UTTARA UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING

COURSE CODE: EEE102

COURSE TITLE: ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS I LAB

Experiment Number 2
Experiment: Verification of some circuit laws in DC circuits
And Series/Parallel Connection of Loads
Part A: Verification of KVL & Voltage Divider Rule
CAUTIONS:
1. Don’t switch on the supply until the circuit has been checked by your teacher.
2. Take care of the reading of the apparatus.
3. Take care of any bare circuit element in energized condition.

OBJECTIVE :

This experiment is intended to verify Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL) and voltage divider rule with
the help of series circuits and derive equivalent resistance of the series circuit both experimentally
and analytically.

THEORY:

KVL states that around any closed circuit the sum of the voltage rises equals the sum of the voltage
drops.
 VRISES =  VDROPS

The voltage divider rule is given by

RX
VX =  VS
RS
The equivalent ( total ) resistance of a series circuit is given by

RS = RX = R1 + R2 + R3
Where X= 1, 2 & 3

APPARATUS:

➢ One DC Voltmeter (0 - 300V)

➢ One DC Ammeter (0 - 5A)
➢ Three Rheostats
➢ One SPST switch
➢ One multimeter
➢ DC power supply

PROCEDURE:

Get acquainted with wire wound resistances and the operation of the dc power supply.There are
fixed wire wound resistances with two terminals having a fixed resistance between the terminals,
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where as there are wire wound resistances with three terminals in which the resistance may be
varied if the resistance is taken between one top and one bottom terminal. Fixed resistance can be
obtained from the three terminal wire wound resistance if the connection is taken from the two
bottom terminals. Wire wound resistances are specified by their resistance value and their current or
wattage value. The current and wattage value indicate that if that particular resistance carry more
than the rated current or wattage value the resistance will heat up excessively and eventually burn.
So the precaution should be taken not to exceed the current or wattage of the resistance.

Regulated DC power supply provides adjustable dc supply for electrical and electronic circuits. It
has two controls, one is the voltage control and the other is the current limit. The voltage control
knob allows one to increase or decrease the voltage at the terminals of the dc power supply within
the current limit set by the current limit knob. If the current to the circuit exceeds beyond the limit
set by the current limit knob, the voltage will not increase even if the voltage know is used to
increase the voltage. So current control knob of the regulated dc power supply basically works as a
protection against any damage to the power supply (it will not protect the circuit).

1. Connect three rheostats R1, R2 and R3 in series through a SPST switch to a DC power supply as
shown in fig.
2. Apply 30 V DC from DC power supply.
3. Set the rheostats at their maximum value and take readings of V1, V2, V3, VS using a voltmeter,
I using an ammeter and R1, R2, R3 using a multimeter. Vary the rheostats in such a way that
ammeter reading does not exceed the current rating of any of the rheostats. Take at least 5 sets
of reading and enter it in the table.
4. Verify KVL (i.e. VS=V1+V2+V3) for each set of data. Find total resistance of the series circuit
using the formula RS =R1+R2+R3. Compare this with experimentally obtained value RS=VS/I.
Verify voltage divider for each set of data.

R1

A V
V1 R2
V V2
V VS I V3
V

R3

TABLE:
RS
No of VS I V1 V2 V3 RS=R1+R2+R3 R S = VS / I V1+V2+V3
Obs. Volts Amps Volts Volts Volts Ohms Ohms

REPORT :

1. Show the results in tabular form.

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2. Comment on the results obtained and discrepancies (if any).

Part B: Verification of KCL & Current Divider Rule.

OBJECTIVE :

This experiment is intended to verify Kirchhoff’s current law (KCL) & current divider rule with
the help of parallel circuit and derive equivalent resistance of the circuit both experimentally and
analytically.

THEORY:

KCL states that the sum of the currents entering any node equals the sum of the currents leaving the
node.
 ientering =  ileaving

The current divider rule is given by

RP
IX =  IS
RX
Where, x = 1, 2 & 3.
The equivalent ( total ) resistance of a parallel circuit is given by the formula
APPARATUS:

1 1 1 1
= + +
RP R1 R2 R3

➢ One DC Voltmeter (0 - 300V)

➢ One DC Ammeter (0 - 5A)
➢ Three Rheostats and Four Switches
➢ DC power supply and a multimeter

PROCEDURE:

1. Connect three rheostats along with their own switches in parallel across the power supply as
shown in figure.
2. Apply 30 V dc from dc power supply.

