Power Electronics

Experiment -1

EED 306

Experiment: 1 Study of Diode and DIAC Characteristics

Objective:
1. To study the characteristics of a fast diode
2. To study the characteristics of a slow diode.
3. To study the characteristics of a DIAC
Apparatus or Components:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

DC-Supply Box (0-30V, 0-5V)

Digital Storage Oscilloscope(DSO)/ Analog Oscilloscope
Rheostat - 300, 2A
1-Phase Autotransformer (0-230V, 5A)
1-Phase Isolation Transformer(230V/230V, 500VA)
Diode (1N4007/MUR160)
DIAC

Diode Symbol and Pin diagram:

A Anode
K - Cathode

Fig. 1 Diode Symbol and Pin diagram.

Circuit Diagram:
300 , 2A

CRO
Channel-1

AC
Supply
0-230V,
50Hz

CRO - Common
Ground

CRO
Channel-2

Isolation transformer
230V/230v, 500VA

Fig. 2 Diode V-I characteristics circuit diagram.

Department of Electrical Engineering

Shiv Nadar University

Power Electronics

Experiment -1

EED 306

Principle of Operation:
Diodes anode to cathode circuit is applied with 50Hz, alternating supply voltage of around 60V
(rms). A rheostat (0-300) is used to limit the diode current. The dual channel CRO (or DSO) is
used in X-Y mode.
Ground point of both channels should be connected at the cathode pin of diode. Anode to
cathode voltage (VAK) is applied to X channel and voltage across rheostat is applied to y channel
will read current. The X-Y plot observed will be the V-I characteristics of a diode and should be
similar to fig.3.
Expected Characteristics:
Current
(I)

Forward
current

Breakdown
Volatge
Leakage
Current

Voltage
(V)

Reverse
Voltage

Fig. 3 Shows V-I characteristics of a Diode.

Department of Electrical Engineering

Shiv Nadar University

Power Electronics

Experiment -1

EED 306

DIAC symbol:

T1

T2

T1 Terminal 1
T2 - Terminal 2

Fig. 4 DIAC symbol

Circuit Diagram:
300 , 2A
T1

CRO
Channel-1

AC
Supply
0-230V,
50Hz

T2

CRO - Common
Ground

CRO
Channel-2

Isolation transformer
230V/230V, 500VA

Fig. 5 Circuit diagram for DIAC characteristics

Principle of Operation:
DIAC circuit is applied with 50Hz, alternating supply voltage of around 60V (rms). A rheostat (0300) is used to limit the DIAC current. The dual channel CRO (or DSO) is used in X-Y mode.
Ground point of both channels should be connected at the terminal 2 point of DIAC. The DIAC
(Between T1 and T2) voltage (V12) is applied to X channel and voltage across rheostat is applied
to y channel will read current. The X-Y plot observed will be the V-I characteristics of a diode
and should be similar to Fig.6.

Department of Electrical Engineering

Shiv Nadar University

Power Electronics

Experiment -1

EED 306

Expected Characteristics for DIAC:

Ia
Conduction (ON-State)

VBO2
VBO1

-Va

Va

VBO1 , VBO2 = Breakover Voltage

Conduction (ON-State)

-Ia

Fig. 6 V-I characteristics of DIAC

Precaution(s):
The dual channel DSO/CRO may not have isolated signal input channels. In such cases the
grounds of the probes connected to these channels must be at different potentials. Also the
input AC mains voltage must be isolated through a transformer.
Result:

Conclusion:

Department of Electrical Engineering

Shiv Nadar University