Group No:

Experiment-01
Review of Lab Equipment

CSE251 - Electronic Devices and Circuits Lab

Objective
1. To review the basics of lab equipment for comprehensive understanding

Equipment
1. Breadboard

2. Digital Multimeter
3. DC power supply
4. Oscilloscope
5. Function Generator

6. Resistance (1kΩ, 2.2kΩ, 2.7kΩ)

7. Chords and Wire

Breadboard
A breadboard, also known as a prototyping board, is a device used for building and testing electrical and
electronic circuits. It is a reusable platform that allows us to quickly prototype and experiment with different
electrical and electronic components without the need for soldering.

Figure 1: (1) Breadboard (2) Unseen Backside of Breadboard

A typical breadboard consists of a plastic board with a grid of holes and metal clips or sockets that run beneath
the holes. The holes are arranged in a pattern that matches the layout of integrated circuits (ICs) and electronic
components such as resistors, capacitors, LEDs, and wires. The unseen backside contains interconnections. As
a result, component bus is internally short. DC Negative Rail and DC Positive Rail are also internally short.

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DC Power Supply
A DC Power Supply is a device that is used to provide a steady and controlled DC voltage to power up a circuit.
There are 4 channels in 2 different groups on this device. The display allows us to observe either CH1 or CH3,
along with either CH2 or CH4 simultaneously. The buttons on the top-left and top-right corners of the device
are used to switch between the channels. Two push buttons are used to operate the two groups in independent,
series, or parallel mode (for our lab experiments, we will use them in “independent” mode).

Figure 2: 4-Channel DC Power Supply

To use this device as a voltage source with a desired dc voltage, we need to set the current limit of a channel
first. Let’s say, we are using CH1. The following steps demonstrate how to use a DC Power Supply:

1. Turn on the device using the power button

2. Check the switches and make sure CH-1 is selected
3. Set the current limit using the current knob (around 0.5 A)

4. Set the desired value of voltage using the voltage knob

5. Once you set the voltage to your desired value push the Output button left corner of the knob panel.
The power will not be supplied to the external circuit until you push the Output button
6. The red wire indicates the positive terminal of the power supply and the black wire indicates the
negative terminal of the power supply

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Digital Multimeter
A Digital Multimeter is a versatile electronic instrument used to measure various electrical quantities in circuits.
It combines several measurement functions into a single device, making it an essential tool. For example, it can
measure - voltage, current, resistance, capacitance etc.

Figure 3: Digital Multimeter

The knob of the multimeter is rotated to change the measuring mode of the device. In position “1”, it can
measure voltage. In position “2”, it can measure the resistance, capacitance etc. There is a Blue button
indicated by “3” which is used for selecting the required measurement function when there is more than one
function at one position of the knob. The red and black wire of the multimeter represents the positive and
negative terminal respectively.
For example, voltage can be measured in DC and AC mode. If AC voltage (or current) is to be measured,
one must use the multimeter in AC mode. The Blue button on the top-right corner of the multimeter (indicated
by “3”) is used to switch between DC and AC mode.

It is very important to check the wires before constructing a circuit. Multimeter can be used to test wires.
Following steps can be followed To test wires,
1. Set the knob to position “2” as indicated in the figure above
2. Press the Blue button to select the mode

3. If the buzzer sounds continuously, the wire is ok. If the buzzer does not sound continuously, then the wire
is damaged and should not be used in the circuit

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Oscilloscope
Oscilloscope is a device that enables the visualization and analysis of electrical signals with precision and accu-
racy. It is a versatile instrument to understand the behavior of circuits.

The primary function of an oscilloscope is to display and measure voltage waveforms over time. It provides a
graphical representation of electrical signals in the form of waveforms on a screen, allowing users to observe the
amplitude, frequency, phase, and other characteristics of the signal.

Figure 4: Oscilloscope

There are 2-channels in this oscilloscope that enables us observe 2 voltage waveforms simultaneously. The red
and black wire of the probe of a channel represents positive and negative terminal respectively. The negative
terminals of the probes are internally shorted.

Vertical Scale knobs and Horizontal Scale knob are used to adjust the scaling of voltage axis and time
axis respectively. Autoset button is used to automatically scale the waveform(s). The user can also shift the
position of the waveforms using the Position knobs both in the vertical and horizontal direction. Measure
button enables the user to measure various quantities from the waveform(s). Oscilloscope also shows the value of
voltage/division and time/division. Using these values, we can manually calculate voltage levels and frequency
from the waveform(s). Oscilloscope also generates a 2V (p-p) 1 KHz Square Wave to provide a known and
standardized test signal for various applications.

Furthermore, X-Y mode can be triggered to observe the I-V characteristic graph of any device. In the
“XY” mode, we can plot voltage from CH1 on the x-axis vs voltage from CH2 on the y-axis. This is how we can
plot the I-V characteristics of a device. If we connect the voltage, V across the two terminals to CH1 and the
measure the current, I on CH2, we can plot the I-V characteristics. However, oscilloscopes can only measure
voltages. This can easily be done using a 1 kΩ resistor since the voltage (in volts) across a 1 kΩ resistor is
equivalent to the current (in mA) through that resistor.

