Experiment 14: Study & Implementation of Simplest Positive and

Negative Clampers.

Software:
Multisim

Components:
i. Function Generator 01
ii. Oscilloscope 01
iii. Capacitor 01
iv. Multimeter 01
v. Diode Silicon 01
vi. Resistor 01

Circuit Diagram:
Background:

A clamper is an electronic circuit that changes the DC level of a signal to the desired level without
changing the shape of the applied signal. In other words, the clamper circuit moves the whole
signal up or down to set either the positive peak or negative peak of the signal at the desired level.

The dc component is simply added to the input signal or subtracted from the input signal. A
clamper circuit adds the positive dc component to the input signal to push it to the positive side.
Similarly, a clamper circuit adds the negative dc component to the input signal to push it to the
negative side.

A typical clamper is made up of a capacitor, diode, and resistor. Some clampers contain an extra
element called DC battery. The resistors and capacitors are used in the clamper circuit to maintain
an altered DC level at the clamper output. The clamper is also referred to as a DC restorer, clamped
capacitors, or AC signal level shifter.

Types of clampers:

Clamper circuits are of three types:

• Positive clampers
• Negative clampers
• Biased clampers

Positive clamper

The positive clamper is made up of a voltage source Vi, capacitor C, diode D, and load resistor RL.
In the below circuit diagram, the diode is connected in parallel with the output load. So the positive
clamper passes the input signal to the output load when the diode is reverse biased and blocks the
input signal when the diode is forward biased.
During negative half cycle:

During the negative half cycle of the input AC signal, the diode is forward biased and hence no
signal appears at the output. In forward biased condition, the diode allows electric current through
it. This current will flows to the capacitor and charges it to the peak value of input voltage
Vm. The capacitor charged in inverse polarity (positive) with the input voltage. As input current or
voltage decreases after attaining its maximum value -Vm, the capacitor holds the charge until the
diode remains forward biased.

During positive half cycle:

During the positive half cycle of the input AC signal, the diode is reverse biased and hence the
signal appears at the output. In reverse biased condition, the diode does not allow electric current
through it. So the input current directly flows towards the output.

When the positive half cycle begins, the diode is in the non-conducting state and the charge stored
in the capacitor is discharged (released). Therefore, the voltage appeared at the output is equal to
the sum of the voltage stored in the capacitor (Vm) and the input voltage (Vm) { I.e. Vo = Vm+ Vm
= 2Vm} which have the same polarity with each other. As a result, the signal shifted upwards.

The peak to peak amplitude of the input signal is 2Vm, similarly the peak to peak amplitude of the
output signal is also 2Vm. Therefore, the total swing of the output is same as the total swing of the
input.

The basic difference between the clipper and clamper is that the clipper removes the unwanted
portion of the input signal whereas the clamper moves the input signal upwards or downwards.

Negative clamper

During positive half cycle:

During the positive half cycle of the input AC signal, the diode is forward biased and hence no
signal appears at the output. In forward biased condition, the diode allows electric current
through it. This current will flows to the capacitor and charges it to the peak value of input voltage
in inverse polarity -Vm. As input current or voltage decreases after attaining its maximum value
Vm, the capacitor holds the charge until the diode remains forward biased.

During negative half cycle:

During the negative half cycle of the input AC signal, the diode is reverse biased and hence the
signal appears at the output. In reverse biased condition, the diode does not allow electric current
through it. So the input current directly flows towards the output.When the negative half cycle
begins, the diode is in the non-conducting state and the charge stored in the capacitor is discharged
(released). Therefore, the voltage appeared at the output is equal to the sum of the voltage stored
in the capacitor (-Vm) and the input voltage (-Vm) {I.e. Vo = -Vm- Vm = - 2Vm} which have the
same polarity with each other. As a result, the signal shifted downwards.

Procedure:

i. Draw the circuits of simplest positive and negative clamper as shown on the figures on
Multism.
ii. Use R= 1M ohm and C= 4.7uF.
iii. The input signal Vi of (10V p-p) frequency (1KHz) is applied to each of the circuits.
iv. Connect the input and output of the circuit to the oscilloscope
v. Observe the waveforms and calculate Peak and Peak to Peak voltages.
vi. Use Multimeter to calculate the RMS voltages.
vii. Attach simulation results with lab report.
Observations:

Name of the Clamper Positive Clamper Negative Clamper

Input Output Input Output

Vrms 3.54V 3.54V 3.54V 3.54V

Vp 4.985V 4.951V 4.996V 4.944V

Vp-p 9.980V 9.956V 9.938V 9.959V

# Positive Clamper

Fig. no 1
Positive Clamper Circuit

Fig. no 2
Input Sinusoidal Wave Form
 Fig. no 3
Positive clamps Output Wave Form

Output Wave Form (Blue in colour)

Input (Sine Wave Red In colour)

Fig. no 4
Input Sinusoidal Wave Form
With
Positive Clamps Output Wave Form
Table no. 01

Fig. no 5
Input (Vrms)= 3.54V
Output (Vrms)= 3.54V

Fig. no 6
Input (Vp) = 4.985V
 Fig. no 7
Output (Vp)= 4.951V

Fig. no 8
Input (Vp-p) = 9.980V
 Fig. no 9
Output (Vp-p) = 9.956V

# Negative Clamper

Fig. no 10
Negative Clamper Circuit
 Fig. no 11
Input Sinusoidal Wave Form

Fig. no 12
Negative clamps Output Wave Form
 Input (Sine Wave Red In colour)

Output Wave Form (Blue in colour)

Fig. no 13
Input Sinusoidal Wave Form
With
Negative Clamps Output Wave Form

Fig. no 14
Input (Vrms)= 3.54V
Output (Vrms)= 3.54V
 Fig. no 15
Input (Vp) = 4.996V

Fig. no 16
Output (Vp) = 4.944V
 Fig. no 17
Input (Vp-p) = 9.938V

Fig. no 18
Output (Vp-p) = 9.950V
Conclusion:
In this Experiment:
1. I have studied about two types of Clampers (Positive & Negative Clamper) and
implemented on Multisim.
2. Initially, I make the Positive Clamper circuit on the multisim according to circuit
diagram.
3. I have observed on oscilloscope that positive clamper circuit clamps up the whole cycle
of AC input waveform and give shifted up sine waveform on output.
4. Then, I make negative clamper circuit on the multisim according to circuit diagram.
5. I have observed on oscilloscope that Negative clamper circuit clamps down the whole
cycle of AC input waveform and give shifted downward sine waveform on output.
6. I have also measured all the Input and output values by using oscilloscope which are
required in table.
7. All simulation results are mention in Lab report.