LABORATORY MANUAL
EEE 2019 – Principles of Electrical and
Electronic Engineering
University of Zambia
Department of Electrical and
Electronic Engineering Great
East Road Campus
L. Ngoyi
J. Muwamba
A. Mwamba
E. Mkuyamba
I. Mushiba
A. Banda
Revised 2022
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Part I Course Information
Introduction
This course is intended to enhance the learning experience of the student in topics encountered in
EEE 2019 (Principles of Electrical and Electronic Engineering). In this lab, students are expected
to get a hands-on experience in using the basic measuring devices used in electrical engineering and in
interpreting the results of measurement operations in terms of the concepts introduced in the first
electrical circuits course. How the student performs in the lab depends on his/her preparation,
participation, and teamwork. Each team member must participate in all aspects of the lab to insure a
thorough understanding of the equipment and concepts. The student, laboratory instructor (lab
instructor), and lecturer or coordinator all have certain responsibilities toward successful completion of
the lab's goals and objectives.
Student Responsibilities:
The student is expected to be prepared for each lab. Lab preparation includes reading the lab experiment
and related textbook material. If you have questions or problems with the preparation, contact your
laboratory instructor, but in a timely manner. Don't wait until an hour or two before and then expect to
find them immediately available. Active participation by each student in lab activities is expected. The
student is expected to ask the laboratory instructor any questions he/she may have. DO NOT MAKE
COSTLY MISTAKES BECAUSE YOU DID NOT ASK A SIMPLE QUESTION. A large portion of
the student's grade is determined in the comprehensive final exam, so understanding the concepts and
procedure of each lab is necessary for successful completion of the lab. The student should remain alert
and use common sense while performing a lab experiment. He/she is also responsible for keeping a
professional and accurate record of the lab experiments in a laboratory notebook. Students should report
any errors in the lab manual to the laboratory instructor.
Laboratory Instructor’s Responsibilities:
The laboratory instructor (lab instructor) shall be completely familiar with each lab prior to class. She/he
shall provide the students with a syllabus and safety review during the first class. The syllabus shall
include his/her office hours, telephone number, and the name of the course lecturer or coordinator. The
laboratory instructor is responsible for ensuring that all the necessary equipment and/or preparations for
the lab are available and in working condition. LAB EXPERIMENTS SHOULD BE CHECKED IN
ADVANCE TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS IN WORKING ORDER.
The lab instructor should fully answer any questions posed by the students and supervise the students
performing the lab experiments. The lab instructor is expected mark the lab notebooks and reports in a
fair and timely manner. The reports should be returned to the students in time so that they get feedback
on their performance. The lab instructor should report any errors in the lab manual to the lecturer or
coordinator.
Lecturer/ Coordinator Responsibilities:
The lecturer or coordinator should ensure that the laboratory is properly equipped, with all the necessary
equipment to perform the experiments. The lecturer or coordinator is responsible for ensuring that the
software version of the manual is continually updated and available.
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Lab Policy and Grading:
The student should understand the following policy:
ATTENDANCE: Attendance is mandatory and any absence must be for a valid reason and must be
documented. If the instructor is more than 15 minutes late, students may leave the lab.
LAB RECORDS: The student must:
1) Keep all work in preparation of and obtained data during lab in an approved NOTEBOOK; and
2) Prepare a lab report on selected experiments.
GRADING POLICY: The final grade of this course is determined using the following criterion:
Lab reports:
Tests:
Assignments:
Final Exam:
Total:
15%
20%
5%
60%
100%
Course Goals and Objectives:
The Laboratory experiments are designed to provide the student with the knowledge to use basic
measuring instruments and techniques with proficiency. These techniques are designed to complement
the concepts introduced in EEE 2019. In addition, the student should learn how to record experimental
results effectively and present these results in a written report. More explicitly, the class objectives are:
1. To gain proficiency in the use of common measuring instruments.
2. To enhance understanding of basic electric circuit analysis concepts including:
a) Independent and dependent sources.
b) Passive circuit components (resistors, capacitors, inductors, and switches).
c) Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's voltage law, and Kirchhoff's Current law.
d) Power and Energy relations.
e) Thévenin's theorem and Norton's theorem.
f) Superposition.
