Laboratory Manual

for
Electrical Fundamentals Lab (1)

Prepared by Eng.Mohummed abo khdair

Experiment no.1

Electrical laboratory introducing

 Table of Contents

1. The Electrical Laboratory.

2. Resistor Color Code.
3. Ohm’s Law.
4. Series DC Circuits.
5. Parallel DC Circuits.
6. Series-Parallel DC Circuits.
7. Project 1.
8. Project 2.
9. Fuse, Switch and Circuit Breaker Testing.
10. Continuity Test for Wires.
11. Capacitors and Inductors.
12. RLC Circuits.
13. DC Motor and DC Generator.
14. Project 3.
15. Project 4.
 General
Guidelines

Always read the entire Lab Write-up before coming to lab. Lab time is
1 precious. Don't waste it reading the background material.

Post labs reports are individual endeavors not group work. The
2 deadline for reports is one week after the exercise is performed.

3 Post labs reports are not acceptable beyond one week late.

A basic report should include a statement of the Objective, a Conclusion

(what was found or verified), a Discussion (an explanation and analysis
of the lab data which links the Objective to the Conclusion), Data Tables
4 and Graphs, and finally, answers to any problems in the exercise. A
template for Post lab report is provided.

It is important to come prepared to lab. This includes the lab exercise for that
day, class notebook, calculator, and hand tools. The tools include an
5 electronic breadboard, test leads, wire strippers, needle-nose pliers and basic
DMM (digital multimeter).
 Experiment 1

The Electrical Laboratory

Objective
The objective of this exercise is to become familiar with
the operation and usage of basic DC electrical laboratory
devices, namely multimeter and breadboard.

 Theory Overview

A multimeter is a device used to measure electrical quantities. A multimeter can be

used to measure electrical functions such as voltage, current, resistance, continuity and
some are able to measure electrical frequency. There are two types of multimeter;
analog multimeter and digital multimeter.

Analog multimeter is a device which operates based on electrical mechanical

movement. As shown in Figure 1.1. Analog meters use a printed linear or nonlinear
background and a mechanical pointer. The pointer moves as a result of the flow of
current through a built-in coil, the presence of electrical pressure, or the internal power
source that is needed for resistance measurements. The advantage of an analog meter is
relatively small; however, it allows you to see small changes in current flow and a
change in voltage in real time. Analog meters require great mathematical skills because
you are required to make quick calculations based on the printed scale, additional to
that it's not accurate due to the parallax error; which caused by viewing the object at an
oblique angle with respect to the scale, which makes the object appearto be at a different
position on the scale. Time used while calculating mathematical solutions while taking
a reading with an analog meter could be better used to resolve other problems.
 Figure 1.1 Analog Multimeter.

Digital multimeter (DMM) is a test tool which displays its values on a Liquid Crystal
Displays (LCD) screen. As shown in Figure 1.2. What makes a digital multimeter differ
from the analog meter is its ability to display measured electrical values quicklywithout
any computations.
The dial of the DMM allows you to choose the function you’re interested in measuring.
Whether you intend to measure Voltage, current, resistor…etc., you must first set the
dial to the appropriate function. Table 1.1 shows the symbols of the dial and its
measurements functions.

Table 1.1 Symbols of the dials' multimeter.

Symbols Measurements Description
function
V~ AC Voltage Measures amount of AC Electrical Pressure.
V--- DC Voltage Measures amount of DC Electrical Pressure.
mV Milli Volts 0.00V or 1/1000V.
A Amperes Measures amount of electron flow.
mA Milli Amperes 0.001 or 1/1000A.
Ω Ohms Measurement of resistance to the flow of electron.
 Diode Device used to control direction of electron flow.

Audible Audible indication of continuity for low resistance.

Continuity
Capacitance Device used to store electrical potential.

Figure 1.2 Digital Multimeter.

A non-soldering breadboard is an essential part of the electrical/electronic toolkit. It

allows for the easy assembly, testing and disassembly of all manner of electrical and
electronic circuits. Breadboards are available in a wide variety of sizes and shapes.
Whatever the size, all breadboards are configured to provide multiple rows of
connecting points using 0.1 inch spacing. As shown in Figure 1.3.

