ETY155 – L04 – Series Circuits Measurements (Week 3) Components/Apparatus Required for this Lab

▪ The full ETY parts kit and organized component box

Name: Lab Section: ▪ The full LIN toolkit, including toolbox and all the hand tools
▪ Make sure you definitely have these components:
Lab Overview o 1 breadboard and 10 jumper wires
This week you will continue constructing simple resistive circuits o 4 fixed resistors: 330 Ω, 4.7 kΩ, 5.6 kΩ and 6.8 kΩ
on a breadboard except you will add a power supply to the circuit ▪ The Digital Multimeter or “DMM”
and take voltmeter and ammeter readings around the circuit.
▪ The DC Power Supply
You will practice setting up the DC power supply to become better
skilled in recognizing and carrying out its safe and quick setup.
Lab Code of Behaviour:
You will continue learning common practices for creating the most [Link]
efficient and effective powered breadboard circuits.
Below are highlights from the first week’s safety review:
1. Students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional
Lab Outcomes
and safe manner at all times.
1. Correlate matching locations on schematic diagrams and 2. Food or drink is not allowed at any time.
breadboard layouts.
3. Safety glasses are mandatory when the power is ON.
2. Construct simple series circuits (2-3 Rs) on the breadboard.
4. Failure to comply with the SEMET Electronics Laboratory
3. Set up the Digital Multimeter (“DMM”) as an Ohmmeter. Code of Behaviour will result in a lab grade of zero (0).
4. Accurately measure resistance of simple series circuits.
5. Set up the DC power supply safely and quickly: Additional Safety Precautions in this Lab
o Set the voltage to within ± 0.05 V of the given value. ▪ Turn off the output of the DC power supply when making
o Limit the current on the output for safety. changes on the breadboard or to a DMM.
6. Set up the DMM as a Voltmeter and an Ammeter. ▪ Always set a current limit on the DC power supply:
7. Accurately measure voltage and current in a series circuit. o Digital: Set to a maximum of 50 mA.
8. Observe VIR characteristics of a series circuit and use o Analog: Turn current knob up just until light is green.
appropriate laws to confirm the measurements. ▪ Check the fuse on the DMM before using the ammeter.

School of Electronics & Mechanical Engineering Technology (SEMET) ETY155 1 of 7 L04 – 172A
PART A: Lab Preparation (Do this before attending the lab) 5. Consider a series circuit with the following components:
▪ DC power supply: E = 6.0 V
▪ Work alone or with a partner to complete these tasks.
▪ 3 resistors: R1 = 4.7 kΩ, R2 = 5.6 kΩ, R3 = 6.8 kΩ
▪ Set a reminder on your phone to work on next week’s pre-lab.
a) Draw this circuit diagram. Label all the parts. Indicate the
1. Watch A Simple LED Circuit: [Link] current directions and voltage drops in the circuit.

Note: The first letter is an “ell”, or you can click this video link.
2. Draw the LED schematic circuit that was shown in this video
link. Use the proper schematic symbols in your diagram.

b) On a separate sheet of paper, provide your full solutions to

calculate all the VIR values around this circuit.
c) Which main formulas did you use? List them here.

3. In your opinion, which of the three designs in the video is the

most useful configuration for taking measurements? Explain.

d) Place your final answers in this VIR summary table.

V (V) I (mA) R (kΩ)

R1
R2

4. Before coming to the lab, build one of the 3 circuit designs R3

from the video on your breadboard. Total
Hint: Your circuit will have a red LED, a 330 Ω resistor, a
pushbutton, and jumper wires. Instructor Initials:

School of Electronics & Mechanical Engineering Technology (SEMET) ETY155 2 of 7 L04 – 172A
PART B: Lab Exercises (Do this during the lab) The Breadboard – A Quick Review (5 mins)

▪ Today there will be demos of the Meters and Power Supply. LOOK: If the protective layer on the back of the breadboard
was removed, you would be able to see all the metal strips and
1. Observe the instructor’s demonstrations on how to safely turn
hole patterns for the breadboard. Here is a reference picture:
on and set up the DMM as a Voltmeter and as an Ammeter.
2. Observe the instructor’s demonstration on how to safely turn
on, set the voltage, and limit current on the DC power supply.

Testing the LED Circuit (10 mins)

3. With the DC Power Supply (PS) at your own workstation:
a) Set the voltage output to 5.0 V.
b) Limit the current. How do you do this on your PS?

Remember to turn off the power supply output when you make
changes to your breadboard or DMM settings.
Image source: [Link]
6. Set up the DMM to be a Voltmeter. sensor/780596807757/[Link]
7. Connect the DC Power Supply to the LED circuit you built in
the pre-lab step 4. Turn the output ON when ready to test it.
Last week, you constructed a series circuit with 2 resistors.
8. Measure the LED voltage with and without the button being There were different layouts that you could choose from.
pressed. Record your results. Why did this happen? Explain.
This week, you will construct a series circuit with 3 resistors.

• Review Lab 3 on page 7, for the Series Circuits section.

Choose one of those layouts as a reference for today’s lab.
(Today you will use 3 resistors today instead of just 2.)

