Experiment 2:

Series and Parallel Resistor DC networks

Practicing in using DMM to measure Resistance, Voltage and Current

Equipment

1 power supply
8 resistors 560Ω, 680Ω, 1kΩ, 2.2kΩ, 4.7kΩ (x2), 5.6kΩ, 10kΩ
1 variable resistor 10kΩ
1 digital multimeter

(A). Setting up of Power Supply.

This section of the experiment instructs how to limit the maximum current of the
power supply to a safe value so that no damage could be done to the DMM when
measuring dc current. The Power supply maximum current is limited to 0.15 Amps
(150 milli Amps). Should the DMM be connected accidentally in parallel when set
to measure DC current, the power supply senses that there is a demand for high
current from the circuit and the protection can work as soon as the current
exceeds 150mA. This means that the power supply output is automatically
switched ‘OFF’ until the faulty connection is removed from the circuit. Also the
fuse of the DMM, which is 200mA, will not blow since the power supply cuts off
the current well before the fuse rating is exceeded, should the DMM be incorrectly
connected to the circuit.

Do the following procedure:

1. Switch on the power supply. Slide the power supply display indication select
switch to Volts. Increase the voltage output from the power supply to 5 Volts
2. Reduce the current control of the power supply to the minimum setting (Fully
counter clockwise)
3. Slide the power supply display indication select switch to Amps. Place a shorting
link between the Positive (Red) terminal and the Ground (Black) output terminals
of the power supply.
4. Increase the current control until the display shows an indication of 0.15 Amps.
By this way you have limited the output current from the power supply to 0.15
Amps or 150 milli Amps.
5. Remove the shorting link
6. Do not touch the current setting knob of the power supply anymore during
the experiment
7. Repeat this procedure only if you accidentally touch the current setting knob or if
you want to set the maximum current output from the supply to a current lower or
higher than 0.15 Amps

Subject: Electronics Lab (Linear) Page: 1

(B). Experiment Procedure:

Circuit 1:

R1
1k

BAT1 R2 R3 R4
15V
10k 2k2 4k7

Fig. 1

1. Construct the circuit shown in Fig. 1 on the breadboard. Use the DMM set on
resistance to select the resistors required for the circuit. Connect to a 15V power
supply.

2. Now, measure the total current taken by the circuit (i.e. current flowing through
R1). Fill in the result in Table 1 below. After taking the reading do not forget to
reconnect back the link opened to insert the meter in series to R1.

3. Measure the currents flowing through R2, R3, and R4. Fill in Table 1 with the
results

4. Now, set the DMM to measure DC voltages. Measure the voltages across R1,
R2, R3, and R4. Complete Table 1 with the results

R1 R2 R3 R4
Current (mA) through:
Voltage (V) across:

Table 1

Subject: Electronics Lab (Linear) Page: 2

Circuit 2:

R1
560R
R2
5k6
R3 R4
2k2 4k7
BAT1
25V

R5
4k7

Fig. 2

1. Construct the circuit shown in Fig. 2 on the breadboard. Use the DMM set on
resistance to select the resistors required for the circuit. Connect to a 25V power
supply.

2. Now, measure the total current taken by the circuit (i.e. current flowing through
R5). Fill in the result in Table 2 below. After taking the reading do not forget to
reconnect back the link opened to insert the meter in series to R5.

3. Measure the currents flowing through R1, R2, R3, and R4. Fill in Table 2 with the
results

4. Now, set the DMM to measure DC voltages. Measure the voltages across R1,
R2, R3, R4 and R5. Complete Table 2 with the results

R1 R2 R3 R4 R5
Current (mA) through:
Voltage (V) across:

Table 2

Subject: Electronics Lab (Linear) Page: 3

 Circuit 3:

R1 R2
560R 5k6

R3
2k2 R4 R5
4k7 680R
BAT1
28V

R6
1k

Fig. 3

1. Construct the circuit shown in Fig. 2 on the breadboard. Use the DMM set on
resistance to select the resistors required for the circuit. Connect to a 28V power
supply.

2. Now, measure the total current taken by the circuit. Decide which resistor is
drawing total circuit current and fill in the appropriate cell of Table 3 below with
the result.

3. Measure the currents flowing through all resistors in the circuit. Fill in Table 3
with the results

4. Now, set the DMM to measure DC voltages. Measure the voltages across each
resistor forming the circuit. Complete Table 3 with the results

R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6
Current (mA) through:
Voltage (V) across:

Table 3

Subject: Electronics Lab (Linear) Page: 4

 Circuit 4:

R1
560R

R2
R4
4k7 5k6

BAT1 R3 R6
18V 680R 1k

R5
10k

Fig. 4

1. Construct the circuit shown in Fig. 4 on the breadboard. Use the DMM set on
resistance to select the resistors required for the circuit. Connect to an 18V
power supply.

2. Now, measure the total current taken by the circuit.

Total circuit current: ___________

3. Measure the currents flowing through all resistors in the circuit. Fill in Table 4
with the results

4. Now, set the DMM to measure DC voltages. Measure the voltages across each
resistor forming the circuit. Complete Table 4 with the results

R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6
Current (mA) through:
Voltage (V) across:

Table 4

Subject: Electronics Lab (Linear) Page: 5

Circuit 5 – Using a variable resistor in a circuit and noting how it can be used to
vary voltage and current in a circuit.

R1
1 3
10k
2 3
2
1
BAT1 R2 R3
18V
5k6 4k7

Fig. 5

1. Construct the circuit shown in Fig. 5 on the breadboard. Use the DMM set on
resistance to select the resistors required for the circuit. Connect to an 18V
power supply.

2. Rotate variable resistor R1 fully counter-clockwise.

3. Measure the current flowing through resistors R1, R2 and R3. Fill in Table 5 with
the results.

4. Now, set the DMM to measure DC voltages. Measure the voltages across R1, R2
and R3. Complete Table 5 with the results

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 above first with variable resistor R1 rotated approximately
half-way clockwise, and then fully clockwise. Fill in Table 5 with the results

R1 R2 R3
Current (mA) through: R1 fully counter
Voltage (V) across: clockwise
Current (mA) through: R1 half-way
Voltage (V) across: clockwise
Current (mA) through: R1 fully
Voltage (V) across: clockwise

Table 5

Student name: __________________________

Subject: Electronics Lab (Linear) Page: 6