POWER MEASUREMENTS

PREPARATION............................................................................... 146
definitions................................................................................ 146
measurement methods ............................................................. 147
cross checking ......................................................................... 147
calculating rms values ............................................................. 148
EXPERIMENT ................................................................................. 149
single tone ............................................................................... 149
two-tone................................................................................... 149
100% amplitude modulation ................................................... 150
Armstrong`s signal .................................................................. 150
wideband FM........................................................................... 150
speech ...................................................................................... 151
SSB.......................................................................................... 151
TUTORIAL QUESTIONS ............................................................... 152
summary: ................................................................................. 152

Power measurements

Vol A1, ch 12, rev 1.0

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POWER MEASUREMENTS

ACHIEVEMENTS: this experiment is concerned with the measurement of the

power in modulated signals. It uses the WIDEBAND TRUE RMS
VOLTMETER to make the measurements, each of which can be
confirmed by independent calculation, and indirect measurement
using the oscilloscope.

PREREQUISITES: familiarity with AM, DSB, and SSB signals; relationships

between peak, mean, and rms power.

PREPARATION
definitions
The measurement of absolute power is seldom required when working with TIMS.
More often than not you will be interested in measuring power ratios, or power
changes. In this case an rms volt meter is very useful, and is available in the
WIDEBAND TRUE RMS VOLTMETER module. You will find that the accuracy
of this meter is more than adequate for measurements of all signals met in the TIMS
environment.
If the magnitude of the voltage V appearing across a resistor of R ohms is known to
be Vrms volts, then the power being dissipated in that resistor is, by definition:
power =

V 2rms
watt
R

mean power: is used when one is referring to the power dissipated by a signal in a
given resistive load, averaged over time (or one period, if periodic). It can be
measured unambiguously and directly by an instrument which converts the
electrical power to heat, and then measuring a temperature rise (say). The
addition of the qualifier rms (eg, rms power), as is sometimes seen, is
redundant.
peak power: refers to the maximum instantaneous power level reached by a signal.
It is generally derived from a peak voltage measurement, and then the power,
which would be dissipated by such a voltage, is calculated (for a given load
resistor). The oscilloscope is an ideal instrument for measuring peak voltage,
provided it has an adequate bandwidth.

146 - A1

Power measurements

Peak power is quoted often in the context of SSB transmitters, where what is
really wanted, and what is generally measured, is peak amplitude (since one is
interested in knowing at what peak amplitude the power amplifier will run
into non-linear operation). To give it the sound of respectability (?) the
measured peak amplitude is squared, divided by the load resistance, and
called peak envelope power (PEP).

measurement methods
Not all communications establishments possess power meters ! They often attempt
to measure power, and especially peak power, indirectly.
This can be a cause of great misunderstanding and error.
The measurements are often made with voltmeters. Some of these voltmeters are
average reading, others peak reading, and others ..... who knows ? These
instruments are generally intended for the measurement of a single sinewave. A
conversion factor (either supplied by the manufacturer, or the head guru of the
establishment) is often applied, to correct the reading, when a more complex
waveform is to be measured (eg, speech). These corrections, if they must be used
at all, need to be applied with great care and understanding of their limitations.
We will not discuss these short cuts any further, but you have been warned of their
existence. It is advisable to enquire as to the method of power measurement when
others perform it for you.

cross checking
The TIMS WIDEBAND TRUE RMS VOLTMETER can be used for the indirect
measurement of power. There are no correction factors to be applied for any of the
waveforms you are likely to meet in the TIMS environment.
What does an rms voltmeter display when connected to a signal ?
For the periodic waveform V cost it indicates the rms value (V/2), which is what
would be expected. It is the rms value which is used to calculate the power
dissipated by a sinewave in a resistive load, in the formula:
........ 1
power dissipated in R ohms = (rms amplitude)2/R
Table 1 give some examples which you should check analytically. During the
experiment you can confirm them with TIMS models and instrumentation.

Power measurements

A1

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input

rms reading

V.cost

V1.cos1t + V2.cos2t

V 2 V 2
1 + 2
2 2

V 1 + V2

V.cost.cost

V 2 V 2
2 2 V
+
=
2 2 2

V.(1 + m.cost).cost

V.m.cost.cost + V.sint

V
2

V.cos(t + .cost)

speech

peak volts

1 +

1 +

V.(1 + m)

V 1 + m2

2
V

5 2

Table 1. as usual, assume >>

calculating rms values

From first principles you will agree that, for the sinewave y(t), where:
y(t) = V.sint volt
peak amplitude = V volt

........ 2
........ 3

rms amplitude (by definition) = (V/2) volt

........ 4

power in 1 ohm = (V2/2) watt

........ 5

To calculate the power that a more complex periodic signal will dissipate in a 1 ohm
resistor the method is:

148 - A1

1.

break up the signal into its individual frequency components.

