Experiment1: Introduction to laboratory equipmentand basic components.

1 OBJECTIVES.

This experiment will provide exposure to the various test equipment to be used in subsequent experiments.A primary purpose of this lab course is for you to master the use of electronic test equipment. The deviceswe will be using include DC power supplies, breadboards, digital multi-meters ”DMM”, oscilloscope and afunction generator, as well as some resistors, capacitors and inductors, so we can have something to measureon. By the end of this experiment you should be able to tell how to use the equipment to measure voltage,current resistance, inductance, capacitance, frequency, period, rms voltage, peak-peak voltage, phase, as wellas knowing how to generate waveforms using the function generator.

NOTE: THIS LAB AND THE APPENDICES SERVE AS INTRODUCTIONS TO THE TEST EQUIP-MENT. IF YOU ARE IN DOUBT ABOUT HOW TO USE A DEVICE IN A SAFE AND APPROPRIATEMANNER, ASK YOUR LAB INSTRUCTOR, OR BETTER YET, READ THE MANUAL. ALTHOUGHIT IS UNLIKELY THAT YOU WOULD INJURE YOURSELF WITH THE EQUIPMENT IN THIS LAB,YOU MIGHT DAMAGE THE EQUIPMENT. ALSO, YOU MAY SOMEDAY USE EQUIPMENT THATCOULD INJURE OR KILL YOU IF USED IMPROPERLY.

2 INTRODUCTION AND TEST CIRCUITS.

The purpose of this experiment is to learn to use the test equipment, in order to do that we need a source ofmeasurements. So we need to build some circuits using resistors and a power supply or the function generator.In this lab we will be measuring voltages (peak-peak, avg(DC), rms(AC)), current(DC), frequency, period,phase.

3 PREPARATION.

Be sure to read over the appropriate appendices in your lab manual. These will introduce you to thebreadboard you will use to construct your circuits, to reading component values off of the componentsthemselves, and to the equipment to be used.

4 PROCEDURE.

4.1 Recognition of basic components

Here we are going to get aquainted to some of the basic components used in electronics such as the resistors,capacitors and inductors. We will learn how to read the values using the codes as well as how to measurethem using the LRC bridge and the ohmmeter in the case of resistance.

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4.1.1 Resistors

You will be given some resistors, use the color code as well as instruments to find their values and fill outthe table 1-1.

4.1.2 Capacitors

You will be given some capacitors, use the numeric code as well as instruments to find their values and fillout the table 1-2.

4.1.3 Inductors

You will be given some inductors, use the color code as well as instruments to find their values and fill outthe table 1-3.

4.2 Measurement of Voltages and Currents.

4.2.1 DC

Before you start make sure you read and understand how to use the breadboard, the power supply, thefunction generator, the digital multimeters and the oscilloscope. Keep in mind you will be needing toconnect in series the amp-meter in different places to make the measurements required, so think of a goodway to place the resistors on the breadboard.

• Build the circuit on fig 1-1, make the measurements required to fill the table 1-4.

• Build the circuit on fig 1-2, make the measurements required to fill the table 1-5.

4.2.2 AC

Before you start make sure you read and understand how to use the breadboard, the power supply, thefunction generator, the digital multimeters and the oscilloscope. Keep in mind you will be needing toconnect in series the amp-meter in different places to make the measurements required, so think of a goodway to place the resistors on the breadboard.

• Build the circuit on fig 1-3, make the measurements required to fill the table 1-6.

• Build the circuit on fig 1-4, make the measurements required to fill the table 1-7.

4.3 Other AC measurements

Build the circuit in fig 1-5. you will use this circuit for the rest of the lab.

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4.3.1 Peak-Peak voltage

Definition: The peak-peak voltage is defined as the difference between the maximum and the minimumvoltages of a waveform.

• Use the Oscilloscope to measure the peak-peak voltages required to fill the table 1-8.

4.3.2 Frequency

Definition: The times a signal crosses the same point over a period of time divided by that period of time.

• Use the oscilloscope and the DMM to measure the frequency and fill the table 1-9 with the readouts.

4.3.3 Period

Definition:The time a waveform takes to reach the same point again.

• Use the oscilloscope and the DMM to make the measurements needed to fill out the table 1-10.

4.3.4 Phase

Definition:The delay, in degrees, between two signals.

• Use the oscilloscope to measure the phase between the signal in the component and the functiongenerator.Use the signal from the function generator as the reference. Fill the table 1-11.

hint:

– To measure the phase in the resistor place the oscilloscope ground lead in the node where thefunction generator and the resistor are joined. Connect the channel 1 lead to the other resistorterminal and the channel 2 lead to the other function generator terminal and disconnect theexternal trigger connection cable.

– To measure the phase in the capacitor place the oscilloscope ground lead in the node where thefunction generator and the capacitor are joined. Connect the channel 1 lead to the other capcitorterminal and the channel 2 lead to the other function generator terminal and disconnect theexternal trigger connection cable.

5 Analysis

Be sure to fill out all the tables in the procedure section. In your write up include also an analysis of theaccuracy of your measurements, i.e. How accurate you expect your measurments to be. Just as examplethink on the color code of the resistors, they have a tolerance value band, so if a resistor has a 5% toleranceits actual value is expected to be in the range of its nominal value ± 5%. Consult the instruments manualso you can figure out the accuracy of your measurements.

Explain the results obtained in table 1-11.

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nominal measuredcolor code Ohm meter LCR bridge

Resistor 1Resistor 2

Table 1-1: Comparison between nominal and measured values.

nominal measurednumeric code LCR bridge

Capacitor 1Capacitor 2

Table 1-2: Comparison between nominal and measured values.

nominal measuredcolor code LCR bridge

Inductor 1Inductor 2

Table 1-3: Comparison between nominal and measured values.

R1 R2 Power SupplyVoltageCurrent

Table 1-4: Measurements on a basic serial circuit.

R1 R2 Power SupplyVoltageCurrent

Table 1-5: Measurements on a basic parallel circuit.

R1 R2 Power SupplyVoltage Volt-meter

OscilloscopeCurrent Volt-meter

Oscilloscope

Table 1-6: Measurements on a basic serial circuit.

R1 R2 Power SupplyVoltage Volt-meter

OscilloscopeCurrent Volt-meter

Oscilloscope

Table 1-7: Measurements on a basic parallel circuit.

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Resistor Capacitor Function generator

Table 1-8: Peak-peak voltage measurements.

Resistor Capacitor Function generatorDMMOscilloscope

Table 1-9: Frequency measurements.

Resistor Capacitor Function generatorDMMOscilloscope

Table 1-10: Period measurements.

Resistor Capacitor

Table 1-11: Phase measurements.

Figure 1-1: DC serial circuit

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Figure 1-2: DC parallel circuit.

Figure 1-3: AC serial circuit

Figure 1-4: AC parallel circuit.

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Figure 1-5: Basic AC circuit

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