Experiment No

2
DC POWER SUPPLY
ANALOG & DIGITAL MULTIMETER
DC MEASUREMENTS

2.1 OBJECTIVES
The objective of this experiment is to familiarize the student with the digital and analog multimeters,
DC power supply and the measurements of DC voltage, DC current and resistance

2.2 EQUIPMENT REQUIRED

 Analog & Digital Multimeters
 DC Power Supply
 Resistors
 Breadboard
2.3 THEORY
i) DC POWER SUPPLY
The DC power supply is used to generate either a constant voltage (CV) or a constant current
(CC). That is, it may be used as either a DC voltage source or a DC current source. You will be
using it primarily as a voltage source. Recall that DC is an acronym for direct current. DC means
constant with respect to time.
The voltage produced by the power supply is controlled by the knob labeled voltage. The current
is limited by adjusting the knob labeled current. As long as the circuit does not attempt to draw
more current than the value set by the current knob, the voltage will remain constant. This is
often a difficult concept for students to grasp.
Current limiting allows the power supply to be set such that it will not generate more current
than desired. This can be useful as a safety feature, preventing electrocution due to accidental
contact with terminals. In addition, current limiting can prevent damage to equipment and parts
which may be unable to handle excessive currents.
Be careful with the DC power supply leads. Avoid letting them touch at all times. When they
touch, a short circuit is formed. Consider what would happen if you shorted the wall socket, or a
 car battery! Short circuits can be dangerous, and care should be taken to avoid them. Figure 2.1
shows the controls available on PAC Series DC Power Supply by KENWOOD.

Figure 2.1: Controls available on PAC Series DC Power Supply by KENWOOD

ii) ANALOG & DIGITAL MULTIMETER

A multimeter is a measuring instrument that combines functions of ammeter, voltmeter and
ohmmeter and possibly some additional ones as well, into a single instrument. Multimeters are
designed and mass-produced for electrical & electronics engineers. Multimeters are commonly
used to measure voltage and resistance between two points. Current is rarely measured because
you must alter the circuit to measure the current (except if you use a clamp type meter which is
available for high current measurements). Some multimeters also have the capability of
measuring other quantities such as the frequency and period of periodic waveforms.
A measuring instrument can have an analog or digital readout. Analog instruments (sometimes
referred as d'Arsonval meters) have a pointer (needle), which deflects in proportion to the
measuring quantity. A scale below the pointer converts deflection into units. Digital instruments
have a numeric readout. They sample the measuring quantity at regular time intervals and hold
the measurement on the display until the next sample is taken. Digital instruments offer high
precision at low cost, and are easy to read. They have, however, a slow response due to the
sampling process. For example, a digital voltmeter would have difficulties tracking a relatively
fast changing voltage. Two important parameters of measuring instruments are range and
resolution. Range refers to the maximum quantity that can be measured. Resolution refers to the
minimum change in the measuring quantity that the instrument can detect.
Most modern multimeters are digital and traditional analog multimeters are destined to become
obsolete. Here is how a typical measurement is made in digital multimeter nowadays:
DC VOLTAGE: The A/D circuitry in the multimeter is designed to directly show DC voltage
values typically in few volts range. For higher voltages a voltage divider network divides the
input voltage. For lower voltages the voltage is amplified with amplifier.
AC VOLTAGE: Basically same idea as the DC measurement, except that the input voltage is
rectified somewhere in the process.
DC CURRENT: Input current is run through a known low ohm resistance, which converts the
input current to a small voltage drop. This voltage is fed to the DC voltage measurement
circuitry.
AC CURRENT: This is measured in the same way as DC current, except that the voltage is fed
to the AC voltage measurement electronics.
DIODE TEST: A low current (typically less than 1 mA) is fed to the measurement leads (output
voltage limited to few volts). The voltage between measurement leads is measured with DC
voltage measurement electronics.
RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT: An accurately known low current (varied depending upon
ohms range) is fed to the measurement leads. The voltage (directly proportional to the resistance
connected) between measurement leads is measured.
Some multimeters can have some of the following functionalities in addition to the basic ones
described above:
CONTINUITY TESTER: Works like the resistance measurement, If the voltage between
measurement leads is lower than specified value (usually 50 to 300 ohms) would give, make the
beeper to signal.
TEMPERATURE: Voltage from thermocouple sensor is amplified and processed. Then the
result is fed to DC voltage measurement electronics.
FREQUENCY: Input signal is converted to square wave first. The multimeter has either pulse
counter (count pulses for one second gives output in Hz) or frequency to voltage converter
(output to converter measured with DC voltage measurement circuitry)
CAPACITANCE: Feed known frequency low amplitude signal through the capacitance.
Measure the AC current, which go through the capacitor. Other option is to measure the
capacitor charge and discharge times.
Note that the information given above is just general statements. The implementation may vary
between multimeter brands and models.
 Each measuring instrument has some equivalent internal resistance between their terminals.
Depending on the quantity to be measured, the internal resistance should be either as small or as
large as possible. Analog voltmeters have internal resistance that varies with the range the meter
set. It is usually expressed as K/V. The higher this number, the better the quality of the
instrument will be. For example, a 20 K/V voltmeter will present an internal resistance of 200
K when set to the 10 V range. Digital voltmeters (DVMs) usually present a constant internal
resistance independent of the range they are set. Most DVMs have an internal resistance of 10
M.
To measure voltage, a voltmeter is connected between the two points where the voltage is to be
measured as shown in Figure 2.2(a) & (b). Since this is a parallel connection, an ideal voltmeter
should have infinite internal resistance, so that the value of the unknown voltage will not be
affected by the voltmeter connection. As mentioned above, practical voltmeters do not have
infinite, but they have large internal resistance.
To measure the current through a branch, the branch has to be broken and an ammeter is inserted
in the branch as shown in Figure 2.3 (a) & (b). Since this is a series connection, a good ammeter
should have very small internal resistance.
Ohmmeters convert resistance measurement into voltage or current measurement. An ohmmeter
has an internal voltage source, and when an unknown resistor is placed across its terminals, a
closed-loop is formed as shown in Figure 2.4 (a) & (b). The instrument measures the loop-
current, or some voltage on a loop component and it is pre-calibrated to convert this
measurement into resistance. Most ohmmeters have a zero-ohm adjust, which adjusts for zero
reading when the terminals are shorted. It is worth noting that to take a meaningful resistance
measurement the resistor must first be removed from the circuit.

