Lab 4: Diodes and Voltage Regulators

Lab 4: Diodes
Section A: Diode Half-wave Rectifier
Before using any diodes, it is a good idea to test them. To do this, use either the
VOM on the Rx1 (resistance) setting or the DVM and measure the resistance of each
diode in both directions. A good diode will show high resistance in one direction and
low resistance (<100Ω) in the other (reverse the meter leads). Bad diodes will usually
show either high resistance (>1MΩ) in both directions, or low resistance in both
directions. If you do come across any bad diodes, please throw them away, (but make
sure they are bad first).
1N414
8 DIODE
POLARITY:

6.3Vac 2.2kΩ
110Vac

Build the half-wave rectifier shown above using a 6.3V transformer and a 1N4148
(same as 1N914) diode. Connect a 2.2kΩ resistor as the load as shown in the diagram
and look at the output on your oscilloscope.
 Discuss the output waveform.

 What is the peak amplitude of the rectified output?

A better half-wave rectifier contains an RC low-pass filter.

0.1 µF

Build the half-wave rectifier circuit above

and

 Determine the value of the ripple, where r= Vr/VDC. Vr is the root mean squared
ripple voltage (the AC component) and VDC is the average DC value of the output
voltage from the filter. These values are most easily obtained using the DVM.
Now replace the capacitor and resistor with capacitor and resistor substitution boxes.
 Then vary the values of each (keep one constant and vary the other and vice
versa) and comment on any changes in the ripple.

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Lab 4: Diodes and Voltage Regulators

 How would you design the circuit to minimize the ripple?

Now select fixed values for C and R.

 Measure the ripple as a function of frequency starting with:
10 1
ω= and continuing down to ω= .
RC 200RC
 Plot your data.
Determine how many data points you have to collect to represent any trends in the
data accurately (probably 10 to 12). If the range determined by your choice of R and C is
too low or too high, just pick different values. Also, don’t forget the difference between
frequency and angular frequency.
 How would you modify the circuit to use full-wave rectification as opposed to the
half-wave rectification that you are using now? Include your design in your lab
write up. What would the ripple of your circuit be?
 For comparison, use a full-wave rectification chip (your TA will show you where
this is) and determine the ripple.

Section B: Clamp, Limiter and Zener Response

B-1 Zener diode

Zener diodes are used to provide a reference voltage from some higher voltage
source. Over a reasonable range of currents, the voltage across the diode will be
reasonably constant. Build the circuit below in order to investigate the statements made
above. For the resistor use a resistor substitution box. Vary the resistance to try to see
and measure the rounded turn on of the Zener diode.
 For several +15V
resistor values,
measure the
voltage across R
the Zener diode
using the DVM Ammeter
and the current Vzener (Measure with DVM)
through it using 1N751
the VOM. zener
 Plot I vs. VZener
on a semi-log

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 Lab 4: Diodes and Voltage Regulators

plot, using the logarithmic scale for the current.

 Estimate how much the Zener voltage depends upon the current near the point
where the Zener begins turn on (i.e. what is the dynamic conductance
Gdyn=(dI/dV) of the Zener diode?) You can read ΔI/ΔV from your graph to
determine this.

B-2 Diode clamp

Build the circuit to the right. Although
it is not shown, the input, output, and +5V 1kΩ
supply all should share a common ground in out
connection. Drive the circuit with a sine wave
from your function generator set at the
IN4148
maximum amplitude (HI output).
 Observe the output on the oscilloscope, +5V
and carefully note the “clamping” vvVV
voltage.
 What is the function of this circuit, and how does it work?

B-3 Diode limiter

1kΩ
Build the circuit shown to the right. Drive the in out
circuit with different amplitude sine waves using the
function generator.
 What does this circuit do?
IN4148
 How might this circuit be useful?

Section C: EWB Homework

C-1 Clamp
Using EWB, design a variable clamp that allows both positive and negative wave
clamping and also adjustment of the clamping levels.
 Vary the value of the DC voltage supplies (batteries) between –3V and 3V and
describe how the output wave changes.
 Also, describe how the circuit works and how it could be used in a research lab.
Be sure to include a print out of the variable clamping circuit you designed.

C-2 Limiter
Design a limiter circuit similar to the one that was built in lab. Now follow the same
set of instructions as far as driving the circuit with different waveforms and amplitudes.
 Comment on what happens to the waveform in a quantitative fashion and discuss
how the output changes with the amplitude of the wave that is driving the circuit.

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Lab 4: Diodes and Voltage Regulators

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