S
A1 S A S A S A
2 3 4
V V I
S R I1 R I2 R I3
1 1 1

RP
3. Set the rheostats R1, R2 & R3 above 20 and measure VS, I, I1, I2, I3,R1,R2 &R3.
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4. Verify KCL ( i.e. I=I1+I2+I3 ) for each set of data.. Find total resistance of the parallel circuit
using the formula. Compare this with experimentally obtained value RP=VS/I. Verify the current
divider rule for each set of data.
5. Repeat steps 3 to 4 by changing R1, R2, R3 and take five sets of readings

TABLE

Observation VS I I1 I2 I3 I1+I2+I3 RP RP = VS / I
No. Volts Amps Amps Amps Amps Ohms Ohms

REPORT :

1. Comment on the obtained results and discrepancies (if any).

2. Show the results in tabular form.

Part C: Verification of Superposition Principle.

OBJECTIVE: To verify experimentally the Superposition theorem which is an analytical

technique of determining currents in a circuit with more than one emf source.

THEOREM:

In a linear circuit containing multiple independent sources and linear elements

(e.g. resistors, inductors, capacitors) the voltage across ( or the current through )
any element when all the sources are acting simultaneously may be obtained by
adding algebraically all the individual voltages ( or the currents ) caused by each
independent source acting alone, with all other sources deactivated.
An independent voltage source is deactivated ( made zero ) by shorting it and an independent
current source is deactivated ( made zero ) by open circuiting it. However, if a dependent source is
present it must remain active during the superposition process.

APPARATUS :

➢ Two DC power supplies.

➢ Three rheostats.
➢ One DC ammeter (0-5 amps) and one DC voltmeter (0-300 V).
➢ One multimeter.
➢ Two SPDT switches and one SPST switch.

PROCEDURES :

1) Set up the circuit as in Fig. 1.

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2) Keep both sources active by keeping S1 & S2 in the proper position (position 1).
3) Apply 25 volts from E1 and 20 volts from E2.
4) Set the rheostats R1, R2 & R3 above 20.
5) Measure the current I and record it in the given table.
6) Render E2 inactive (keeping E1 active) & measure the current I / in the branch R2.
7. Render E1 inactive (keeping E2 active) & Measure the current I// in the branch R2.
8. Verify if I= I/ + I// which would validate the superposition theorem for this particular circuit.
9. Repeat steps 4 to 7 by changing R1, R2, R3 and take a few more sets of readings.

TABLE:

No. of R1 R2 R3 I2 with both E1 and I2 / with only E1 I2 // with only E2

Obs. (ohms) (ohms) (ohms) E2 active (amps) active (amps) active (amps)

1.
2.
3.

REPORT :

1. Show results in tabular form.

2. Comment on the obtained results and discrepancies (if any).
Objective:
To learn the effect of series and parallel connection of loads.

Procedure:

Series Connection:

1. Connect the two fixed resistances and one lamp board in series together with the ammeter.
Connect the circuit to the 230VAC 50 Hz. source via an SPST switch. Turn on the supply
and measure the voltages of rheostats and the lamp board individually. Also measure the
current through them. In tabular form present the voltage, current and power of each load.

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 2. Connect the two fixed resistances and one lamp board in parallel, with ammeter in each
branch or switch in each branch (for putting ammeter for measurement of current during the
experiment). Connect the overall circuit to the 230VAC 50 Hz. supply via an SPST switch.
Turn on the power and measure the voltages and currents of all loads (two resistances and a
lamp board). In a tabular form present the voltages, current and power.

Comment on which circuit consumes more power.

3. What should be fuse rating of the above two circuits.

4. What should the connection mode of lights, fans and air-conditioners in a house.
5. Learn how to use a tester to check the availability of power in a socket.
6. Learn how to use a test lamp to check the availability of power in a socket.
7. Learn how to connect a tube light so that it can start and operate without damage during the
operation (Provide the circuit diagram in the report.)
8. Connect an LED in series with a 1K carbon resistance and supply the circuit from a function
generator with sinusoidal output. Observe the illumination of the LED as you vary
frequency of the supply of the source from 5 to 60 Hz.