Y- transform

This article is about the mathematical technique. For

the device which transforms three-phase electric power
without a neutral wire into three-phase power with
a neutral wire, see delta-wye transformer. For the
application in statistical mechanics see, see YangBaxter
equation. For the regional airline brand name for Delta
Air Lines, see Delta Connection.
The Y- transform, also written wye-delta and also
known by many other names, is a mathematical technique to simplify the analysis of an electrical network.
The name derives from the shapes of the circuit diagrams, which look respectively like the letter Y and the
Greek capital letter . This circuit transformation theory
was published by Arthur Edwin Kennelly in 1899.[1] It
is widely used in analysis of three-phase electric power
circuits.

and Y circuits with the labels which are used in this article.

is eliminated by transforming the impedances. For equivalence, the impedance between any pair of terminals must
be the same for both networks. The equations given here
are valid for complex as well as real impedances.

2.1 Equations for the transformation from

The Y- transform can be considered a special case of the

to Y
star-mesh transform for three resistors. In mathematics,
the Y- transform plays an important role in theory of
The general idea is to compute the impedance Ry at a
circular planar graphs.[2]
terminal node of the Y circuit with impedances R , R
to adjacent node in the circuit by

Names

R R
Ry =
R
where R are all impedances in the circuit. This yields
the specic formulae
Rb Rc
Ra + Rb + Rc
Ra Rc
R2 =
Ra + Rb + Rc
Ra Rb
R3 =
Ra + Rb + Rc
R1 =

Illustration of the transform in its T- representation.

The Y- transform is known by a variety of other

names, mostly based upon the two shapes involved, listed
in either order. The Y, spelled out as wye, can also be
called T or star; the , spelled out as delta, can also be 2.2 Equations for the transformation from
called triangle, (spelled out as pi), or mesh. Thus,
Y to
common names for the transformation include wye-delta
or delta-wye, star-delta, star-mesh, or T-.
The general idea is to compute an impedance R in the
circuit by

Basic Y- transformation
R =

RP

Ropposite
The transformation is used to establish equivalence for
networks with three terminals. Where three elements ter- where RP = R1 R2 + R2 R3 + R3 R1 is the sum of the
minate at a common node and none are sources, the node products of all pairs of impedances in the Y circuit and
1

4 SIMPLIFICATION OF NETWORKS

R3
Ra
c +Ra )Rb
Ropposite is the impedance of the node in the Y circuit
R3 + R1 = (R
Ra +Rb +Rc , R1 = Rc .
which is opposite the edge with R . The formula for the
individual edges are thus
Though usually six equations are more than enough to express three variables ( R1 , R2 , R3 ) in term of the other
three variables( Ra , Rb , Rc ), here it is straightforward
R1 R2 + R2 R3 + R3 R1
to show that these equations indeed lead to the above deRa =
R1
signed expressions. In fact, the superposition theorem not
R1 R2 + R2 R3 + R3 R1
only establishes the relation between the values of the reRb =
R2
sistances, but also guarantees the uniqueness of such soR1 R2 + R2 R3 + R3 R1
lution.
Rc =
R3

2.3

Circuit Analysis: Techniques for Solv- 4

ing to Y

A circuit that has a combination of -loads and Y-loads

should be converted to the Y conguration. By converting
from to Y, each circuit element can be analyzed separately. Converting from to Y is a technique aimed to
simplify circuit analysis. (Note: harmonic behavior from
the original circuit remained unchanged). The conversion
from the notation to Y notation is as follows.

S3

VLL = 3VLN 30

ILL = 3ILN 30
Z /3 = ZY

= |S3 | = 3VLL IL = 3VLN IL

A proof of the existence and

uniqueness of the transformation

The feasibility of the transformation can be shown as a

consequence of superposition theorem in electric circuit.
A short proof, rather than derived as a corollary of the
more general star-mesh transform, can be given as follows. The equivalence lies in the statement that for any
external voltages ( V1 , V2 and V3 ) applying at the three
nodes ( N1 , N2 and N3 ), the corresponding currents
( I1 , I2 and I3 ) are exactly the same for both the Y
and circuit, and vice versa. In this proof, we start
with given external currents at the nodes. According to
superposition theorem, the voltages can be obtained by
studying the linear summation of the resulting voltages at
the nodes of following three problems: apply at the three
nodes with current (1) (I1 I2 )/3 , (I1 I2 )/3 , 0 ,
(2) 0 , (I2 I3 )/3 , (I2 I3 )/3 and (3) (I3 I1 )/3
, 0 , (I3 I1 )/3 . It can be readily shown that due to
Kirchhos circuit laws, one has I1 + I2 + I3 = 0 . One
notes that now each problem is relatively simple, since it
only involves one single ideal current source. To obtain
exactly the same outcome voltages at the nodes for each
problem, the equivalent resistances in two circuits must
be the same, this can be easily found by using the basic
rules of series and parallel circuits:

Simplication of networks

Resistive networks between two terminals can theoretically be simplied to a single equivalent resistor (more
generally, the same is true of impedance). Series and parallel transforms are basic tools for doing so, but for complex networks such as the bridge illustrated here, they do
not suce.
The Y- transform can be used to eliminate one node at a
time and produce a network that can be further simplied,
as shown.

