Course: EET110 (Electric Circuits I)

Instructor: Mr. Cosby

Title: Lab Overview: DC Circuit Measurements
Name: Erich Cosby
Lab Partners: none
Date: 5/18/2012

I pledge to support the Honor System of ECPI. I will refrain from any form of
academic dishonesty or deception, such as cheating or plagiarism. I am
aware that as a member of the academic community, it is my responsibility
to turn in all suspected violators of the honor code. I understand that any
failure on my part to support the Honor System will be turned over to a
Judicial Review Board for determination. I will report to the Judicial Review
Board hearing if summoned.

Signed_____________ehc____________
____5/18/12__

Date Signed

I.

Abstract

The first EET110 lab was held as an introduction to building circuits on the breadboard and using DC test
equipment. First, circuit calculations are performed to predict voltages and currents. Then, a circuit was
built and measurements were taken. A MultiSim simulation was also built and the same measurements
were made. A comparison of results between calculated, MultiSim, and the breadboard circuit did show
differences in measurements. These differences are discussed in the report.
II.

Introduction

In order to analyze electrical circuits, there are some mathematical equations that must be used. The
primary equation for basic operation is called Ohms Law. Ohms Law is stated as follows:

V
R
I is current (amps, A)
V is voltage (volts, V)
R is resistance (ohms, )
I

This equation states that the current in a circuit is directly proportional to the voltage applied and
inversely proportional to the circuit resistance. If voltage increases, then current increases. If resistance
increases, then current decreases.
Using Ohms Law, predictions can be made as to how an electric circuit will behave.
III.

Procedure (ECPI Faculty, 2010)

Analyze the circuit shown in Figure 1 using calculations, Multisim, and a prototype circuit.

Figure 1: DC Electric Circuit

a. Calculations
i. Current through R1

I = V/R = 12 V / 1 k = 12 mA

ii. Voltage across R1

V = IR = 12 mA x 1 k = 12 V

b. MultiSim
i. Current through R1

Insert a DMM in the circuit to measure current. The DMM must be in

series with the current being measured and the DC Amps scale must be
selected.

ii. Voltage across R1

Insert a DMM in the circuit to measure voltage. The DMM must be in

parallel with the device being measured and the DC Volts scale must be
selected.

Figure 2: MultiSim Circuit with DMMs in Place for Measurements

c.

Prototype Circuit
i. Parts needed:

1 k resistor (1)
Prototype board (1)
Test wires (as needed)
DC Power Supply
DMM

ii. Build the circuit as shown in Figure 1

iii. Adjust the DC Power Supply for 12 V output. Set the current limiter knob to midpoint.
iv. Verify the DC Power Supply output using the DMM. Adjust the DMM for DC volts
scale and place the leads across the power supply output (black to black and red
to red).
v. Measure the voltage across R1

Insert a DMM in the circuit to measure voltage. The DMM must be in

parallel with the device being measured and the DC Volts scale must be
selected.

Figure 3: Prototype Circuit Voltage Measurement

vi. Measure current through R1

Insert a DMM in the circuit to measure current. The DMM must be in

series with the current being measured and the DC Amps scale must be
selected.

Figure 4: Prototype Circuit Current Measurement

IV.

Results

A comparison of results is shown in Table 1:

Parameter
Measured

Calculated Value

MultiSim

Prototype

V1

12 V

12 V

12.076 V

I1

12 mA

12.001 mA

12.221 mA

Table 1: Comparison of Voltage and Current Results

V.

Conclusion

The results showed that both the Ohms Law calculation and the MultiSim simulation provide good
methods to predict how a real circuit will work. The actual measured values of the prototype circuit were
not exactly the same as calculation or MultiSim. Some reasons for this are as follows:

a. DC supply voltage not adjusted to exactly 12 V DC

b. Resistor resistance not exactly 1 k
c.

Resistance in the test probe wires and the prototype sockets

d. Calibration of the test equipment

If the prototype circuit parameters were used in the calculations and in MultiSim instead of the exact, ideal
values, then the results would be expected to match more closely.
Note that MultiSim uses circuit models and calculations in a similar, but more complete, way to how hand
calculations are done. Multisim does not take into account things like wire resistance and imperfect
resistor values.
Some problems did occur during the prototype testing. These problems included:
a. During the current measurement, the test probe was, at first, left in the volts/ohms input.
It had to be moved to the 100 mA input.
b. When adjusting the DC power supply, the current limiter knob was set at minimum so the
voltage was inhibited. The current limiter had to be set higher to allow the circuit to
operate. The current limiter is important in that it will turn the supply off if too much
current (a short circuit) occurs.

VI.

References

a. EET110 DC Measurement Lab, ECPI EET Faculty, 2010, pages 1-5