UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES

College of Engineering and Architecture

Department of Electrical Engineering

Activity No. 1

FAMILIARIZATION OF ELECTRICAL MEASURING INSTRUMENTS AND

DEVICES

DC Power Supply

A regulated DC power supply is one which can be manually adjusted to deliver any required voltage
within its range of operation. The voltage delivered by this supply remains constant despite changes in load
current, within specified limits. Thus, one manufacturer states that a given supply will deliver 0 to 400 V
at 150 mA. This means that the current drawn must not be greater than 150 milliamperes (mA).
A power supply may have facilities for providing two or more independent dc voltages, in which
case the instrument will have separate controls and separate output terminals.
The polarity of the dc terminals on the supply is usually marked either –, +, or gnd and V+. A red
jack is conventionally used for the positive and a black for the negative terminal of the supply.
Using the DC Power Supply
The following general precautions should be observed in using this device.
1. Read the operating instructions carefully and be certain that you understand them before turning a
power supply on for the first time.
2. Never short the dc or ac output terminals, or you may damage the supply. To prevent the
terminals from shorting, keep the leads issuing from these terminals from making contact.
3. Set the output voltage of the supply at the required level before you connect the supply leads to
the experimental circuit. After the leads are connected to the circuit, again measure the output
voltage to verify that it is still at the preset level.
4. If any component on the experimental circuit appears to be overheating after power is applied,
turn the supply off and determine the cause before you proceed with the experiment.
5. Do not grasp the uninsulated output terminals of a supply when it is on. Your body will receive
the output voltage, and you may experience a severe electrical shock.
6. To prevent damage to the power supply, do not switch the supply on and off excessively. If an
experiment requires power to be interrupted frequently, use an external switch on the breadboard
to apply and remove power from the circuit.
7. Do not operate the supply beyond its rated current capacity. If the current meter indicates that you
are exceeding the current capability of the power supply, turn it off and check the experimental
circuit to determine why it is drawing excessive current.

Operation Instructions

1. AC input
AC input should be within the range of line voltage + 10% 50/60Hz.
2. Installation
Avoid using the supply in a place where the ambient temperature exceeds 40ºC. The heat sink
located at the rear of the supply must have sufficient air space for radiation.
3. Output voltage overshoot
Voltage between output terminals never exceeds the present value when the power is turned on or
off.
4. Constant-Voltage, Current Characteristics
The working output characteristics of this power supply SERIES called constant-voltage/constant
current automatic crossover type. Permits continuous transition from constant-current to constant-
voltage operation mode in response to the load change.
The intersection of constant-voltage and constant-current operation modes is called crossover
point. Figure 1 shows the relationship between this point and the load.
Description of Panel
Front panel
1. CC indicator — light when output current exceeds constant current.
2. CV indicator — light when the power turn on and constant voltage operation.
3. Voltage coarse — for the coarse adjustment of the output voltage.
4. Fine — for the fine adjustment of the output voltage.
5. Current — for the adjustment of the output current
6. HI & LO — for upper and lower scale of ammeter.
7. Power on — on/off switch for the line input.
8. “+” output terminal — positive polarity. (Red)
9. “GND” terminal — connected to chassis internally. (Yellow)
10. “–“output terminal — negative polarity. (Black)
11. Ammeter — indicated the output current.
12. Voltmeter — indicates the output voltage
Rear Panel
13. Fuse holder
14. Power cord

Multimeter
 A multimeter is an electrical instrument capable of measuring voltage, current, and resistance.
Digital multimeters have numerical displays, like digital clocks, for indicating the quantity of voltage,
current, or resistance. Analog multimeters indicate
these quantities by means of a moving pointer over a
printed scale.

Measuring voltage

Set your multimeter's selector switch to the highest-

value "DC volt" position available. Autoranging
multimeters may only have a single position for DC
voltage, in which case you need to set the switch to that
one position. Touch the red test probe to the positive (+)
terminal of the dc supply (such as battery), and the black
test probe to the negative (-) terminal of the dc supply
(such as battery). The meter should now provide you
with some sort of indication. Reverse the test probe
connections to the battery if the meter's indication is
negative (on an analog meter, a negative value is
indicated by the pointer deflecting left instead of right).

If your meter is a manual-range type, and the selector switch has been set to a high-range position, the
indication will be small. Move the selector switch to the next lower DC voltage range setting and reconnect
to the supply. The indication should be stronger now, as indicated by a greater deflection of the analog
meter pointer (needle), or more active digits on the digital meter display. For the best results, move the
selector switch to the lowest-range setting that does not "over-range" the meter. An over-ranged analog
meter is said to be "pegged," as the needle will be forced all the way to the right-hand side of the scale, past
the full-range scale value. An over-ranged digital meter sometimes displays the letters "OL", or a series of
dashed lines. This indication is manufacturer-specific.

Be sure to measure more than one size of battery, and learn how to select the best voltage range on the
multimeter to give you maximum indication without over-ranging.

Measuring Current

The most common way to measure current in a circuit is to break the circuit open and insert an "ammeter"
in series (in-line) with the circuit so that all electrons flowing through the circuit also have to go through
the meter. Because measuring current in this manner requires the meter be made part of the circuit, it is a
more difficult type of measurement to make than either voltage or resistance.

