University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore Spring 2014

LAB 4: CLIPPERS AND CLAMPERS

Name : Date :
Regd-No :
OBJECTIVES:
 To implement series and shunt clippers.
 To use a voltage source to create biased clippers.
 To implement diode clampers.

SUGGESTED READING:
 Class Lectures 7, 8
 Chapter 3: “Diode Applications”, introductory Electronic Devices and
Circuits by Robert T. Paynter.
 Chapter 4, “Clippers and Clampers”, Introductory Electronic Devices
andCircuits by Robert. T Paynter
 Datasheet : 1N4007 rectifier diode
 http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_3/chpt_3/4.html
 http://cie-wc.edu/diode-clipper-and-clampers-lecture-8-18-11.pdf
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clamper_(electronics)

Please read through all the suggested reading before you come to lab.

EQUIPMENT AND COMPONENTS:

 Basic Circuits Training Board
 1N4007 Rectifier Diode
 Jumper Wires
 Palm Scope / DMM
 Electrolyte Capacitors (1uF, 2.2uF, 10uF)
 Resistors (330 Ohms, 1k, 10k)
 Voltage Transformer
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Clippers
A clipper is a circuit designed to ‘clip’ or limit the AC signal to a certain value.
Clippers that clip off the positive half cycle are known as ‘positive’ clippers.
Clippers that clip off the negative half cycle are known as ‘negative’ clippers.
Clippers are useful for protecting circuits from exceeding various voltages (either
positive or negative)

MCT-137: ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CIRCUITS

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Department of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, U.E.T
Lahore LAB 4
 University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore Spring 2014

Series Clipper:
A single diode connected in series with an AC voltage source forms a series
clipper (Fig 4.1).

Fig 4.1: Series Clippers

Shunt Clippers:
Shunt clippers are formed when the diode is connected in parallel with the load. The clip off
either the positive or the negative half of the input wave. The clipping action is performed when
the diode conducts.

Fig 4.2: Shunt Clippers

Clampers:
Sometimes you may want to leave the waveform unchanged, but modify its DC
level up or down. To accomplish this, you use a clamper circuit. The beauty of
clampers is that they can adjust the DC position of the waveform without knowing
what the waveform actually is. Fig.4.3 shows a voltage clamper that can be made
from diodes and capacitors.

MCT-137: ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CIRCUITS

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Department of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, U.E.T
Lahore LAB 4
 University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore Spring 2014

Fig 4.3: Positive Diode Clamper

Procedure:
TASK1: SHUNT CLIPPERS
 Use the rectifier diode to connect the circuit in the shunt clipper format.
 Attach the current limiting resistance with the diode to limit the amount of
current flowing through it in forward bias mode.
 Create positive and negative shunt clippers and view the output on the palm-
scope.

TASK2: ZENER CLIPPERS

 Use a zener diode to create a positive and a negative zener diode clipper
(biased clipper).
 View and analyze the output on the palm-scope.
 Use two zener diodes to create a combination of both clippers and analyze
the output on the palm-scope.

Fig 4.4: Biased Zener Diode Clipper

TASK3: CLAMPER
 Use a capacitor in place of the current limiting resistor of the shunt clipper to
make a clamper circuit.
 Analyze the waveform by viewing it on the palm-scope

MCT-137: ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CIRCUITS

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Department of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, U.E.T
Lahore LAB 4
 University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore Spring 2014

REVIEW QUESTIONS:
Q: Which clipper would you prefer between the series and the shunt clipper? Why?
Ans:

Q: Explain the use of clippers as ‘wave shape changers’.

Ans:

Q: How does the output of a clamper differ from that of a shunt clipper?
Ans:

Q: Write two applications of clippers and clampers each.

Ans:

Q: Plot the wave form of your combination zener clipper(approximated) using MS EXCEL and
find its RMS and average values.

MCT-137: ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CIRCUITS

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Department of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, U.E.T
Lahore LAB 4
 University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore Spring 2014

Bonus Question: Plot the wave form of your clamper signal and show both the input and the
output on the same graph (using MS EXCEL). Find the RMS and average values of the output.

COMMENTS:
P.S: Comments are logical observations and findings that you learned during your
practical.

The output of a half wave rectifier is described by:

 VAV = Vmax/π
 VRMS =
Vmax/2

MCT-137: ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CIRCUITS

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Department of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, U.E.T
Lahore LAB 4
 University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore Spring 2014
Full Wave Bridge Rectifier:
Full wave rectifiers can be made using four diodes in a bridge configuration (Fig
3.3).

Fig 3.3: Full Wave Bridge Rectifier

The bridge rectifiers are the mostly commonly used bridge rectifiers due to high average output
and fewer variations in output.

Procedure:
TASK1:
Connect one rectifier in series with the AC output from the
12V transformer to make the positive half wave rectifier.
Using palm-scope view the input and output signals and
record the maximum value of the output.
Connect the diode in opposite polarity to make the negative
half wave rectifier and record the maximum value of the
output.
TASK2:
Connect four diodes in the bridge configuration:

MCT-137: ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CIRCUITS

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Department of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, U.E.T
Lahore LAB 4
 University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore Spring 2014

Analyze the output by viewing it via palm-scope.

Record the maximum value of the output.
Repeat the process and record the values of input voltage, output
voltage, current through diode, and current through load.

TASK3:
Re-connect the circuit in half wave diode rectifier configuration.
Connect a small (1uF) capacitor with the output and observe the
effect of the capacitor on the output.
Connect increasingly larger values of capacitors and observe
their effects on the rectifier outputs.
Now vary the load resistance and observe the effects on the
rectifier output.

REVIEW QUESTIONS:
Q: What rectifier would you prefer to use, and why?
Ans:

Q: Write down the average and RMS values of both rectifier outputs.
Ans:

MCT-137: ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CIRCUITS

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Department of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, U.E.T
Lahore LAB 4
 University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore Spring 2014

Q: Describe five applications where rectifiers are used.

Ans:

Q: Describe the effects of filter capacitance on the rectifier output.

Ans:

Q: What are the dangers involved while working with high voltage and rectification?
Ans:

Bonus Question: Can the bridge rectifier be used to generate negative voltages? Explain using
figure.
Ans:

Bonus Task: Plot two periods of your output (approximated) of half wave rectifier using MS
Excel.

MCT-137: ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CIRCUITS

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Department of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, U.E.T
Lahore LAB 4
 University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore Spring 2014

COMMENTS:
P.S: Comments are logical observations and findings that you learned during your
practical.

MCT-137: ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CIRCUITS

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Department of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, U.E.T
Lahore LAB 4