JACOBS UNIVERISTY BREMEN

Natural Science Laboratory

Electrical Engineering Module I
Fall Semester 2016
Lab Experiment 1 DC Circuits
Ha Eun Bumm
Mailbox Num: 779

Experiment Conducted by : Ha Eun Bumm and Muhammad Ahmed Leghari

Place of Execution : Teaching Lab EE
Date of Execution : 28 October, 2016
1. Introduction
Objective
o This whole experiment was to demonstrate how to use a multimeter and
determine how to find the unknown values using the value from the multimeter.
By learning how to use the multimeter, we also learned how to get accurate
results from it.
Theory Used
o For this experiment, we used theories such as the Ohms Law and the Kirchhoffs
Laws. By using these laws, we found out how to find the missing values such as
voltage, current and resistance. The laws helped us to understand how the
multimeter worked and its usage in the circuit itself.
o Some of the other theories that was used was the equations used to find the errors.
Two types of errors that we found using the equations were absolute error and
relative error.
o For finding the absolute error (E) when using the TENMA, we used the
0.06()
equation: + 3(), and for the ELABO, we used the equation:
100
0.03() 0.01()
+ . This helped us find the instrumental error from the
100 100
multimeter.

o For find the relative error (E%) we used the equation: 100%. This
| |
equation can also be written as . This helped us to find the

percentage of the error according to the absolute value.
2. Execution
2.1 Experiment Setup
Workbench No.11

Used tools and instruments:

Tool box and Components from Workbench
Multimeter Tenma Ser.No. 72-6203
WishBoard No.206
Mini Dekade R11000
ELABO from Workbench
Wisher Jumper Cables

2.1.1 Experiment Part 1A Setup

For this experiment, we had to use the ELABO multimeter as a voltmeter. For a single
value, we had to find the charge of that value in different ranges. In doing this, it shows
the influence of the multimeters range on the accuracy of the result.
Test Circuit:

The Elabo multimeter was set to V and DC with the starting range of 2000V.

2.1.2 Experiment Part 1A Execution and Results

With voltage supply at 1.0V, we measured the voltage values for the range 2000V, 200V,
20V, 2V, and 0.2V.

Results:

Range /V Voltage /V
2000 0.2
200 0.19
20 0.191
2 0.1932
0.2 0.19351
 Diagram generated with measured data by Exel. Transferred via Copy and Paste.
2.2.1 Experiment Part 1B Setup
For this experiment, we tried to find if all circuits only have instrumental error.
Test Circuit:

The Elabo multimeter was set to V and DC with the starting range of 2000V.

2.2.2 Experiment Part 1A Execution and Results

With voltage supply at 1.8V, we measured the voltage that changed according to the
change in resistance. The change in resistance was from 0R, 10R, 100R, 1K00, 10K0,
100K, 1M00, to 10M0.

Results:

Resistance/ Voltage/V
0 1.8531
10 1.8531
100 1.8531
1,000 1.8529
10,000 1.8513
100,000 1.8348
1,000,000 1.6856
10,000,000 0.9262

Diagram generated with measured data by Exel. Transferred via Copy and Paste.
2.3.1 Experiment Part 2 Setup
For this experiment, we tried to find that there are instrumental and methodical errors for
the voltmeter.
Test Circuit:

The Elabo multimeter was set to V and DC with the starting range of 2000V.

2.3.2 Experiment Part 2 Execution and Results

First, we determined that the best range for the voltmeter was 2V. Second, we found the
current and voltages for MP1 and MP2. Third, we found the current and voltages for MP1
and MP2 after changing the input terminal of the ammeter from A to A mA.
Finally, we found the current and voltages for MP1 and MP2 after changing the input
terminal of the ammeter from A mA to A.

Results:

Plug Switch Vmp1/V Vmp1/V Current/A

A mA/A 1.8510 1.8505 0.005
A - mA mA/A 1.8510 1.8409 496 mA
A - mA A 1.8514 1.4718 3750 A
Diagram generated with measured data by Exel. Transferred via Copy and Paste.
3. Evaluation
3.1 Evaluation Experiment Part 1A: Voltage Measurement
Answer for question 1:
0.03() 0.01()
Absolute Error: +
100 100
First Absolute Error Calculated:
0.03(0.2) 0.01(2000)
range: 2000V value: 0.2V E = 100 + = .
100

Relative Error: 100%
First Relative Error Calculated:

value: 0.2V : 0.20006V % = 0.2 100% = 100%
Table:
Range/V Voltage/V Absolute Error/V Relative Error/%
2000 0.2 0.20006 100%
200 0.19 0.020057 10.60%
20 0.191 0.002057 1.10%
2 0.1932 0.00025796 0.13
0.2 0.19351 0.000078053 0.04
Diagram generated with measured data by Exel. Transferred via Copy and Paste.
Answer for question 2:
You must use the smallest range to find the most accurate answer. The influence of the
range to the accuracy is that the smaller the range is the better accuracy there is for the
voltage. (change this)
Answer for question 3:
Graph:
Relative Error in 20V Range
25
Relative Error in Percentage