Transformation of a bridge resistor network, using the Y- transform to eliminate node D, yields an equivalent network that may
readily be simplied further.

The reverse transformation, -Y, which adds a node, is

often handy to pave the way for further simplication as
well.

Transformation of a bridge resistor network, using the -Y transform, also yields an equivalent network that may readily be simplied further.

Every two-terminal network represented by a planar

graph can be reduced to a single equivalent resistor by a sequence of series, parallel, Y-, and -Y

6.1

-load to Y-load transformation equations

transformations.[3] However, there are non-planar networks that cannot be simplied using these transformations, such as a regular square grid wrapped around a R (N1 , N2 ) = Rc (Ra + Rb )
RT
torus, or any member of the Petersen family.

Graph theory

The corresponding impedance between N1 and N2 in Y

is simple:

In graph theory, the Y- transform means replacing a Y RY (N1 , N2 ) = R1 + R2

subgraph of a graph with the equivalent subgraph. The
transform preserves the number of edges in a graph, but hence:
not the number of vertices or the number of cycles. Two
graphs are said to be Y- equivalent if one can be obRc (Ra + Rb )
tained from the other by a series of Y- transforms in
R1 + R2 =
either direction. For example, the Petersen family is a
RT
Y- equivalence class.
Repeating for R(N2 , N3 ) :

Demonstration
R2 + R3 =

6.1

Ra (Rb + Rc )
RT

-load to Y-load transformation equaand for R(N1 , N3 ) :

tions
R1 + R3 =

Rb (Ra + Rc )
.
RT

From here, the values of {R1 , R2 , R3 } can be determined by linear combination (addition and/or subtraction).
For example, adding (1) and (3), then subtracting (2)
yields
and Y circuits with the labels that are used in this article.

To relate {Ra , Rb , Rc } from to {R1 , R2 , R3 } from Y, R1 +R2 +R1 +R3 R2 R3 =

the impedance between two corresponding nodes is compared. The impedance in either conguration is deter2Rb Rc
mined as if one of the nodes is disconnected from the 2R1 = R
T
circuit.
thus,
The impedance between N 1 and N 2 with N 3 disconnected in :
R1 =
R (N1 , N2 ) = Rc (Ra + Rb )
1
= 1
1
Rc + Ra +Rb
=

where RT = Ra + Rb + Rc
For completeness:

Rc (Ra + Rb )
Ra + Rb + Rc

To simplify, let RT be the sum of {Ra , Rb , Rc } .

R1 =

Rb Rc
RT

R2 =

Ra Rc
RT

R3 =

Ra Rb
RT

RT = Ra + Rb + Rc
Thus,

Rb Rc
.
RT

Rc (Ra + Rb ) Rb (Ra + Rc ) Ra (Rb +

+

RT
RT
RT

6.2

10

Y-load to -load transformation equa- 7

tions

EXTERNAL LINKS

See also
Star-mesh transform

Let

Analysis of resistive circuits

Electrical network, single-phase electric power,
alternating-current electric power, three-phase
power, polyphase systems for examples of Y and
connections

RT = Ra + Rb + Rc
We can write the to Y equations as

R1 =

Rb Rc
RT

R2 =

Ra Rc
RT

AC motor for a discussion of the Y- starting technique

Nikola Tesla
John Hopkinson
Mikhail Dolivo-Dobrovolsky

Ra Rb
.
R3 =
RT

Charles Proteus Steinmetz

Multiplying the pairs of equations yields

8 Notes
R1 R2 =

Ra Rb Rc2
RT2

R1 R3 =

Ra Rb2 Rc
RT2

R2 R3 =

Ra2 Rb Rc
RT2

[1] A.E. Kennelly, Equivalence of triangles and threepointed stars in conducting networks, Electrical World
and Engineer, vol. 34, pp. 413414, 1899.
[2] E.B. Curtis, D. Ingerman, J.A. Morrow, Circular planar
graphs and resistor networks, Linear Algebra and its Applications, vol. 238, pp. 115150, 1998.

and the sum of these equations is

R1 R2 +R1 R3 +R2 R3 =

[3] Klaus Truemper. On the delta-wye reduction for planar

graphs. J. Graph Theory 13(2):141148, 1989.

Ra Rb Rc2 + Ra Rb2 Rc + Ra2 Rb Rc9

RT2

Factor Ra Rb Rc from the right side, leaving RT in the

numerator, canceling with an RT in the denominator.

R1 R2 + R1 R3 + R2 R3 =

(Ra Rb Rc )(Ra + Rb + Rc )
RT2

R1 R2 + R1 R3 + R2 R3 =

Ra Rb Rc
RT

Note the similarity between (8) and {(1),(2),(3)}

Divide (8) by (1)

Ra Rb Rc RT
R1 R2 + R1 R3 + R2 R3
=
,
R1
RT Rb Rc
R1 R2 + R1 R3 + R2 R3
= Ra ,
R1
which is the equation for Ra . Dividing (8) by (2) or (3)
(expressions for R2 or R3 ) gives the remaining equations.

References
William Stevenson, Elements of Power System Analysis 3rd ed., McGraw Hill, New York, 1975, ISBN
0-07-061285-4

10 External links
Star-Triangle Conversion: Knowledge on resistive
networks and resistors
Calculator of Star-Triangle transform

11
11.1

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