Grades:

TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY OF THE

PHILIPPINES
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING – Electrical Engineering Department

LABORATORY REPORT
ACME1L - M
Basic Electrical Engineering Laboratory

Experiment No. 1 of Exp.*

Introduction to Electrical Measurements & Resistor Color Coding

Submitted by: BSME-2B

Leader: Gonzaga, Lowell Grae G.

Group Members:

Ando, Editha Marie R.

Malinao, Ellaysa Janille S.
Mira, Al Bryan D.
Siagan, Karl Gerard M.

(10/07/2022)

Submitted to:
Prof. Mervyn Anthony N. Ramos
Remarks:

EXPERIMENT ONE
Introduction to Electrical Measurements & Resistor Color Coding

I. OBJECTIVES
1. To determine the value of resistors from their color code and compare them to
ohmmeter reading.
2. To measure the resistance across each combination of two of the three terminals of a
potentiometer and observe the range of resistance change as the shaft is varied
throughout its entire range.
3. To be familiar with the connection, use and operation of the DC voltmeter and ammeter.

II. THEORY
Resistance is the measure of the opposition to the flow of charge through a material. The unit of
resistance is OHM, given by the symbol W, the Greek letter omega. For carbon resistors, the
resistance values are indicated by a standard color code adopted by manufacturers. This code
involves the use of color bands on the body of the resistor. This is used for 1/4w, 1/2w, 1w, 2w,
and 3w resistors. A carbon resistor is shown in Fig.1.1. Note the color bands. The first band tells
the first significant figure. The second tells the second significant figure. The third band is the
multiplier and the fourth band is the tolerance. The absence of a fourth band in carbon resistor
means a ±20% tolerance. In the case of resistor whose value is less than one ohm, the multiplier
is silver (band or dot), while for resistor whose value is greater than one but less than ten ohms, the
multiplier is gold. Refer to Table 1.1.

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 FIGURE 1.1 RESISTOR COLOR CODE

Wire wound, high wattage resistor is usually not color coded but has its value and wattage rating
printed on its body. Wire wound resistors with brown color are insulated while those with black
body color are not insulated. In writing the values of resistors, the following designations are
employed: K is a multiplier which stands for 1,000 and M stands for 1,000,000.

In addition to fixed-value resistors, variable resistors are used extensively in electronics. There
are two types of variable resistors, the rheostat and the potentiometer. Volume controls used in
radio and the contrast and brightness controls of television receivers are typical examples of
potentiometers.

A rheostat is essentially a two-terminal device whose schematic symbol is shown in Figure 1.2. It
has a maximum value of resistance specified by the manufacturer and its minimum value is usually
equal to zero. The arrowhead in Figure 1.2 indicates a mechanical means of adjusting the rheostat
so that the resistance, measured between points A and B can be set to any intermediate value within
the range of variation.

The schematic symbol for a potentiometer is shown in Figure 1.3. This is essentially a
threeterminal device. The resistance between points A & B is fixed and point C is the variable arm
of the potentiometer. The arm is a metal contactor which moves along the uninsulated surface of
the resistance element, selecting different lengths of resistive surface. Thus, the longer is the
surface of the resistance between points A and C, the greater is its resistance between points.
Similarly, the resistance between points A and C varies as the length of the element included
between points A and C.

A potentiometer maybe used as a rheostat if the center arms and one of the end terminals are
connected into the circuit, and the other end terminal is left disconnected. Another method of
converting a potentiometer into a rheostat is to connect a piece of hook wire between the arm and
one of the end terminals, for example C connected to A. The points B and C now serve as the
terminals of a rheostat.

MEASURING RESISTANCE

One of the functions of a VOM (Volt-ohmmeter-milliammeter) is to measure resistance. Each

manufacturer provides operating instructions for the use of this particular instrument. Hence, it will
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be necessary to refer to the instruction manual before using any VOM. A student should be
thoroughly familiar with the operation of the ohmmeter function before he attempts to use it in this
experiment.

To measure resistance, the function switch should be set to ohms. Next, the student should adjust
to their settings the ohm zero controls of the meter. He is now ready to measure resistance. If the
meter reading is zero, the points are said to be “short-circuited” while if the meter pointer does not
move, the points are said to be “open-circuited.”

Usually the ohm-scale is non-linear, that is, the arc distance between consecutive graduations is
not equal. Thus, the arc distance between 0 and 1 is much greater than the distance between 9 and
10, through each arc represents in this case a change of 1 ohm. Note that the ohms scale becomes
fairly crowded to the right of the 100 ohms division. If a resistance greater than 100 ohms is to be
measured with some degree of accuracy, the meter range should be switched to x10, x100, x1K, or
x10K depending on the actual resistance to be measured. In the x10 range, any reading made on
the basic scale must be multiplied by 10. In the x100 range, the reading must be multiplied by 100,
and so on for the rest of the ranges.

