NORTH SOUTH UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL & COMPUTER ENGINEERING

Experiment No: 04
Name of the Experiment: Clipper and Clamper circuits.

Objective:
Study of Clipper and Clamper circuits.

Theory:
Clipper: Clippers remove signal voltage above and below a specified level. In the experiment no. 2, half
wave rectifier can also be called as a clipper circuit. Because it clipped off the negative half cycle of the
input signal.

A diode connected in series with the load can clipped off any half cycle of input depending on the
orientation of the diode. (Figure 4.1) -

+
Vs RL VO
-

Figure 4.1: Simple Diode Clipper circuit

It is also possible to clip off a certain part of the input signal bellow a specified signal level by using a
voltage source in reverse bias condition with the diode. If a battery of V volts is added to it, then for Vs
above (V+0.7) volts the diode becomes forward bias and turns ON. The load receives above this voltage
Level.
V D

+
Vs RL VO
-

Figure 4.2: Clipper Circuit Using Bias Diode.

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DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL & COMPUTER ENGINEERING

A diode connected in parallel with the load can clip off the input signal above 0.7 volts of one half cycle
depending on the connection of the diode. Using two diodes in parallel in opposite direction both the half
cycle can be limited to 0.7 volts.

+
Vs D RL VO
-

Figure 4.3: Parallel Clipper Circuit.

Using a biased diode it is possible to limit the output voltage to a specified level depending on the
attached battery voltage. Either the half cycles or both of them can be clipped off above a specified
level.

D1 D2 +
Vs RL VO
-
V2 V1

Figure 4.4: Biased Parallel Clipper Circuit.

In practical case for both the series and parallel clippers voltage source is not added. Required voltage
levels are maintained by adding more semiconductor diode.

Clamper: A DC clamper circuit adds a DC voltage to the input signal. For instance, if the incoming
signal varies from -10 volts to +10 volts, a positive DC clamper will produce an output that ideally swing
from 0 volts to 20 volts and a negative clamper would produce an output between 0 volts to -20 volts.
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DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL & COMPUTER ENGINEERING

Vs D RL Vo

Figure 4.5: Clamper Circuit

Equipment and Components:

Serial no. Component Details Specification Quantity
1. p-n junction diode 1N4007 1 piece
2. Resistor 100KΩ 1 piece
3. Capacitor 0.1µF 1 piece
4. Signal generator 1 unit
5. Trainer Board 1 unit
6. DC power Supply 1 unit
7. Oscilloscope 1 unit
8. Digital Multimeter 1 unit
9. Chords and wire as required
 NORTH SOUTH UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL & COMPUTER ENGINEERING

Experimental Setup:

(a) (b)

Figure 4.6: Series Clipper Circuit

(a) (b)

Figure 4.7: Parallel Clipper Circuits

0.1 μF 0.1 μF
D + D
+
Vs 100 KΩ VO Vs 100 KΩ VO
- -
V V

Figure 4.8: Clamper circuit

Procedure:
1. Connect the circuit as shown in the figure 4.6.
2. Using Signal generator, apply a 1kHz 10Vp-p sinusoidal voltage source input (Vm = 5V)
3. Fix Vb to 2.5V and In the same graph paper, Draw Vs and Vo.
4. Decrease the value of Vb from 2.5V to 0V, and observe the output wave shapes
5. Increase the value of Vb from 2.5V to 5V, and observe the output wave shapes
6. Repeat step 2-4 for figure 3.7 and figure 3.8
7. Record Vmax and Vmin for the output wave for the clamper circuit only for Vb=2.5v.
 NORTH SOUTH UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL & COMPUTER ENGINEERING

Data Collection: Signature of instructor:

Experiment: 4,
Performed by Group# _____

Theoretical value: R = ___

Measured value: R = ___

Vs = _____ V(p-p).

Vo (p-p)

(V) Fig 3.6 Fig 3.7 Fig 3.8

(a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b)
0
1
2
Vmax= Vmax=

2.5 Vmin= Vmin=

3
4
5

Input-output Fig 4.6 (a) Input-output Fig 4.6 (b)

 NORTH SOUTH UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL & COMPUTER ENGINEERING

Input-output Fig 4.7 (a) Input-output Fig 4.7 (b)

Input-output Fig 4.8 (a) Input-output Fig 4.8 (b)

Report:
1. Using values from your data table, for all the circuit diagrams plot the input-output
waveforms observed on the oscilloscope for =2.5V.
2. For Fig 4.6(a &b), Fig4.7 (a & b) and Fig 4.8 (a & b) what change did you observe in
the output voltage, In procedure-4? Explain the reason behind such a change.
3. For Fig 4.6(a &b), Fig4.7 (a & b) and Fig 4.8 (a & b) what change did you observe in
the output voltage, In procedure-5? Explain the reason behind such a change.