Exercise 1 – Introductory

Measurements to do:

Task 1. Determination of the output characteristics of the power supply (40%)

Draw the scheme of electric circuit as shown below in the report. Such a scheme could be used

 for taking e.g. (output) voltage vs (output) current characteristic of a power supply U = f(I).

I
+ +
E Rd U V
_ _

Figure 1. Schematic diagram for measuring the voltage vs current characteristic of the power supply

 Under the diagram, make a list of the used instruments, keep the labels shown on the diagram.

 Open the measurement simulator - file (Exc_1_simulator.xlsx). Enter your name in the
designated fields of the spreadsheet and then insert in the report the values of E and Imax
assigned to Task 1.

 Calculate resistance Rref using the formula:

𝐸
𝑅𝑟𝑒𝑓 =
𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑥

 For subsequent resistance values of the decade resistor Rd measure the voltage drop U on it.
The Rd values could be determined using the following rule: 10 Rref, 3.3 Rref, 2 Rref, 1.25 Rref,
1 Rref, 0.8 Rref, 0.5 Rref, 0.3 Rref, 0.1 Rref,

 Put the values of the resistance Rd and the voltage drop U in a table .
Note: The voltage drop U should be taken at the optimal measuring range.

Rd U I
No.
 V mA

Figure 2. An exemplary table for Task 1.

 Once the measurements are completed, calculate the current values and insert them in the
table. Use an adequate number of significant digits in all values. Draw following characteristics
U = f(I), U=f(Rd) and I=f(Rd) of the power supply.

 As conclusions please answer the questions listed in the report.

Task 2. Direct voltage and current measurements. (35%)

 Using available tools draw the scheme of the electric circuit as shown below and list all used
instruments in the report.

I + A –

+ +
E V U Rd
– –

Figure 3. Schematic diagram for basic voltage and current measurements

 Insert all necessary input data assigned to Task 2 in the report (you can find it in the second
spreadsheet of the Exc_1_simulator.xlsx file)

 Measure voltage U and current I values and put the results in your report (with the precision
offered by the instruments). Set an appropriate measurement ranges of the voltmeter and
ammeter to minimize measurement errors.

 Calculate voltage and current measurement errors and write them down in the report. These
data should be formatted according to the rules in expression of measurement errors. In this
case (single measurements) measured and calculated data can be expressed in the following
form:
U = ….V UFS= ….V gU = ….% ΔgU = …. V

I = ….mA IFS= ….mA gI = ….% ΔgI = …. mA

 As conclusions please answer the questions listed in the report.

Control questions (15%)

1. …
2. …
3. …
 Handheld multimeter U1252B

Quantity Expression for error Measurement range

DCV 𝛿𝑔 𝑈 = 0.05% +
50
∙ 100% 50 mV
𝑛
5
𝛿𝑔 𝑈 = 0.025% + 𝑛 ∙ 100% 500 mV, 1 V, 5 V and 50 V
5
𝛿𝑔 𝑈 = 0.03% + 𝑛 ∙ 100% 500 V and 1000 V
DCI 5
𝛿𝑔 𝐼 = 0.05% + 𝑛 ∙ 100% 500 A and 5 mA
5
𝛿𝑔 𝐼 = 0.15% + 𝑛 ∙ 100% 50 mA and 44 0mA
10
𝛿𝑔 𝐼 = 0.3% + ∙ 100% 5A
𝑛
5
𝛿𝑔 𝐼 = 0.3% + 𝑛 ∙ 100% 10 A
R 𝛿𝑔 𝑅 = 0.05% +
10
∙ 100% 500 
𝑛
5
𝛿𝑔 𝑅 = 0.05% + ∙ 100% 5 k 50 k i 500 k
𝑛
5
𝛿𝑔 𝑅 = 0.15% + 𝑛 ∙ 100% 5 M
5
𝛿𝑔 𝑅 = 1% + 𝑛 ∙ 100% 50 M
10
𝛿𝑔 𝑅 = 3% + 𝑛
∙ 100% 500 M (for R<200 M )
10
𝛿𝑔 𝑅 = 8% + 𝑛
∙ 100% 500 M (for R>200 M )
n – is the instrument indication without decimal point and unit. E.g. if measured value
is 2.543 mA, the ‘n’ value is 2543.
 Multimetr 34450A

Quantity Expression for error Measurement range

DCV 𝛿𝑔 𝑈 = 0.018% + 0.008%
𝑈𝐹𝑆
100 mV
𝑈

𝑈𝐹𝑆 1 V, 10 V, 100 V and

𝛿𝑔 𝑈 = 0.015% + 0.005% 𝑈 1000 V
DCI 𝛿𝑔 𝐼 = 0.05% + 0.015%
𝐼𝐹𝑆
100 A
𝐼
𝐼𝐹𝑆
𝛿𝑔 𝐼 = 0.05% + 0.007% 1 mA
𝐼
𝐼𝐹𝑆
𝛿𝑔 𝐼 = 0.05% + 0.015% 10 mA
𝐼
𝐼𝐹𝑆
𝛿𝑔 𝐼 = 0.05% + 0.007% 100 mA
𝐼
𝐼𝐹𝑆
𝛿𝑔 𝐼 = 0.10% + 0.015% 1A
𝐼
𝐼𝐹𝑆
𝛿𝑔 𝐼 = 0.25% + 0.007% 10 A
𝐼
R 𝛿𝑔 𝑅 = 0.050% + 0.008%
𝑅𝐹𝑆
100  and 1 k
𝑅
𝑅𝐹𝑆
𝛿𝑔 𝑅 = 0.050% + 0.005% 10 k and 100 k
𝑅
𝑅𝐹𝑆
𝛿𝑔 𝑅 = 0.060% + 0.005% 1 M
𝑅
𝑅𝐹𝑆
𝛿𝑔 𝑅 = 0.250% + 0.005% 10 M
𝑅
𝑅𝐹𝑆
𝛿𝑔 𝑅 = 2.000% + 0.005% 𝑅
100 M
UFS, IFS, RFS – are full scale ranges of the multimeter in voltage, current and resistance
measurement mode, respectively.