Lab Manual-1: Basics of Engineering Principles

Introduction to Key Components

1. Breadboard

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Figure 1: Typical breadboard layout with labeled power rails and terminal strips

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A breadboard is a reusable prototyping platform that allows temporary con-
struction of electronic circuits without soldering. Key features include:

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• Terminal Strips: Vertical connected holes for component placement
• Power Rails: Horizontally columns for power distribution
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• DIP Support: Center gap for integrated circuits (ICs)
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2. ADALM1000 Kit
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Figure 2: ADALM1000 Active Learning Module

The ADALM1000 is a USB-powered measurement tool that combines:

• Two Analog Channels: Can function as (voltage or current) source or
(voltage or current) measurement
• Digital I/O: For logic signal analysis

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 • PixelPulse2 Software: Provides oscilloscope, voltmeter, Ammeter and
waveform generator functionality

2.1 ADALM1000 Pin Configuration

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Figure 3: Pin diagram of ADALM1000 (top view)

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The ADALM1000 features a simple 6-pin interface (from left to right when
viewing the module with USB connector facing downward):
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• CHA (Pin 1): Analog Channel A input/output (0-5V range)

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• 2.5V (Pin 2): Fixed 2.5V reference voltage output

• GND (Pins 3 & 4): Dual ground connections for improved measurement
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accuracy
• 5V (Pin 5): Regulated 5V power supply output (max 50mA)
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• CHB (Pin 6): Analog Channel B input/output (0-5V range)

Note: Both CHA and CHB can be configured as:
• Voltage sources (0-5V programmable output)
• Analog inputs (0-5V measurement range)
• Current sources/sinks (when used with external resistors)

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 Experiment 1: Resistor Measurement using ADALM1000
Objective:
To determine an unknown resistor’s value using Ohm’s Law (V = IR) by mea-
suring voltage and current with the ADALM1000 kit.

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Materials Required:
• ADALM1000 kit with PixelPulse2 software

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• Unknown resistor (provided by instructor)
• Breadboard and jumper wires

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Theory:

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V
R= (Ohm’s Law) (1)
I

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P = V I (Power)
E = P t (Energy)
(2)
(3)
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Procedure:
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1. Connect the circuit as shown:

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Figure 4: Connection diagram: CHA → Resistor → GND

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2. In PixelPulse2 software:
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• Set CHA as Voltage Source current measurement

• Set input voltage = 1V DC
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3. Record the measured current I from the software

4. Calculate R, P , and E using Eqs. (1)-(3)

5. Decode the resistor’s color bands using online tools

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 Observations & Calculations:

Table 1: Measurement Data

Voltage (V) Current (mA) R (Ω) P (mW) E (mJ) Color Code
1.0

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Sample Calculation:

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For V = 1V , I = 2.5mA:
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R= = 400Ω
0.0025

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P = 1 × 0.0025 = 2.5mW
E = 2.5 × 1 = 2.5mJ

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Validation:
• Compare calculated R with color code value

• Calculate % error: |Rcalc −Rcolor |

Rcolor
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× 100
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Precautions:
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• Verify connections before powering the circuit

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• Do not exceed 5V input to avoid damage

• Double-check current measurement polarity
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Experiment 2: Parallel Resistors Measurement

using ADALM1000
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Objective:
To determine the effective resistance of parallel-connected resistors using Ohm’s
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Law (V = IR) by measuring voltage and current with the ADALM1000 kit.

Materials Required:
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• ADALM1000 kit with PixelPulse2 software

• Two unknown resistors (provided by instructor)
• Breadboard and jumper wires

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 Theory:
V
Ref f = (Ohm’s Law for parallel combination) (4)
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1 1 1
= + (Parallel resistance formula) (5)
Ref f R1 R2

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P =VI (Power) (6)
E = P t (Energy) (7)

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Procedure:
1. Connect the parallel circuit as shown:

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Figure 5: Connection diagram: CHA → R1‖R2 → GND

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2. In PixelPulse2 software:
• Set CHA as Voltage Source with current measurement
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• Set input voltage = 1V DC

3. Record the total current I from the software

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4. Calculate Ref f , P , and E using Eqs. (4)-(6)

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5. Decode both resistors’ color bands using online tools

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6. Calculate theoretical Ref f using Eq. (5) and compare with measured
value
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Observations & Calculations:

Table 2: Measurement Data

Voltage (V) Current (mA) Ref f (Ω) P (mW) E (mJ) Color Code
1.0

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 Sample Calculation:
For V = 1V , I = 7.5mA:
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Ref f = = 133.33Ω
0.0075
P = 1 × 0.0075 = 7.5mW

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E = 7.5 × 1 = 7.5mJ
If R1 = 200Ω, R2 = 400Ω :

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theory 200 × 400
Ref f = = 133.33Ω
200 + 400

Validation:

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• Compare measured Ref f with theoretical value

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meas theory
|Ref f −Ref f |
• Calculate % error: theory
Ref
× 100
f

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• Verify individual resistors using color codes

Precautions:
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• Ensure parallel connections don’t share breadboard rows accidentally
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• Confirm both resistors are properly connected to common nodes

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• Check for consistent current measurements (allow 2-3 seconds for stabi-
lization)
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Experiment 3: Three Resistors in Parallel Mea-

surement
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Objective:
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To determine the equivalent resistance of three parallel-connected resistors using

the ADALM1000 kit and verify results through theoretical calculations and color
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code validation.