3. To develop communication skills through:
a) Maintenance of brief but complete laboratory notebooks as permanent, written descriptions
of procedures, results, and analyses.
b) Verbal interchanges with the laboratory instructors and other students.
c) Preparation of brief but complete laboratory reports.
4. To compare theoretical predictions with experimental results and to resolve any apparent difference
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Use of Laboratory Instruments
One of the major goals of this lab is to familiarize the student with the proper equipment and
techniques for making electrical measurements. Some understanding of the lab instruments is
necessary to avoid personal or equipment damage. By understanding the device's purpose and
following a few simple rules, costly mistakes can be avoided.
Ammeters and Voltmeters:
The most common measurements are those of voltages and currents. Throughout this manual, the
ammeter and voltmeter are represented as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1 - Ammeter and Voltmeter.
Ammeters are used to measure the flow of electrical current in a circuit. Theoretically, measuring
devices should not affect the circuit being studied. Thus, for ammeters, it is important that their
internal resistance be very small (ideally near zero) so they will not constrict the flow of current.
However, if the ammeter is connected across a voltage difference, it will conduct a large current and
damage the ammeter. Therefore, Ammeters must always be connected in series in a circuit, never
in parallel with a Voltage source. High currents may also damage the needle on an analog
ammeter. The high currents cause the needle to move too quickly, hitting the pin at the end of
the scale. Always set the Ammeter to the highest scale possible, then adjust downward to the
appropriate level.
Voltmeters are used to measure the potential difference between two points. Since the voltmeter
should not affect the circuit, the voltmeters have very high (ideally infinite) impedance. Thus, the
voltmeter should not draw any current, and not affect the circuit.
In general, all devices have physical limits. These limits are specified by the device manufacturer and
are referred to as the device rating. The ratings are usually expressed in terms of voltage limits,
current limits, or power limits. It is up to the engineer to make sure that in device operation, these
ratings (limit values) are not exceeded. The following rules provide a guideline for instrument
protection.
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Instrument Protection Rules:
1. Set instrument scales to the highest range before applying power.
2. Be sure instrument grounds are connected properly. Avoid accidental grounding of "hot" leads, i.e.,
those that are above ground potential.
3. Check polarity markings and connections of instruments carefully before connecting power.
4. Never connect an ammeter across a voltage source. Only connect ammeters in series with loads.
5. Do not exceed the voltage and current ratings of instruments or other circuit elements. This
particularly applies to Wattmeters since the current or voltage rating may be exceeded with the
needle still on the scale.
6. Be sure the fuse and circuit breakers are of suitable value. When connecting electrical elements to
make up a network in the laboratory, it is easy to lose track of various points in the network and
accidently connect a wire to the wrong place. A procedure to follow that helps to avoid this is to
connect the main series part of the network first, then go back and add the elements in parallel. As
an element is added, place a small check by it on your circuit diagram. Then go back and verify all
connections before turning on the power. One day someone's life may depend upon your making
sure that all has been done correctly.
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Laboratory Notebooks and Reports
The Laboratory Notebook:
The student records and interprets his/her experiments via the laboratory notebook and the laboratory
report. The laboratory notebook is essential in recording the methodology and results of an experiment. In
engineering practice, the laboratory notebook serves as an invaluable reference to the technique used in
the lab and is essential when trying to duplicate a result or write a report. Therefore, it is important to learn
to keep an accurate notebook. The laboratory notebook should;
1) Be kept in a sewn and bound or spiral bound notebook.
2) Contain the experiment's title, the date, the equipment and instruments used, any pertinent
circuit diagrams, the procedure used, the data (often in tables when several measurements have
been made), and the analysis of the results.
3) Contain plots of data and sketches when these are appropriate in the recording and analysis of
observations.
4) Be, an accurate and permanent record of the data obtained during the experiment and the analysis of
the results. You will need this record when you are ready to prepare a lab report.
