EE2683

Electrical Circuits and Machines

Laboratory Manual

University of New Brunswick

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

March 2008
 EE2683 Electric Circuits & Machines
Experiment #1: Phase relationships in A-C circuits

Purpose:
The purpose of this experiment is to review and reinforce your understanding of the phase
relationships in series and parallel a-c circuits. It should also enable you to get familiar with the use
of a dual beam oscilloscope and to conduct basic measurements and calculations.

Equipment:
The equipment required includes a Dual beam oscilloscope, an oscillator, individual R, L, C
components, and digital meters.

Experiment:
1. Equipment Familiarization

Familiarize yourself with the dual beam oscilloscope, including identification of the two inputs and
all adjustable settings. Start it up and get two horizontal traces.

2. Understanding the time base on the scope

a) Calculate the time period for the sweep circuit to display one cycle of a 60 Hz wave.

b) Display a 60 Hz voltage waveform on the screen. Check the calculated period, and that obtained
from oscilloscope measurement.

3. Resistance Measurement

The test circuit you will be using in this experiment is shown in Figure 1-1below. Use the digital
multi-meter as a digital ohmmeter.

a) Measure the resistance of the resistor.

b) Measure the resistance of the inductor.

c) Assume that the resistance of the capacitor is infinite.

Figure 1-1. A Simple RLC Test Circuit.

4. Reactance Calculation

Values of L and C will be provided in the lab. Calculate XL and XC at 1000 Hz.

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5. Impedance Calculation

Calculate the impedance ZR, ZL and ZC both in rectangular form and in polar form.

6. Dropping Resistors

As you know, current can be measured with an ammeter. However, current can also be found by
measuring the voltage across a known value of resistor. Of course any dropping resistor, or
measuring resistor, must be relatively so small that it does not influence the path or circuit into
which it is placed.

In each of the three paths of your circuit, you will see identical dropping resistors. Use the digital
meter to measure the resistance of each dropping resistor.

7. Phase Measurements

Apply a 1000 Hz signal available from the oscillator to the R, L, C board provided (R, L, C are
connected in parallel). Observe and record the phase relationship between the current and the
voltage for each of the three paths. Figure 1-2 below shows how to measure phase angles.

Compare the measured phase angles with the calculated values obtained in (5).

Figure 1-2. AC Gain and Phase Measurement. The phase angle shown here will be negative.
8. Impedance Magnitude Measurements

Arrange the same circuit as for part 7. Use the digital meter to measure the current and voltage in
each path.

For each path, calculate

Compare these measured impedance magnitudes with the ones obtained in part 5.

Report:
Write up the lab report and hand it in within 1 week. Your report must include circuit diagrams
where appropriate.

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 EE2683 Electric Circuits & Machines
Experiment #2: Transformers

Purpose:
The purpose of this experiment is to examine the operating characteristics of a transformer.

Equipment:
The equipment required includes a single phase transformer, a voltmeter, ammeters, a variable ac
supply, and loading resistors.

Experiment:
Observe how a transformer behaves relative to the predicted performance. A comment should be
added about the transformers being used. Most transformers have two windings, but the one being
used has three windings (even though only two windings are used for this experiment). Besides
that, all the windings have tap positions which means that we can use part or all of the turns in each
winding.

1. Nominal Voltage Ratios

Record the nominal voltage ratio (or turn ratio) of winding 1-2 (primary) and winding 5-9
(secondary).

2. Measured Voltage Ratios

Apply rated voltage of 120 volts to winding 1-2, and measure the open circuit voltage at winding 5-
9.Compare the measured and the nominal values.

3. Predicted Currents

If winding 5-9 carries rated current, calculate the current in winding 1-2.

4. Measured Currents

Arrange a circuit with winding 5-9 connected to a resistor bank to measure the currents calculated
in (3), and have it checked by the instructor. Energize the circuit and measure the primary and
secondary currents. Compare the measured and predicted currents.

5. Voltage Regulation

Using the same circuit as for part (4), making sure that the applied voltage is 120 volts as in Part
(2), measure the voltage at 5-9.

a) How does this value of loaded secondary voltage compare with the open circuit value of voltage
measured in Step (2)?

b) Calculate the value of voltage regulation (VR).

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6. Polarity Checks

Assume that winding 1-2 has a polarity mark at position 1.Apply 120 voltages to this winding, with
the other winding open-circuited. Take a single lead and connect terminal 2 to terminal 9.Place a
voltmeter between terminal 1 and terminal 5.

a) What two values could the voltmeter read?

b) Based on the value that the voltmeter reads, decide whether a polarity mark should be placed on
terminal 5 or on terminal 9.

Take the circuit apart.

7. Saturation Presence

Use a variable ac voltage (line-to-line voltage of the supply module) as the source to winding 1-2,
with winding 5-9 open circuited. Place an ammeter in winding 1-2 to measure the excitation
current. Measure and plot the applied voltage versus excitation current in 15 volt steps from 0 to
135 volts.

Comment on any saturation effect which may be present.

Report:
Complete the writing up of the report and hand it in within 1 week.

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 EE2683 Electric Circuits & Machines
Experiment #3: Direct Current Machines

Purpose:
To investigate the voltage generation characteristics of a dc generator, and the speed-load control
characteristics of a dc motor. A dc machine may operate either as a dc generator or as a dc motor.

Equipment:
A dc shunt motor/generator, ammeter, voltmeter, tachometer, load resistor, a prime mover (i.e.
synchronous motor) for the generator, a load for the motor, a variable voltage supply.

When experimenting with electric machines, there is always some equipment required. Every
generator needs a prime mover, and in our case we are going to use a synchronous motor as a drive
because it operates at constant speed. Every motor needs a load, and here we are going to use a
synchronous generator supplying a resistor bank as a load.

