DEDAN KIMATHI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
DEGREE: BACHELOR OF SCIENCE/TELECOMMUNICATION /EDUCATION
/ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING
PHYSICAL ELECTRONICS LABORATORY MANUAL
LAB 1: PN JUNCTION
Objectives:
1. To understand the behavior of a PN junction diode under forward and reverse
bias conditions.
2. To measure the diode current (ID) for various input voltages (VAK) and observe
its characteristics.
Required materials:
● Variable DC power supply (0-24V)
● Digital multimeters
● 2KΩ Resistors
● Silicon diode 1N4001 (other choices 1N4002-7)
PROCEDURE
Diode biasing
1. Identify the anode and cathode ends of the silicon diode and create the circuit as
shown below with the diode forward biased. Which end terminal of the diode did you
connect to the negative terminal to achieve forward biasing?
2. Set the output of the variable dc supply so that the voltage across the diode (VAK)
measures 0.7V. Measure and record in the table the diode current (ID). Increase VAK and
note the effect on ID
3. Reverse the diode and measure ID at the same VAK and record the results in the table.
Increase VAK and note the effect on ID
4. Compute and record diode resistance (VAK divided by ID) for both forward and
reverse-biased diode configurations.
5. Remove the diode from the circuit and measure its resistance. Reverse the meter leads
and read the diode resistance once again. Since the battery in the meter used for the
resistance has a polarity,the set leads from the meter will also be polarized. Record both
readings in the table below:
STEP VAK ID DIODE
RESISTANCE
2 0.7V
3, 4
5 N/A N/A Forward ………..
Reverse ………..
Volt Ampere characteristic
6. Replace the diode into the circuit so that it is forward biased again. Adjust the variable
DC supply for the VAK values given in the table below. Measure and record ID for each
value of VAK
7. Reverse the diode so that it is reverse-biased. Again set the variable Dc supply to the
indicated values in the table. Measure and record ID.
VAK, Vd FORWARD BIAS IDmA VAK, Vd REVERSE BIAS ID µA
(Step (Ste
6) p
7)
0 0
0.4 2
0.6 4
0.8 6
1.0 8
2.0 10
4.0 12
6.0 14
8.0 16
10.0
12.0
14.0
16.0
8. Plot a diode characteristic curve by plotting VAK along the X-axis and ID along the Y-axis
LAB 2: ZENER DIODE
Objectives:
1. To study the forward-biased voltage-current (V-I) characteristics of the Zener
diode and calculate forward resistance (Rf)
2. To study the voltage regulation property of the Zener diode in reverse bias and
determine its dynamic resistance (Rz)
Required materials:
● Variable DC power supply (0-24V)
● 7Digital multimeter
● 2.2kΩ Resistors
● Zener diode 1N4739
PROCEDURE
1. Connect the circuit with the zener diode forward biased as shown below:
2 . Vary the input voltages and fill the table below Calculate the corresponding Zener
resistance Rf of the diode and record in the table
RF= V / I
VAK 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
I mA
RF
3. Replace the diode in the circuit so that it is reverse biased. Set the input voltage such
that the voltage across the Zener diode is approximately 0.7V. Measure the diode current
using the DMM (you can also calculate it from the voltage drop across the 2.2kΩ
resistor).Calculate the initial dynamic Zener resistance
4. Vary the input voltage to increase the current through the diode (e.g., to get currents of
2 mA, 5 mA, 10 mA, 20 mA, 30 mA, 40 mA, and 50 mA). For each current level: Measure
and record the output voltage and calculate the corresponding Zener resistance:
I(mA) Vout (V) Rz (Ω)
10
15
20
30
5. From the two tables plot the following:
A. Diode voltage vs current(for both forward and reverse bias).
B. Diode resistance versus voltage(dynamic resistance vs voltage).
LAB 3: LIGHT EMITTING DIODE
Objectives:
1. To demonstrate how an LED turns ON with forward bias and turns OFF with
reverse bias
2. To investigate the forward biasing volt ampere characteristic of LED
3. To show the procedure for calculation of a series current limiting resistor
Theory:
A light emitting diode (LED) emits light energy when current flows through it, a
phenomenon called electroluminescence. LEDS convert electrical energy into
electromagnetic radiation.
An LED must be protected from too much current flowing through it. A current limiting
resistor in series with an LED will accomplish this, but enough current must be allowed
to flow so that LED is of sufficient brightness.
Required materials:
● Variable D.C power supply
● Multimeter
● LEDs
● Resistors: 220Ω, 470Ω, 1KΩ
● Bread board
PROCEDURE: (DO NOT EXCEED 20mA of the led current)
1. Calculate the value for a resistor given the following:
VF = 2V
IF = 15mA
R = V/I
2. From the three resistors given, select the one whose value is nearest the calculation in
step 1 3. Identify the terminals of the LED then connect the circuit as shown below. Note
the condition of the LED
4. Measure and record the voltage from the anode to ground VF and compare this value
with the value above
5. Reverse the diode in the circuit, measure and record the voltage from the cathode to
ground and the current flowing in the circuit.
6. Connect the diode as in step 3 again: notice the brightness of the LED
7. Replace RS with 470Ω resistor. Is the LED brighter or dimmer?(Record your answer)
8. Replace RS with 1KΩ resistor. Is the LED brighter or dimmer? (Record your answer)
9. Gradually increase the output of VS while observing the LED until the LED just glows.
Measure and record the current and voltage in the table below.
10. Adjust the output of VD until ILED = 10mA. Indicate in the table if the LED is Brighter
or less brighter than step 9. Measure and record the voltage VD across the LED
11. Repeat step 10 for ILED = 20mA
12. Switch off the supply and reverse the leads of the LED in the circuit.
13. Set VS =10V, measure and record in the table the current ILED if any and VD also indicate
if the LED is lit or not.
Step Light Intensity of ILED mA VD V
LED
10
11
13
Using the data from the experiment, plot the forward biased volt-ampere characteristics
of the LED
● How does the intensity of light emitted vary with current?
●What Does The Spectrum Of Light Emitted depend on?