Instructor Initials:

School of Electronics & Mechanical Engineering Technology (SEMET) ETY155 3 of 7 L04 – 172A
 Gather and Check Your Resistors (15 mins) 4. Another way to check if a resistor is good is to calculate the
deviation between its measured and expected values.
1. From your Component Box, find the following resistors:
Deviation is the relative difference between the two values.
a) R1 = 4.7 kΩ Hint: R1 starts with Yellow.
b) R2 = 5.6 kΩ Hint: R2 starts with Green.
Measured-Expected
c) R3 = 6.8 kΩ Hint: R3 starts with Blue. Percentage Deviation = Expected
X 100
2. Determine the tolerance range of each resistor and record it in
the table below. a) Calculate deviations for each resistor, based on their
Hint: Find 5% below and above the nominal (expected) value. measured and expected values. Fill in the table below.

Deviation Percentage

R1

R2

3. Measure and record their resistances with the Ohmmeter. R3

Write at least 4 decimal places. Are they “good” resistors?
b) What is considered an acceptable deviation percentage
Tolerance Ohmmeter’s Good for these resistors? Explain.
Range Measurement resistor?
R1
R2
R3
Instructor Initials:

School of Electronics & Mechanical Engineering Technology (SEMET) ETY155 4 of 7 L04 – 172A
 Series Circuit – Resistance Measurements (10 mins) 5. Use the voltmeter to measure the voltages around the circuit.
1. Insert all three resistors onto the breadboard to make a series a) Place the voltmeter in parallel across each component.
circuit. Place R1 first, then R2 next to it, then R3 last. b) Record your findings in the table below.
Remember to use Lab 3 page 7 for reference if you need help. c) Turn off the power supply between each change.
2. Insert jumper wires at either end of this series circuit.
3. Measure the total resistance of this series circuit. Voltage Measurements

a) Record this measurement: R1

b) Does this measurement make sense? Explain. R2

R3

Total

6. Review your results from the previous step. Which laws from
the lecture can explain these measurements? Write them
down and provide an explanation using your specific values.

Instructor Initials:

Series Circuit – Voltage Measurements (30 mins)

1. Remove the Ohmmeter from the circuit completely.
2. Set the DC Power Supply to a voltage output of 6.0 V and limit
the current.
3. Attach the power supply to the two jumper leads at either end
of the series circuit.
4. Set up the DMM as a voltmeter to measure voltage.
Instructor Initials:

School of Electronics & Mechanical Engineering Technology (SEMET) ETY155 5 of 7 L04 – 172A
 Testing the DMM Fuse (5 mins) Series Circuit – Current Measurements (20 mins)
▪ It is important to test the fuse on the DMM at the start of every 1. Make sure the output from the power supply is OFF.
lab before you begin measuring current.
2. Set up the DMM as an ammeter to measure current.
▪ The fuse inside the DMM prevents a destructive external
o Remove the red jack and place it in the red I socket.
current from entering the unit and damaging the circuitry.
o Place the black jack in the black LO socket just above.
▪ The fuse will break and cut off power to the DMM systems if it
senses an external current that exceeds the fuse rating. o Click SHIFT, then DC V – this will enable DC I.

▪ When working properly, the fuse should have a low resistance. 3. Use the ammeter to measure the currents around the circuit.
a) Place the ammeter in series after each component.
To test the fuse on the DMM: b) Record your findings in the table below.
1) Insert the red lead into the red jack marked: VΩ c) Turn off the power supply between each change.
2) Insert the black lead into the red jack below it: I
3) Press the Ω 2W function button. Current Measurements

4) Connect the alligator clips to each other. R1

If the fuse is working properly, it will measure about 100 Ω.
R2

1. Set up the DMM to check the fuse. R3

a) Record this measurement: Total
b) Is it safe to use the ammeter function on the DMM?
Explain.
4. Explain your current results from the previous step.

Instructor Initials:

School of Electronics & Mechanical Engineering Technology (SEMET) ETY155 6 of 7 L04 – 172A
PART C: Bonus Exercises (Do this after finishing Parts A+B) End of Lab Checklist
Use this list of important tasks from the lab to check your level of
1. For this part, you will use the same series circuit built on your
understanding after completion of the lab.
breadboard comprised of E, R1, R2, and R3.
2. Change the voltage output of the power supply to 4.0 V.
The Power Supply
3. Repeat the voltage and current measurements. Record all of
them in the table below. • Understand the safe setup and usage of the power supply.
• Know how to measure the voltage output of the power
Voltage Current supply.

R1 • Know how to safely limit the current on the power supply.

R2
Series Circuits – Resistance Measurements
R3
• Know how to build a simple series circuit with 3 resistors.
Total
• Know how to measure the resistance of individual resistors.
• Know how to measure the total resistance of a series circuit.
4. Review your results from the previous step. What happens to
the VIR values when you change E? Did any changes
occurred with the laws or rules from the lectures? Explain. Series Circuits – Voltage Measurements
• Understand the safe setup and usage of the voltmeter.
• Understand the placement of a voltmeter in a series circuit.
• Know how to measure total voltage and individual
voltage drops around a series circuit.

Series Circuits – Current Measurements

• Understand the safe setup and usage of the ammeter.
• Understand the placement of an ammeter in a series circuit.
• Know how to measure total current and individual
currents throughout a series circuit.
Instructor Initials:

School of Electronics & Mechanical Engineering Technology (SEMET) ETY155 7 of 7 L04 – 172A