Labs take advantage of myDAQ and Multisim to help build and simulate rectifiers and transistor biasing circuits.

Teaching Electronics in Technical and Vocational Colleges

by Alexander McGlashan | Niagara College of Applied Arts and Technology

This set of labs is aimed at teaching introductory and advanced electronics concepts for engineering technology and technician programs. These materials provide you with 8 laboratories that use NI Multisim and NI myDAQ that can be easily integrated into your two-year or vocational program. Students are guided through labs focused on teaching the fundamentals of rectifiers, LED biasing, and LED IV characterization.

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Students use Multisim and myDAQ to learn the fundamentals of rectifiers and LEDs
Students compare software simulation results and measurements to reinforce concepts

COURSE ALIGNMENT

Level	University
Topic	Electronics
Style	Laboratory
Prerequisite Skills	Basic knowledge of circuits

Included Course Labs

HALF WAVE RECTIFIER

Students build circuits used to convert alternating current to pulsating direct current using semiconductor diodes for a simple half wave rectifier.

FULL WAVE BRIDGE RECTIFIER

Students build a full wave bridge rectifier circuit used to convert alternating current to pulsating direct current.

FILTERED FULL WAVE BRIDGE RECTIFIER

Students build a full wave bridge rectifier circuit with a capacitor (called a filter capacitor) used to smooth out the pulsating direct current created by our rectifier circuit. We will observe how the size of the capacitor and load impedance affect the ripple voltage across the load (and current through it).

FREQUENCY AND FILTERING EFFECTS OF A RECTIFIER

Students study the effects of frequency on the filtering of the pulsating direct current created with a rectifier.

RESISTOR BIAS

Students experiment with simple resistor bias and the effect on current in a circuit when an LED is replaced with another LED of different color.

TRANSISTOR BIAS

Students experiment with current stability through an LED using a voltage divider biased transistor circuit as a current source.

COMPLETE TRANSISTOR CURRENT SOURCE

Students simulate and then construct a complete transistor based current source which will be used to drive an LED.

LED IV CHARACTERIZATION

Students build a circuit that will allow you to perform IV (current versus voltage) curve tracing using the myDAQ module for LEDs and other semiconductor diodes. This circuit utilizes a discrete transistor voltage follower circuit to provide current amplification.

Requirements

Multisim

Multisim is a circuit simulation tool built for educators to teach analog, digital, and power electronics by connecting simulation to experimentation. Learn more

myDAQ

Combines a comprehensive set of plug-and-play computer-based lab instruments with portability for hands-on student learning in or outside the lab. Learn more

DETAILED REQUIREMENTS

Required Software

Download Academic Software, Learn About Software Licensing

ELVISmx 14.0 or later
Multisim 14.0 or later (Requires license)

Required Hardware

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myDAQ - View Specifications