ECE 221L - Electrical Engineering Laboratory I
Sections:
Section 1, Tuesdays 06:40 pm – 09:30 pm
Section 2, Fridays 03:00 pm – 05:50 pm
Lab TA: Avinash Bommineni
E-mail:avinas@pdx.edu
Office hours: Mon 11am to 12 noon, Fri 11am to 12 noon.
Lab Coordinator: Phillip Wong
Email: ecelab@ece.pdx.edu
Webpage: http://web.cecs.pdx.edu/~ecelab/ This site has equipment manuals, quick guides and lab
kit information.
Course Objectives
The sophomore ECE lab courses have two main objectives. One is to investigate experimentally the
concepts taught in the ECE 221/2/3 lecture courses. Most of the experiments are based on a
comparison between real circuit measurements and predictions of the same circuit's performance
obtained by circuit analysis, simulation, or both. You are expected to confirm predictions, or to
observe discrepancies between predictions and measurements, and to draw conclusions about their
causes.
The second objective is to teach various measurement methods and experimentation skills. These
include learning to use lab equipment and software, proper methods of taking data and of analyzing and
presenting results, including writing reports.
Taking This Course
The 221 labs were rewritten a few years ago, and we are continuing to revise and improve them. Your
feedback on any problems you encounter and any ideas for improving the new labs will be greatly
appreciated!
After the first week’s introduction, there will be four one-week experiments designed to introduce the
basic lab equipment and software. As mentioned, one of the main goals in 221L is that you learn to
use, correctly and confidently, the lab equipment and the software (LTSpice and MATLAB) used
throughout many ECE courses. You will gain experience in building and troubleshooting circuits on a
breadboard and attention will also be paid to writing lab reports that are accurate, succinct and
coherent.
In the second half of the term, you will be given a more open-ended project to work on. Here you will
use the skills you learned in the first half of the term, plus you will also do some independent research,
circuit design and test planning.
The important details:

Everyone should work with a lab partner. Ask your TA if you do not have a partner.

Start by reading the lab assignment. This will tell you what material is covered in the
experiment and which components are required to perform the experiment. Detailed lab
descriptions for all labs are available on D2L.
ECE 221L Winter 2015 HM

Do the prelab assignment. Although the prelab is turned in with and graded as part of the lab
report, it is to your advantage to complete it as much as possible before you get to the lab.

Reports are turned in on D2L. Observe the due dates given on D2L for submitting reports!!
Late reports may be accepted with a penalty, but this depends on the instructor. Make sure you
understand your instructor’s policy on late reports. Better yet, don’t be late!

My policy is that late reports will not be accepted without special permission. Acceptance
and penalties will be decided on an individual basis. Contact the TA and myself as soon as
possible to discuss your situation.

Instructors also may have differing policies regarding missed labs. Some may allow one
missed lab, and some may not. In general you cannot expect to pass a class with more than
one missed lab. Better yet, don’t miss any!

My policy for 221L is that you may miss no more than one of the first four labs – no
exceptions.

In my class you may turn in one report per group, but be aware that some instructors may
require individual submissions. Make sure both lab partners names are on the report.

At the beginning of the course your TA will provide you with his/her preferred email address
and announce the time and location of their office hours. Be sure to make note of this
information. Questions about lab report grades, for example, should go first to your lab TA.

If you cannot come to the lab session, tell your TA in person or by email.

ECE lab courses require (1) the ECE toolbox, containing a breadboard, cables, wires, resistors
and capacitors, and (2) small parts kits designed for individual courses. The toolbox is a
significant cost, but it will be used for all your undergraduate lab courses. It is acceptable for
lab partners to share a toolbox. The toolboxes are sold at the IEEE store, or you can put
together your own kit (this is not recommended unless you have a lot of the stuff already.) The
small parts kits are also sold at the IEEE store and may be available in the vending machine.
The store and vending machine also have a limited inventory of replacement parts. Note that
the IEEE store hours are variable, with fewer hours later in the term.


For 221L there is no parts kit required, but you will need to purchase a few op amps for the
project.
Inform the TA or lab coordinator if you lack any equipment needed for the experiment, and
report immediately any defective equipment.
Grading
Your grade in this course is determined solely by your lab reports. The lab grade will be included in
the letter grade you receive for ECE 221. The lab counts as 20% of the lecture grade.

Prelab assignments are turned in with and graded as part of the lab report.

Lab reports are due by midnight one week following the experiment. If you have any problems
uploading your report on D2L, email it to your lab TA with an explanation of the problem.

Individual lab report grades will be posted on D2L. Please be reasonably patient – it takes
some time to grade reports for an entire class.
ECE 221L Winter 2015 HM

Important: if you are re-taking this course and would like to use the materials that you
submitted before, speak to the instructor at the beginning of the course to make arrangements.
Academic Honesty
You are expected to follow all of the PSU rules on academic honesty. The labs have a few specific
requirements:
1. You must report only your groups’ work and not use other students’ results or reports.
2. For any screen captures, MATLAB plots and LTSpice simulations that are part of your
report, you need to insert your names and date. Your report will not be accepted without
this.
ECE Lab Conduct Code

During laboratory sessions all equipment in the lab is reserved for the exclusive use of the
scheduled student group. All users of the lab equipment who do not belong to the scheduled lab
section may be required to leave at the beginning of the lab session.

Outside of laboratory sessions students taking lab courses and needing to use laboratory
equipment have privileged access to all workstations in the lab. All other users are welcome
and free to work in the lab on a space available basis. See the Lab Calendar posted outside
Room 60-01 for the current laboratory schedule of classes.

Room 60-01 is locked but ECE majors have badge access. Non-majors will need to be
admitted by a TA or classmate.

NO FOOD or DRINKS are allowed in the laboratory.

Students are not free to move/remove laboratory equipment.

When leaving the lab, students are required to clean up their workbenches.
Schedule:
Week 1
Introduction
Week 2
Lab 1 : Introduction to Lab Equipment
Week 3
Lab 2 : MATLAB
Week 4
Lab 3 : Oscilloscope
Week 5
Lab 4 : LTSpice
Weeks 6 - 9
Project : Op Amp Circuits
Week 10
No lab
ECE 221L Winter 2015 HM