Every breadboard is made of three sections: Two sets of long power rails (bus) and the
large middle section that is full of those 5-hole-long terminal strips. The components
(buttons, LEDs, resistors, integrated circuits…etc.) are placed in themiddle section,
with each pin connected to the rows terminal strip. The power rails are long columns
used to distribute the power and ground connections along the entire circuit.
 Figure 1.3 Non-soldering breadboard.

 Basic electronic components:

Resistors: A resistor impedes the flow of electricity through a circuit. It's measured
by Ohm (Ω).

Figure 1.4 The resistor and its electrical symbol.

Capacitors: A capacitor stores electrical energy. Capacitance is measured in Farads
(F). The capacitor types are including electrolytic, ceramic, tantalum, and plastic film.

Figure 1.5 The capacitor and its electrical symbol.

Diode: is a one way valve (or gate) for electricity. It is a component with an
asymmetrical transfer characteristic. Diodes will protect your electronics. Additional to
that it has a rectification function by changing Alternating Current (AC) into Direct
Current (DC).

Figure 1.6 The Diode and its electrical symbol.

A Light Emitting Diode (LED): is a semiconductor light source. When electricity is

passing through the diode, it emits light.

Figure 1.7 The LED and its electrical symbol.

An inductor (coil): is a passive two-terminal electrical component that stores energy

in a magnetic field when electric current flows through it.

Figure 1.8 Inductors and their symbol.

A fuse: is an electrical safety device that operates to provide overcurrent protection of
an electrical circuit due to its very low resistance. Its essential component is a metal
wire or strip that melts when too much current flows through it, thereby interrupting
the current.

Figure 1.9 Fuse and its symbol.

A switch: is an electrical component that can make or break an electrical circuit.

Figure 1.10 The electric switch and its symbol.

A circuit breaker: is an automatically operated electrical switch designed to protect an

electrical circuit from damage caused by excess current from short circuit. Its basic
function is to interrupt current flow after a fault is detected.

Figure 1.11 Circuit breaker and its symbol.

  Scientific and Engineering Notation
Scientific Notation: is a way of writing numbers in a compact form.
A number written in Scientific Notation is expressed as a number from 1 to less than
10 multiplied by a power of 10.
To write a number in Scientific Notation:
1. Shift the decimal point so that there is one digit (which cannot be zero), before
the decimal point.
2. Multiply by a power of 10, equal to the number of places the decimal point has
been moved.
The power of 10 is positive if the decimal point is moved to the left and negative if
the decimal point is moved to the right.
Examples:
1. Write 5630 in Scientific Notation.
5630=5.63×1000=5.63×103 (remember 1000 = 103)
Move the decimal point three places to the left. The number becomes 5.63. The power
of 10 is then positive 3.
2. Write 0.00725 in Scientific Notation.
0.00725=7.25×0.001=7.25×10-3 (remember 0.001 = 10-3)
Move the decimal point three places to the right. The number becomes 7.25. The
power of 10 is then −3.

Engineering Notation: is used to express physical quantities in terms of the basic S.I.
units and a preferred prefix. The preferred prefixes all have powers that are a multiple
of three.
Table 1.2 Engineering Notations.
Power of ten Symbol Metric Prefix Value
10−12 p pico 1/1,000,000,000,000
10−9 n nano 1/1,000,000,000
10−6 µ micro 1/1,000,000
10−3 m milli 1/1,000
100 - - 1
 103 K Kilo 1,000
106 M Mega 1,000,000
109 G Giga 1,000,000,000
1012 T Tera 1,000,000,000,000

Example:
Write the following in S.I Units using a preferred prefix:
(a) 6000 m 6000 m = 6 × 103 m = 6 km
(b) 0.005 V 0.005 V = 5 × 10-3V = 5 mV
(c) 0.000 3s 0.0003 s = 300 × 10-6 s = 300 µs

Exercise: Complete the following table.

Table 1.3 Exercise
Quantity Scientific Notation Engineering Notation
450 m
63200 W
0.000007 F
37808000 m
0.000000083 m
0.800 s
 Faculty of Aviation Sciences
Electrical Fundamentals Lab (1)

Post lab (1)

Experiment (1)
The Electrical Laboratory

Student name:
Student ID:
Question 1: Assign the main parts in the digital multimeter.

Figure 1.12 Digital multimeter post lab.

Question 2: Write the following numbers in scientific and engineering notation.

Table 1.4 Question 2 post lab.

Quantity Scientific Notation Engineering Notation
53800
145 000 000
0.000534
0.0028
9620

Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day-in and day-out.