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
I. Mushiba
E. Mkuyamba
A. Banda

Revised 2024
 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.
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: 15%

Tests: 20%
Assignments: 5%
Final Exam: 60%
Total: 100%

Course Goals and Objectives:

The Laboratory experiments is 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
 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.
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.
 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 p e r t i n e n t 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.
 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.

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."

REFERENCES
 Part II Laboratory Meetings

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.

 LABORATORY 1: LABORATORY FUNDAMENTALS
Note: This lab is designed to introduce you to the use of the Multimeter, to m e as ur 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 as shown below.

For example, for the following resistor colour code:

Brown-Black-Red-Gold
Reading the values off of the colour code chart, Brown is [1], value =1, Black is [0], value =0,
Red is multiplier [2], value is 100. Therefore, the value of the resistor in ohms is 10 × 100 =
1000Ω = 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 --1050 Ω.
A second resistor may have the colour codes as follows:

Yellow-Violet-Orange-Silver
Reading the values off of the colour chart, Y e l l o w i s [ 4 ] , v a l u e = 4 , V i o l e t i s
[ 7 ] , v a l u e = 7, and Orange is multiplier [3], value = 1 0 0 0 . Therefore, the value
of theresistor in ohms is 47×1000 =47,000 =47-KΩ and the tolerance is ± 10% of 47,000 Ω
due to the silver strip.

A third resistor may have the colour codes as follows:

Red-Orange-Green-Yellow-Gold
Reading the values off of the colour code chart, Red is [2], value =2, Orange is [3], value
= 3, Green is [5], value is 5, and Yellow is multiplier [10, 000], value = 10,000. Therefore,
the value of the resistor in ohms is 235 × 10, 000 = 2, 350, 000Ω = 2.35MΩ and the tolerance
is ± 5% of 2.35 MΩ due to the gold stripe.

Part 1) Resistor Measurement

Locate all of the resistors f r o m your kit (a total of 5 Resistors). Fill out table below
by identifying all the resistor by colour codes. Then Turn on the NI ELVIS
WORKSTATION. Take two cables (one red and one black) and connect the red cable one
end to banana A and the other end to the hole marked Ω (usually a red hole) on the
Multimeter on NI board, and the black c a b l e to banana B and the other end to the hole
marked "Ground" or "Common" (usually a black hole) on the NI board. Connect the
small wires from Banana A and Banana B to either ends 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 computer screen d i s p l a y . For this lab, measure
each of the resistors i n 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 v al u e s .

Resistor colour bands Colour Measured Tolerance Calculated Is the measured

code base value value resistance resistance value
value of of the range of within the
resistor resistor resistor 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 = 22Ω and R2 = 39Ω resistors and
use the power supply (voltage source) to set V1=10 V. Turn on the NI ELVIS
WORKSTATION. Take two cables (one red and one black) and c o n n e c t the
banana (A and B) ends respectively to the b l a c k and red terminals of the Multimeter on
the NI board marked by a V (for Voltage) and common.

Select the appropriate range of measurement by choosing the next higher value of your
supplied voltage (source). Connect the s m a l l w i r e s a c r o s s of the resistor in the
circuit.

Read the voltage value observed across the resistor R1 and R2 from the computer screen.
What are the values?

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 cables (one red and one black) and c o n n e c t the banana (A and B) ends
r e s p e c t i v e l y to the b l a c k and red terminals of the Multimeter marked by “A”
(for amperes) or “I” (for current) and the common.

Select the appropriate range of measurement by choosing the next higher value to get a
value on the display.

Connect the cables (red and black) such that ammeter will be in series to the device you
want to measure.

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.