Current Source

A Current Source is another type of active circuit element that is capable of continuously supplying energy to a circuit. The
current source can be thought of as the compliment to the voltage source we looked at previously.

As its name implies, a current source is a circuit element that maintains a constant current flow regardless of the
voltage developed across its terminals as this voltage is determined by other circuit elements. That is, an ideal
constant current source continually provides a specified amount of current regardless of the impedance that it is
driving and as such, an ideal current source could, in theory, supply an infinite amount of energy. So just as a
voltage source may be rated, for example, as 5 volts or 10 volts, etc, a current source will also have a current
rating, for example, 3 amperes or 15 amperes, etc.
Ideal constant current sources are represented in a similar manner to voltage sources, but this time the current
source symbol is that of a circle with an arrow inside to indicates the direction of the flow of the current. The
direction of the current will correspond to the polarity of the corresponding voltage, flowing out from the
positive terminal. The letter i is used to indicate that it is a current source as shown.

Ideal Current Source

Then an ideal current source is called a constant current source as it provides a constant steady state current
independent of the load connected to it producing an I-V characteristic represented by a straight line. As with
voltage sources, the current source can be either independent (ideal) or dependent (controlled) by a voltage or
current elsewhere in the circuit, which itself can be constant or time-varying.
Ideal independent current sources are typically used to solve circuit theorems and for circuit analysis techniques
for circuits that containing real active elements. The simplest form of a current source is a resistor in series with
a voltage source creating currents ranging from a few milli-amperes to many hundreds of amperes. Remember
that a zero-value current source is an open circuit as R = 0.
The concept of a current source is that of a two-terminal element that allows the flow of current indicated by the
direction of the arrow. Then a current source has a value, i, in units of amperes, (A) which are typically
abbreviated to amps. The physical relationship between a current source and voltage variables around a network
is given by Ohms law as these voltage and current variables will have specified values.
It may be difficult to specify the magnitude and polarity of voltage of an ideal current source as a function of
the current especially if there are other voltage or current sources in the connected circuit. Then we may know
the current supplied by the current source but not the voltage across it unless the power supplied by the current
source is given, as P = VxI.
However, if the current source is the only source within the circuit, then the polarity of voltage across the source
will be easier to establish. If however there is more than one source, then the terminal voltage will be dependent
upon the network in which the source is connected.

Connecting Current Sources Together

Just like voltage sources, ideal current sources can also be connected together to increase (or decrease) the
available current. But there are rules on how two or more independent current sources with different values can
be connected, either in series or parallel.

Current Source in Parallel

Connecting two or more current sources in parallel is equivalent to one current source whose total current
output is given as the algebraic addition of the individual source currents. Here in this example, two 5 amp
current sources are combined to produce 10 amps as IT = I1 + I2.
Current sources of different values may be connected together in parallel. For example, one of 5 amps and one
of 3 amps would combined to give a single current source of 8 amperes as the arrows representing the current
source both point in the same direction. Then as the two currents add together, their connection is said to be:
parallel-aiding.
While not best practice for circuit analysis, parallel-opposing connections use current sources that are connected
in opposite directions to form a single current source whose value is the algebraic subtraction of the individual
sources.

Parallel Opposing Current Sources

Here, as the two current sources are connected in opposite directions (indicated by their arrows), the two
currents subtract from each other as the two provide a closed-loop path for a circulating current complying with
Kirchoffs Current Law, KCL. So for example, two current sources of 5 amps each would result in zero output
as 5A -5A = 0A. Likewise, if the two currents are of different values, 5A and 3A, then the output will be the
subtracted value with the smaller current subtracted from the larger current. Resulting in a IT of 5 - 3 = 2A.
We have seen that ideal current sources can be connected together in parallel to form parallel-aiding or parallel-
opposing current sources. What is not allowed or is not best practice for circuit analysis, is connecting together
ideal current sources in series combinations.

Current Sources in Series

Current sources are not allowed to be connected together in series, either of the same value or ones with
different values. Here in this example, two current sources of 5 amps each are connected together in series, but
what is the resulting current value. Is it equal to one source of 5 amps, or is it equal to the addition of the two
sources, that is 10 amps. Then series connected current sources add an unknown factor into circuit analysis,
which is not good.
Also, another reason why series connected sources are not allowed for circuit analysis techniques is that they
may not supply the same current in the same direction. Series-aiding or series-opposing currents do not exist for
ideal current sources.

Current Source Example No1

Two current sources of 250 milli-amps and 150 milli-amps respectively are connected together in a parallel-
aiding configuration to supply a connected load of 20 ohms. Calculate the voltage drop across the load and the
power dissipated. Draw the circuit.
Then, IT = 0.4A or 400mA, VR = 8V, and PR = 3.2W

Practical Voltage Source

We have seen that an ideal constant current source can supply the same amount of current indefinitely
regardless of the voltage across its terminals, thus making it an independent source. This therefore implies that
the current source has an infinite internal resistance, (R = ). This idea works well for circuit analysis
techniques, but in the real world current sources behave a little differently as practical current sources always
have an internal resistance, no matter how large (usually in the mega-ohms range), causing the generated source
to vary somewhat with the load.
A practical or non-ideal current source can be represented as an ideal source with an internal resistance
connected across it. The internal resistance (RP) produces the same effect as a resistance connected in parallel
(shunt) with the current source as shown. Remember that circuit elements in parallel have exactly the same
voltage drop across them.

