EE221 BASIC ELECTRONICS

PRACTICAL NO. 4

D.C. VOLTAGE MULTIPLICATION USING JUNCTION DIODES

Abstract
Voltage multipliers are used to obtain high
values of d.c. voltages from low voltage a.c.
supplies. These circuits find application in
H.V. supplies of cathode ray tubes, particle
accelerators, flash units, Xray machines and
other small current high voltage power
supplies. In this lab principles behind diode
voltage multiplication circuits are developed.
2.

4No. Small-signal Diodes

4No. 10 nF capacitors
1No. Signal generator
1No. DMM
1No. Oscilloscope

THEORETICAL DERIVATIONS

D4

To be completed before coming to the Lab

C3

2.1
2.2

2.3

If vin = Vpsint, in Fig. 1

Obtain expressions for the voltages across C1 , C2 ,
C3, C4 and reverse voltage across diode D1 in Fig. 4.
Clearly indicate your voltage directions in a circuit
diagram.
If diode voltage drop was significant what would the
voltages in 2.2 be?

+
-

C1
D1

C4

D3

D2
C2

Fig.
F ig . 14

3.

PRACTICAL EXERCISE

3.1

Connect the circuit shown in Fig 1 using small signal diodes (e.g. 1N4148), 10 nF
capacitors and an input voltage of 10 V peak-to-peak from a generator with zero
or no offset voltage. N.B. This circuit should have only one ground as
indicated, no other ground should be established otherwise the circuit will
not operate properly. A digital meter isolated from ground may however be
used between any two points.

3.2

Set the Oscilloscope to d.c. coupled input and the ground reference of the CRO
trace to known reference position. Sketch the voltage across D1 relative to the
ground level and measure the peak value of the trace on the CRO.

3.3

Discuss and comment on the measurements you obtained above explaining for
example: why the oscilloscope should be set to d.c. coupled input, whether the
result consistent with your prediction and the effect of diode forward voltage drop
in your measurement?

3.4

Measure the individual d.c. voltages across the capacitors C1 to C4 using a DMM
and the total voltage across C2 and C4, and across C1 and C2.
1

3.5

Comment on your measurement in relation to your predictions. Is there any effect

of diode forward voltage drop? If so quantify it.

3.6

Connect a loading resistor of 10 k and then another of 1 k to the output (taken

across C2 and C4) and in each case measure the a.c. and d.c. values of the output
using the oscilloscope. Explain the effect you observe of adding a load resistor.

4.

CONCLUSIONS
Make conclusions as derived from your results and discussions.

The report you hand in should be readable and understandable

to some body reading it that has never seen this lab sheet. All
questions asked should be answered in your report