Experiment No.

05
RC coupled Multistage CE-CC Cascade Amplifier

OBJECTIVE
 Construct an RC coupled Multistage Amplifier with Common Emitte r amplification
and Common Collector buffering stage then analyze its performance in terms of
gain, input and output impedance.

EQUIPMENT
Instruments
• EPAL board,
• Digital Multimeter (DMM)
• Oscilloscope with probes.
• Function generator.
Components
• Transistors: 2N3904 (02)
• Resistors: 68 kΩ,10 kΩ (03), 6.8 kΩ (02),
1KOhm
• Capacitors: 0.1F, 0.1F, 10µF (02)
• Potentiometer 1 kΩ, 5 kΩ, 100 kΩ, 500 kΩ

THEORY
In practical applications, the output of a single stage amplifier is usually insufficient.
Hence they are replaced by Multi-stage transistor amplifiers.

In Multi-stage amplifiers, the output of first stage is coupled to the input of next stage
using a coupling device like capacitor. This process of joining two amplifier stages using a
coupling device can be called as Cascading.

The following figure shows a two-stage amplifier connected in cascade.

The overall gain is the product of voltage gain of individual stages. It is necessary to study
the loading effect and the source resistance of each amplification stage in a multi-stage amplifier.

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CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

VO1

Fig 5.1: RC coupled Multistage Amplifier.

P ROCEDURE

1. Using a Multimeter, measure the value of all Resistors and Capacitors being used in the circuit.
Also verify working of your BJT by testing it with DMM.
2. To find Q point:
Connect the circuit without Vin and capacitors. Set Vcc= 15V. Measure dc voltages at the base
VB1, VB2 , collector Vc1 , VC2 and Emitter VE1 , VE2 with respect to ground. Determine VCE1 , VCE2
and IC1 , IC2 . The Q points are respectively Q1 (VCE1 ,IC1 ) and Q2 (VCE2 ,IC2 ).
3. Now connect the circuit as per the circuit diagram.
4. Mid-band Gain and Mid-band frequency:
a. Connect the signal generator and apply a sine wave of peak-to peak amplitude 10mV at 10
kHz.
b. Connect input (Vin ) and first stage output VO1 and actual output VO of the circuit separately
to oscilloscope channels and observe the waveforms.
c. Vary the frequency of the input signal (between 1 kHz till 1 MHz) till the output signal VO
maximizes.
d. If the output signal becomes distorted, reduce the input signal amplitude till the output
signal is free of distortion.
e. Once maximum is achieved, note down the peak to peak amplitude of Vin , VO1 and VO.

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 f. Calculate Mid-band voltage gain of both amplifier stages using the values evaluated in last
step AV1 = VO1 /Vin and AV2 = VO/ VO1 and overall voltage gain GV.
g. The frequency at which maximum gain is achieved is the mid-band frequency.

5. Input impedance:

POT

Vo
Vin

Fig 5.2: Input impedance finding technique .

a. Connect a Potentiometer (POT) between input voltage source and the base of the
transistor (series connection).
 Set Potentiometer (POT) to zero.
 Keep Input sine wave amplitude to the one evaluated in step 4(e).
 Keep Input sine wave frequency to any mid band frequency evaluated in step 4(f).
b. Connect AC voltmeter (Range: 0-10V) across the biasing resistor R2.
c. Vary the value of Potentiometer such that the AC voltmeter reads a voltage half of the
input signal value.
d. Measure the value of the potentiometer with a multimeter. This is the Input Impedance at
mid-band frequency.
6. Output impedance:

Pot Vo
Vin

Fig 5.3: Output impedance finding technique .

a. Connect a Potentiometer between input voltage source and the base of the transistor
(series connection)
b. Set the following:
 Potentiometer to maximum value.
 Keep Input sine wave amplitude to the one evaluated in step 4(e).

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  Keep Input sine wave frequency to any mid band frequency evaluated in step
4(f).
c. Connect AC voltmeter (Range: 0-10 V) across the biasing resistor RC and measure
Output Voltage.
d. Decrease Potentiometer till output voltage reduces to one half of the one achieved in
step 6(c).
e. Measure the value of the potentiometer with a multimeter. This is the Output Impedance
at mid-band frequency.
6. Theoretical Calculations:
a. Solve the circuit using a pen and paper and evaluate the theoretical values of the mid-
band gain, input and output impedance.
7. Observations:
a. Write down your observations in the Conclusions portion.
RESULTS & CALCULATIONS

Table 5.1: Measured Circuit Parameter

Parameter Measured Parameter Measured
Name Value Name Value
Cb1 R3
Ce1 R4
Cc1 VCC
R1 VCE1
R2 VCE2
RE1 IC
RC1 β
RE2 Ce2

Table 5.2: Representation of Mid-band gain and frequency

Input Output Output
Freq. GV = GV (dB) =
Voltage Voltage Voltage Av1 = Av2 =
(Hz) AV! * AV2 20log AV
(Vi) (VO1 ) (VO) VO1 /Vin VO2 /VO1

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 Table 5.3: Comparison of theoretical and practical values
Theoretical Practical
Input impedance
Output impedance
Mid-band Gain

CONCLUSION
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Activity Name  Experiment No

Group No. S ection
S tudent Roll No.

C P Domain Awarded S core (out of 4 for each cell)
L L + Exe mplary
O O Taxonomy Beginning Developing
Accomplished (4)
(1) (2) Student is
Student is With (3)
With able to
unable to instructor/
instructor/ independentl
design supervisor’s
supervisor’s y design
systems, guidance,
guidance, systems,
No. Criteria components student is able
student is able component s
and/or to partially
to fully design and/or
processes to design
systems, processes to
meet systems,
component s meet
specificatio components
and/or specification
ns despite and/or
processes to s without
instructor/ processes to
meet instructor/
supervisor’s meet
specifications. supervisor’s
guidance. specifications.
guidance.

1 4 2 P4 Design systems, components and/or processes to

meet specifications
2 5 10 A3 Effectively document/ communicate performed
activities

Signature With Date : ______________________________________

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