The Lab Report:
The laboratory report is the primary means of communicating your experience and conclusions to other
professionals. In this course you will use the lab report to inform your lecturer or instructor what you did
and what you have learned from the experience. Engineering results are meaningless unless they can be
communicated to others.
Your laboratory report should be clear and concise. The lab report shall be typed on a word processor. As
a guide, use the format on the next page. Use tables, diagrams, sketches, and plots, as necessary to show
what you did, what was observed, and what conclusions you draw from this. Even though you will work
with one or more lab partners, your report will be the result of your individual effort in order to provide
you with practice in technical communication.
You will be directed by your lecturer or lab instructor to prepare a lab report on a few selected lab
experiments during the semester. Your assignment might be different from your lab partner's assignment.
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Format of Pre Lab Report:
LABORATORY XX TITLE
(Indicate the lab title and number)
NAME - Give your name.
LAB PARTNER(S) - Specify your lab partner's name. DATE - Indicate the date the lab was performed.
OBJECTIVE - Clearly state the objective of performing the lab.
EQUIPMENT USED - Indicate which equipment was used in performing the experiment. The
manufacturer and model number should be specified.
THEORY – Theoretical background about the topic
PROCEDURE - Provide a concise summary of the procedure used in the lab. Include any modifications
to the experiment.
DATA – Theoretical values / experimental results to be collected in the lab. This section should contain
theoretical calculations ( if any), theoretical values and spaces where to indicate the results.
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Format of Lab Report:
LABORATORY XX TITLE
(Indicate the lab title and number)
NAME - Give your name.
LAB PARTNER(S) - Specify your lab partner's name. DATE - Indicate the date the lab was performed.
OBJECTIVE - Clearly state the objective of performing the lab.
EQUIPMENT USED - Indicate which equipment was used in performing the experiment. The
manufacturer and model number should be specified.
THEORY – Theoretical background about the topic
PROCEDURE - Provide a concise summary of the procedure used in the lab. Include any modifications
to the experiment.
DATA - Provide a record of the data obtained during the experiment. Data should be retrieved from
the lab notebook and presented in a clear manner using tables.
OBSERVATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS - The student should state what conclusions can be drawn
from the experiment. Plots, charts, other graphical medium, and equations should be employed to
illustrate the student's viewpoint. Sources of error and percent error should be noted here.
QUESTIONS - Questions pertaining to the lab may be answered here. These questions may be answered
after the lab is over.
CONCLUSIONS - The student should present conclusions which may be logically deduced from his/her
data and observations.
SIGNATURE - Sign your report at the end. Include the statement - “This report is accurate to the best of
my knowledge and is a true representation of my laboratory results."
Part II Laboratory Meetings
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ORIENTATION
Introduction:
In the first lab period, the students should become familiar with the location of equipment and
components in the lab, the course requirements, and the teaching instructor. Students should also make
sure that they have all of the co-requisites and pre-requisites for the course at this time.
Objective:
To familiarize the students with the lab facilities, equipment, standard operating procedures, lab safety,
and the course requirements.
Preparation:
Read the introduction and Appendix A, Safety, in this manual.
Equipment Needed:
EEE 2019 lab manual and NI ELVIS WORKSTATION.
Procedure:
1) During the first laboratory period, the instructor will provide the students with a general idea of
what is expected from them in this course. Each student will receive a copy of the syllabus, stating
the instructor's office hours and telephone number. In addition, the instructor will review the safety
concepts of the course.
2) The instructor will indicate which word processor should be used for the lab reports. The
students should familiarize themselves with the preferred word processor software.
3) During this period, the instructor will briefly review the equipment which will be used throughout
the semester. The location of instruments, equipment, and components (e.g. resistors, capacitors,
connecting wiring) will be indicated. The guidelines for instrument use will be reviewed.
Probing Further:
1) During the next period, the instructor may ask questions or give a quiz to determine if you have read
the introductory material. As a professional engineer, it will be your responsibility to prepare yourself
to do your job correctly. Learn as much as you can "up front”. You will find that as a practicing
professional if you wait until the last minute, you might have to pay a very painful price emotionally,
financially, and professionally.
Report:
No report is due next time.
