University of New Hampshire

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Reference:Hambley Chapter 3

Objectives
To introduce the student to the design of a simple circuit.
To introduce the student to the exponential formula of an RC circuit
To observe the charging of a capacitor


Equipment and Components

1 Hewlett Packard 6216B Power Supply
1 Fluke 8010A Digital Multimeter (DMM)
1 SolderlessProtoboard
A supply of resistors
One 220uF capacitor, 35V min, non-polar
Timer


Introduction
Imagine you are running an experiment. You start some mechanical process, and
need to stop it, or take a measurement at some specific time after the process has started.
You have at your disposal a simple circuit. The circuit has a small light on it that will
illuminate if the voltage connected to it is 6.32 volts or higher. If the voltage is lower
than this, the light will not illuminate. Later in this course, we will learn how to make
such a circuit using an operational amplifier and a zener diode. For the moment, assume
the circuit has already been built for you (we will use a voltmeter in its place). You want
the light to go on exactly fifteen seconds after you start your experiment. What you need
to do is design a simple circuit that will supply a voltage below 6.32 for fifteen seconds,
and will supply a voltage greater than 6.32 volts after fifteen seconds. This way, the light
will go on and stay on after fifteen seconds.
Of course, you may think that it would be simpler to just use your watch. But,
once you get this circuit working, you intend to replace the light with some piece of test
equipment that will automatically take and record the reading at fifteen seconds. Really,
the point of this experiment is to design a simple timing circuit. If this story is not
convincing enough, feel free to make up your own.



ECE537 Laboratory#2Weeks of 9/22/14 and 10/03/14
RC Circuits


Pre-Lab Procedure

1. We would like a circuit that will put out a voltage below 6.32 volts for fifteen
seconds, and above 6.32 volts after fifteen seconds. A simple RC circuit as shown below
will do this. Assuming the capacitor is initially uncharged, when the switch is closed,
current will flow through the resistor, into the capacitor. As time goes on, the voltage
across the capacitor increases.













The voltage across the capacitor at any time is given by:

V
C
(t) = V
s
(1 - e
-t/RC
)

We will use a supply set to V
s
= 10 volts. This means after 1 time constant (RC) the
voltage will have risen to 63.2% of its final value, which is 6.32 volts (how convenient).
Remembering that since RC is in seconds, we simply need a value of R and a value of
Csuch that the product equals 15. Calculate the value of R necessary using a C equal to
220uF.



In-Lab Procedure

1.Set your power supply to 10 volts using the voltmeter and then turn off power supply.
Check the actual value of the 220uF capacitor with an RLC meter and use this value in
your RC calculation as you did in pre-lab. Calculate the value of R necessary with this
value of C. You may need to put some resistor values in series. Once you have designed
and built the RC circuit, connect the voltmeter across the capacitor, and ensure that the
voltage across the capacitor is zero. If it is not, discharge the capacitor through a low
value resistor. Do NOT simply short out the capacitor to discharge it. Then, turn on the
power supply (which you previously set to 10 volts), and start your timer. Watch the
voltmeter. When the voltage reaches 6.32 volts or above, note the time. Calculate the
error.

10 V
R
C



R = ____________

C =____________

t = ____________

Error = _________

2.Next, we will try a circuit that is a bit more difficult to design. Still using the 10-volt
power supply, design a circuit that will charge to 5-volts after 20 seconds. You will need
to do a little math for this part. Use the exponential formula.

V
C
(t) = V
s
(1 - e
-t/RC
)

where V
C
= 5V, V
s
= 10 V, and t = 20 s.

R = ____________

C = ____________

t = ____________

Error = _________

3.Now for the real fun. Still using the 10-volt power supply, design a circuit that will
reach 8 volts after one minute. Once again, use the exponential formula.

R = ____________

C = ____________

t = ____________

Error = _________


How did the error change between these three parts of the experiment, and why?

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________
100
15
x
lue MeasuredVa
lue MeasuredVa
Error