Electronic Fundamentals II Page 1

Lab 3 Voltage Divider Bias

Name ___________________________ Section ______
Purpose: VCC
To calculate the Q point for a voltage divider bias circuit.
20 V
To plot the load line and the Q Point of this amplifier circuit
To examine the input and output signals of this amplifier and to calculate the voltage gain.
To examine the distortion created when this amplifier is not midpoint biased..

Equipment
R1 RC
10 kW 820 W
1 Power Supply
1 DMM
1 dc Ammeter hFE = 173
7 Resistors 1 -22 kW, 1 -10 kW, 1 -1.2 kW, 1 -150 W, 2 -820 W, 1 -2 kW
3 Capacitors 1 - 100 mF, 2 - 10mF 2N3904
3 2N3904 npn transistors
DMM with transistor hFE measuring option
R2
RE
Pre-Lab: 1.2 kW 150 W
1) Find IC(sat) and VCE(off) Plot the load line on the graph provided. (Fig.2)
2) Do the circuit dc analysis and find the terminal voltages and currents. Figure 1
Show your calculations at the bottom of this page.
3) Insert these calculated values in Table 1.
4) Plot your calculated Q-point on the graph &.label it “Calculated Q- Point”

Procedure: Part 1 Do this in the Lab

1) Construct the circuit as shown using the parts from the first year parts kit.
2) Measure and record the dc current gain for each of the 3 transistors and record it in Table 1.
Use the DMM with the transistor hFE measuring option
3) Measure and record the transistor terminal voltages and currents as indicated in Table 1.
4) Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the other transistors.
5) Plot the 3 Q-points for the transistors on the Figure 2 graph. Label them Q1 Q2 Q3
Table 1
Calculated Values Measured Values
Transistor VB VE IE= IC VCE VC hFE VB VE IE= IC VCE VC
1
2
Same as Transistor 1
3
Use this area for calculations -- Show all of them! Be sure to include Rin is your calculations
 Electronic Fundamentals II Page 2

Lab 3 Voltage Divider Bias

IC
Figure 2 Plotting the Load Line and Q points
On this diagram:
22
Plot IC(sat) and VCE(off) and draw the load line
20 Plot the calculated Q point. Label it.

Plot the three measured Q points.

18 Label them.

Plot the Q point that resulted from Figure 4.

16

14

12

10

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 VCE
Part 2 Using this circuit as an Amplifier
Procedure Part 2 Do this in the Lab
VCC 20 V
1) Add the 3 capacitors and load resistor as shown in
Figure 3. Be absolutely sure to install the capacitors
properly. You must obey the polarity as shown.
Installing these capacitors in reverse polarity can
cause them to explode!! R1 RC
10 kW 820 W
2) Install the function generator as shown and set it to
sine wave. Connect the oscilloscope to the amplifier C2 TP-2
input at TP-1 Set the generator to output 40 mVp-p
C1 10 mF
at 10 kHz . TP-1

10 mF 2N3904
3) Measure and record the amplified output signal at RL
TP-2. Record the output below. 2 kW

Vout = ________________ 40 mVp-p R2 RE

10 kHz . C3
1.2 kW 150 W
100 mF
V
4) Using the formula AV = out find the ordinary gain
of this amplifier Vin

AV = _________________
Figure 3 A Voltage amplifier
 Electronic Fundamentals II Page 3

Lab 3 Voltage Divider Bias

Part 3 Examining the distorted output after purposely moving the Q-Point
VCC 20 V
Procedure Part 3 Do this in the Lab

1) Remove the emitter bypass capacitor C3.

2) Change the biasing resistors (R1 & R2) to the new R1 RC

values shown. 22 kW 820 W

TP-2
These new biasing resistors will bias the transistor near C2
soft cutoff. This will move the Q-point to near the C1 10 mF
TP-1
bottom end of the load line.
10 mF 2N3904
RL
3) Install the function generator as shown and set it to 2 V p-p 2 kW
sine wave. Connect the oscilloscope to the amplifier 10 kHz .
input at TP-1 Set the generator to output 2 Vp-p R2 RE
at 10 kHz . 820 W 150 W

3) Connect channel 2 of the oscilloscope to the output

at the amplified output signal at TP-2. The output
should look like a half wave rectified sine wave.
Figure 4 Examining the distortion caused by an
4) Measure the peak to peak value of Vout.
amplifier that is not midpoint biased.
Vout = ________________

5) With Vin on channel 1 and Vout on channel 2,set up the scope to show both waveforms simultaneously. Sketch
these waveforms on the graticule shown below. Be sure to set the vertical mode on the scope to chop.

6) Measure and record VCE. Using it, plot the Q-point for the modified amplifier on graph (Figure 2).
Label the Q-point “Modified Q-Point”

VCE _____________
Input and output waveforms for Part 3

Channel 1 Volts/Div:

Channel 2 Volts/Div:

Time/Div:
 Electronic Fundamentals II Page 4

Lab 3 Voltage Divider Bias

Questions Calculated Values for Figure 4
VB VE IE= IC VCE VC
1) Perform the dc analysis for Figure 4.
Find the values listed.. Show all your work.

2) Using only a voltmeter, how can you quickly tell if this type of amplifier is midpoint biased,

3) Figure 1 is a midpoint biased amplifier. If R2 were to go open circuit, would the amplifier still work? Why?