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LABORATORY 1: LABORATORY FUNDAMENTALS
Note: This lab is designed to introduce you to the use of the Multimeter, to mea sur e resistance,
voltage and current as well as teach the colour codes on resistors.
Resistor colour codes
There are usually four stripes on the body of the resistor. The first three stripes give the value of the
resistor, and the last stripe gives the tolerance. The value of the colours is as follows:
First three
COLOUR Value
Black
0
Brown
1
Red
2
Orange
3
Yellow
4
Green
5
Blue
6
Violet
7
Grey
8
White
9
COLOUR
Gold
Silver
Fourth Stripe
Tolerance
±5%
±10%
The first three stripes give the value of resistance in Ω (ohms) according to the formula:
C
A B × 10
Where A is the first stripe's value, B is the second stripe's value and C is the third stripe's value.
For example, for the following resistor colour code:
Brown-Black-Red-Gold
Reading the values off of the colour code chart, A=1, B=0, C=2. Therefore the value of the resistor in
ohms is 10 × 102 = 1000 = 1-KΩ and the tolerance is ± 5% due to the gold stripe. So this resistor
will have a resistance in the range of ± 5% of 1,050-Ω, which corresponds to a resistance value between
950 Ω -1005 Ω.
A second resistor may have the colour codes as follows:
Yellow-Violet-Orange-Silver
Reading the values off of the colour chart, A = 4, B = 7, and C = 3. Therefore the value of the
resistor in ohms is 47×103 =47,000 =47-KΩ and the tolerance is ± 10% of 47,000 Ω due to the
Silver strip.
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Part 1) Resistor Measurement
Locate all of the resistors f r o m your kit. Turn on the NI ELVIS WORKSTATION. Take two banana to
alligator plug wires (one red and one black) and connect the red wire's banana end to the hole
marked Ω (usually a red hole) on the Multimeter on NI board, and the black wire's
banana end to the hole marked "Ground" or "Common" (usually a black hole) on the NI board.
Connect the alligator ends of these wires to the wires coming from a resistor. When using an auto-ranging
Multimeter, the value of the resistance should come up as soon as the wires are connected.
Significant digits will be shown on the LCD/computer screen d i s p l a y . For this lab, measure each of the
resistors in the kit noting down for each resistor the colour code on the resistor, the value that the
colour code indicates, and the measured value of the resistor as seen on
the Multimeter. Complete the table below with these va lue s.
Resistor colour bands
Colour
code base
value of
resistor
Measured
value
of
the
resistor
Tolerance
range
Calculated
resistance
range
of
resistor
Is the measured
resistance value
within
the
designated
tolerance
limits?
Part 2) Voltage Measurement
In an electrical circuit, voltages and currents can be measured and reflect the flow of electrons
through electrically conducting materials. A voltage occurs whenever there is a surplus of
electrons at one point of the circuit relative to another. A non-zero voltage can occur only between
two points in a circuit that are NOT connected via an ideal conductor. One says, a voltage can only
drop across a resistor. To equalize this imbalance, electrons flow through the resistor and give rise
to electric currents. A voltage is introduced into an electrical circuit via a voltage source such as a
battery. Voltages are measured in volts (V) and currents are measured in amperes (A).
Set up the simple circuit illustrated in Fig. 2.1. Use R1=220Ω and R2 = 100Ω resistor and use the power
supply (voltage source) to set V1=10 V. Turn on the NI ELVIS WORKSTATION. Take two
laboratory cables (one red and one black) and connect the banana ends respectively to the black
and red terminals of the Multimeter on the NI board marked by a V (for Voltage).
Select the appropriate range of measurement by choosing the next higher value of your supplied
voltage (source). Connect the alligator ends in parallel to the two terminals of the resistor in the
circuit.
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Read the voltage value observed across the resistor R1and R2. What is the value?
Figure 2.1. Simple circuit used to measure voltage, current and resistance
Part 3) Current Measurement
Use the same circuit illustrated in Fig. 2.1. Turn on the NI ELVIS WORKSTATION. Take two
laboratory cables (one red and one black) and connect the banana ends respectively to the black
and red terminals of the Multimeter marked by “A” (for amperes) or “I” (for current).
