Equipment Review

To assure that everyone is up to speed for the hurdles ahead, the first lab of the

semester is traditionally an easy review of electrical laboratory fundamentals. There will,

however, be a short write-up required of each student. Each student must turn in a report

showing the names of his group's members, a signed scope trace printout, the signed sheet of

current sensor data, and the current sensor analysis.

Student Preparation. Students who have neglected to carefully read this document may

reasonably expect to take some lumps in the course of this review. Careful preparation

includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the following:

(i) Review of what a variable resistor (rheostat) is and does.

(ii) Review how the power supplies in Urbauer 115 are correctly wired into a circuit and

how their outputs are controlled.

(iii) Review of the correct ways of connecting a digital multimeter (DMM) to measure

current, voltage, and resistance.

(iv) Review of how to use the HP Model 4261 LCR meter.

(v) Consult a reference book to discover how to use a Variable Transformer (Variac).

Individual lab reports are the rule for Equipment Review, Batteries, Single Phase Transformers, Synchronous Machines, and Induction Motors. All other lab reports will be assigned to one or another of the partners. It is taken for granted in this course that the student will carefully look up any word or phrase which he does not understand. You learn something every time you do so. And it can save a lot of embarrassment.

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1a. Rheostats. Somehow determine the maximum and minimum resistances of the left power rheostat. Conclude by setting the resistance to one-half its maximum value; leave the

left rheostat at this value for the remainder of Section 1. Note that each rheostat has a

maximum rated current of 4.5 A. Finally, call over the Instructor and explain what you did

and why.

1b. Connect +5 VDC (with respect to lab ground) to the left end of the left rheostat’s winding,

connect the wiper arm to the left end of the right rheostat, and connect the right end of the right

rheostat to 5 VDC (with respect to lab ground). Do NOT turn the power supplies on yet . 1c. Insert an ammeter into the circuit. Place a voltmeter across the right rheostat.

Calculate the expected current and voltage. Then call the Instructor over and have your work

checked.

1d. Lastly, with the Instructor watching, switch the power on and see what happens. In

particular, calculate the percent deviation between your measurements and your calculations.

1e. Turn the power off, disconnect everything, and neaten up the work area.

2a. Oscilloscope and Function Generator.PP

PPTurn on scope by pressing "ON/STBY" and follow the instructions on the screen. Press "AUTOSET" to obtain a trace. Press "DISPLAY".

Press "INTENSITY" and use the "General Purpose" knob to vary the intensity. Press "Graticule Full" and change the screen with "Full" and "Frame".

Press "Style Vectors". Press "Clear Menu".

2b. Change the horizontal sweep "SEC/DIV' control and observe the effect.

2c. Connect the output of the HP3310A Function Generator to CH1 input of the scope. Set the 3310A output to a 2 Vp-p sine wave at frequency of 1 kHz. Press "AUTOSET" to obtain a stable display on the screen. Vary the horizontal position and the vertical position controls and observe the effects. Change the vertical "VOLTS/DIV" control and observe the effect. Change the horizontal sweep 'SEC/DIV" control and observe the effect. Press "TRIGGER MENU'.

Press "CH1 '. The sweep triggering will be obtained from CH1. Press "Ext" and connect "Sync Output" on the 331 OA to "EXT TRIG" on the scope.

The sweep triggering will be obtained from the 331 OA. Press "CLEAR MENU'. Vary the DC offset control (+/-) on the 331 OA and observe the display. Set the offset to I V positive. Press "VERTICAL MENU".

Press "AC" and observe the effect on the display.

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Connect the output of “Probe Comp” to Channel 1 input using a 10X Probe.

Press “Power” on.

Press “Auto-Scale” and observe and understand upper status line.

Press “1” to turn on Channel 1 options.

Press “Coupling” and set coupling to DC.

Press “Quick Meas” and measure frequency, period, and peak-peak voltage of the square wave.

Press “Cursors” and use the appropriate X and Y functions to measure period and peak-peak voltage of the square wave.

Adjust “Horizontal” time scale (sweep) knob and observe the effect on the square wave.