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Function Generator

Figure 5: Function Generator

A function generator is a versatile instrument that is used to generate various types of electrical waveforms.
It produces signals of different frequencies, amplitudes, and wave shapes, such as sine waves, square waves,
triangular waves etc.

To generate a waveform, one needs to set the frequency to the desired value. This can be done by rotat-
ing the Frequency knob. There are also numerical buttons to set the exact frequency of the signal. For
example, to generate a signal of 123 MHz / KHz / Hz,
1. Press the buttons 1, 2, 3 one after another. The display will show 123
2. Press Shift → Press 8 (for MHz) or, 9 (for KHz) or, 0 (for Hz) → Press the Output On button
The Wave button can be used to switch between sine, square and triangular waveform. One can also change
the amplitude and DC offset of the signal by rotating the AMPL and OFFSET knob respectively.

Task-01
In this task, we will verify KVL and KCL.

R1 = 1kΩ R2 = 2.2kΩ

I1 I2

VS + 5V R3 = 2.7kΩ
−

I3

Figure 6: Circuit-1

Procedure
1. Use the DC Power Supply to set VS = 5V with 0.5A current limit
2. Use the Digital Multimeter to measure the resistances
3. Construct Circuit-1. Now, measure the voltages across the resistances
4. Fill out the table in the Data Sheet section. From the table, observe that KVL and KCL are verified.

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Table for Task-01

VR1 V R2 VR3
R1 R2 R3 V R1 VR2 = VR3 I1 = R1 I2 = R2 I3 = R3 VR1 + VR2 I2 + I3

Task-02
In this task, we will use an AC source and observe the voltage waveforms across resistances.

Procedure
1. Use the circuit of the previous task but replace the VS with a 4V (p-p) sine wave. Use the Function
Generator and the Oscilloscope to do so.
2. Set the frequency of VS to, f = Last 3-digit of the student ID of any group member
3. Connect the CH1 of the oscilloscope across R1 . Observe the waveform and capture it using a camera.
4. Disconnect CH1 from R1 and connect it across R2 . Observe the waveform and capture it using a camera.

Task-03
In this task, we will observe the I-V characteristics of a resistance, R1 .

+ CH-1 − − CH-2 +

R1 = 2.7kΩ R2 = 1kΩ

+VR1 − +VR2 −
IR1 = IR2
VS

Procedure
1. Construct the circuit given above. Use the function generator for the supply voltage VS . Keep the
amplitude and frequency unchanged from the previous task.
2. Connect the CH-1 and CH-2 of the oscilloscope to the circuit as shown in the figure above.
3. Observe the I-V characteristics of the resistance R1 in the XY mode of the oscilloscope and capture the
image. To use the XY mode:
(a) Press the Autoset button → Push the Position knobs of both channels (i.e. push to zero).
(b) We need to invert the CH-2 in the oscilloscope due to it’s inverted connection to the circuit.
To do so: Press CH-2 button → Press the Invert button (which can be found on the bottom of the
display of the oscilloscope) → select the option On.
(c) Press the Acquire button → Press the XY button which can be found below the display → Press
the Triggered XY button which can be found on the right side of the display.
(d) Change the scaling and position of the plot using the Scale knob and Position knob of both channels
respectively if you need.
You will see a small screen showing the I-V characteristics graph using the XY mode of the oscilloscope. The
XY mode plots the voltage data of CH1 and CH2 in the x-axis and y-axis respectively. So, the x-axis represents
VR1 . As, IR1 = IR2 ∝ VR1 , the y-axis represents IR1 .

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Task-04: Report

1. Cover page [include course code, course title, name, student ID, group, semester, date of performance,
date of submission]
2. Attach the signed Data Sheet
3. Attach the captured images
4. Answer the questions in the “Test Your Understanding” section

5. Add a brief Discussion at the end of the report

Signature of the lab faculty

Test Your Understanding

1. Which one is the correct way to connect the 2 channels (CH1 and CH2) of the oscilloscope to observe the
voltages VR1 and VR2 ? Justify your answer

+ Ch − 1 − + Ch − 2 − + Ch − 1 − − Ch − 2 +

R1 = 1kΩ R2 = 2.2kΩ R1 = 1kΩ R2 = 2.2kΩ

I1 I2 I1 I2

VS = 5V + R3 = 2.7kΩ VS = 5V + R3 = 2.7kΩ
− −

I3 I3

Figure 7: Option-A Figure 8: Option-B

Answer:

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2. We used Ohm’s law to measure the current in the circuit instead of using the multimeter as an ammeter.
What is the advantage of this method?
Answer:

3. For the following circuit, draw the waveform that should be observed in CH1.
Answer:

5sin(120πt) +

1kΩ Ch − 1

+ 5V −
−