Experiment:

DC Generator Tests
1. Prime Mover

Arrange a synchronous motor as a prime mover using the circuit shown in Figure 3-1. Your
instructor will show you how to start the synchronous motor. Keep the same connection for all the
DC generator tests.

Figure 3-1. Synchronous Motor Connections.

2. Generator Open Circuit Generation Curve

Connect the generator as a separately-excited machine as in Figure 3-2, but do not connect the load
resistor. Place an ammeter and an adjustable resistor in the field circuit as shown. Connect a
voltmeter across the armature of the d-c generator in order to read the terminal voltage.

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 Figure 3-2. Separately Excited DC Generator Connections.
Measure the values of field current and terminal voltage, by varying the field current from zero to
the maximum terminal voltage of about 120 volts. Plot the resultant no load (or open circuit) voltage
as function of field current.

3. Voltage Regulation With Separate Excitation

Again, connect the generator as a separately-excited machine (Figure 3-2).Make the necessary
adjustments in the field to give rated voltage.

Load the generator in steps up to the rated current (1.0 A) by use of a load resistor bank. And take
readings of terminal voltage and load current. Plot terminal voltage versus load current. By what
percentage does the voltage drop as the load goes from zero to rated?

4. Voltage Regulation With Self Excitation

This is a repeat of Part (a.3) except that the dc machine should be self-excited (shunt-excited
generator as in Figure 3-3).

Figure 3-3. Shunt Excited DC Generator Connections.

After taking the measurements, plot terminal voltage versus load current on the same graph as for
(a.3).By what percentage does the voltage drop as the load goes from zero to rated?

Note: This ends the part of the experiment on dc generators. Disconnect the synchronous motor. We
now use the machine as a dc motor.

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DC Motor Tests
1. DC Motor Starting

Arrange the synchronous machine as a generator in order to provide a load for the dc motor under
test as shown in Figure 3-4. Your instructor will check your circuit.

Figure 3-4. Synchronous Generator Connections.

A schematic motor hook up diagram for the dc motor is shown in Figure 3-5. Note that there are a
variable resistor in the field circuit, and a variable voltage source for the armature. Also, note that
there are ammeters in both the armature circuit and the field circuit.

Figure 3-5. Separately Excited DC Motor Connections.

Set the field resistance to its minimum. Start the motor up by means of the variable armature
voltage source, and finally set the armature voltage at rated. Then adjust the variable field resistor
to give rated speed at the no load condition.

2. Loading the Motor

Load the motor so that the armature current is approximately 75% of its rated value of 2.8 A by
varying the switch settings on the 3Φ load. Record the speed of the motor (one value).

3. Speed Control by Variable Armature Voltage

Vary the armature supply voltage from 100% to 75% of the rated value. Record the range of speed
control that results and the corresponding armature voltages used (two sets of data).

Return the source voltage to the rated value.

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4. Speed Control by Variable Field Resistor

Adjust the variable field resistor over its entire range (unless the speed gets excessively high, do not
exceed 2500 rpm). Record the range of speed control that results and the corresponding field
currents used (two sets of data).

Report:
Complete the writing of the report and hand it in within 1 week.

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 EE2683 Electric Circuits & Machines
Experiment #4: Alternating Current Motors

Purpose:
The purpose of this experiment is to examine the starting and running characteristics of both
induction and synchronous motors.

Equipment:
This experiment requires an Induction motor, a synchronous motor, a dc generator, load resistors, a
tachometer, and dc/ac meters.

Experiment:
Since the motors have to be loaded up in order to observe their running characteristics, we will use
each of them to drive a dc generator which will generate energy into a resistor to be dissipated as
heat.

1. Motor Load

Based on your previous lab work, connect the dc generator as a load as shown in Figure 3-2. Make
sure to place an ammeter in the armature circuit, and that the dc machine field current resistance is
set to the minimum value.

2. Induction Motor Starting

Draw the connection circuit for the three phase supply to the induction motor. Be sure to include an
ammeter in the stator circuit to measure current. Explain how to start an induction motor.

Figure 4-1. Connection Diagram for an Induction Motor.

3. Induction Motor Loading

Load up the induction motor from no load to rated load. Record the speed of the inductor motor and
the output power Pdc of the dc generator. Assuming the efficiency of the dc generator is 75%, the
output torque of the inductor motor is given by Tm=Pdc/0.75/ωm, where ωm is the motor speed in
radians/sec. Plot the torque-speed characteristic.

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 Now decouple the induction motor and couple the synchronous motor to the dc generator.

4. Synchronous Motor Starting

Find the black mark on the end of the shaft of the synchronous motor (for Part (5)).

Connect the three phase ac supply to the stator of the synchronous motor, and the dc supply to its
rotor as shown in Figure 3-1. Explain how to start a synchronous motor.

Start the motor once you understand how to do it properly.

5. Torque Angle Measurement

Since the motor runs at a constant speed, the black mark on the shaft will rotate at synchronous
speed. Activate a strobe light and adjust the strobe rate to 60 Hz so as to synchronize with the
building supply. When it flashes with the black mark rotating, the black mark appears to be
stationary.

When the load is added, the machine rotor angle will change to a new torque angle. However, it
always stays locked onto synchronous speed (except in disastrous pole slipping).

6. Synchronous Motor Loading

Load up the synchronous motor from no load to full load. Plot the torque or power versus torque
angle characteristic. (You should note that this is a fairly crude curve in that measurement of the
angle is obviously not precise at all, but rather an indication.

Report:
Complete the writing of the report and hand it in within 1 week.

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