Electronics Engineering Program

ECEN 3364 (Industrial Electronics and PLC Applications)

EXPERIMENT NO. 3

Title: A UJT as a relaxation oscillator

Objectives:
1. To determine the intrinsic stand-off ratio of a UJT.
2. To observe and graph the output waveform of a UJT relaxation oscillator.

Introduction:
The UJT is a three-terminal device, the three terminals being labeled
emitter, base1, and base2. In its simplest terms, the UJT operates as follows;

1. When the voltage between the emitter and base1, VEB1 is less
than a certain value called the peak voltage, Vp, the UJT is
turned OFF, and no current can flow from E and B1(IE = 0).
2. When VEB1 exceeds Vp by a small amount, the UJT fires or
turns ON. When this happens, the E and B1 circuit becomes
almost a short circuit, the current can surge from one terminal
to another. Generally in all UJT circuits, the burst of current from
E and B1 is short-lived, the UJT quickly reverts back to the OFF
condition.

Materials:
1 Dual trace oscilloscope 1 100 k resistor, 1 watt
2 VOMs 1 470 resistor, 1 watt
1 UJT 1 100 resistor, 1 watt
1 Variable DC power supply 1 22k, 1 resistor, 1 watt
1 0.5F capacitor
1 100F capacitor

Requirements:
1. Sheet No.1
2. Sheet No.2

Procedure A: Finding the UJT standoff ratio

1. With an ohmmeter, measure the interbase resistance of a UJT, r BB
and the two individual emitter to base resistance of the UJT, r B1 and rB2. Record the
readings in the space provided in table 3-1.
2. Connect a variable DC supply between the emitter and base1 with a
10mA ammeter in the emitter lead. Adjust the DC supply voltage until the ammeter
reads 5mA. Measure VRB1 and subtract 0.6V for the pn junction. Calculate r B1 using,
rB1 = (VEB1 0.6V)/5mA
Record the result in table 3-1.
3. Repeat step 2 for the emitter to base 2 circuit to find r B2.
4. Calculate the intrinsic standoff ratio of the UJT using,
= rB1/(rB1 + rB2) = rB1/rBB
5. Comment on the accuracy of the interbase and emitter base
resistances. Write your comments in the space provided in table 3-1.
Procedure B: Finding the peak voltage of the UJT.
6. Construct the circuit below. Install a switch in the Vs supply line.
Place a 50V voltmeter across CE and a 10V voltmeter across R1. Discharge CE
completely, then close the switch and watch the voltmeters.

Record Vp on table 3-2.

7. Calculate Vp of this circuit using,
Vp =VB1B2 + 0.6V
Record the result in table 3-2.
8. Comment on the measured and calculated values. Write your
comment in table 3-2.
9. Repeat steps 6, 7, and 8 with a Vs of 10V.
10. Measure the time delay before firing. Record in table 3-2.
11. Calculate the time delay using,
Tcharge = RECE
Record the result in table 3-2.
12. Comment on the dependence of the time delay on Vs. Write your
comments in table 3-2

Procedure C: Voltage Waveforms

13. Open the power switch and change RE to 22k and CE to 0.5F.
Remove the voltmeter and connect the input of the oscilloscope across C E then later
move to R1 to observe the waveforms of VCE and VR1.
14. Close the power switch and adjust the scope controls to display
several cycles of the waveforms and record the result in table 3-3.

Experiment No. 3
A UJT as a relaxation oscillator
Sheet No.1
Group: _________
Members:
______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Date: ____________________

I. TABLE 3-1: Data and Results

Resistance Measured Computed Comments

rBB
rB1
rB2

II. Computations:

Experiment No. 3
A UJT as a relaxation oscillator
Sheet No.2
Group: _________
Members:
______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Date: ____________________

III. TABLE 3-2: Data and Results

Voltage, volts Measured Calculated Comments

Vp, 15V
Vp, 10V
Time delay, 15V
Time delay, 10V

IV. TABLE 3-3: Waveform table

Vin
VCE
VR1