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Laboratory # 11 Diodes
EE188L Electrical Engineering I
College of Engineering and Natural Sciences
Northern Arizona University

Objectives
1. Measure the turn-on voltage of diodes with the DMM.

2. Investigate the voltage/current characteristic of diodes.

3. Investigate the AC characteristics of diodes.

Important Concepts
1. Diodes are semiconductor devices that allow current to flow in one direction but virtually none in the
other. Diodes have two terminals, one positive (+ or p or anode) and one negative.
2. The diode symbol is shown below:

V
+

I
If V is positive, current flows in this direction.
If V is negative, virtually no current flows.

3. The I-V relationship for the diode is given by the following equation:

I = Io (eV/VT - 1) where typical values are Io 10-15 A and VT 26 mV at 22 C.

4. The plot of the I-V relationship for the diode is shown in the I
figure. When the voltage reaches the turn-on voltage, Vturnon, the
slope is very steep and the diode acts like a constant voltage
source with voltage Vturnon. For voltages less than Vturnon, the diode
acts like an open circuit.
5. For diodes made from silicon, Vturnon is about 0.7 V. For other
types of diodes like LEDs (light-emitting diodes), Vturnon is larger,
ranging from 1.5 to 2.2 V.
6. Diodes are used in rectifying circuits such as power supplies, Vturnon V
which you will build in another lab.

Special Resources
1. 1N4004 pn diode and LEDs.
2. Datasheet for 1N4004.

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Activity #1 Diode Testing Using the DMM

For a resistor, the relationship between current and resistance is linear, as expressed by Ohms Law,
v = i R or i = v / R. Both terminals are equivalent, so you can connect the resistor in either orientation.

For a diode, the terminals are different and it matters how you connect the diode in the circuit. So you
need to identify the anode (+) and the cathode (-) terminals. The diode package is marked to identify the
terminals but in this activity you will use the DMM to identify the terminals. The diode allows current to
flow into the anode (+), just like current flows into the higher voltage side of the resistor.

The DMM has a diode test feature. Press the diode symbol button and connect the diode, one terminal
connected to the V probe and the other terminal connected to the COM probe. You may have to repeat
the test with the terminal connections switched. The DMM will output about 0.7 mA leaving the V
terminal and returning to the COM terminal. The meter then displays the voltage developed across these
terminals and you can determine the following:

Displayed voltage Result

< 20 mV short-circuit, continuous beep diode is damaged
< 0.8 V displays turn-on voltage, one beep anode connected to V terminal, diode made
from Si
0.8 V to 2.5 V displays turn-on voltage, no beep anode connected to V terminal, diode made
from material other than Si
OL open load anode connected to COM terminal or diode is
damaged if OL in both directions

1. Obtain a 1N4004 silicon diode. Note the markings on the diode package. Put the DMM in the diode
test mode. If necessary, use the Rate button to set the DMM measurement rate to F (fast) or M
(medium), but not S (slow). Connect the diode to the DMM between the V and COM probes.
Record the voltage and determine which diode terminal (+ or -) is connected to the V probe.

Voltage reading: Diode terminal connected to the V probe:

2. Reverse the diode connections. Record the voltage and determine the diode terminal connected to the
V terminal.

Voltage reading: Diode terminal connected to the V probe:

If the diode is damaged (OL in both directions or short-circuit in either direction), select another
diode and take the measurements again.

3. What are the package markings to identify the anode and/or cathode? Sketch the diode and label
which terminal is the anode (+) and which is the cathode(-).

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Activity #2 Light-Emitting Diodes

Light emitting diodes (LED) are diodes that emit light when they reach their turn-on voltage. Perform the
same procedure to determine the anode and cathode terminals of an LED and the turn-on voltage.

1. Obtain any color LED. Note that the turn-on voltage (generally 1.5 to 2.2 V) is higher than before,
because the diode is made from a material other than silicon and the DMM may not beep. If you
cannot measure a turn-on voltage, select another LED and try again. Note the leads and shape of the
diode package. Put the DMM in the diode test mode. If necessary, use the Rate button to set the
DMM measurement rate to F (fast) or M (medium), but not S (slow). Connect the diode to the DMM
between the V and COM probes. Record the voltage and determine which diode terminal
connected to the V probe.

Voltage reading: Diode terminal connected to the V probe:

2. Reverse the diode. Record the voltage and determine the diode terminal connected to the V
terminal.

Voltage reading: Diode terminal connected to the V probe:

3. What identifies the anode and/or cathode? Sketch the LED and label which terminal is the anode (+)
and which is the cathode(-).

Activity #3 - Questions

1. A diode tester reads 50 mV forward and 40 mV reverse for a certain diode. What can you surmise
about the health of this diode?

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2. Using the theoretical I-V equation given in the diode background section for a typical diode at 22 C,
calculate the theoretical current given voltages of V = -0.1 V, 0 V, 0.3 V, 0.6 V, 0.7 V and 0.8 V and
display the results in a table.

