Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering EEE241L/ETE241L Electrical Circuits II Lab

Lab 3: Series RLC circuits

A. Objectives

• Investigate series RC, RL, and RLC circuits.

• Analyze the peak voltage, current and phase relationships between the circuit components.

B. Background

B.1. Voltage and Current in an AC circuit:

The complex impedance in an AC circuit is represented by Z and expressed in Cartesian form by the formula:
𝑍 = 𝑅 + 𝑗𝑋
where the real part of impedance is the resistance R and the imaginary part is the reactance X.

Impedance can also be expressed in magnitude and phase form: |𝑍|∠𝜃 , where θ is the phase difference between
the voltage and the current. The magnitude of the impedance can be expressed as: |𝑍| = √𝑅 2 + 𝑋 2 and the
𝑋
phase can be expressed as: θ = 𝑡𝑎𝑛 −1 .
𝑅

It follows, then, that since Ohm’s Law is true for AC circuits, the current flow caused by a voltage V can be given by:
𝑽
𝐈=
𝒁

Consider the circuit in Figure B.1.1.

Here, VS is the source voltage, IS the source current and VR, VL and VC
the voltages across the resistor, inductor and capacitor respectively.
The complex voltage across any of the components can be found using
the voltage divider rule. The phase relations of the voltages mentioned
can be expressed by the phasor diagram in Figure B.1.2:

Fig.B.1.1: Series RLC circuit

We can see that VL and VC are both 90° out of phase with the
circuit current IS, and θ𝐿 ° and θ𝐶 °out of phase with the source θL
voltage respectively. We can also see that the voltage across the
resistor is always in phase with the current through the resistor,
which, in this case, is the source current. θC

Fig.B.1.2: Phasor Diagram

Experiment 1: Series RC, RL and RLC circuits

A. Apparatus

Components Instruments
 Resistors: 1×100Ω  1× Bread Board
 1× Function Generator
 Capacitors: 1×1µF  1× Digital Storage Oscilloscope(DSO)
 Inductor: 1x330µH  Connecting wires and probes

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Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering EEE241L/ETE241L Electrical Circuits II Lab

B. Procedure
1. Measure the practical value of the resistor (R) using DMM and note down the value in Tables 1.1, 1.3 and
1.5. Use the measured values in all your calculations.
2. Measure the practical value of the capacitor (C) using an LCR meter and note down the values in Tables 1.1,
and 1.5. Do the same for the inductor (L) and note down the values in Tables 1.3 and 1.5.

3. Construct the circuit shown in Fig.B.1.1 on the bread board. Connect Channel 1 of the oscilloscope across
the source VS (positive red port to node ‘a’ and negative black port to node ‘0’ i.e. ground). Connect the
channel 2 at node ‘b’ (positive red port to node ‘b’ and negative black port to node 0 i.e. ground).
4. To set 3V peak (6V peak to peak) and 10 KHz in the function generator, observe the generated signal on the
oscilloscope screen (channel 1) and fine tune the amplitude & frequency of the input signal generated from
the function generator to match the nominal values. Always set the amplitude after setting the frequency
because changing the frequency of a non-ideal source might alter the amplitude.

Fig.B.1.1: Series RC circuit Fig.B.1.2: Series RL circuit

5. Channel 2 of the Oscilloscope will show you the voltage drop across C1 and Channel 1 will show you the
source voltage VS. To find out the Voltage drop across R1, use MATH function to get a signal CH1-CH2.
6. Use CURSOR (type should be: Voltage & source should be MATH) on the signal that was generated using
MATH function, to find out the peak voltage drop across R1 (VR). From measurement, find out the peak voltage
drop across C1 (VC) and record them in table 1.2.
7. Use CURSOR (type should be: Time) to measure the time difference between a peak of the source wave
shape (VS – Channel 1) and the next peak of the voltage across C1 (VC– Channel 2). Note down the time
(Delay) in table 1.2.
8. Use CURSOR (type should be: Time) to measure the time difference between a peak of the source wave
shape (VS – Channel 1) and the next peak of the voltage across R1 (VR – Math generated signal). Note down
the time (Delay) in table 1.2.

9. Now, replace the capacitor (C1) with the inductor (L1) to construct the circuit shown in Fig.B.1.2.
10. Keep the source frequency to 10 kHz and the amplitude to 3V peak (6V peak to peak).
11. Repeat step 6 to find out VR & VL and record them in table 1.4
12. Repeat steps 7 & 8 to find out the time difference between VS(peak) and VL(peak) and VS(peak) and VR (peak)

Fig.B.1.3: Series RLC circuit

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Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering EEE241L/ETE241L Electrical Circuits II Lab

13. Construct the circuit shown in Fig.B.1.3 on the bread board. Connect Channel 1 of the oscilloscope across
the source VS (positive red port to node ‘a’ and negative black port to node ‘0’ i.e. ground). Connect the
channel 2 at node ‘c’ (positive red port to node ‘c’ and negative black port to node ‘0’ i.e. ground).
14. To set 3V peak (6V peak to peak) and 10 KHz in the function generator, observe the generated signal on the
oscilloscope screen (channel 1) and fine tune the amplitude & frequency of the input signal generated from
the function generator to match the nominal values. Always set the amplitude after setting the frequency
because changing the frequency of a non-ideal source might alter the amplitude.