Select the appropriate range of measurement by choosing the next higher value to get a value on the
display.
Read the value of the current I1 from the LCD/Computer screen. What is the value?
Report:
Your lab report is due during next lab session.
NOTE: Every student MUST come with a Pre-lab report (showing tables and calculations)
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LABORATORY 2: NETWORK THEOREMS
Part A: Network Theorems I
Kirchhoff's Voltage and Kirchhoff's Current Laws
Introduction:
An understanding of the basic laws of electrical voltages and currents is essential to electrical
engineering. Circuit analysis is dependent upon knowing the nature of the laws governing voltage and
current characteristics. This lab studies Kirchhoff's Voltage Law, Kirchhoff's Current Law, voltage
division, current division, and equivalent resistance.
Objective:
By the end of this lab, the student should understand KVL, KCL, voltage division, current division, and
equivalent resistance combinations.
Preparation:
Read the material in the textbook that describes Kirchhoff's Voltage Law, Kirchhoff's Current Law,
voltage division, current division, and equivalent resistance combinations. Be able to perform circuit
calculations using these principles. Before coming to class, analyze each circuit and determine the
theoretical values that should be obtained during the lab. Record your calculations.
Equipment Needed:
NI-ELVIS workstation. Individual resistors as required. Resistance substitution box.
Procedure:
1) Adjust the output of the DC power supply to 10V and verify with the digital multimeter. Set up the
circuit as shown in Fig. 4.1. Measure and record the total current into the circuit. Using the measured
current and voltage, determine the equivalent resistance of the parallel components in the circuit.
Replace the resistors with a resistance substitution box set to the equivalent resistance and measure
the current as before. Compare the experimentally determined equivalent resistance to the
theoretical value. (RESISTORS TO BE USED ARE 100Ω, 220Ω, 560Ω)
Figure 4.1 - Determining parallel equivalent resistance.
2) Adjust the output of the DC power supply to 10V and verify with the digital multimeter. Set up the
voltage division circuit as shown in Fig. 4.2. Begin with R = 100Ω and measure the voltage across
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each resistor. Repeat with R = 220Ω. Compare the measured voltages to those calculated using the
voltage divider relation.
Figure 4.2 - Effect of R on the component voltages.
3) Adjust the output of the DC power supply to 10V and verify with the digital multimeter. Set up the
current division circuit as shown in Fig. 4.3. Begin with R2 = 100Ω and measure the currents I1, I2,
and I3. Repeat with R2 = 220Ω. Compare the measured currents to those calculated using equivalent
circuit resistance and the current divider relation. Determine whether or not each set of measurements
agrees with Kirchhoff's Current Law.
Figure 4.3 - Sum of currents at a node.
4) Adjust the output of the DC power supply to 10V and verify with the digital multimeter. Set up the
circuit as shown in Fig. 4.4. Measure the voltage across each component. Compare the measured
voltages to those calculated using the voltage divider relation. Determine whether or not your
measurements agree with Kirchhoff's Voltage Law. (RESISTORS TO BE USED; 100Ω, 220Ω and
270Ω)
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Figure 4.4 - Sum of voltages around a loop.
5) Adjust the output of the DC power supply to 10V and verify with the digital multimeter. Set up the
circuit as shown in Fig. 4.5. Measure the voltage across each component in loop 1. Repeat for
loop 2 and loop 3. Compare your measured values with the terms in the KVL equation written for
each loop. Determine whether or not your measurements agree with Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law.
Explain the reasons for any discrepancies found. (RESISTORS TO BE USED; 270Ω, 120Ω and
220Ω)
Figure 4.5 - Sum of voltages around different loops.
Probing Further:
1. In part 2, what would the value of R have to be so that the voltage across R is 4/5 of the source
voltage? Your answer should be quantitative (i.e. a number).
2. In part 3, what would the value of R2 have to be so that the current through R2 is 10 times the current
through R3? Your answer should be quantitative.
Report:
Your lab report is due during next lab session
NOTE: Every student MUST come with a Pre-lab report (showing tables and calculations)
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