs lol.
 
Hmm, how did you put a 1A test current through the terminals? By connecting a current source of 1A? But then you wouldn't know the potential drop across the current source since you don't have Vs.
 
Hi, In your picture, although the problem is asking for the Norton equivalent circult you see the labels vth and Rth. But you don't need to find vth. You can find Isc directly by shorting the terminals:

Isc is related directly to i, and i is related directly to vs.

So Isc is a function of vs. vs will always be an unknown.

Your Rth is correct.
 

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