Addis Ababa Institute of Technology

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Addis Ababa University

Course: Electrical Engineering Lab II

Course No.: Eceg 2205

Experiment No. : 03

Title: The Regulated DC Power Supply

By: Surafel Getachew

Group: 3B

Date of Experiment: November 18, 2011 and November 25, 2011

Date of Submission: December 02, 2011

 Introduction
Objective
 To test a Dc power supply circuit with an RC-filter

Equipments Used

No. Description Code/Lab Reference Quantity

1. Tapped transformer (Leybold Power Supply) - 1
2. Oscilloscope - 1
3. Decade Resistance - 1
4. Multimeter - 1

Components Used
No Description Type Quantity
.
1. Resistor 18Ω 1
2. Resistor 1KΩ 1
3. Resistor 56Ω 1
4. Resistor 0.2Ω 1
5. Resistor Ω 1
6. Capacitor 1000 µ F 2
 Theory
Rectification
A rectifier is an electrical device that converts alternating current (AC), which periodically reverses
direction, to direct current (DC), which is in only one direction, a process known as rectification.
Rectifiers have many uses including as components of power supplies and as detectors of radio signals.
Rectifiers may be made of solid state diodes, vacuum tube diodes, mercury arc valves, and other
components.

Half-wave rectification
In half wave rectification, either the positive or negative half of the AC wave is passed, while the other
half is blocked. Because only one half of the input waveform reaches the output, it is very inefficient if
used for power transfer. Half-wave rectification can be achieved with a single diode in a one-phase
supply, or with three diodes in a three-phase supply.

The output DC voltage of a half wave rectifier can be calculated with the following two ideal equations:

Full-wave rectification
A full-wave rectifier converts the whole of the input waveform to one of constant polarity (positive or
negative) at its output. Full-wave rectification converts both polarities of the input waveform to DC
(direct current), and is more efficient. However, in a circuit with a non-center tapped transformer, four
diodes are required instead of the one needed for half-wave rectification. Four diodes arranged this way
are called a diode bridge or bridge rectifier:
For single-phase AC, if the transformer is center-tapped, then two diodes back-to-back (i.e. anodes-to-
anode or cathode-to-cathode) can form a full-wave rectifier. Twice as many windings are required on
the transformer secondary to obtain the same output voltage compared to the bridge rectifier above.

Filtering
Electronic filters are electronic circuits which perform signal processing functions, specifically to remove
unwanted frequency components from the signal, to enhance wanted ones, or both.

Passive filters
Passive implementations of linear filters are based on combinations of resistors (R), inductors (L) and
capacitors (C). These types are collectively known as passive filters, because they do not depend upon an
external power supply and/or they do not contain active components such as transistors.

Inductors block high-frequency signals and conduct low-frequency signals, while capacitors do the
reverse. A filter in which the signal passes through an inductor, or in which a capacitor provides a path
to ground, presents less attenuation to low-frequency signals than high-frequency signals and is a low-
pass filter. If the signal passes through a capacitor, or has a path to ground through an inductor, then the
filter presents less attenuation to high-frequency signals than low-frequency signals and is a high-pass
filter. Resistors on their own have no frequency-selective properties, but are added to inductors and
capacitors to determine the time-constants of the circuit, and therefore the frequencies to which it
responds.

The inductors and capacitors are the reactive elements of the filter. The number of elements determines
the order of the filter. In this context, an LC tuned circuit being used in a band-pass or band-stop filter is
considered a single element even though it consists of two components.
Single element types

A low-pass electronic filter realised by an RC circuit

The simplest passive filters, RC and RL filters, include only one reactive element, except hybrid LC filter
which is characterized by inductance and capacitance integrated in one element. [1].

L filter
An L filter consists of two reactive elements, one in series and one in parallel.

T and π filters

Low-pass π filter

High-pass T filter
Three-element filters can have a 'T' or 'π' topology and in either geometries, a low-pass, high-pass,
band-pass, or band-stop characteristic is possible. The components can be chosen symmetric or not,
depending on the required frequency characteristics. The high-pass T filter in the illustration, has a very
low impedance at high frequencies, and a very high impedance at low frequencies. That means that it
can be inserted in a transmission line, resulting in the high frequencies being passed and low
frequencies being reflected. Likewise, for the illustrated low-pass π filter, the circuit can be connected to
a transmission line, transmitting low frequencies and reflecting high frequencies. Using m-derived filter
sections with correct termination impedances, the input impedance can be reasonably constant in the
pass band.

Voltage Regulation
Voltage regulation is used to describe processes by which the quantity VR is reduced, especially
concerning special circuits and devices for this purpose, voltage regulators. Voltage regulators are an
important part of power systems and power supplies.

