DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING

Faculty Of Engineering & Technology

ELETRICAL WORKSHOP (TE-119)
Working with Resistors #10
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PerformanceObjective: To learn to use resistors in circuits [60 Minutes]

Apparatus:

1). A Digital Multimeter (DMM)

2). Two 5KΩ Potentiometers
3). A 5KΩ Resistor
3). A Red LED
4). A Breadboard
5). Few hard wires (Gauge number 22)

Theory:
We discussed about resistors in Lab 3 and learned how to decode their values from their color codes,
now, we will use resistors in some very common but interesting applications. We all know about OHMs
law i-e

V =IR

This law allows us to use resistors to play with the current and voltage. First we will learn how to limit
current using resistors.
Controlling the amount of current through a circuit is very important in a variety of situations such as
lighting LEDs. For our discussion, we will consider the simplest case, calculating the current limiting
resistor value for lighting up an LED. A Light Emitting Diode is a type of diode that lights up whenever it
is forward biased. Different types of LEDs require different amounts of currents which also differ with its
color. Let’s take the example of a Red LED, a typical Red LED is rated for a voltage of 1.7 V and 15mA
and consider the below circuit:

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 Figure 10.1: Lighting an LED with no current limiting

The LED in the above circuit would light up, but the problem with it is that the LED would draw a lot of
current which could lead to it getting burned out.

A more efficient way to make up the above circuit would be like this:
Voltage drop of 1.7 V

Figure 10.2: Limiting current for an LED

The Resistor R is used to control the amount of current. Taking the case of a Red LED requiring 15mA of
current, the value of the resistor can be calculated using Ohms law as follows:
V
R=
I

Taking the LED has a voltage drop of 1.5v, the voltage V can be calculated as:

V =5−(voltage dropby LED)

V =5−1.7

V =3.3Volts

Now the value of the resistor can be calculated as:

3.3
R= −3
15 x 10

R=220 Ω

So one can use a 220Ω resistor in series with an LED to limit the current to 15 mA. One can use a similar
procedure for finding out the resistance value for current limiting resistors.As mentioned above, resistors
can also be used to limit the voltage. This is done with a very simple but useful circuit known as the
voltage divider:

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 Figure 10.3: The Voltage Divider

The output voltage is given by the formula:

Vsupply
Vout=R 2 x
( R 1+ R 2)

As evident from the above equation, the output voltage is proportional to the resistance R2. The voltage
divider is one of the most commonly used circuits in electronics, being used for scaling down voltages for
Analog to Digital Converters, amplifiers, Televisions, Radios for setting volume, setting voltage
references etc. A Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) is a special type of resistor whose resistance decreases
with the increasing intensity of light falling on it.

Procedure: [60 Minutes]

1. Take a Red LED, a 5V power supply, a 1kΩ potentiometer, two multimeters and a breadboard.
2. Set one of the multimeters to measure current and the other to measure resistance.
3. Make the following circuit on a breadboard.

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 Figure 10.4: Circuit for using a resistor to limit current for an LED

Figure 10.5: Breadboard connections for limiting the current for an LED using a Resistor
.

4. According to the currents specified in the table, calculate the value of resistance required and set
the potentiometer to the desired value. Note the current reading and fill the table.
5. Take a resistor of 1kΩ, a potentiometer of 2kΩ, a multimeter and a 5V power supply and make
connections as shown below:

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 6. Set the multimeter to measure voltage, vary the resistance of the potentiometer and measure the
output voltage, fill in the table.

Observations: [60 Minutes]

Power Supply Required Current Calculated Inserted Measured
Voltage Resistance Resistance Current Value
10mA
15mA
25mA
Table 10.1: Calculation of the Current Limiting Resistance

Power Supply R1 Potentiometer Calculated Measured Value

Voltage Resistance Voltage Value

Table 10.2: Calculation of the Voltage Divider Output

Questions:

1. Will there be any difference in the current value if the current limiting resistance is wired after the
LED?

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2. Can the Voltage divider be used for AC voltage sources as well?

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3. Using equal resistances for R1 and R2 in a voltage divider divides Vsupply by half. What is
difference in using R1=R2=100Ω and R1=R2=1000Ω?

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4. Take an LDR, a1KΩ potentiometer, a 5V Relay, an LED and a 220Ω Resistance to make a street
light.

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