Adjust horizontal position (left-right arrows) knob and observe the effect on the square wave.

Adjust vertical voltage scale (amplitude) knob and observe the effect on the square wave.

Adjust vertical position (up-down arrows) knob and observe the effect on the square wave.

Adjust trigger level knob to 6 volts and observe the effect on the square wave.

Press “Run/Stop” and observe resulting display.

Press “Run/Stop” again.

Connect the output of “Probe Comp” to Channel 2 input using a second 10X Probe.

Press 2 and then “Auto-Scale” and observe the display.

Press "GND" and observe the effect on the display. Press "DC" and observe the effect on the display.

Press "CLEAR MENU'. Press "MEASURE".

Press "Period" and note the measured value. Press "Frequency" and note the measured value. Press "PK-PK" and note the measured value. Press "Remove Measrment" to remove measured values. Press "Select Measrment".

Press "CLEAR MENU". Press "CURSOR".

Use the "H Bars" to measure the voltage. Use the "General Purpose" knob and 'TOGGLE" to move the bars.

Use the "V Bars" to measure the period. Press 'Off". Press "CLEAR MENU"

2b. Observe square and triangular outputs of the 3310A function generator at various

frequencies. Connect the sync output of the 3310A to CH2 of the scope and observe the wave

shape relative to the output of the 3310A that is displayed on CH1.

2c. Print a copy of the scope display using the Oscilloscope Display Hardcopy Directions.

3. Hall Effect “Current Gun” Clamp-on Probe. This device has two ranges, one of 10 A

maximum and the other of 100 A maximum. We shall take for granted the probe's behavior at

large currents and study its behavior at small currents. Use the Load Box (see diagram at end

of handout) to connect the DC wall outlet (allegedly set to 25 V) in series with a digital readout

DC current measuring device, i.e., AC/DC Current Shunt with DMM to measure voltage across

it, and the two 50- rheostats to obtain a metered source driving a load which can be varied

from 0 to 100 . Also, use a Hall effect current probe connected to the other DMM to

measure the current in the circuit. Vary the current from 0.25 A to 4.25 A in steps of 0.5 A.

Carefully record the readings of the DMMs connected to the shunt and the Hall effect current

probe.

4. Maximum power. A circuit diagram of the Load Box is provided later in this document.

In this review, the Load Box will be used as a source of a large inductor of approximately 10

mH and 2 . Using the Hewlett-Packard model 4261A LCR meter, determine the resistance

and inductance of your load box’s inductor. Then connect the load box in series with the

parallel combination of the two rheostats; denote this parallel combination as R . Power the

load box by way of a 60 Hz AC Variac set to an output voltage of roughly 25 Vrms. By

A description of the physical principles behind this probe can be found in the chapter on Power Measurements. Operating manuals for the several different types of current sensors you will use during the course are given below.

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measuring the voltage across R with a DMM and the current through R with a DMM,

determine the power P(R) dissipated in R as a function of its resistance. Adjust R until P(R)

is a maximum. Measure the resistance of R at this maximum.

5. Clean Up. Turn off all electrical equipment. Put away all miscellaneous items you

collected for the experiments. Tidy up your area.

6. Object Lesson. Finally, head for the two drawers labelled “banana cord set” and

straighten their contents. Reflect that neatness in stowing equipment makes life a lot more

pleasant for those who come after you.

Report for Equipment Review.A. The Cover Page shall contain the experiment title, the date of the experiment, your

name, the names of the group's members, and the signed disclaimer. Include also:

B. The signed printout of the scope trace.

C. The measured and calculated values from Part 1d.

D. The signed data sheet for the currents.

E. A plot of the Hall Effect Current Gun probe current versus the shunt current and a

linear regression of one versus the other.

F. A laconic and lucid discussion of D.

G. A sheet containing your detailed theoretical prediction of the rheostat resistance

that absorbed maximum power and the experimentally determined value of this

resistance. Include the experimental data. Comment informatively.

If you have prepared by carefully reading the handouts, you will know who is supposed to have signed what.

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