SINE WAVE OSCILLATORS

OBJECTIVES
1. To design Wien-bridge oscillator with desired frequencies.
2. To define self-starting oscillator based on output waveform
3. To design and calculate the output frequency of a colpitts oscillator

II. TEST EQUIPMENT

(2) Power Supply
(1) Frequency Counter or
(1) Dual Trace Oscilloscope
(1) Function Generator
(1) Electronic Lab Console
III. PARTS NEEDED
Resistors
(1) 100 BRN.BLK.BRN
(3) 1k BRN.BLK.RED
(1) 1.5k BRN.GRN.RED
(2) 2.2k RED.RED.RED
(1) 4.7k YEL.VIO.RED
(1) 5.6k GRN.BLU.RED
(2) 10k BRN.BLK.ORG
(1) 18k BRN.GRY.ORG
(1) 56k GRN.BLU.ORG

1
2
3
4

741

8
7
6
5

(1) 2N3904

EBC
Bottom
View

Sine wave Oscillators

I.

RF
Choke
IV. PROCEDURE
(2)
1. Calculate the output frequency 100H
of the circuit in Figure 1. This is a Wien-bridge
oscillator.

2. Set-up the circuit of Figure 1. Adjust R f until the waveform becomes sinusoidal. Draw
the waveform and record the output voltage peak-to-peak value and output
(operating) frequency.

Vpp = ___________

f = ___________

Sine wave Oscillators

3. Turn off the power and
disconnect
the connectionOscillator
of pot. Measure and record its
FIGURE
1: A Wien-bridge
resistance.
Rf = _________
4. Connect again the pot. Turn on the power and observe the waveform if its selfstarting oscillator. Record output voltage (pp value) and output frequency.
Vo = _______Vpp

fo = ________Hz

5. Turn off the power. Replace the 10-k resistors by 1-k resistors. Turn on the power.
(You may adjust the pot until you get a sinusoidal output). Measure and record the
output frequency.
Vo = _______Vpp

fo = ________Hz

Calculate the output frequency.

6. Calculate the gain of the amplifier.
7. Replace the two 0.1F capacitors by 0.01F. Vary the pot until the output waveform
becomes sinusoidal. This should increase the frequency ten times the former.
Measure and record the frequency. Calculate also the theoretical frequency.
fmeas = ________

fcal = ________

Volt

Frequency

Phase

TP1
TP2
TP3

Sine wave Oscillators

8. Tap the oscilloscope probe at TP1, TP2 and TP3 of the circuit in Figure 1. Draw the
output waveform.

9. What is the resistance of Rx in circuit of Figure 2 when the circuit is operating

properly?
Rx = ___________

FIGURE 2: A Troubleshooting Exercise

10. Without setting the circuit of Figure 2, calculate the amplitude of waveforms at TP2
and TP3. Draw the waveforms showing the amplitude and phase relationship with the
output waveform at TP1.

Sine wave Oscillators

11. Set up the circuit of Figure 3. Adjust Rf until the output waveform becomes sinusoidal.

FIGURE 3: A Phase-Shift Oscillator

12. Compute the operating frequency at TP1.

13. Measure the output frequency of the circuit.

Fmeas = _________
14. Measure and draw the output waveform at TP1, indicating its amplitude.

15. Measure the phase delay between waveforms at TP1 and TP2.
first Y = ________ second

Y = ________

16. Calculate the output frequency of the circuit in Figure 2. Does the circuit self-starting?
Why?
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17. Set up the circuit of Figure 4. Measure and record the operating frequency, adjust the
volt/division of the channel to get proper view of the waveform. (The waveform may
be of very small amplitude).
f = ________

Sine wave Oscillators

= ________

FIGURE 4: Basic Colpitts Oscillator

18. Turn off power and return all equipment and materials to the custodian.
V. QUESTIONS TO PONDER
5

2. Why the output at first rectangular before adjusting the potentiometer of the circuit
in Figure 1?
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3. The energy at the tank circuit of Colpitts oscillator should not be dropped out
according to theory of properties of L and C. But the waveform is critically damped in
nature. Why is that so?
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4. The two waveforms at TP1 and TP2 of the circuit in Figure 1 are equal in magnitude
and in phase, why?
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Sine wave Oscillators

1. Describe the self-starting oscillator. When is an oscillator not a self-starting?

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