BIOEN317 . LAB #1 .

SPR 2019

ELECTRICAL SAFETY!

You will be dealing with voltage and current levels that can severely harm you! READ
BEFORE YOU USE YOUR POWER SUPPLY!

Follow these basic rules and keep them in mind at ALL times:

01) Never eat, or drink around your circuit, or have wet (or even slightly wet) hands
(i.e., coming back from the restroom) when dealing with your circuit.

02) Red typically denotes +power, black typically denotes -power, green typically denotes
ground: I try to keep this convention as best as I can for a good "rule of thumb".

03) Before attaching the power supply to your circuit, a) check, double check and triple
check if your circuit was completed to specification, b) ensure there is no direct line
from the +power rail/terminal to the -power rail/terminal.

04) Attach the alligator clips one-at-a-time, i.e. first attach an alligator clip to the +power
terminal above and then to the +power terminal in your circuit. Attach an alligator clip
to the "com" terminal above and then to the ground of your circuit... same thing for
-power... do each step separately in series not in parallel!

05) Press the "+25 V" button and then "Display Limit" — use the dial to set the +power
supply voltage based on what your circuits requires. Then press the "-25 V" button
and repeat. Note the limit on current — 1 A, this can kill you.

06) Make sure the cables and circuit are "mechanically stable". Cables of all kind when
connected to a breadboard can twist and put strain in such a fashion that the circuit
board, if lightweight, can flip over and result in inadvertent wire contact. In other
cases, wires are bent to the point where they make accidental contact, which may
result in an electrical discharge. Make sure connecting cables are not twisting

1 of 2
rdas@, houv2@, ewalk248@, sunh20@, uri86zvi@ BIOEN317 . LAB #1 . SPR 2019

around each other, are as untangled as possible and are not in any position that
causes undue mechanical strain.

07) Recheck and double check your circuit/cable connections before pressing the
"output on/off" button of the power supply.

09) To troubleshoot your circuit, ensure that the "output on/off" button is indeed "off"
and remove the power cables connected to your circuit for troubleshooting.

10) If troubleshooting is required when the power is turned on and enabled, then try your
best to deal with the circuit with one hand instead of two since the shortest path
of discharge would be through your fingers and not through your body (i.e., heart).
If two hands are required, try to make sure that both hands are not touching any
exposed metal of the circuit at the same time. If two hands are required and you need
to touch the circuit where metal may be exposed, my rule of thumb is to just wear
disposable, lab (rubber) gloves.

2 of 2