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Equivalent Three Terminal Network

Δ and Y networks are three-terminal resistor networks that can be converted to their equivalent counterparts using specific resistance equations. This allows two networks that appear different to behave identically when measured at their three terminals. Converting between Δ and Y networks can simplify solving unbalanced bridge circuits by turning them into equivalent series-parallel circuits. After solving for voltages in the simplified version, those voltages can be transferred back to the original bridge circuit connections.

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Brix Bauzon
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738 views

Equivalent Three Terminal Network

Δ and Y networks are three-terminal resistor networks that can be converted to their equivalent counterparts using specific resistance equations. This allows two networks that appear different to behave identically when measured at their three terminals. Converting between Δ and Y networks can simplify solving unbalanced bridge circuits by turning them into equivalent series-parallel circuits. After solving for voltages in the simplified version, those voltages can be transferred back to the original bridge circuit connections.

Uploaded by

Brix Bauzon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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EQUIVALENT THREE TERMINAL NETWORK

-Y and Y- conversions
In many circuit applications, we encounter components connected together in one of two ways to form
a three-terminal network: the Delta, or (also known as the Pi, or ) configuration, and the Y
(also known as the T) configuration.

It is possible to calculate the proper values of resistors necessary to form one kind of network ( or Y)
that behaves identically to the other kind, as analyzed from the terminal connections alone. That is, if
we had two separate resistor networks, one and one Y, each with its resistors hidden from view, with
nothing but the three terminals (A, B, and C) exposed for testing, the resistors could be sized for the
two networks so that there would be no way to electrically determine one network apart from the
other. In other words, equivalent and Y networks behave identically.
There are several equations used to convert one network to the other:

and Y networks are seen frequently in 3-phase AC power systems (a topic covered in volume II of
this book series), but even then they're usually balanced networks (all resistors equal in value) and
conversion from one to the other need not involve such complex calculations. When would the average
technician ever need to use these equations?
A prime application for -Y conversion is in the solution of unbalanced bridge circuits, such as the one
below:

Solution of this circuit with Branch Current or Mesh Current analysis is fairly involved, and neither the
Millman nor Superposition Theorems are of any help, since there's only one source of power. We could
use Thevenin's or Norton's Theorem, treating R3 as our load, but what fun would that be?
If we were to treat resistors R1, R2, and R3 as being connected in a configuration (Rab, Rac, and Rbc,
respectively) and generate an equivalent Y network to replace them, we could turn this bridge circuit
into a (simpler) series/parallel combination circuit:

After the -Y conversion . . .

If we perform our calculations correctly, the voltages between points A, B, and C will be the same in
the converted circuit as in the original circuit, and we can transfer those values back to the original
bridge configuration.

Resistors R4 and R5, of course, remain the same at 18 and 12 , respectively. Analyzing the circuit
now as a series/parallel combination, we arrive at the following figures:

We must use the voltage drops figures from the table above to determine the voltages between points
A, B, and C, seeing how the add up (or subtract, as is the case with voltage between points B and C):

Now that we know these voltages, we can transfer them to the same points A, B, and C in the original
bridge circuit:

Voltage drops across R4 and R5, of course, are exactly the same as they were in the converted circuit.
At this point, we could take these voltages and determine resistor currents through the repeated use of
Ohm's Law (I=E/R):

A quick simulation with SPICE will serve to verify our work:[spi]

unbalanced bridge circuit


v1 1 0
r1 1 2 12
r2 1 3 18
r3 2 3 6
r4 2 0 18
r5 3 0 12
.dc v1 10 10 1
.print dc v(1,2) v(1,3) v(2,3) v(2,0) v(3,0)
.end

v1
v(1,2)
v(1,3)
v(2,3)
v(2)
v(3)
1.000E+01
4.706E+00 5.294E+00 5.882E-01 5.294E+00 4.706E+00

The voltage figures, as read from left to right, represent voltage drops across the five respective
resistors, R1 through R5. I could have shown currents as well, but since that would have required
insertion of dummy voltage sources in the SPICE netlist, and since we're primarily interested in
validating the -Y conversion equations and not Ohm's Law, this will suffice.
REVIEW:
Delta () networks are also known as Pi () networks.
Y networks are also known as T networks.
and Y networks can be converted to their equivalent counterparts with the proper resistance
equations. By equivalent, I mean that the two networks will be electrically identical as measured
from the three terminals (A, B, and C).
A bridge circuit can be simplified to a series/parallel circuit by converting half of it from a to a
Y network. After voltage drops between the original three connection points (A, B, and C) have been
solved for, those voltages can be transferred back to the original bridge circuit, across those same
equivalent points.

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