SERIES TYPE VOLTAGE REGULATOR

OBJECTIVE:
A. Demonstrate the operation of a simple series-type transistor voltage regulator.
B. Determine the line voltage regulation properties of a simple series transistor voltage
regulator.
C. Determine the load voltage regulation of a series transistor regulator.
EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS
Power Source
VOM (2)
C1
Q1
R1
R2
R3
R4
R5

0-20Vdc, 200mA
10A Electrolytic
NPN Transistor 2N2219A
47 , 1W
270 , 1W
100 , 1W
1 K, 2W Potentiometer
Zener Diode, 6.8V, 1W

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

FIGURE 1 (w/o meter)

FIGURE 2 (w/ meter)

PROCEDURE:
OBJECTIVE A.
1. a. Connect the series transistor regulator circuit shown in Figure 1.
b. Adjust R4 for maximum load resistance. Do not short the output of this regulator
circuit. Transistor Q1 was not intended to handle the full short circuit current and could easily
be destroyed.
c. Adjust the power supply voltage to 15Vdc.
d. Measure and record the voltage across VR1.
ER1 = 6.79 Vdc
e. Measure and record the output voltage across load resistor R3 and R4.
Eo = 6.108 Vdc
f. Calculate the emitter-base voltage drop of Q1.
EBE = 682 mVdc
g. Is the result in (f) approximately equal to 0.7V? yes.
h. Reduce the power supply voltage to zero.

OBJECTIVE B.
2. a. Change your circuit to that shown in Figure 2.
b. Check that R4 is adjusted for maximum load resistance.
c. Adjust the power supply voltage to 11Vdc.
d. Measure the output voltage Eo, Zener diode Iz, and load current I L. Record these in
Table 1.
e. Repeat the action of (c) and (d) for each value of Ein listed in Table 1.
f. Reduce the input voltage to zero.
g. Look at Table 1. Does IL remain constant for all values of Ein? yes
h. Does Eo remain constant? Yes
i. Is Iz constant for all values of Ein? Explain. No, because as Ein increases so does IZ
j. Calculate the line voltage regulation.
Regulation=

Eo( max Ein ) Eo(min Ein )

Eo ( min Ein )

x 100

= 1.14 %

Table 1
Objective C.
3. a. Adjust the input voltage to 15 Vdc.
b. Adjust R4 for 10mA of load current.
c. Measure output voltage Eo and record it in Table 2. Record Iz also.
d. Repeat the action of (b) and (c) for thr remaining values of I L in Table 2. For IL = 0,
disconnect the ground side of the load resistor R4 to make your measurement.
e. Reduce the power supply voltage to zero.
f. Look at Table 2. Is Eo constant for all values of IL? Yes
g. Does Iz remain constant as IL increases? No
h. Calculate the load voltage regulation. 1.19 %
Regulation=

Eo( NO LOAD )Eo( FULL LOAD )

Eo( FULL LOAD )

x 100

Table 2

i. Compared to the typical value of 1.5% for this type of regulator, does your series
regulator provide good regulation? Yes.