Basic Electronics

LAB#01
To study the electrical symbols, power sources,
electrical measuring instruments and bread board.
Objective:
To study the various Electrical Symbols
To become familiar with various power sources and electrical measuring instruments. To
become familiar with Breadboard

Equipment / Requirement
Power supply units in the lab Measuring
instruments in the lab Breadboard

Theory
The electrical quantities are either varying or non-varying; i-e. AC or DC. AC stands for
Alternating Current, whereas DC stands for Direct Current. Alternating currents are those
which vary in some periodic fashion. The voltage which causes Alternating current is called
AC voltage, and the one, which causes Direct Current, is called DC voltage. Figure 1.1 shows
various ac waveforms

Figure 1.1: various ac waveforms

Sinusoidal waveform is the most popular among all. The mains supply in our houses is an
example of ac voltage source, which provides a 220 volts ac with sinusoidal waveform. The
main supply voltage has a frequency of 60 Hz. The symbols of current source and voltage
source are shown in figure 1.2

Current Source

AC Voltage Source

Figure 1.2: Power Supply Symbols

DC Voltage Source

Basic Electronics

Figure 1.3: Power supply unit

Measuring Instruments: The measuring instruments used to measure Potential

Difference are called Voltmeter, the ones used to measure current are called Ampere meter
(Ammeter), and the ones used to measure Resistance are called Ohmmeter. There are also
instruments available called multi-meter which can measure current, voltage, resistance and
some other electrical characteristics. These are sometimes called AVO (Ampere-Volt-Ohm)
meters. Multi-meters may be analog or digital.

Figure 1.4: Analog Ammeter and Voltmeter

Basic Electronics

Figure 1.5: Analog ohm-meter and digital Multi-meter

Breadboard: The Breadboard or Prototype Board is a board used to assemble Electronic

circuits easily. Breadboards are used to test circuits. Wires and components are simply pushed
into the holes to form a completed circuit and power can be applied. One of the main
advantages of using a breadboard is that the components are not soldered and if they are
positioned incorrectly they can be moved easily to a new position on the board.
The
breadboard is shown in the figure 1.6.

Front view of breadboard

Figure1.6: The Breadboard

Procedure
1. Look for any kind of Power Supply Unit in the lab, like AC Voltage
Source, AC Current Source, DC Voltage Source, DC Current Source and

Basic Electronics
list them all in Table 1. Note down their Type, Model and the Range.
2. Look for various kinds of Measuring Instruments e.g., Voltmeter,
Ammeter, Ohmmeter, Multimeter available in the Lab. Note down all of
them in Table 2. along with their Type, Model and Quantities these can
measure with their respective ranges.

Observations
1. List few of the Power Supply Units available in the workshop
Sr
#

MODEL

TYPE(Tick the relevant)

RANGE
INDEPENDENT

AC

DC

Voltage

Current

PARALLEL
V

SERIES
V

1
2
3
4

2. List few of the Measuring Instruments available in Lab

TYPE
(Tick the
relevant)

MEASUREMENT

SMODEL
r

Quantities
Ana
log

Digi
tal

V
AC

I
AC

DC

DC

other

1
2
3
4

EXERCISE:
Answer the following:
1. When two DC sources are added in series, the current increases. (
2. When two DC sources are added in series, the total voltage increases
(
)
3. Can DMM be used to test continuity in a circuit? State yes or no.

Range
I

Basic Electronics
4. If two Voltage sources of 8 Volts are connected in parallel what will be net voltage?
Show calculation.

5. If two Voltage sources of 8 Volts are connected in series what will be net voltage? Show
calculation.

6. If two Current Sources of 5 Amps are connected in parallel the net current supplied will
be? Show calculation.

__ ____________
Signature