15. Channel 2 of the Oscilloscope will show you the voltage drop across C1 and Channel 1 will show you the
source voltage VS.
16. From measurement, find out the peak voltage drop across C1 (VC) and record that in table 1.6.
17. Use CURSOR (type should be: Time) to measure the time difference between a peak of the source wave
shape (VS – Channel 1) and the next peak of the voltage across C1 (VC– Channel 2). Note down the time
(Delay) in table 1.6.

18. Now connect the Channel-2 (red port) to node ‘b’. And to find out the Voltage drop across R1, use MATH
function to get a signal CH1-CH2.
19. Use CURSOR (type should be: Voltage) on the signal that was generated using MATH function, to find out
the peak voltage drop across R1 (VR) and record that in table 1.6.
20. Use CURSOR (type should be: Time) to measure the time difference between a peak of the source wave
shape (VS – Channel 1) and the next peak of the voltage across R1 (VR – Math generated signal). Note down
the time (Delay) in table 1.6.

21. Use REF function of the oscilloscope to save the output graph of VS (Channel 1)

22. Now connect the Channel-1 (red port) to node ‘b’ & the Channel-2 (red port) to node ‘c’. The current MATH
function generated signal will give you the Voltage drop across the inductor L1.
23. Use CURSOR (type should be: Voltage) on the signal that was generated using MATH function, to find out
the peak voltage drop across L1 (VL) and record that in table 1.6.
24. Use CURSOR (type should be: Time) to measure the time difference between a peak of the source wave
shape (VS – REF signal) and the next peak of the voltage across L1 (VL – Math generated signal). Note down
the time (Delay) in table 1.6.

C. Simulation
1. In MULTISIM, construct the circuit in figure B.1.1, B.1.2 & B.1.3 and do TRANSIENT analysis for showing the
time delays between different voltages across all the components.
2. Attach the output graphs in your report.

D. Questions

1. In step 6, what would have happened if the required readings had been obtained by switching the positions
of the resistor and the capacitor? Explain your answer.
2. Draw the phasor diagrams for the circuits in Fig B.1.1, Fig B.1.2 and Fig B.1.3.
3. How would each of the phasor diagrams change if the source frequency was raised?
4. In case of the series RLC circuit, do the practical readings confirm the theoretical values? If any of the
percentage differences are above 10%, suggest 3 possible reasons for the discrepancy.

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Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering EEE241L/ETE241L Electrical Circuits II Lab

E. Data Sheet: Lab 3

Date: Points:
Remarks: Signature of the Instructor

Student Information

Section: Group: Status:

E.1 Table 1.1: Reactance and Impedance values (series RC circuit)

1 𝑋
R (measured)(Ω) C (measured)(F) XC [
2𝜋𝑓𝐶
] (Ω) |Z|(Ω) [√𝑅 2 + 𝑋 2 ] Z ∠θ° [𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( )]
𝑅

E.2 Table 1.2: Comparing magnitudes and phases of VC and VR

|Vpeak| θ |Vpeak| Delay ΔT θ (Practical)

% Difference |V| % Difference θ
(Theory) (Theory) (Practical) (Practical) [ΔT x f x 360]
VC
VR

E.3 Table 1.3: Reactance and Impedance values (series RL circuit)

𝑋
R (measured)(Ω) L(measured)(H) XL (Theory) [ 2𝜋𝑓𝐿 ] (Ω) |Z|(Ω) [√𝑅 2 + 𝑋 2 ] Z ∠θ° [𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( )]
𝑅

E.4 Table 1.4: Comparing magnitudes and phases of VL and VR

|Vpeak| θ |Vpeak| Delay ΔT θ (Practical)

% Difference |V| % Difference θ
(Theory) (Theory) (Practical) (Practical) [ΔT x f x 360]
VL
VR

E.5 Table 1.5: Reactance and Impedance values (series RLC circuit)

XC (Theory) XL (Theory) 𝑋
R (Ω) C (F) L (H) 1 |Z|(Ω) [√𝑅 2 + 𝑋 2 ] Z∠θ° [𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( 𝑅 )]
[
2𝜋𝑓𝐶
] (Ω) [ 2𝜋𝑓𝐿 ] (Ω)

E.6 Table 1.6: Comparing magnitudes and phases of VC,VL and VR

|Vpeak| θ |Vpeak| Delay ΔT θ (Practical)

% Difference |V| % Difference θ
(Theory) (Theory) (Practical) (Practical) [ΔT x f x 360]
VC
VR
VL