2.

if two or more components fall on a single frequency, determine their resultant

amplitude (use phasors, for example)

3.

calculate the power dissipated at each frequency

4.

add individual powers to obtain the total power dissipated

5.

the rms amplitude is obtained by taking the square root of the total power

Power measurements

EXPERIMENT
You will now model the signals in Table 1, and make some measurements to confirm
the calculations shown there.
For each signal it will be possible to measure the individual component amplitudes
with the oscilloscope, by conveniently removing all the others, and then to calculate
the expected rms value of the composite signal.
Then the rms value of the signal itself can be measured, using the TRUE RMS
VOLTMETER. In this way you can check the performance of the voltmeter against
predictions.

single tone
T1 model the signal #1 of Table 1. It is assumed that you can measure the
amplitude V on your oscilloscope. It is also assumed that you agree
with the calculated magnitude of the rms voltage as given in the Table.
Check the TRUE RMS VOLTMETER reading.

The two readings should be in the ratio 2 : 1. If this is not so you should either
determine a calibration constant to apply to this (and subsequent) oscilloscope
reading, or adjust the oscilloscope sensitivity. This correction (or adjustment) will
ensure that subsequent readings should have the expected relative magnitudes. But
note that their absolute magnitudes have not been checked. This is not of interest in
this experiment.

two-tone
T2 model the two-tone signal #2 of Table 1. You can combine the two in an
ADDER, and thus examine and measure each one independently at the
ADDER output (as per the previous task). Compare the reading of the
TRUE RMS VOLTMETER with predictions.
T3 adjust the amplitudes of the signal examined in the previous Task to equality.
Confirm that the peak-to-peak amplitude, as measured on the
oscilloscope, can lead directly to a knowledge of the individual
amplitudes V1 and V2. This is needed for the next Task.

Power measurements

A1

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100% amplitude modulation

T4 model the AM signal #4 of Table 1. Use the method of generation introduced
in the experiment entitled Amplitude modulation - method 2 ( within
Volume A2 - Further & Advanced Analog Experiments), as it will be
convenient for the next Task. First set up for 100% depth of
modulation (m = 1). Then:
a) remove the DSBSC, leaving the carrier only. Measure its
amplitude, predict its rms value (!), and confirm with the rms
meter.
b) remove the carrier, and add the DSBSC. Measure all you can
think of, as per the previous Task for the two-tones of equal
amplitude signal.
c) replace the carrier, making a 100% AM signal. Measure
everything you think you need to predict the rms value of the
AM signal. Measure the rms value with the rms meter.
Compare results with predictions.
T5 use a two-tone signal for the message (2 kHz message from MASTER
SIGNALS and an AUDIO OSCILLATOR, combined in an ADDER).
Set up 100% AM; calculate the expected change of total power
transmitted between no and 100% modulation ? Compare with a
measurement, using the rms meter.

Armstrong`s signal
T6 use the same model as for the previous Task to model Armstrong`s signal signal #5 of Table 1. Changing the phase between the DSBSC and
carrier will change the peak amplitude, but confirm that it makes no
difference to the power dissipated.

wideband FM
T7 model the signal #6 of Table 1. You can use the VCO on the HI frequency
range. Connect an AUDIO OSCILLATOR to the Vin socket, and use
the GAIN control to vary the degree of modulation. Confirm that
modulation is taking place by viewing the VCO output, with a sweep
speed of say 10s/cm, and triggering the oscilloscope to the signal
itself. Confirm that there is no change of peak or rms amplitude with
or without modulation. If there is a change then non-linear circuit
operation is indicated.
150 - A1

Power measurements

speech
T8 examine a speech signal available at TRUNKS or from a SPEECH module.
Compare what you consider to be its peak amplitude (oscilloscope)
with its rms amplitude (rms meter). Determine a figure for the peakto-average power ratio of a speech signal.
T9 use speech as the message to an AM transmitter. Use a trapezoid to set up
100% AM. Measure the change of output power between no and full
modulation.

SSB
T10 model an SSB transmitter. Measure the peak output amplitude when the
message is a single tone (a VCO could provide such a single).
Measure the rms output voltage. Replace the tone with speech (now
you would need a genuine SSB generator; perhaps there is such a
signal at TRUNKS ?), and set up for the same peak output amplitude.
Measure the rms output amplitude. Any comments ? Compare with
the same measurement upon speech itself.

Power measurements

A1

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TUTORIAL QUESTIONS
Q1 name the signals listed in Table 1.
Q2 draw the waveforms of the signals in Table 1.
Q3 show how each of the signals listed in Table 1 can be modelled
Q4 confirm, by analysis, the results recorded in the final column of Table 1.
Q5 confirm, by measurement, the results recorded in the final column of Table 1.
Q6 how does the true rms power meter work ?

summary:
This whole experiment has been tutorial in nature.
Hopefully you observed, or might have concluded, that:
the oscilloscope is an excellent instrument for measuring peak amplitudes.
the true rms meter is ideal (in principle and in practice) for (indirect) power
measurements. No corrections at all need be made for particular waveforms.

152 - A1

Power measurements