Materials Required:
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• ADALM1000 kit with PixelPulse2 software

• Three resistors (R1, R2, R3) with unknown values

• Breadboard and jumper wires

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 Theory:
The equivalent resistance (Req ) of three parallel resistors is given by:

1 1 1 1
= + + (8)
Req R1 R2 R3

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Measured equivalent resistance can be determined using Ohm’s Law:

meas V
Req = (9)

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Itotal
Power and energy calculations remain:

P = V I, E = P t (for t = 1sec) (10)

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Procedure:

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1. Construct the parallel circuit:

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Figure 6: Three-resistor parallel connection diagram

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2. Configure PixelPulse2 software:

• Set CHA as voltage source (1V DC) with current measurement
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• Ensure both voltage and current measurement modes are active

3. Record the total circuit current (Itotal )
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4. Decode all resistors using color codes and online tools

5. Calculate theoretical Req using individual resistances

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 Data Analysis:

Table 3: Measurement Data

Voltage (V) Current (mA) Ref f (Ω) P (mW) E (mJ) Color Code
1.0

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Sample Calculation:

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For R1 = 100Ω, R2 = 200Ω, R3 = 300Ω at V=1V:
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theory 1 1 1
Req = + + = 54.55Ω
100 200 300

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Iexpected = 1/54.55 = 18.33mA

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Imeas − 18.33
%Error = × 100
18.33

Validation Methods:
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1. Color code vs. measured individual resistances
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2. Theoretical vs. measured Req comparison
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3. Current consistency across different voltages

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Precautions:
• Verify no accidental short circuits in parallel connections
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• Ensure all three resistors share common nodes

• Allow 5 seconds for current stabilization after voltage change

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• Do not exceed 50mA total current (ADALM1000 limit)

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Experiment 4: Series Resistors and Voltage Di-

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vider Theorem
Objective:
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1. To verify Ohm’s Law for two equal resistors in series at 1V input

2. To validate the Voltage Divider Theorem using KVL with CHB measure-
ments

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 Materials Required:
• ADALM1000 kit with PixelPulse2 software
• Two identical resistors (R1 = R2)
• Breadboard and jumper wires

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Theory:
For series resistors:

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Rtotal = R1 + R2 (11)
Voltage divider rule:
R2
Vout = Vin × (12)

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R1 + R2
For identical resistors (R1 = R2 = R):

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Vin
Vout = (13)
2

Circuit Diagram: D
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Figure 7: Series connection diagram

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Procedure:
Part 1: Series Resistance Verification
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1. Connect R1 and R2 in series between CHA and GND

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2. Set CHA as 1V DC source with current measurement

3. Record total current (Itotal )
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4. Calculate Rtotal using Ohm’s Law

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Part 2: Voltage Divider Validation

1. Connect CHB between R1 and R2 (midpoint)
2. Configure CHB as voltage measurement input
3. Record Vmidpoint from PixelPulse2 software
4. Compare with theoretical value (0.5V for equal resistors)

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 Observations:

Table 4: Measurement Data

Voltage (V) Current (mA) Ref f (Ω) P (mW) E (mJ) Color Code
1.0

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Table 5: Series Circuit Measurements
theory
Vin (V) Itotal (mA) Rtotal (Ω) Vmidpoint (V) Vmidpoint (V) % Error
1.0

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Sample Calculation:

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For R1 = R2 = 220:

Rtotal = 220 + 220 = 440

theory
Vmid =1×
220
440
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Iexpected = 1/440 = 2.27mA

= 0.5V
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meas
V − 0.5
%Error = mid × 100
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0.5

Validation Methods:
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• Current consistency with series resistance

• Voltage divider midpoint verification
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Precautions:
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• Verify no accidental parallel paths

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• Ensure proper ground reference for CHB

• Confirm identical resistors using DMM before starting
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• Check for voltage drop across breadboard connections

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Experiment 5: Series-Parallel Network (CHA Only)

Objective:
To analyze (R1 + R2 ) ∥ (R3 + R4 ) network using only CHA for voltage/current
measurements.

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 Simplified Setup:

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Figure 8: Connection diagram

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Procedure:

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1. Measure Total Resistance

• Connect (R1 + R2 ) ∥ (R3 + R4 ) between CHA and GND

• Record total current (Itotal )

• Calculate Req = 1V
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• Set CHA to 1V DC with current measurement
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Itotal
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Single-Table Data Collection:

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Table 6: Measurement Data

Voltage (V) Current (mA) Ref f (Ω) P (mW) E (mJ) Color Code
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1.0

Sample Calculation:
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For R1 = R3 = 100Ω, R2 = R4 = 200Ω:

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(100 + 200)2
Req = = 150Ω
2(300)
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Key Precautions:
• One measurement at a time - Never connect CHA to multiple points
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simultaneously
• Power off before reconfiguring connections

• Verify no accidental shorts using continuity tester

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 Experiment 6: Multi-Node Voltage Analysis
Objective:
To analyze voltages at nodes A and B in a resistive network using the 2.5V
reference pin.

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Circuit Configuration:

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Figure 9: Connection diagram

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Theory:
2.5V ×(R∥(R+R))
• Voltage at Node A: VA =
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R+(R∥(R+R))

• Voltage at Node B: VB = VA
2 (by voltage divider rule)
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Procedure:
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1. Build the circuit using 4 identical resistors

2. Connect 2.5V reference (Pin 2) to input

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3. Measure:
• VA between node A and GND
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• VB between node B and GND

4. Compare with theoretical values

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 Measurement Table:

Parameter Measured (V) Theoretical (V) % Error

VA
VB
Req

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Sample Calculation:

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For R = 1kΩ:

Req = R ∥ (R + R) = 1k ∥ 2k = 666.67Ω
666.67

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VA = 2.5 × = 1.0V
1000 + 666.67

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Key Observations:
• All resistors equal ⇒ circuit simplifies to voltage dividers
• VB should be exactly half of VA D
• Error indicates resistor tolerance effects
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Precautions:
• Verify resistor equality
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• Ensure stable 2.5V reference (measure directly)

• Use proper grounding for all measurements
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