Linear circuit analysis

Lab # 2: introduction to electronic components

Contents:
1. Digital multimeter (DMM)
2. Resistors
3. Breadboard
4. DC Power Supply

DIGITAL MULTIMETER:
A digital multimeter is a test tool used to measure two or more electrical values—principally
voltage (volts), current (amps) and resistance (ohms). It is a standard diagnostic tool for
technicians in the electrical/electronic industries.
Digital multimeters long ago replaced needle-based analog meters due to their ability to
measure with greater accuracy, reliability and increased impedance. Fluke introduced its first
digital multimeter in 1977.
Digital multimeters combine the testing capabilities of single-task meters—the voltmeter (for
measuring volts), ammeter (amps) and ohmmeter (ohms). Often, they include several
additional specialized features or advanced options. Technicians with specific needs, therefore,
can seek out a model targeted to meet their needs.
The face of a digital multimeter typically includes four components:
 Display: Where measurement readouts can be viewed.
 Buttons: For selecting various functions; the options vary by model.
 Dial (or rotary switch): For selecting primary measurement values (volts, amps, ohms).
 Input jacks: Where test leads are inserted.
 Fig 1. Digital Multimeter (dmm)

Test leads are flexible, insulated wires (red for positive, black for negative) that plug into the
DMM. They serve as the conductor from the item being tested to the multimeter. The probe
tips on each lead are used for testing circuits.
The terms count and digits are used to describe a digital multimeter's resolution—how fine a
measurement a meter can make. By knowing a multimeter's resolution, a technician can
determine if it is possible to see a small change in a measured signal.
Example: If a multimeter offers a resolution of 1 mV on the 4 V range, it is possible to see a
change of 1 mV (1/1000th of a volt) while reading 1V.
Digital multimeters are typically grouped by their number of counts (up to 20,000) they display.
Broadly speaking, multimeters fall into one of a handful of categories:
 General purpose (aka Testers)
 Standard
 Advanced
 Compact
 Wireless
RESISTORS:
The resistor is a passive electrical component to create resistance in the flow of electric current.
In almost all electrical networks and electronic circuits they can be found. The resistance is
measured in ohms. An ohm is the resistance that occurs when a current of one ampere passes
through a resistor with a one volt drop across its terminals. The current is proportional to the
voltage across the terminal ends. This ratio is represented by Ohm’s law

Fig 2. Resistors

Method to measure resistance of resistor:

The resistance of many resistors can be determined by reading a series of colored bands
imprinted on the resistor body. In this scheme called “Resistor Color Code” each color
represents a different decimal digit, as shown in Table 1. The first three bands of the color code
are used to specify nominal value of the resistance, and the fourth, or tolerance band, gives the
percent deviation from the nominal value that the actual resistor may have. Due to
manufacturing variations, the actual resistance may be anywhere in a range equal to the
nominal value plus or minus a certain percentage of that value.
 Fig 3. Color code table

Observations:
Practical Exercise 1:
Take three resistors of different values, then calculate the resistance.

 By color coding
 By digital Multimeter
 Observe and record the values in the table 1 as shown below.
Table 1.

No. Color code Measured value (dmm)

1. Red,Green,Blue,Gold 25M ohms

2. Orange,Yellow,Green,Silver 3.5M ohms

3. Brown,Blue,Yellow,Silver 160k ohms

4. White,Red,Brown,Gold 920 ohms

5. Yellow,Violet,Black,Gold 47 ohms
Breadboard:
A breadboard is a construction base for prototyping of electronics. Originally the word referred
to a literal bread board, a polished piece of wood used for slicing bread in the 1970s the
solderless breadboard (a.k.a. plug board, a terminal array board) became available and
nowadays the term "breadboard" is commonly used to refer to these.

Because the solderless breadboard does not require soldering, it is reusable. This makes it easy
to use for creating temporary prototypes and experimenting with circuit design. For this reason,
solderless breadboards are also popular with students and in technological education. Older
breadboard types did not have this property. A stripboard (Vero board) and similar prototyping
printed circuit boards, which are used to build semi-permanent soldered prototypes or one-
offs, cannot easily be reused. A variety of electronic systems may be prototyped by using
breadboards, from small analog and digital circuits to complete central processing units (CPUs).

Fig 4. breadboard
DC power supply:
DC power supply is used to generate either a constant voltage or a constant current i.e. it may
be used as DC voltage source or a DC current source. DC stands for direct current. It has three
knobs and two indication lights. One knob is labeled as current and used for adjusting the
current. Second for voltage and used for adjusting the require amount of voltage. Third one is
labeled as fine and is used to adjust the required value in points. The lights show the power
on/off and either it is voltage/current source respectively.

Fig 5. DC power supply.