20

15

10

0
0.01 0.1 1 10 100
Voltage Output in Volts

The Diagram was created by Exel using the table from above. Then transferred using Cut
and Paste!
 The errors in the graph may include miscalculation in estimating the answer and large
gaps in the entered voltage.
3.2 Evaluation Experiment Part 1B: Voltage Measurement Pitfall
Answer for question 1:
0.03() 0.01()
Absolute Error: +
100 100
First Absolute Error Calculated:
0.03(1.8531) 0.01(2)
range: 2V value: 1.8531V E = + = .
100 100

Relative Error: 100%
First Relative Error Calculated:

value: 1.8531V : 0.00075593V % = 1.8531 100% = 0.041%
Table:
Resistance/ Voltage/V Methodical Error / % Absolute Error/V Relative Error/%
0 1.8531 0 0.00075593 0.04%
10 1.8531 0 0.00075593 0.04%
100 1.8531 0 0.00075593 0.04%
1,000 1.8529 0.0108 0.00075587 0.04%
10,000 1.8513 0.097 0.00075539 0.04%
100,000 1.8348 0.986 0.00075044 0.04%
1 M 1.6856 9.04 0.00070568 0.04%
10 M 0.9262 50 0.00047786 0.05%
Diagram generated with measured data by Exel. Transferred via Copy and Paste.
Answer for question 2:
The resistance is close to the resistor so because of this, it causes the error.
Answer for question 3:
Internal Resistance: 10M To Reduce Methodical Error to Zero: +100M

3.3 Evaluation Experiment Part 2: Current Measurement and Pitfalls

Answer for question 1:
0.03() 0.01()
Absolute Error: +
100 100
First Absolute Error Calculated:
0.03(1.8510) 0.01(2)
range: 2V value: 1.8510V E = + = .
100 100
Table:
Plug Switch Vmp1/V Vmp1/V Current/A Absolute Error/V
A mA/A 1.8510 1.8505 0.005 0.0007553
A - mA mA/A 1.8510 1.8409 0.00469 0.0007553
A - mA A 1.8514 1.4718 0.00375 0.00075542
Diagram generated with measured data by Exel. Transferred via Copy and Paste.
 Answer for question 2:

Relative Methodical Error:

Theoretical Current Value (Itrue): 1.8/390 = 0.004675A Imeas = Relative Error
0.00301% 0.004675
First Relative Error Calculated: = 8.34%
0.004675
Table:
Current/A Relative Error/% Relative Methodical Error/%
0.005 0.00% 8.34%
0.00469 0.04% 1.63%
0.00375 10.50% 18.74%
Diagram generated with measured data by Exel. Transferred via Copy and Paste.
Answer for question 3:
The best one is mili-amper because it has medium systematic error and the best
methodical error. The other values had higher systematic errors and not a very good
methodical error.
Answer for question 4:

Equation 1: = 1 2 Equation 2: = 1 1

1.8510 1.8505
First Resistance Calculated Using Equation 1: = 0.005
= .
1.8510
First Resistance Calculated Using Equation 2: = 390 = -19.8
0.005
Table:
Vmp1/V Vmp1/V Current/A Resistance Using Eq. 1/ Resistance Using Eq. 2/
1.8510 1.8505 0.005 0.1 -19.8
1.8510 1.8409 0.00469 2.15 0.00469
1.8514 1.4718 0.00375 101.226 103
Diagram generated with measured data by Exel. Transferred via Copy and Paste.
Answer for question 5:
When we subtracted the errors for the Vmp1 and Vmp2, both of the errors were added
together. When we divided the errors for the Vmp1 - Vmp2 with I, we added the errors
together. This made the errors much bigger than the given values. The first formula for

R1, 1 2, had higher errors so this made the formula R2, 1 1 , a better choice

to use.
Conclusion
Results
o Altogether, from the results, we could see how the multimeter used the theories to
get the values we didnt know. For the first experiment, the given values allowed
us to get the voltage from the made circuit. The second experiment gave us the
resistance and had us find the voltage from the circuit. Finally, the third
experiment gave us the current and voltage according to the different units they
were measured in.
Theory
o When we had to calculate the errors of the values we got, we used the theories
given. The theory also helped us to understand how we got the values from the
multimeter. Using Ohms Law, we got the voltages, currents and resistance. The
relative error was found through the equations R1 and R2.
Errors
o While doing the experiment, there were some errors in the values from the
TENMA multimeter and the ELABO multimeter. When setting the values on the
ELABO multimeter, there were times when the a little higher than it really was.
The TENMA multimeter also had some errors when it depended on the ELABO
multimeter. Because we knew that the ELABO multimeter, when using the
TENMA multimeter with it, we knew that there would be an error when using the
TENMA multimeter. This was because there were systematical errors coming
from the instruments. Another error that could have happened was when we did
our calculations. We rounded up the numbers to have 4 spaces after the decimal
point at the most. With that, the calculations could have had a slight error. Some
other errors include possibly writing the values wrong, setting the circuit wrong or
inputting the wrong unit.
Reference
Electrical Engineering I Lab Manual
Skeleton Lab Report
ELABO Accuracy Multimeter PDF