A voltage regulator is an electrical regulator designed to automatically maintain a constant voltage

level. A voltage regulator is an example of a negative feedback control loop. It may use an
electromechanical mechanism, or electronic components. Depending on the design, it may be used to
regulate one or more AC or DC voltages.

Electronic voltage regulators are found in devices such as computer power supplies where they stabilize
the DC voltages used by the processor and other elements. In automobile alternators and central power
station generator plants, voltage regulators control the output of the plant. In an electric power
distribution system, voltage regulators may be installed at a substation or along distribution lines so that
all customers receive steady voltage independent of how much power is drawn from the line.
 Procedure
Rectification
Step one: A circuit that looks like the figure below was set up using the respective values for the
capacitors and resistors as R1=18Ω R2=1K R3=56 Ω, R4=0.2 Ω, C1=C2=1000 µF and the Leybold
source was taken as the input voltage supply. The actual output of the Leybold power source
was measured using the CRO.

Step two: The output DC component across the load was measured by connecting a digital
multimeter in parallel with the load. The output waveform across the load was measured by
connecting the CRO in parallel with the load. The peak value in the DC mode was measured
when RL=R3 and when RL=R3 and an additional capacitance C 1 was connected in parallel to the
load. The ripple voltage was again measured in the AC mode when R L=R3 and when RL=R3 and an
additional capacitance C1 was connected in parallel to the load.

Step three: R4 was used as the small resistance for current measured and was connected in
series with C1. The CRO was connected in parallel with R4 and the waveform displayed on the
CRO was taken to be the waveform of the current through C1.

Step four: Another capacitor with the same value as C1 was again connected in parallel to C1
and step four was repeated.

Step five: A circuit that looks like the figure below was connected and step 2 and step 4 were
repeated using the respective values for the components.
Filtering
Step one: A circuit that looks like the figure above was again connected using the respective
value for the components.

Step two: The CRO was connected across the output (parallel to the load) and the waveform on
the screen was recorded. The CRO was disconnected and replaced with the digital multimeter.
The DC component was then measured.

Step three: C1 was connected in parallel with the series combination of R 1 and R2 as shown
below. The waveform across e1 was recorded by connecting the CRO in parallel with the load.
The CRO was put in the AC mode and the display was sketched. The DC voltage across E 1 and E2
was also measured by connecting a multimeter in parallel with the load.

Step four: The second capacitor was again connected across the load. The CRO was connected
across C1 and the ripple waveform of e1 was measured and the effect of the added capacitance
on e1 was observed. The DC voltage was also measured using a digital multimeter to measure
the effect of the added capacitance.

Step five: The CRO was connected across R L and the waveform was recorded. The DC voltage
across E2 was measured by connecting a multimeter in parallel with E2.

Step six: The capacitor across the load was disconnected and was connected in parallel with C 1
doubling the capacitance across the series combination of R1 and R3.

Regulation
Step one: A circuit that looks like the figure below was connected using the respective values
for the components. The reverse voltage current characteristics of the Zener diode was
recorded by varying the Zener current from IZ=0 to IZ=200mA.

Step two: A circuit that looks like the figure below was set up using the respective values of
R1=18Ω, R2=1KΩ, R3=56Ω, R4=0.1Ω, C1=C2=1000μF and a decade resistor for Rx.
Step three: After having the circuit checked, the Zener diode was disconnected.

Step four: The Voltage across and the current through the load were measured using a digital
voltmeter and a ammeter respectively. The CRO was then connected across e 1 and e 2 and the
ripple forms of both were recorded.

Step five: The Zener was connected back and step four was repeated. The CRO was connected
across the Zener and the ripple waveform was recorded.

Step six: The second capacitor was first connected in parallel to C 1. The effect of the added
capacitance on the ripple waveform of e1 and e2 was recorded using the CRO. The second
capacitor was again connected across the Zener diode instead of in parallel with C 1. The effect
of the added capacitance on the ripple waveform of e 1 and e2 was again recorded using the
CRO.

Step seven: Rx was first set to zero and the current through the load was measured for varying
values of input voltage. The R x was next set to 1K and the current through the load was
measured.

Step eight: Rx was varied on equally spaced intervals and the load current was recorded for
different valued of Rx and varying voltage.

