LAB #11 Power Amplifier: Class A

Lab # 11 Power Amplifier: Class-A

SUBJECT: Electronics II

INSTRUCTOR: Sir Usman Javaid

SUBMITTED BY: AZEEM SAJID (FA18-BEE-024)

GROUP MEMBERS:

BILAL AHMAD (FA18-BEE-025)

AWAD PERVEZ (FA18-BEE-023)

DATED: 31-12-2020

Lab # 11 Power Amplifier:

Class-A
Objectives
In this experiment students will understand the following:
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LAB #11 Power Amplifier: Class A

1. Determine by measurement the efficiency of a class A power amplifier

2. Understand the effect of a swamping resistor on the signal linearity of a large signal
amplifier

Components and Instruments

Components
• NPN transistor, 2N3904 or equivalent
• Resistors: 220 Ω, 820 Ω, 1 K Ω, 3.3K Ω[2], 6.8 k Ω, 33K Ω
• Capacitors: 1 µf[2], 470 µF

Instruments
• DC power supply
• Digital multimeter
• Dual-trace oscilloscope
• Function generator

Reading
Principles of Electronic Devices and Circuits - Chapter 8, Section 8.3

Introduction
As its name notes, the emphasis of the power amplifier is power gain. It is most often found
in the final stages of multistage amplifiers. Some important features of the class A amplifier
are the current drain, maximum power dissipation by the transistor, the stage efficiency and
full power output (maximum unclipped signal the amplifier can deliver).
The Class A amplifier is biased such that collector current always flows during the entire
cycle of the input waveform, as shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 1 Class A operation

Ideally, the amplifier’s Q point should be biased at the center of the ac load line so that the
output signal can have the maximum possible signal swing in both directions. The DC
loadline of a common-emitter Class-A power amplifier is shown in Figure 3. The Q –point is
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LAB #11 Power Amplifier: Class A

assumed to be in the center of the load-line, so that VCEQ = VCC/2. If a sinusoidal signal is
applied, sinusoidal variations are induced in the collector current and collector-emitter
voltage. The absolute possible variations are shown in Figure 3, although values of 𝑣𝐶𝐸 = 0
and 𝑖𝐶 = 2𝐼𝐶𝑄 cannot be actually attained. Consequently, clipping will occur simultaneously
on both peaks of the output signal if the amplifier is overdriven. If the Q point is not centered
on the ac load line, output waveform clipping will occur first, either at the saturation or
cutoff.

Power Conversion Efficiency

The power conversion efficiency is defined as

The average power delivered to the load is

(1)

where𝑉𝐿𝑃𝑎𝑛𝑑𝐼𝐿𝑃 are the peak values of load voltage and current respectively.

Using absolute possible variations, the maximum average power delivered is given by

(2)

The average power supplied by the 𝑉𝐶𝐶source is

𝑃𝑆 = 𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐼𝐶𝑄 (3)

The average power delivered to the load can also be written as

(4)

where(𝑟𝑚𝑠) = 0.707 𝑉𝐿𝑃

The power conversion efficiency is then given by

Efficiency (5)

The maximum attainable conversion efficiency of a class A power amplifier is therefore

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LAB #11 Power Amplifier: Class A

1
𝑉 𝐼
4 𝐶𝐶 𝐶𝑄
𝜂= 𝑉𝐶𝐶 𝐼𝐶𝑄
= 25%

(6)
Fig. 2 Common Emitter Class A Amplifier Fig. 3 DC load-line

In this experiment you will calculate and measure power output and efficiency of a class
A Power amplifier.

The troubleshooting section of this experiment will simulate two amplifier faults and you
will, through measurements made, be able to relate failures to circuit measured values.

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LAB #11 Power Amplifier: Class A

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LAB #11 Power Amplifier: Class A

S. NO Parameters Measured

1 V CE 5.88V

2 Ic 1.79mA

3 Vp-p 520mV

4 Ps 0.0534

5 PL 0.00891

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LAB #11 Power Amplifier: Class A

6 η 16.66 %

Pre- Lab
Perform the lab task on the breadboard and note the values in table 1.
Lab Tasks
i. Construct the circuit in Figure 4.

ii. Apply DC power and with no signal applied, measure and record in Table 1 the
values of 𝑉𝐶𝐸𝑄and 𝐼𝐶𝑄.

iii. Connect the function generator and adjust for a signal of 20 mV 𝑉𝑃𝑃 at 1 kHz at the
base of the transistor.

iv. Using the oscilloscope, observe the load voltage while increasing the AC input
signal. Continue to increase the input signal until clipping is observed. Take note of
the nonlinear distortion of the signal, in fact the signal begins to squash and
elongate before clipping in reached. This is due to the changes in re.

v. Reduce the input signal until the output signal is at its maximum value without
clipping.

vi. Calculate and measure record in Table 1 the peak-to-peak output voltage (𝑉𝑃𝑃).

vii. Calculate and measure record in Table 1 the DC power supplied to the amplifier
(𝑃𝑆). viii. Calculate and measure record in Table 1 the total power delivered to the

load (𝑃𝐿). ix. Calculate and measure record the in Table 1 the efficiency of the

amplifier.

Post-Lab

Problem
Identify the measured circuit parameters that contributed to low power conversion
efficiency.
ANSWER :Asbecause of high value and in average power load
formula it is in denominator the factor of RL actually decreased our
efficiency. So, this is the reason that we get lower efficiency.

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LAB #11 Power Amplifier: Class A

Performance Viva Total/15

(5 Marks
(10 Marks)
)
Performance /6

Results /3

Critical Analysis /1

Comments

Critical Analysis / Conclusion

Azeem Sajid (FA18-BEE-024)

In this lab we have learned about the different parameters like power
conversion efficiency average power delivered to load and the average
power supplied by the Vcc source.
The maximum efficiency of amplifier can be 25% if our circuit efficiency
is greater than 25%. But ideally, we get our efficiency in between 14 to
18%. We have done some DC parameters in order to get an ideal
efficiency.

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