SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY

School of Engineering and Architecture

Department of Electronics Engineering

In Partial Requirements of the Course

ME 2251L: Basic Electronics Laboratory

Laboratory Activity 6
Clippers and Clampers

Submitted by: Submitted to:

Daga, Kristan O’neal Cervantes Engr. Jeorge C. Antonio
SEA-ECE Faculty

Date Submitted: April 01, 2022

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 I. TOPIC LEARNING OUTCOME

TLO 6: Familiarize the different types of clipping and clamping circuits and display their
output waveform.

II. DISCUSSION OF THEORY

The major difference between clipper and clamper is that clipper is a limiting
circuit which limits the output voltage while clamper is a circuit which shifts the DC
level of output voltage. The clipper and clamper circuits are exactly opposite to
each other regarding their working principle.

Another significant difference between clipper and clamper is the shape of

the output waveform. The voltage which is clipped by clipper can assume various
shapes, but the voltage obtained by clamper circuit does not alter in shape.

Clipper is crucial when we want to modify the amplitude of the voltage.

Clipping of signal amplitude is required in some application in which components
cannot withstand the high magnitude of the voltage. While clamper is used when
we need multiples of the input voltage at the output terminal.

Clipper circuit is used to limit the amplitude of the input signal by clipping
that part without affecting the remaining signal. It is desirable in some applications
of electronics that excessive voltage should not pass through the components as
they may get demolished. Thus, a particular value is obtained by reducing the
amplitude of the signal using clipper circuit.

The clipper circuit consists of a resistor, a diode and an AC source. When the
positive half of AC cycle is introduced in the clipper circuit, the diode D1 becomes
forward biased. Due to this the voltage obtained across the load will be same as
the voltage across the diode.

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 Please remember that if you are using Silicon diode, the voltage drop across
it will be 0.7 V while if you are using Germanium diode the voltage drop across it will
be 0.3 V approximately. Thus, the output voltage during the positive half of AC
cycle will be equal to the voltage drop across the diode.

Now you must have got the idea that how clipper works. It is evident from the
above diagram that the peak voltage (Vp) of input voltage was more, but the
voltage obtained at the output is clipped.

In the above diagram, we have also used a battery in series with the diode.
In this condition, the output voltage during the positive half of AC will be the sum of
the voltage drop across the diode and the voltage of the battery connected in
series with the diode.

When the negative half cycle of AC strikes the circuit, then the diode D1 will
become reversed biased, and no conduction will take place through it as it will be
like an open circuit. It is clear from the above diagram that during the negative half
of AC, the output voltage will be exactly same as the input voltage.

This was the example of positive clipper as we have clipped some part of
positive half of AC. We can constitute negative clipper by reversing the diode and
battery. We can also remove the battery but then the output voltage clipped will
be according to the voltage drop across the diode only. Thus, to customize it
according to our requirement we can use the battery. The battery voltage should
be equal to the voltage which we require at the output.

Clamper does not clip the input signal, but it shifts the DC level either upward
or downward depending upon whether it is positive clamper or negative clamper.

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 It consists of a capacitor, a diode, resistor and input AC source. When
the negative half cycle enters clamping circuit, the diode becomes forward
biased, and the capacitor starts charging. It charges till it acquires its peak value.

When the positive half of AC is introduced in the circuit, the diode becomes
reverse biased and becomes an open circuit. In this condition,
the capacitor starts discharging, and the complete AC input voltage appears
across the load resistor. Thus, the output voltage in this condition will be equal to
the sum of the input voltage and voltage across the capacitor.

The output voltage becomes two times of input AC voltage. Thus,

from Vp (peak voltage), it gets shifted towards 2Vp. This circuit works like voltage
multipliers. We can also design negative clampers by reversing the diode. In that
case, the output signal will shift downwards.

Typical projects of electronics operate at different electrical signal ranges and

therefore, for these electronic circuits, it is intended to maintain the signals in a
particular range in order to obtain the desired outputs. To receive the output at
expected voltage levels, we have versatile tools in the electrical domain and those
are called Clippers and Clampers. This article shows a clear description of clippers
and clampers, their differences, and how they operate as per the expected voltage
levels.
An electronic device that is used to evade the output of a circuit to go beyond
the preset value (voltage level) without varying the remaining part of the input
waveform is called a Clipper circuit.
An electronic circuit that is used to alter the positive peak or negative peak of
the input signal to a definite value by shifting the entire signal up or down to obtain
the output signal peaks at the desired level is called a Clamper circuit.
he clipper circuit can be designed by utilizing both the linear and nonlinear
elements such as resistors, diodes, or transistors. As these circuits are used only for
clipping input waveform as per the requirement and for transmitting the waveform,

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 they do not contain any energy storing element like a capacitor. In general, clippers
are classified into two types: Series Clippers and Shunt Clippers.

The applications of clippers are:

• They are frequently used for the separation of synchronizing signals from the
composite picture signals.
• The excessive noise spikes above a certain level can be limited or clipped
in FM transmitters by using the series clippers.
• For the generation of new waveforms or shaping the existing waveform,
clippers are used.
• The typical application of a diode clipper is for the protection of transistors
from transients, as a freewheeling diode connected in parallel across the
inductive load.
• A frequently used half-wave rectifier in power supply kits is a typical
example of a clipper. It clips either positive or negative half-wave of the
input.
• Clippers can be used as voltage limiters and amplitude selectors.

