University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore

Spring

2015

LAB 1: Measuring the V-I Characteristics of a Diode

Name
2015

:ABDUL WAHAB

Date

:1-03-

Regd-No :2014-MC-03

OBJECTIVES:
To experimentally measure the V-I characteristics of a diode, and
generate its plot.

SUGGESTED READING:

Class Lectures 2, 3

Chapter 2: p-n diodes, introductory Electronic Devices and

Circuits by Paynter.
Datasheet : 1N4007 Diode
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/diodes/real-diode-characteristics
http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/diode/diode_3.html
http://faculty.tcc.edu/AKoon/cd/ETR%20104%20Labs%20and
%20Handouts/Example%20Lab%20Report.pdf

Please read through all the suggested reading before you come to lab.

EQUIPMENT AND COMPONENTS:

Basic Circuits Training Board
1N4007 Diode
Jumper Wires
Palm Scope / DMM
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

P-N Junction Diode:

MCT-137: ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CIRCUITS

Department of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, U.E.T

Lahore

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LAB 1

University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore

Spring

2015

A Diode is a semi-conductor device created by combining a p-type

semi-conductor material with an n-type semi-conductor material.
This results in the formation of a p-n junction (Fig 1.1 (a)).

MCT-137: ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CIRCUITS

Department of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, U.E.T

Lahore

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LAB 1

University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore

Spring

2015

Fig 1.1: Diode representation

A diode can be used in two modes:

Forward bias
Reverse bias
Essentially, a diode acts as a one way switch. It allows the flow of
current in only one direction

Forward Bias State:

When the p-type material is at a greater potential with respect to
the n-type material, the diode is said to in forward bias state. In
forward bias state, a diode acts as a short-circuit, and allows the
flow of current. Ideally, no voltage is dropped across the diode
and it offers zero resistance to current flow. The width of depletion
region effectively decreases to zero in forward bias state.

Reverse Bias State:

When the p-type material is at equal or lower potential than the ntype material, the diode is said to be in reverse bias state. In
reverse bias state the diode acts as an open circuit, and ideally
does not allow any current flow through it.

MCT-137: ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CIRCUITS

Department of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, U.E.T

Lahore

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LAB 1

University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore

Spring

2015

The V-I curve of a Diode:

Describes how the current through a diode varies with respect to a change in its
applied voltage (Fig 1.2).

Fig 1.2: V-I characteristics of an ideal diode, considering only forward voltage
drop

MCT-137: ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CIRCUITS

Department of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, U.E.T

Lahore

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LAB 1

University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore

Spring

2015

The Knee Voltage is the point where the junction barrier

potential is overcome almost completely, and electrons begin to
flow rapidly. It can vary from 0.7V to 1.5V in a real silicon diode,
and from 0.3V to 0.6V in a Ge
based diode. However, a real
diode will not exhibit the same V-I
characteristics, as we will find out
during this experiment. This
experiment
will
help
you
understand the characteristics of
a real diode much better.

Procedure:
Connect the diode to the
variable power supply of the basic circuit trainer board in the
following configuration:
Increase the voltage from the variable voltage supply by a
small step and measure the current through the diode using
the palm-scopes DMM function.
The input voltage can be measured by connecting the
voltmeter between the two green spots (i.e. in parallel with
the source), and the current can be measured by connecting
the ammeter between the two blue spots (i.e. in series with
the diode).
Repeat the process and record the values of voltage and
current.
Make sure you do not increase the applied voltage above
three volts, as it can cause a large current to flow through
the diode and damage the palm-scope current fuse, as the
MCT-137: ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CIRCUITS

Department of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, U.E.T

Lahore

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LAB 1

University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore

Spring

2015

palm-scope has a maximum rating of 400mA current

measurement.
Similarly, connect the diode in the reverse bias
configuration, and record the values of applied voltage and
current in the reverse bias state.
The reverse bias voltage can applied up to 30Volts (the
maximum voltage the trainer variable supply can give).
Display the readings in the form of a table below:

V-I Curve:
A V-I curve shows the relation between the current passing
through a device and the applied input voltage to it. Use
Microsoft Excel to plot the data you collected in the form of a V-I
curve and attach it below:

MCT-137: ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CIRCUITS

Department of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, U.E.T

Lahore

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LAB 1

University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore

Spring

2015

REVIEW QUESTIONS:
Q: How does the V-I curve of a practical diode differ from the V-I
curve of an ideal diode?
nothing is ideal. Having said that, the diodes are no exceptions. Characteristics of
commercially available diodes deviates from ideal diode characteristics. The graph
given below shows how the characteristics of commercially available diodes
deviates from that of ideal diode. n general, the characteristics of commercially
available diodes shift to the right indicating additional voltage drop across the
diode. The additional voltage drop across the commercial (non-ideal) diode is due to
internal body resistance and the external contact resistance.

Q: What is the knee voltage of your diode?

MCT-137: ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CIRCUITS

Department of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, U.E.T

Lahore

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LAB 1

University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore

Spring

2015
Knee voltage is 3.2 volts.

Q: What is the value of current at 1.4 volts?

Current is 1.10 mA.

Q: Write any three applications of a practical diode.

1. Radio demodulation
2. Power conversion
3. Over-voltage protection

4. Logic gates
5. Ionizing radiation detector
6. Temperature measuring
7. Current steering

Q: What would happen if an AC source was used instead of a DC

voltage?
If an alternating voltage is applied across a power diode, during the positive half cycle the diode will
conduct passing current and during the negative half cycle the diode will not conduct blocking the flow of
current. Then conduction through the power diode only occurs during the positive half cycle and is
therefore unidirectional i.e. DC as shown.

MCT-137: ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CIRCUITS

Department of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, U.E.T

Lahore

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LAB 1

University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore

Spring

2015

COMMENTS:
P.S: Comments are logical observations and findings that you learned during your practical.

Theoretical concepts matched exactly.

Unable to operate the diode in reverse biased even at 30V as current was
still coming out to be 0.
Operating diode in forward biased was an easiest task. No problem
encountered.

MCT-137: ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CIRCUITS

Department of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, U.E.T

Lahore

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LAB 1