Ideal and Practical Current Source

You may have noticed that a practical current source closely resembles that of a Nortons equivalent circuit as
Nortons theorem states that any linear dc network can be replaced by an equivalent circuit consisting of a
constant-current source, IS in parallel with a resistor, RP. Note that if this parallel resistance is very low, RP = 0,
the current source is short-circuited. When the parallel resistance is very high or infinite, RP , the current
source can be modelled as ideal.
An ideal current source plots a horizontal line on the I-V characteristic as shown previously above. However as
practical current sources have an internal source resistance, this takes some of the current so the characteristic of
this practical source is not flat and horizontal but will reduce as the current is now splitting into two parts, with
one part of the current flowing into the parallel resistance, RP and the other part of the current flowing straight to
the output terminals.
Ohms law tells us that when a current, (i) flows through a resistance, (R) a voltage drop is produce across the
same resistance. The value of this voltage drop will be given as iRP. Then VOUT will be equal to the voltage drop
across the resistor with no load attached. We remember that for an ideal source current, RP is infinite as there is
no internal resistance, therefore the terminal voltage will be zero as there is no voltage drop.
The sum of the current around the loop given by Kirchoffs current law, KCL is: IOUT = IS - VS/RP. This equation
can be plotted to give the I-V characteristics of the output current. It is given as a straight line with a slope
RP which intersects the vertical voltage axis at the same point as IS when the source is ideal as shown.

Practical Current Source Characteristics

Therefore, all ideal current sources will have a straight line I-V characteristic but non-ideal or real practical
current sources will have an I-V characteristic that is slightly angled down by an amount equal to VOUT/RP where
RP is the internal source resistance.

Current Source Example No2

A practical current source consists of a 3A ideal current source which has an internal resistance of 500 Ohms.
With no-load attached, calculate the current sources open-circuit terminal voltage and the no-load power
absorbed by the internal resistor.
1. No-load values:

Then the open circuit voltage across the internal source resistance and terminals A and B (VAB) is calculated at
1500 volts.
Part 2: If a 250 Ohm load resistor is connected to the terminals of the same practical current source, calculate
the current through each resistance, the power absorbed by each resistance and the voltage drop across the load
resistor. Draw the circuit.
2. Data given with load connected: IS = 3A, RP = 500 and RL = 250

2a. To find the currents in each resistive branch, we can use the current-division rule.
2b. The power absorbed by each resistor is given as:

2c. Then the voltage drop across the load resistor, RL is given as:

We can see that the terminal voltage of an open-circuited practical current source can be very high it will
produce whatever voltage is needed, 1500 volts in this example, to supply the specified current. In theory, this
terminal voltage can be infinite as the source attempts to deliver the rated current.
Connecting a load across its terminals will reduce the voltage, 500 volts in this example, as now the current has
somewhere to go and for a constant current source, the terminal voltage is directly proportional to the load
resistance.
In the case of non-ideal current sources that each have an internal resistance, the total internal resistance (or
impedance) will be the result of combining them together in parallel, exactly the same as for resistors in
parallel.

Dependent Voltage Source

We now know that an ideal current source provides a specified amount of current completely independent of the
voltage across it and as such will produce whatever voltage is necessary to maintain the required current. This
then makes it completely independent of the circuit to which it is connected to resulting in it being called
an ideal independent current source.
A controlled or dependent current source on the other hand changes its available current depending upon the
voltage across, or the current through, some other element connected to the circuit. In other words, the output of
a dependent current source is controlled by another voltage or current.
Dependent current sources behave similar to the current sources we have looked at so far, both ideal
(independent) and practical. The difference this time is that a dependent current source can be controlled by an
input voltage or current. A current source that depends on a voltage input is generally referred to as a Voltage
Controlled Current Source or VCCS. A current source that depends on a current input is generally referred
too as a Current Controlled Current Source or CCCS.
Generally, an ideal current dependent source, either voltage or current controlled is designated by a diamond-
shaped symbol where an arrow indicates the direction of the current, i as shown.

Dependent Current Source Symbols

An ideal dependent voltage-controlled current source, VCCS, maintains an output current, IOUT that is
proportional to the controlling input voltage, VIN. In other words, the output current depends on the value of
input voltage making it a dependent current source.
Then the VCCS output current is defined by the following equation: IOUT = VIN. This multiplying
constant (alpha) has the SI units of mhos, (an inverted Ohms sign) because = IOUT/VIN, and its units will
therefore be amperes/volt.
An ideal dependent current-controlled current source, CCCS, maintains an output current that is proportional to
a controlling input current. Then the output current depends on the value of the input current, again making it
a dependent current source.
As a controlling current, IIN determines the magnitude of the output current, IOUT times the magnification
constant (beta), the output current for a CCCS element is determined by the following equation: IOUT = IIN.
Note that the multiplying constant is a dimensionless scaling factor as = IOUT/IIN, so therefore its units would
be amperes/amperes.

Current Source Summary

We have seen in this tutorial about Current Sources, that an ideal current source, (R = ) is an active element
that provides a constant current which is totally independent of the voltage across it as a result of the load
connected to it producing an I-V characteristic represented by a straight line.
Ideal independent current sources can be connected together in parallel for circuit analysis techniques as either
parallel-aiding or parallel-opposing configurations, but they can not be connected together in series. Also for
solving circuit analysis and theorems, current sources become open-circuited sources to make their current
equal to zero. Note also that current sources are capable of either delivering or absorbing power.
In the case of non-ideal or practical current sources, they can be modelled as an equivalent ideal current source
and an internal parallel (shunt) connected resistance which is not infinite but of a value that is very high as
R producing an I-V characteristic which is not straight but slopes down as the load decreases.
We have also seen here that current sources can be dependent or independent. A dependent source is one whose
value depends on some other circuit variable. Voltage-controlled current source, VCCS, and current-controlled
current source, CCCS, are types of dependent current sources.
Constant current sources with very high internal resistances find numerous applications in electronic circuits
and analysis and can be built using bipolar transistors, diodes, zeners and FETs as well as a combination of
these solid-state devices.