The applications of clampers are:

• The complex transmitter and receiver circuitry of the television clamper is
used as a baseline stabilizer to define sections of the luminance signals to
preset levels.
• Clampers are also called direct current restorers as they clamp the
waveforms to a fixed DC potential.
• These are frequently used in test equipment, sonar, and radar systems.
• For the protection of the amplifiers from large errant signals, clampers are
used.
• Clampers can be used for removing the distortions
• For improving the overdrive recovery time clampers are used.
• Clampers can be used as voltage doublers or voltage multipliers.

III. DATA AND RESULTS

LABORATORY ACTIVITY NO. 6

I. EQUIPMENT/ MATERIALS NEEDED:

Transformer - 220V:12V(rms)

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 Two (2) batteries - 9V
Two (2) diodes - Silicon, 1N4001 OR ANY EQUIVALENT
Resistor - 1KΩ, 1W
Capacitor - 1000microFarad, electrolytic
Oscilloscope

II. PROCEDURES:

Objective A. To become familiar with the different types of clipping circuits.

1. a. Examine the circuit given in (1a) to (4d).

b. Differentiate features of unbiased clipper, shunt type biased clipper and

series type biased clipper circuits.

Objective B. To simulate and display the output waveforms and identify the names
of the different clipping circuits using MultiSim software.

2. a. Connect the circuit as shown in figure (1a). Set the oscilloscope to dual
function.

b. Connect one probe (Channel 1) of the oscilloscope across the 12Vrms

source (in lieu of the step down transformer). Adjust setting of the
oscilloscope to display a waveform with at least two cycles.

c. Take a snapshot of the waveform. Measure the peak value of the voltage
across the secondary winding of the transformer.

Epk =_______17 _V_______Vp

MultiSim Screenshot:

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 d. Connect the other probe (channel 2) of the oscilloscope across the output
of the circuit. Do not change the oscilloscope setting.

e. Take a snapshot of the output waveform. Properly label the waveform,

indicating the positive and/or negative peak values and the clipping levels.
Record results in Table 1, identify and write the name of the circuit beside
the circuit number.

f. Repeat the procedure for each of the circuits in fig. (1b) through (4d).

Objective C. To become familiar with the different types of clamping circuits

3. a. Examine the circuit given in figure (5a) to (5d).

b. Differentiate the features of the four (4) clamping circuits.

Objective D. To verify the output waveforms and identify the names of the different
clamping circuits.

4. a. Connect the circuit as shown in figure (5a). Set the oscilloscope for

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 dual function. Connect one probe (Channel 1) of the oscilloscope across
the secondary winding of the transformer. Adjust the setting of the
oscilloscope to display a waveform with at least two cycles. Take a
snapshot of the circuit design.

MultiSim Screenshot:

b. Connect the other probe (channel 2) of the oscilloscope across the

output of the circuit. Do not change the oscilloscope setting.

c. Take a snapshot of the output waveform. Properly label the waveform

indicating the positive or negative peak values and the clamping levels.
Record results in Table 2. Identify and write the name of the circuit beside
the circuit number.

MultiSim Screenshot:

d. Repeat procedure (b) for each of the circuits in figure (5b) to (5f).

Note: For all the following figures:

Resistor = 1KΩ, Capacitor = 1000µF, Batteries = 9V

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 Table 1. Clipper Circuits

FIGURE OUTPUT WAVEFORM

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 Table 2. Clamper Circuits

FIGURE OUTPUT WAVEFORM

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 IV. DOCUMENTATION OF ACTIVITY

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 V. OBSERVATIONS

I observed that the main difference between clippers and clampers is their
function; the Clipper limits the voltage while the clamper shifts upwards or
downwards. The usage of an energy-storing element also creates a critical
difference between Clipper and Clamper, and Clipper does not require a
capacitor. At the same time, the clamper circuit cannot be completed without
an energy storing element, a capacitor. The output waveform obtained from
the clipper circuit appears in a different shape than the input. In contrast, the
shape of the waveform in the clamper circuit remains precisely the same after
clamping of the signal. The Clipper is also known as a current delimiter, voltage
delimiter, or amplitude delimiter, while the clamper circuit is also considered a
voltage multiplier circuit.

VI. CONCLUSIONS

I, therefore, conclude that clippers reduce the amplitude while clampers shift
the DC level. Both are relevant circuits in various high-level applications of electronics
and communication. Clippers are used in communication circuits such as
transmitters and receivers. Besides, clippers are also used in wave shaping circuits to
generate rectangular, triangular pulses. Clampers find a significant role in Sonar and
Radar systems. Apart from this, they are also used as the voltage doubler. Clipper
and clamper circuits are electronic circuits used to modify AC signals. The clipper
circuit can clip a portion of the AC waveform while the Clamper shifts the DC level
of the AC signal. Clipper and Clamper are formed from the diode, but they are
almost opposite each other concerning their working, applications, and
construction. The article learned that a diode clipper is a circuit that clips the positive
output waveform or negative output waveform depending on circuit configuration.
The diode clamper is a circuit that shifts the dc reference of the output waveform
depending on circuit configuration. Both are electronic circuits formed from simple
diode and battery sources, but the only difference is that Clamper uses a charge
storing element capacitor. Clippers and clampers play an essential rule in different
electronic applications such as clipper is used for transient protection circuits,
voltage limiting circuits, whereas Clamper are used in sonars, radars, and voltage
multipliers.

VII. REFERENCES

Electronics Coach (2012), Difference Between Clippers and Clampers

https://electronicscoach.com/difference-between-clipper-and-clamper.html

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