Amrita

 School  of  Engineering,  Coimbatore     Dec.  2017  –  May  2018  

15ECE286  Electronic  Circuits  Laboratory  

Week  -­‐2  
 
Expt.  1  Networks  –  Measurements  and  Limitations    
 
Objective:  
  In   this   laboratory   session,   the   student   will   get   to   know   the   principle   behind   making   some   of   the   simple  
measurements  in  the  laboratory  and  the  limitations  of  the  instruments  that  are  commonly  used  for  this  purpose.  
 
Instructions:  
1. Before   you   start   connecting   up   your   circuit,   ensure   that   all   power   supplies   are   switched   off   and   that   the   control  
knobs  are  in  the  minimum  setting.    
2. Before  you  start  taking  measurements,  make  sure  that  your  Voltmeters,  Ammeters,  Oscilloscopes,  etc  are  working  
properly.   The   display   on   the   power   sources   may   not   be   reliable   –   use   either   the   voltmeter   or   the   Oscilloscope   to  
check.  
3. Double   check   the   values   of   the   resistors   that   you   are   using   –   they   may   not   have   been   in   the   right   bin,   when   you  
picked   them   up.   Using   the   wrong   value   of   the   resistance   might   mean   that   you   damage   your   circuit,   board,   other  
equipment  as  well  as  the  chances  of  your  continued  presence  in  the  laboratory.    
4. Follow  any  instructions  given  by  the  Laboratory  Staff,  Teaching  Assistants  or  the  Faculty-­‐in-­‐Charge.  
 
Procedure:  
1. Consider   the   circuit   given   in   Fig.   1.   Answer   the   following   questions   before   you   come   to   the   A   100  kΩ     C   10  MΩ    
lab:      
a. What  is  the  effective  resistance  across  AB  ?     10  MΩ    
b. How   would   you   measure   the   resistance   across   AB   ?   (Just   a   brief   note   will  
B  
suffice   –   no   circuit   diagrams   or   explanations   are   required)   What   equipment  
  1  
Fig.  
would  you  use  ?  What  would  be  the  specifications  of  the  equipment  ?  

+   A -­‐   P   +   A -­‐   P  
1   2  
 
Network  -­‐  1  

     

Network  -­‐  1  
+   +  
Vin    V1  
Vin    V2  
-­‐   -­‐  
  Q   Q  
 

Fig.  2a   Fig.  2b  

2. Obtain  the  network,  whose  input  impedance  is  to  be  determined,  from  the  Lab  Staff.  (Do  not  attempt  to  open  up  
the  network  given  to  you).    This  network  is  shown  as  Network  –  1  in  Fig.  2a  above.    Connect  up  the  voltage  source  
Vin,   ammeter   A   and   Voltmeter   V1   to   the   network   as   shown   in   Fig.   2a.   Take   care   to   ensure   that   the   meters   are  
connected  with  the  correct  polarity.  Keep  both  the  meters  in  the  highest  range.    
3. Switch   on   the   power   supply.   Vary   the   input   voltage   Vin   from   0   to   20   V,   in   steps   of   2   V.   Use   the   power   supply   display  
as  Vin.  Step  down  the  ranges  on  both  the  voltmeter  and  the  ammeter  to  the  appropriate  one.    

4. Note   V1   and   A1,   in   a   table   as   shown   below.   Calculate   the   effective   resistance   of   the   network   as   .   Determine  

the  average  value  of  R1.  

Table  1  Effective  Resistance  with    the  circuit  of  Fig.  2b  
 
Vin  (V)   V1  (V)   A1  (mA)   R1  (kΩ)  
           
       
 
 

Dept.  of  Electronics  and  Communication  Engineering     Page  1  /  2  

Amrita  School  of  Engineering,  Coimbatore     Dec.  2017  –  May  2018  

5. Now,  connect  up  your  network  as  in  Fig.  2b.  Repeat  Step  3.    

6. Note   down   V2   and   A2   in   Table   2.   Calculate   the   effective   resistance   of   the   network   as   .   Determine   the  

average  value  of  R2.    

 
 Table  2  Effective  Resistance  with    the  circuit  of  Fig.  2a  
 
  Vin  (V)   V2  (V)   A2  (mA)   R2  (kΩ)  
 
       
 
         
 
 
Answer  the  following  questions:  
1. Are  the  average  values  of  the  effective  resistance  of  the  network  as  determined  by  the  circuits  of  Figs.  2a  and  2b,  
the  same  ?    
2. If  the  average  values  for  the  two  circuits  are  different,  why  ?  
3. Which  is  the  correct  way  of  measuring  the  effective  resistance  of  the  network  ?  Why  ?  
4. What  is  the  input  resistance  of  the  voltmeter  that  you  are  using  ?  

Dept.  of  Electronics  and  Communication  Engineering     Page  2  /  2