Step nine: The waveform across e2 was recorded without C1 and C2 but with the Zener still
connected.
 Result
Rectification
Step one: The actual output of the Leybold power source when it supplies a voltage of 6Vrms

 Edgy sinusoidal looking waveform

 Peak value= 17V

Step two:

i. DC component= 6.28V
ii. Peak value in DC mode= 2Vpp
iii. Peak value in AC mode= 2Vpp

A half wave rectified output

 In Dc mode
Volt/division=0.5v
Time/division=5ms

 In AC mode

Volt/division=0.5v
Time/division=5ms

Ste three: A half wave rectified output with an added capacitance

Volt/division=0.5v
Time/division=5ms

Step four: A half wave rectified output with doubled capacitance

Volt/division=0.5v
Time/division=5ms
Step five: a) A full wave rectified output with RL= R3
Volt/division=2v
Time/division=5ms
DC component= 3.91V

b) A full wave rectified output with RL= R3 and C1//RL

Volt/division=2v
Time/division=5ms

C) A full wave rectified output with doubled capacitance

Volt/division=0.1v
Time/division=5ms

Filtering
Step two: A full wave rectified output with RL= R1+R3

Volt/division=5v
Time/division=5ms
f=100Hz
VDC=3.92V
Step three: A full wave rectified output with RL= R1+R3 and C1//RL

Volt/division=2v
Time/division=5ms
E1DC=6.28V
E2DC=4.74V

 CRO in AC mode

Volt/division=2v
 Time/division=5ms

Step four: A full wave rectified output with RL= R1+R3 and C2//RL

Volt/division=0.1v
Time/division=5ms
E1DC=4.7V

Step five: A full wave rectified output with RL= R1+R3 and C2//C1

Volt/division= 1v
Time/division=5ms

Regulation
Step one: V-I characteristics of a Zener diode

Current( Volatge( 80 5.96

mA) V) 90 6.15
1 0 100 6.34
2 3.35 120 6.72
3 3.58 140 7.1
4 3.67 10 7.48
5 3.76 180 7.85
6 3.87 200 8.22
7 3.94
8 4.01
250
9 4.07
10 4.12 200
20 4.55
150
30 4.83
40 5.08 100
50 5.31 50
60 5.52
0
70 5.74
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
 Step four:

Without the Zener

e1

Supplie DC
d Vrms voltage Current
1 2 7
5.6 6 46
8 8 66
10 10 86
12 12 105

e2

Supplie DC
d Vrms voltage Current
0.9 2 7
5 6 47
7 8 66
9 10 86
11 12 105

Step five:

With the Zener

e1

Supplie DC
d Vrms voltage Current
0.8 2 7
5.6 6 42
8 8 45
11 10 47
19 12 49

e2
 Supplie DC
d Vrms voltage Current
0.8 2 7
4 6 42
4.4 8 45
48 10 47
5 12 49
Step five:

Current waveform across the Zener

Step six: 8----- Straight line

C2 across C1 10----- Straight line

e1 12----- Straight line

2----- Straight line

6----- a small ripple C2 across Zener

8----- ripple increases e1

10----- ripple increases 2----- Straight line

12----- ripple increases 6----- a small ripple

e2 8----- ripple increases

2----- Straight line 10----- ripple increases

6----- Straight line 12----- ripple increases

 e2 8----- Straight line

2----- Straight line 10----- Straight line

6----- Straight line 12----- Straight line

Step seven and eight:

Current (mA) through the load for different values of Rx

Supplie
d
Vrms(V) 2 6 8 10 12
Rx(Ω)
0 11 71 82 86 89
200 6 20 22 23 24
400 3 13 14 15 15
600 2 11 11 12 12
800 2 9 10 10 10
1000 2 8 9 9 10

Step nine: The waveform across e1 with C1 and C2 removed

 Discussion and Conclusion
The aim of this laboratory experiment was to give us a full understanding of the components of a DC
power supply. From the experiment we saw how an AC voltage from the Leybold power supply is
converted to a desired DC voltage in three steps;

Rectification
 From the results of the rectification procedure, we saw that the edgy sinusoidal looking
waveform was first converted to a half wave rectified output, another edgy sinusoidal looking
waveform with the negative part replaced by a straight line on the reference (zero) line, when
connected to a single forward biased diode, which is the expected result for a half wave
rectification.
 When the circuit was then connected to a bridge rectifier circuit we saw that the resulting
waveform was an edgy sinusoidal looking waveform whose negative part was replaced by a
positive ripple as shown on the result. Again this was the expected result for a full wave rectifier
circuit.
Filtering
 When a capacitor was connected in parallel to the load of the previous circuit, it was observed
that the resulting waveform had a very small ripple compared to the previous waveforms.
 When a second capacitor was connected in parallel to the first capacitor, it was observed that
the ripple of the resulting waveform was very small that the volt/division had to be decreased
down to 50mV range.

Regulation
 When a load was connected in series with the voltage regulator, in this case a Zener diode, it
was observed that the reverse V-I characteristic of the Zener
 When the rectified and filtered output was connected to a circuit containing the Zener diode, it
was observed that the resulting voltage on the output side was regulated as so not to exceed
the voltage value of Zener where as without the Zener connected it was observed that the
resulting voltage on the output side was not at all regulated and almost close to the input
voltage.

Conclusion
In general, it can be said that with the help of rectifiers, filters and voltage regulators, an input AC
voltage can be converted to a desired DC output voltage.