Experiment No.

3
RC Phase Shift Oscillator using BJT
Aim: To design a RC Phase Shift oscillator using BJT and verify the output.

Components/ Apparatus: Resistors (47k, 10k, 4.7k, 1.8k, 470); BJT (BC-547);
Capacitors (0.01µF, 1µF, 10 µF); Potentiometer (47k); Cathode Ray
Oscilloscope(CRO); Power Supply; Breadboard etc.

Theory:

In a Resistance-Capacitance Oscillator or simply known as an RC Oscillator, we

can make use of the fact that a phase shift occurs between the input to a RC
network and the output from the same network by using interconnected RC
elements in the feedback branch.

The circuit on the left shows a single resistor-capacitor network whose output
voltage “leads” the input voltage by some angle less than 90o. In a pure or ideal
single-pole RC network. It would produce a maximum phase shift of exactly
90o, and because 180o of phase shift is required for oscillation, at least two
single-poles networks must be used within an RC oscillator design.

However in reality it is difficult to obtain exactly 90o of phase shift for each RC
stage so we must therefore use more RC stages cascaded together to obtain the
required value at the oscillation frequency. The amount of actual phase shift in
the circuit depends upon the values of the resistor (R) and the capacitor (C), at
the chosen frequency of oscillations. The number of RC feedback stages can be
chosen accordingly so that it gives total phase shift of 180o and remaining 180o
is provided by transistor which is acting as amplifier.
 √

Circuit Diagram:

Procedure:

1. Connect the circuit on breadboard as shown in the circuit diagram.

2. Adjust the Potentiometer such that Observe the output on CRO to get
sinusoidal waveform.
3. Measure the frequency of sinusoidal output and compare it with
theoretically calculated frequency.
4. Measure the amplitude, frequency and phase shift at terminals T1, T2 and
T3 with respect to Output terminal shown in Figure.

Calculations:

Theoretical Frequency: __________Hz.

Readings:

1. Practical Frequency at Output: ___________Hz.

2. Amplitude of Output Signal: __________ V.
 Phase Shift
Terminal Frequency (Hz) Amplitude (V) w.r.t. Output
Signal
T1
T2
T3
TABLE 1: Frequency, Amplitude and Phase Shift at different Terminals

Things to be reported:

1. Aim, Components/Apparatus, Theory, Circuit Diagram, Readings and

Calculations
2. Plot output waveform and variations of node T1, T2, T3 voltage
waveforms selecting suitable scale.
3. Draw vector diagram for voltages at T1, T2 and T3 with respect to Output
voltage.
4. Write suitable conclusion according to the result and answer the questions
given below.

Questions to answer:

1. How RC Phase Shift Oscillator is different from Wien Bridge Oscillator?

Compare.
2. State Advantages and Disadvantages of RC Phase Shift Oscillator.
3. How RC Phase Shift Oscillator can be implemented using Op-Amp?
Write the equation for its output frequency and necessary condition for
oscillations.
4. Suppose the positions of R and C in the circuit are interchanged. Could it
cause any change in output?