Electronics II Laboratory

Jassim K. Hmood 3-2011

1
EXPERIMENT NO.(3)
TRANSISTOR POWER AMPLIFIERS


OBJECT: To study some important aspects of different power amplifiers
configurations.


EQUIPMENTS AND COMPONENTS:
1. Signal generator
2. DC Power supply
3. Oscilloscope
4. AVO meter
5. Transistor and components as shown in Fig.(2) and Fig.(4).

THEORY:
An amplifier designed to deliver electric power to a desired load is
known as a power amplifier. Power amplifiers find applications in
transmitter, servomotor amplifiers, industrial control circuits, and audio
amplifiers. In general, power amplifiers designed to del1iver the
maximum power output at the highest efficiency. Since power amplifiers
inherently involve excursions in voltage and current, the transistor may
operated in the non-linear regions of the characteristic curve resulting
distortion in the output. Furthermore, the transistor subjected to large
values of current and voltage, thermal instability may become a problem
and thus the power amplifier must biased to guard against thermal
runaway.
Electronics II Laboratory

Jassim K. Hmood 3-2011

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Depending on their operation, power amplifiers can be grouped
into four main classes:
- CLASS A operation
- CLASS AB operation
- CLASS B operation
- CLASS C operation
The output signal as result of a sinusoidal input signal for each of
the four classes can show in Fig.(1). In class A operation, the entire input
signal is reproduced faithfully at the output resulting minimum distortion.
The power delivered by the power supply is constant and not affected by
input signal. This means that, power being dissipated by the circuit even
through no signal is present. Further more, the maximum lower
dissipated in the transistor under up signal condition. Therefore the
efficiency in class A operation is poor. Fig.(2 ) shows the typical circuit
used for class A power amplification.
In class AB operation output (collector) current flows for more than half
of the input signal cycle. Hence, more than half of the signal is amplify
and appears at the output.








In class B operation, exactly half of the input signal appears
amplified at the output. Transistor is biased such that Ic =0. Therefore the
amplifier dissipates power only when it is being used to amplify signal
Class A Class AB Class B Class C
Fig.(1): Signal waveform for Classes (A, AB, C, D)
Electronics II Laboratory

Jassim K. Hmood 3-2011

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(input signal present). Hence, the efficiency is higher but the distortions
are considerable. In order to obtain high efficiency and low distortion,
circuit shown in Fig.(3) is used. This is known as PUSH PULL amplifier.
In positive half cycle one transistor provides output current while in
negative half cycle other transistor provides output current. By this way
output current is continuous.
















In class C operation, somewhat less than half of the input signal
appears amplified at the output. The output signal waveform is high
distorted and rich in harmonic. Generally, in class C amplifier, load is a
tuned circuit, which selects the fundamental or the desired harmonic
rejecting all other frequency components. Efficiency in class C amplifier
is the highest. These generally used to amplify radio-frequency (r.f.)
single in transmitters.
Vo
Vcc
+
-
Vs
+
VBB
C2
1uF
C1
1uF
Rs
100k
RB
100k
RL
1k
Q1
NPN

a) Direct coupled load
Vcc1
+
-
Vs
Vo
RL1
1k
Trans
Q2
NPN

b) Transformer coupled
Fig.(2) : shows type of coupling
Electronics II Laboratory

Jassim K. Hmood 3-2011

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Class (A) Operation
a.c. output power
L
2
R max) Ic (
2
1
=
( )
L
2
R 2
max Vo
=
Power supplied = Vcc I
cQ

( )
Q L
2
Q
2
max c
VccI R 2
max Vo
VccI 2
i
efficiency = =

Class B operation
a.c. output power
( )
L
2
R 2
max Vo
=
( )
L
2
R 8
p . Vop
=
Power supplied = Vcc I
cav
= 2 Vcc /t R
L


For ideal class B operation:
Power ac
( )
L
2
R 2
Vcc
=
Power dc
( )
L
2
R 2
Vcc
=

( )
Vcc Icav R 2
max Vo
L
2

=
max or ideal efficiency
( )
Q L
2
VccI R 2
max Vo
=

Class C operation

2
cos 2
2
sin 4
sin
efficiency
u

|
.
|

\
|
u
u

u u
= Where u= conduction angle


Electronics II Laboratory

Jassim K. Hmood 3-2011

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PROCEDURE:
1. Connect the circuit as shown in Fig.(2a). Adjust V
BB
to obtain
Ic=4.5mA. Then measure VBE and VCE.
2. Draw the load line on the given output characteristics. Locate Q point.
3. Apply a sinusoidal input signal of 1kHz and adjust the input voltage to
obtain maximum undistorted output. Draw input and output waveform
accurately.
4. Calculate efficiency and distortions.
5. Adjust V
BB
equal to the half value set in step 1. Measure Ic, VBE, and
VCE.
6. Apply a sinusoidal input signal of magnitude applied in step 3. Draw
input and output waveform. Then measure rms output voltage (hence
calculates rms and average current). Repeat step 4.
7. Adjust V
BB
to obtain Ic = 0 (class B operation). Repeat step 6.
8. Adjust V
BB
= -0.5 volt. Measure VBE, VCE and Ic.
9. Apply a sinusoidal input signal of magnitude apply in step 3. Draw
input and output waveform. Then calculate efficiency.
10. Connect the circuit as shown in Fig.(3). Measure the dc current pass
through each transistor.
11. Measure the ac and dc current pass through the load. Then calculate
efficiency.

Discussion
1. Compare between the theoretical and your practical results.
2. Derive the laws of efficiency and distortion used in calculations.
3. Discuss the various types of distortion in amplification and how they
can be minimized?
Electronics II Laboratory

Jassim K. Hmood 3-2011

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4. Design an audio frequency power amplifier to boost the power by a
factor of 1000. Select a suitable class of operation and circuit. Give
justification.
















1k
1uF
R2
5.6k
R1
100k
R1
100k
1uF
100
100
Q2
PNP
Vcc
+
-
Vs
1uF
R2
5.6k
Q1
NPN

Fig.(3): Push Pull transistor amplifier