Electric Circuit lab Department of Electrical Engineering, Namal College, Mianwali

Experiment 1: Experiment 1: Introduction to laboratory instruments.

Student learn

 The underlying metallic strip connection of the breadboard

 To use a digital-meter to measure resistance, dc current, dc voltages and RMS (True or
approximate) values of ac voltages.
 To use a dc power supply. Understanding the principle of grounding/common
While patching circuits.
 To use a signal generator to generate square , sinusoidal and triangular waveforms
(voltages) with and without dc offset
 To use an oscilloscope to measure voltages, measure the time period and calculate the
frequency, in addition rise and fall time of square pulses can also be measured.

Electrical instruments are used in the laboratory to measure quantities, to provide external signal stimuli
to circuits and to view graphically the behavior of the circuits.

The two types of measuring instruments in common are use are analog meter and digital meters. In this
lab we will be using only the digital meters. Meters having a single function are called panel meter e.g.
voltmeter which can measure only the voltage whereas the meters with multiple functions are called
multitier which have the ability to measure the variety of electrical quantities such as voltage , current
and resistance.

Digital multi meter (DMM)

A digital multi meter is used to measure voltage current and resistance. It is also called AVO (Ampere volts,
ohm) meter. It has the feature to measure three quantities at different setting of function knob. The
function knob is also used to set the ranges for measurements.

CAUTION: Make sure that the function knob is on the appropriate scale when you are measuring any
electrical quantity. Never measure voltage with current setting or current with voltmeter. Why? It is also
advisable that currents may be measured indirectly by measuring voltages across known value of
resistor.

The meter is fairly accurate when it used to measure dc voltages and currents. However, the ac
measurement may or may not be accurate depending on the quality of meter. The meter is usually
calibrated to measure sinusoidal ac RMS values. When measuring RMS values of other waveform, the
reading may not be correct.

When DMM is used as a voltmeter it is connected in parallel. Since the DMM has two leads “BLACK” and
“RED” with black always connected to “COM” terminal a positive value indicated by the voltmeter shows
that the point where the red lead is touching is positive with respect to the print where the black lead is
touching and vice versa.

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Electric Circuit lab Department of Electrical Engineering, Namal College, Mianwali

When DMM is used as an ammeter it is connected in series. If an ammeter indicates a positive value this
means the direction of the current is into its positive terminal and cut of its com terminal and vice versa.

When measuring resistance, make sure that the resistor is not connected to any other component or
power supply.

Dc power supply
The basic power source available in the lab is digital dual DC power supply. Such supplies are primarily
voltage source because variable voltage regulated power supply can be manually adjusted to deliver any
required voltage within its range of operation. They provide the voltages required to make circuit function.
It can be set to obtain any voltage from 0 – 30V.

Signal Generator
Signal generator is primarily a waveform generator. It provides sinusoidal waveforms, square waveforms
and triangular waveforms. The frequency and the amplitude of the signal can be set with the help of
“frequency” and “amplitude” knobs. These waveforms may be skewed by manipulating the symmetry
knob. The waveform may be added with dc offset values like, for example to convert a square waveform
into a pulse with the help of Dc offset knob.

The cathode Ray oscilloscope (CRO)

Basic operation
Cathode Ray tube (CRT) constitutes the main part of a CRO. The main components of the CRT are shown
in the figure below. The heater heats up the cathode which as a result behaves as an electron gun emitting
a stream of electrons. The anode is cylindrical in shape attracting the electron stream and focusing it into
a beam of electrons. There is also a set of focusing plates following the anode which are now shown in
the figure. The beam strikes the screen of the CRT which is coated with phosphor material. The material
emit light on impact of electrons on the screen. This is seen as dot by the observer.

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Electric Circuit lab Department of Electrical Engineering, Namal College, Mianwali

The horizontal plates (xplates) are driven by the time base waveform. This waveform causes the beam to
be attracted by the ungrounded horizontal plate (refer to figures below). Since the saw tooth rises lineraly,
the beam is attracted in a linear fashion providing the time base for waveform of interstt to be applied on
the vertical plates (y plates). The fly back portion of saw tooth cause a quick return of the beam to the
grounded X plate from where It moves again towards the ungrounded X plates.

The waveform (under observation) of interst is applied to the underground y plate. As the time base
causes the beam to sweep the CRT screen along X asis the waveform inddr observation caues the beam
to move towards ungrounded Y plate. As a result the waveform is displayed.

Focus contro. Causes the beam to focus or de focus intensity control; controls the intensity of the beam.
The other controls and settings of the oscilloscope will be explained in the labortory.

Triggered CRO
It will be noticed when the time period of the sweep is half of the wave under observation. Say for example
, the wave under observation is a sinusoid , the upper half would appear on the screen in the first sweep
time period and next half in the second sweap time period. This will result in a circle type figure or a

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Electric Circuit lab Department of Electrical Engineering, Namal College, Mianwali

moving sinusoid because of the integration property of our eyes. This movement will make it diffult to
oberve the waveform and extract useful results.

To circumvent the problem sweep waveform is triggered to start at a pre-assigned slope. Such oscilloscope
are called triggered oscilloscope. Fortunately most of the oscilloscope these days are triggeered
oscilloscope and it is possible to see segement of waveforms during measurement.

Bandwidth of the CRO

The bandwidth of the CRO is specified on the oscilloscope itself. The usual labortory models are of 20 MHz
or 40 Mhz bandwidth.

Laboratory Tasks

1. Finalyze yourself with breadboard. Make sure that you understand that breadboard has metal
strips which underneath the board and connect the holes on the top of the board

NOTE: The top and bottom two rows of holes are connected horizontally whereas the remaining holes
are connected vertically.

2. Familiarize yourself with dc power supply.

3. Familiarize yourself with multimeter. Learn to measure resistance, voltages current and to check
continuty between points (you have to patch the circuit on the breadboard and find the
parameters. The task/circuit diagram will be given in lab.
4. Introduction to resistance color code (black 0 brown 1 Red 2 orange 3 yellow 4 Green 5 blue 6
violet 7 Gray 8 white 9 ) (BB roy goes britian via germany west)
5. Familiarize with the oscilloscope learn to use y shift and x shift knobs. See the corresponding
changes in the display.
6. Familiarize with triggering concept. See portion of waveform.
7. Learn to read form the screen and necessity of CAL setting.
8. Learn to use oscilloscope in x versues y mode. This mode is used to observe lissajous fingures
9. Kearn to read the rize and fall time.
10. Importance of oscillioscope badnwidth is mearuing sharp changes , like the rise time.
11. Familiarize with signal generator . see different waveforms on the oscilloscope . learn to handle
offset and symmtery.

Laboratory Report
Submit a comprehnsive laboratory report (do not exceed w page) on all tasks that you have tired in the
laboratory. Attach it to this handout at the time of submission.

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