2.4 PROCEDURE
i) CONSTANT VOLTAGE OPERATION
 To set up the power supply for constant voltage operation, proceed as follows:
 Turn on the power supply and adjust the voltage control for the desired output voltage (Be
sure output terminals are open).
 While depressing CC switch, adjust the current control for the desired current limit.
 With output power off connect the load to the output terminals.
 Turn on the output power. Verify that CV LED is lighted. During actual operation, if a load
change causes the current limit to be exceeded, the power supply will automatically cross over
to constant current mode and the output voltage will drop proportionately.
ii) CONSTANT CURRENT OPERATION
 To set up the power supply for constant current operation, proceed as follows:
 Turn on power supply.
 While depressing CC switch, adjust the CURRENT control for the desired output current.
 Turn up the VOLTAGE control to the desired voltage limit.
 With output power off connect the load to the output terminal.
 Turn on the output power and then verify that CC LED is lighted. (If CV LED is lighted,
choose a higher voltage limit. A voltage setting that greater than the current setting multiplied
by the load resistance in ohms is required for CC operation). During actual operation, if a load
change causes the voltage limit to be exceeded, the power supply will automatically cross over
to constant voltage operation and the output current will drop proportionately.
 Adjusting the current value can be made while the power is on and the circuit connected by
using the current control; there is no need to depress the CC switch.
iii) VOLTAGE MEASUREMENT
 Use the multimeter as voltmeter to measure the voltage across any circuit element. To do this
you will need to connect the voltmeter across the terminals of that element as shown in Figure
2.2 (a) & (b). Remember that components such as DC meters which can only be connected in
a circuit one way have the side which is to be connected to the positive marked with a + or
color coded red.
 Repeat the measurement using both analog and digital multimeter & by selecting different
ranges from the multimeter.
 Tabulate your results and underline the value which you consider to be the most accurate. For
each reading estimate the uncertainty of the reading; this varies across the scale so you will
need to determine it for each reading.
 Will the resistance of the voltmeter affect your answer? Will the internal resistance of the
power supply affect your answer?
iv) CURRENT MEASUREMENT
 Use the multimeter as ammeter to measure the current passing through any circuit element. To
do this you will need to connect the ammeter in series with that element as shown in Figure
2.3 (a) & (b).
 Connect the circuit and have it checked. Connecting the ammeter incorrectly can damage the
ammeter.
 Calculate the current you would expect to flow in the circuit. Set the ammeter to a maximum
current range greater than the expected current.
  Measure the current using both analog and digital multimeters. Use an ammeter or a
multimeter with a maximum current range greater than the expected current.
 Tabulate your results with the uncertainties in the measurements.
 Will the resistance of the meter effect the reading? Explain as part of your discussion.
v) RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT
 Use the multimeter as ohmmeter to measure the resistance of any circuit element. To do this
you will need to connect the ohmmeter across the terminals of that element as shown in Figure
2.4 (a) & (b).
 On the ohms ranges, the meter sends a current through the resistor and displays the value of
V/I. Note down the different ranges of resistance provided by each multimeter.
 Set the multimeter on the resistance range; zero the meter by short-circuiting the terminals and
adjusting to zero.
 The meter may need zeroing when changing resistance between ranges.
 For one resistor measure its resistance on each range of each meter.
 Tabulate your results and underline the value, which you consider to be the most accurate.
 For each reading estimate the uncertainty of the reading; this varies across the scale so you
will need to determine it for each reading.
 When taking a resistance measurement do not touch both resistor terminals with your fingers.
The resistance of your body can alter the reading
 Using a pencil, draw a rectangle whose length (approximately 1") is twice its width on a sheet
of paper. Fill in the rectangle with pencil mark. Measure and record the resistance over the
length and then over the width of the graphite resistor.
 Using a pencil, draw a square whose side-length is approximately 1". Fill in the square with
pencil mark. Measure and record the resistance over the width of the graphite resistor.
 Based on your measurements, draw conclusions relating the physical dimensions and
resistance.
 Write down conclusions about the relationship between the physical dimensions and
resistance.

2.5 REPORT
In your report compare all the theoretical and experimental values and make comments on
discrepancies if any. Write all conclusions.
Figure 2.2: (a) & (b) setting up a multimeter as a voltmeter

Figure 2.3: (a) & (b) setting up a multimeter as an ammeter

Figure 2.4: (a) & (b) setting up a multimeter as an ohmmeter