Lab 5

Owen Blair
September 29, 2020

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Introduction
The objective of this lab is to measure the complex voltages and current in a series
resistive-capacitive-inductive (RLC) circuit. This is done by measuring the RMS and peak
voltages along with phase shifts. A phasor to rectangular conversion would then be used to
convert the phasor voltage to a voltage in rectangular voltage. Rectangular form shows the real
and the imaginary components of the voltage. The phasor angle is also found from how much
each voltage wave is lagging or leading the Vs wave with respect to time.
Procedure
When setting up for this lab, turn on all equipment and allow for ample time for
equipment to warm up. Next, collect a 480 nF capacitor, 150 mH inductor, and a resistor with a
resistance of 1.6 kΩ. Record the real values of the capacitor, inductor, resistor, and the internal
resistance of the inductor. Then construct the following circuit:

Using a function generator, generate an output voltage of 3.00 Vrms with a frequency of 1.2 kHz
and put in place of V1. Use the digital multimeter and oscilloscope to measure voltage potential
for all three nodes with respect to ground, potential across the capacitor, and the potential across
the inductor. Ensure that the phase angle of the capacitor and inductor as well.
Calculations
Phase angle
t (360)
θ=
T
RMS Voltage (Sinusoidal)
Vm
V rms−sinsoidal =
√ (2)
Percent Error
measured value−calculated value
% error= 100
calculated value

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Tables
Table 1: Instruments Used

Device Manufacturer Model

Function Generator HP 3311A Function Generator

Oscilloscope LeCroy WaveAce 202

Table 2: Measured Value of Components

Component Measured Value

475 nF
C1
144 mH
L1
166 Ω
LR (Resistance of
L1)
1.599 k Ω
R3
.

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Table 3: Magnitude of the Node Voltages Measured with O-scope

Magnitude Vm RMS Vrms

Voltage: N1 4.30 3.04

Voltage: N2 4.53 3.2

Voltage: N3 3.39 2.40

Potential across C1 0.620 0.380

Potential across L 2.60 1.80

Table 4: Circuit Node Phase Angles Measured with an O-scope

Phase Shift (time) µs Phase Shift (degrees)

0 0°
Node 1
-13.29 -5.74°
Node 2
58.91 25.45°
Node 3
-4.028 -1.74°
Potential across C1
-110.0 -47.52°
Potential across L 

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Figure 1: Node 3 Phasor Diagram

Table 5: Sum of Potentials

Potential across (RMS) Real Part (volts) Imaginary Part (volts)

Function Generator 3.04 0

C1 (from Step 7) 0.3798 -0.01153j

L1 (from Step 7) 1.2156 -1.3275j

R1 2.2784 -1.0411j

KVL Sum (VS-VL-VC-VR) -0.8338 -2.38013j

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 Table 6: Combined Table and DMM Measurements

Potent Measured Calculated Percent Error

ial
Magnit RMS Phase Magnit RMS Phase Magnit RMS Phase
ude Angle ude Angle ude Angle
(DM
(O- M) (leadi (leadi (leading
scope) ng or ng or or
laggin laggin lagging)
g) g)
4.3 3.04 0° 4.24 3.0 0° 1.4151 1.3333 0%
Node % %
1
4.53 3.2 -5.74 4.5396 3.21 6.8° 0.2115 0.3115 52.9412
Node leadin % % %
2 g
3.39 2.4 25.45 3.486 2.46 - 2.7539 2.6369 197.771
Node ° 5 26.03 % % 8%
3 laggin °
g
0.62 .38 -1.74° 0.5993 0.42 - 3.454% 10.335 98.5032
Voltag leadin 38 116.2 1% %
e g 5°
Acros
sC
(VC)
2.6 1.8 - 2.4830 1.75 56.37 4.712% 2.5232 184.3%
Voltag 47.52 57 ° %
e °
Acros leadin
sL g
(VL)
1.668 16.19 1.64 16.19 1.3366 0%
Curre ° 6 ° %
nt leadin
g

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Conclusion
The most noticeable discrepancy within the data I collected was the percent error of the
phase angle. This is likely due to a mistake made by myself where I did not exchange C1 and R1
when measuring the phase angle of the potential across C1 and R1. The largest discrepancy is a
percent error of about 198%. This is the percent error between the measured phase angle of node
3 and the calculated phase angle of node 3. The highest percent error for peak voltages is 4.7%.
This leads me to believe that it was only the phase angle I incorrectly measured. This
inconsistency is also what skewed the numbers in table 5.
If the inductor was replaced with a capacitor, I would expect the phase angles to become
more negative. If the capacitor was replaced with an inductor, I would expect the phase angle to
become more positive. Using the current through the circuit and a resistor’s power equation:

P=I 2 R
The real power absorbed by the resistor is 3.758 kW. The circuit also dissipates a real power
total of 4.149 kW when also including the internal resistance of the inductor. Using my
knowledge from physics 2, the way I would increase the resistance of an inductor while
maintaining the same inductance would be to add an iron core to the center of the inductor and
wrap more loops of wire. The iron core will increase inductance while using lower quality wire
to make loops would increase the internal resistance of the inductor.

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