TABLE 1.1 RESISTOR COLOR CODE CHART

COLOR SIGNIFICANT MULTIPLIER TOLERANCE
FIGURE
BLACK 0 1 -
BROWN 1 10 -
RED 2 100 -
ORANGE 3 1000 -
YELLOW 4 10000 -
GREEN 5 100000 -
BLUE 6 1000000 -
VIOLET 7 10000000 -
GRAY 8 100000000 -
WHITE 9 1000000000 -
GOLD - 0.1 ±5%
SILVER - 0.01 ±10%
NO COLOR - - ±20%

DC VOLTAGE AND CURRENT MEASUREMENTS

Difference of potential or voltage is the work necessary to move a unit charge of electricity from
one point to the other of an electric circuit. The rate of flow of electric charge is called current.
The mechanical analogy of voltage and current in a hydraulic system are pressure and the rate of
water flow, respectively. Current will not flow if the potential difference is not existing, as water
cannot flow if there is no pressure in a hydraulic system. Voltage and current are ordinarily
measured by a voltmeter and an ammeter, respectively.
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 Direct Current instruments work on the principle of motor action. When a current carrying
conductor is placed in a magnetic field, force is developed on the conductor. The direction of force
is governed by the law of electromagnetic induction. Current flow in the moving coils through the
spiral springs. The permanent magnets produce the magnetic flux that caused force to be developed
in the moving coil when it rotates. The pointer is pivoted on jeweled bearings. The scales are
calibrated to indicate voltage or current. The zero adjusting screw adjusts the position of the pointer
to exactly zero on the scale. The antiparallax mirror enables one to read the meter accuracy. For
correct reading, the pointer and its shadow on the mirror should coincide.

Voltage is ordinarily measured by a voltmeter. In a voltmeter, a very high resistance is connected

in series with the moving coil to limit the current. Thus, when a voltmeter is connected across the
lines or devices, the current that it takes is very small and, in most cases, negligible compared to
the current in the circuit.

When measuring current in a line, an ammeter is used. The construction of the moving coil
assembly of an ammeter is similar to that of the voltmeter. Shunt resistors of very small values are
connected across the moving coil to bypass most of the current which should otherwise flow
through the coil. The resistance of an ammeter is therefore very small. Because of this, ammeters
cannot be connected across a source of voltage.

As a general rule, a voltmeter must be connected across the lines or devices, while an ammeter
must be connected in series with the load. The polarity of the meters must be considered when
taking DC measurements. A wrong polarity will move the pointer backward and may cause the
pointer to be bent. The instruments must be handled with care since these are delicate. Rough
handling may affect the accuracy of the meter. If the quantities to be measured are not yet
approximated, the meter must be set at its highest range. The range of a voltmeter maybe extended
by connecting an additional resistor in series with the instrument. In the case of an ammeter, the
range is extended by connecting resistors across the instruments.

III. MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

1 Analog VOM
5 Assorted Color-Coded Carbon Resistor (1w)
1 10K Potentiometer
1 Breadboard
1 Variable DC Power Supply
Connecting Wires

IV. PROCEDURES
RUN I: THE COLOR-CODED CARBON RESISTOR

1. Determine the value of each resistor from their color codes. Fill in the information
required for Table 1.2.
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2. Using the VOM, zero adjust the ohmmeter and measure the resistance of each resistor
with the ohmmeter. Record the readings in Table 1.2.
3. Compute the percentage difference between the color coded value and the measured
value and record them in Table 1.2. They should agree within the tolerance range of the
resistor.

RUN II: THE POTENTIOMETER

1. Examine the potentiometer. Orient it so that the rotatable shaft comes out toward you.
Call the terminals of the potentiometer A, B and C as in Fig 1.3. Measure and record in
Table 1.3 the total resistance between A and B (Rab). Vary the arm of the potentiometer
while keeping the ohmmeter connected across AB. Does the total resistance vary?
2. Connect the ohmmeter terminals across AC. Turn the potentiometer control completely
clockwise. Measure and record the resistance between AC (Rac) and between BC (rbc).
Compute and record the value of Rac + Rbc.
3. Now observe how the resistance Rac varies as the potentiometer is turned from its
clockwise position to complete counterclockwise position. How does Rbc varies over
this range? Record the clockwise and counterclockwise values for Rac and Rbc.
Compute and record Rac + Rbc in each case.
4. Set the control one quarter of the way clockwise. Measure and record Rac and Rbc in
Table 1.3. Compute and record Rac + Rbc.
5. Set the control three-quarters of the way clockwise. Measure and record Rac and Rbc
in Table 1.3. Compute and record Rac + Rbc.

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 TABLE 1.3
STEP POTENTIOMETER Rab Rbc Rca Rac + Rbc
SETTING Computed Value
1 vary over its range X X X
2 Completely CW X
3 CW to CCW X
4 ¼ CW X
5 ¾ CW X

TABLE 1.4
3
RESISTANCE 47x10 5.2 ohms 97 ohms 1.58 ohms 100 ohms 22x104
ohms ohms
VOLTAGE 20volts 20volts 20volts 20volts 20volts 20volts
CURRENT 4.26x10-4 3.85 A 0.21 A 12.66 A 0.20 A 9.09x10-5
A A

NOTE: Kindly it read from left to right

 Page | 32

V. COMPUTATIONS
Solutions and answers for Table 1.4
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