Some digital meters, like the unit shown in the illustration, have a
separate jack to insert the red test lead plug when measuring current.
Other meters, like most inexpensive analog meters, use the same jacks
for measuring voltage, resistance, and current. When an ammeter is
placed in series with a circuit, it ideally drops no voltage as current goes
through it. In other words, it acts very much like a piece of wire, with
very little resistance from one test probe to the other. Consequently, an
ammeter will act as a short circuit if placed in parallel (across the
terminals of) a substantial source of voltage. If this is done, a surge in
current will result, potentially damaging the meter. Be very careful to
avoid this scenario!

Measuring Resistance

Set your multimeter to the highest resistance range available. The resistance function is usually denoted by
the unit symbol for resistance: the Greek letter omega (Ω), or sometimes by the word "ohms." Touch the
two test probes of your meter together. When you do, the meter should register 0 ohms of resistance. If you
are using an analog meter, you will notice the needle deflect full-scale when the probes are touched together,
and return to its resting position when the probes are pulled apart. The resistance scale on an analog
multimeter is reverse-printed from the other scales: zero resistance in indicated at the far right-hand side of
the scale, and infinite resistance is indicated at the far left-hand side. There should also be a small adjustment
knob or "wheel" on the analog multimeter to calibrate it for "zero" ohms of resistance. Touch the test probes
together and move this adjustment until the needle exactly points to zero at the right-hand end of the scale.
Then measure the resistance as shown in the illustration.

Although your multimeter is capable of providing quantitative values of measured resistance, it is also
useful for qualitative tests of continuity: whether or not there is a continuous electrical connection from one
point to another. You can, for instance, test the continuity of a
piece of wire by connecting the meter probes to opposite ends of
the wire and checking to see the needle moves full-scale.

Digital multimeters set to the "resistance" mode indicate non-

continuity by displaying some non-numerical indication on the
display. Some models say "OL" (Open-Loop), while others
display dashed lines.
 UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES
College of Engineering and Architecture
Department of Electrical Engineering

Activity No. 1
Familiarization of Electrical Measuring Instruments and Devices

Date Performed: __________

Time Started: __________
Time Finished: __________

Objectives

1. To identify the controls and switches of a dc power supply.

2. To turn the supply on and measure its output voltage and output current.
3. To measure the range of voltage and current change as the output control is varied from minimum
to maximum.

Materials Required

 Variable regulated DC power supply

 Multimeter
 250-Ω 4-W resistor
 Alligator clip (2 pcs)

Procedure

1. Make sure the line voltage is correct for the input power voltage.
2. Plug power cord of the dc power supply into the power outlet.
3. Set “Power On” switch to on position.
4. Adjust “Voltage” control for maximum rated voltage of the power supply as indicated on the panel
meter. In Table 1-1, indicate the panel meter voltage.
5. Turn on the multimeter for measuring voltage. After it is properly zeroed, set the meter on a voltage
range equal to or just greater than the maximum rated voltage of the power supply. Connect the
negative lead of the meter to the negative terminal of the regulated power supply, the positive meter
lead to the positive terminal. Measure the output voltage and record it in Table 1-1. Indicate also if
the panel current meter shows current.
CAUTION: Be careful that no output terminals of the power supply are short-circuited.
6. Set the output of the power supply to half its maximum voltage by adjusting the voltage control.
Record the panel meter and multimeter readings in Table 1-1.
7. Reduce the supply voltage to its minimum level. Measure the lowest voltage the power supply
provides both on the panel meter and on the multimeter. Record these measurement in Table 1-1.
NOTE: Reduce the range of the voltage in multimeter when necessary to secure a more accurate
measurement.
8. Set the measured output of the power supply at 20 V. Connect the circuit of Figure 1-7. Record the
panel meters (voltage and current) readings in Table 1-2.
 9. Measure the voltage across the terminals of the resistors using the multimeter. Record it in Table
1-2.
10. Measure the current flowing through the resistor by connecting the multimeter/ammeter in series
as shown in figure 1-8. Record it in Table 1-2. NOTE: The multimeter’s selector is switch to “A”
position.

Table 1-1. Voltage and Current Characteristics of a

Power Supply

Output Voltage Does the panel

Position of Output current meter show
Panel Meter Multimeter/Voltmeter current?
Voltage Control
Volts Volts Yes or No

Maximum

Half maximum

Minimum

Table 1-2 Measuring Voltage and Current

Voltage (Volts) Current (Amperes)

Using Panel Meters

Using Multimeter

Table 1-3 Measuring Resistance

Resistance (ohms, Ω)

Using Multimeter/Ohmmeter

Questions

1. What is the DC voltage rating and current rating of your regulated power supply?
Voltage rating: _________________ Current rating: ______________________
2. Compare your voltage measurements in Table 1-1 with (a) the panel meter and (b) the multimeter.
Are they substantially the same?
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3. How can you tell which meter is correct, the panel meter or the multimeter?
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4. When is it necessary to switch the multimeter/voltmeter ranges in measuring voltage?
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5. Under what conditions did the power supply register current?
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6. What happens if you only touch one meter test probe to one terminal of power supply?
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7. How does the multimeter/voltmeter have to connect to the battery in order to provide an indication?
What does this tell us about multimeter/voltmeter use and the nature of voltage?

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8. Is there such a thing as voltage "at" a single point?

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9. What would you say about a piece of wire if the ohmmeter needle didn't move at all when the
probes were connected to opposite ends?

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