Voltage -0.1 volts 0 volts 0.3 volts 0.6 volts 0.7 volts 0.8 volts

Current
Calculated

3. Determine and record, from the 1N4004 diode specification sheet, the maximum RMS reverse
voltage and the operating and storage temperature range. The data sheet is available in the class
folder.

Activity #4 - LED Forward and Reverse Bias

1. Obtain a 100 resistor; measure and record its actual value. R=

2. Connect the circuit of Figure 1. When a positive voltage is placed across the diode, it is forward
biased diode offers almost no resistance. The 100 resistor is inserted to limit the current and also
provide an easy way to measure the current through the diode. We could measure the current by
inserting the DMM in series with the diode each time, but it is easier to measure the voltage across
the resistor and divide by the actual resistance to get the current going through the resistor and the
diode. The diode should light when the diode voltage reaches the turn-on voltage and should get
brighter as the voltage increases if the diode is good.

Light Emitting Diode (LED)

DC Power +
Supply

100

Figure 1. Circuit for Measurement of Diode Voltage and Current

3. Increase the DC supply voltage from 0 to 5 V in the increments shown. At each value of DC power
supply voltage, use the DMM to measure both the diode voltage and the voltage across the 100
resistor. Fill in the table showing (1) the power supply voltage, (2) the diode voltage, (3) the voltage
across the 100 resistor and (4) the resistor current (= resistor voltage/R). If the diode doesnt light
when you get to 2 V, the diode may be bad or connected backwards, so correct that and start over.

DC Power Supply, V Diode Voltage, V Resistor Voltage, V Current, A

0
0.5

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1.0
1.5
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
4. Reverse the polarity of the DC power supply and make the same measurements down to a reverse
voltage of -5 V in one volt decrements. When a negative voltage is placed across the diode, it is
reverse biased. Show these values in your table as negative, since the polarity was reversed. You
should observe very small or no current flow and the LED should not be lit.

DC Power Supply, V Diode Voltage, V Resistor Voltage, V Current, A

-1
-2
-3
-4
-5

5. Plot both the calculated I-V characteristic from Activity #3 part 2 for the 1N4004 diode and the
measured I-V characteristic of the LED from Activity #4 parts 3 and 4, with the diode voltage on
the horizontal axis and the diode current on the vertical axis. Be sure to choose appropriate values to
label both axes. Note that the current increases very rapidly beyond the diode turn-on voltage.
Estimate the turn-on voltage, where the knee of each curve occurs. The two curves will have similar
shapes, but different turn-on voltages.

Estimated turn-on voltage for 1N4004 = , for LED______________________

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Activity #5 - Time Varying Signals on a Diode

Background: AC Characteristics of Diodes

In this part of the experiment, we will take a look at the AC characteristics of diodes by looking at the
time-varying voltage and current for these devices on the oscilloscope. Do you remember how to display
current on the oscilloscope? One way is to place a small resistor in series in the circuit. This test resistor
will develop a voltage V = IR. By measuring the voltage, we can calculate the current by dividing by the
actual resistance.

DUT stands for device under test, in our case a 1N4004 diode. On channel A, we measure the voltage
applied by the function generator. On channel B, we measure the voltage across the 100 test resistor.
The current is simply VB / 100, so VB is a scaled version of the current. If VB is small in comparison to VA
(say < 2 %), then the voltage across the DUT can be approximated as V A with little error. Thus, VA is
essentially the voltage across the diode and V B represents the current through the diode.

Why not connect channel A directly across the DUT? If we did this, we would be connecting a ground
clip on either side of the 100 resistor. We would be shorting out this resistor through the oscilloscope
ground and no current would flow through the resistor. The function generator ground is connected to the
oscilloscope ground through the electrical wiring.

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Figure 2. Time-varying setup

NOTE: When connecting oscilloscope probes to a circuit, they must share the same ground point as
the function generator.

1. Set the function generator to deliver a 5 V RMS sine wave at 10 kHz, with no DC offset. Connect the
oscilloscope to the circuit as shown in Figure 2 and display both channels.

Be sure to set both channels to DC coupling so that the AC+DC waveforms can be seen.
Be sure all knobs on the oscilloscope are in their CAL position
Set both ground traces to the middle of the screen.
Set the voltage scale factor on each channel so that the waveforms are as large as possible but
not cut off.

2. Using the LabSoft program on the computer, print the scope display on the computer screen. Be
sure to title your plot descriptively like Diode Voltage and Current and be sure to include your
name(s). Notice how there is a small jump of negative current immediately after the voltage switches
the diode from off to on. This occurs because of charge buildup in the device.

a. Print a hardcopy of the plot and include as the last page of your report.

b. On the plot, label the time when the diode is forward biased (V > 0 V) and conducting current.

c. Also on the plot, label the time when the diode is reverse biased (V < 0 V) and not conducting
current.

Activity #6 - Question
1. Why is it important to make sure the ground clips on the oscilloscope are connected to the same point
as the common lead of the function generator?

Lab 11 - Diodes Page 7 of 7