University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore Spring 2021

LAB 4: CLIPPERS AND CLAMPERS

Name : ALISHA AAS Date : 21-6-21
Regd-No : 2020-MC-20
OBJECTIVES:
 To implement series and shunt clippers.
 To use a voltage source to create biased clampers.
 To implement diode clampers.

SUGGESTED READING:
 Class Lectures 7, 8
 Chapter 3: “Diode Applications”, introductory Electronic Devices and Circuits
by Robert T. Paynter.
 Chapter 4, “Clippers and Clampers”,Introductory Electronic Devices andCircuits
by Robert. T Paynter
 Datasheet : 1N4007 rectifier diode
 http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_3/chpt_3/4.html
 http://cie-wc.edu/diode-clipper-and-clampers-lecture-8-18-11.pdf
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clamper_(electronics)

Please read through all the suggested reading before you come to lab.

EQUIPMENT AND COMPONENTS:

 Basic Circuits Training Board
 1N4007 Rectifier Diode
 Jumper Wires
 Palm Scope / DMM
 Electrolyte Capacitors (1uF, 2.2uF, 10uF)
 Resistors (330 Ohms, 1k, 10k)
 Voltage Transformer
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Clippers
A clipper is a circuit designed to ‘clip’ or limit the AC signal to a certain value.
Clippers that clip off the positive half cycle are known as ‘positive’ clippers.
Clippers that clip off the negative half cycle are known as ‘negative’
clippers.Clippers are useful for protecting circuits from exceeding various voltages
(either positive or negative)

MCT-122: ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CIRCUITS

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Department of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, U.E.T Lahore
LAB 4
 University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore Spring 2021

Series Clipper:
A single diode connected in series with an AC voltage source forms a series
clipper (Fig 4.1).

Fig 4.1: Series Clippers

Shunt Clippers:
Shunt clippers are formed when the diode is connected in parallel with the load. The clip off
either the positive or the negative half of the input wave. The clipping action is performed when
the diode conducts.

Fig 4.2: Shunt Clippers

Clampers:
Sometimes you may want to leave the waveform unchanged, but modify its DC
level up or down. To accomplish this, you use a clamper circuit. The beauty of
clampers is that they can adjust the DC position of the waveform without knowing
what the waveform actually is. Fig.4.3 shows a voltage clamper that can be made
from diodes and capacitors.

MCT-122: ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CIRCUITS

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Department of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, U.E.T Lahore
LAB 4
 University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore Spring 2021

Fig 4.3: Positive Diode Clamper

Procedure:
TASK1: SHUNT CLIPPERS
 Use the rectifier diode to connect the circuit in the shunt clipper format.
 Attach the current limiting resistance with the diode to limit the amount of
current flowing through it in forward bias mode.
 Create positive and negative shunt clippers and view the output on the palm-
scope.

TASK2: ZENER CLIPPERS

 Use a zener diode to create a positive and a negative zener diode clipper
(biased clipper).
 View and analyze the output on the palm-scope.
 Use two zener diodes to create a combination of both clippers and analyze
the output on the palm-scope.

MCT-122: ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CIRCUITS

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Department of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, U.E.T Lahore
LAB 4
 University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore Spring 2021

Fig 4.4: Biased Zener Diode Clipper

TASK3: CLAMPER
 Use a capacitor in place of the current limiting resistor of the shunt clipper to
make a clamper circuit.
 Analyze the waveform by viewing it on the palm-scope

MCT-122: ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CIRCUITS

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Department of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, U.E.T Lahore
LAB 4
 University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore Spring 2021

REVIEW QUESTIONS:
Q: Which clipper would you prefer between the series and the shunt clipper? Why?
Ans: We would prefer the shunt clipper because in the series clippers, when diode is in off’
position, there should be no transmission of the input signal to output. But in the case of high
frequency signals transmission takes place through diode capacitance which is undesirable. This
is drawback of using the diode as a series element in such type of clippers
In shunt clippers, when the diode is in off condition, transmission of input signal must take place
to output. But in the case of high frequency input signals, diode capacitance affects the operation
of circuit adversely and the signal gets attenuated (which means that, it passes through diode
capacitance to ground).

Q: Explain the use of clippers as ‘wave shape changers’.

Ans:They are used to produce new waveforms from an existing signal such as squaring off the
peaks of a sinusoidal waveform to obtain a rectangular waveform. This ability of clippers is used
to lower the amplitude, noise of the output signal.

Q: How does the output of a clamper differ from that of a shunt clipper?
Ans: The clamper shifts the entire input signal to completely negative or positive side without
changing the waveform of the input signal whereas in shunt clipper the negative or positive cycle
is clipped or completely trimmed without shifting the rest of the signal.

MCT-122: ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CIRCUITS

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Department of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, U.E.T Lahore
LAB 4
 University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore Spring 2021

Q: Write two applications of clippers and clampers each.

Ans: Here the two applications of Clippers:
1. They are used for separation of synchronizing signals.
2. They are used to clip the excessive distortion of a signal.

Here are the two applications of Clampers:

1. Used as a baseline stabilizer in communication circuits.
2. They are used as DC restorers by clamping DC waveforms.

Q: Plot the wave form of your combination zener clipper(approximated) using MS EXCEL and
find its RMS and average values.
Ans. Since the zener clippers we used had Zener Voltage tof 15V the output will be of RMS
10.6V with an average of 7.5 V.

COMMENTS:
We learned Use of Clippers and Clamper circuits and their different combinations.

MCT-122: ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CIRCUITS

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Department of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, U.E.T Lahore
LAB 4