LAB-12 (LK) RL CIRCUITS

11/12/2022
OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this lab will be to determine how inductor behaves in RL circuits when
the inductor’s current at “charging”.
EQUIPMENT
1 EM-8656 AD/DC Electronics Lab
2 PS-3211 Wireless voltage sensor
3 PS-3212 Wireless current sensor
4 SE-8829 Student Multimeter
5 2 Battery
6 Wires, and Inductors
RL Rtotal L (with iron
core)
5.72 Ω 5.82 Ω 40.7 mH

THEORY
An RL circuit is one in which we have a resistor in series with an inductor (Figure 1). In
this figure, the battery is not connected to the circuit, and there is no “charging” of current in
the inductor. The inductor is initially completely no current. The switch turns on at time t = 0
s. This starts “charging” the inductor (we call it “charging” parallel to the RC circuit), and the
rate of charging is given by:

( 1−e ) (1)
−t
τ
I ( t )=I m
Where I ( t ) is the current at time t after “charging” starts, R and L are the values of the
resistance and inductance. I m is the maximum current in the inductor and is given by

∆V
I m= (2)
R
Where ∆ V is the applied voltage across the inductor and the resistor R . The time constant (τ)
of the RL circuit is given by
L
τ = (3)
R
When time equal to the constant ( τ), the current in the inductor is charged to 63.2% of its
maximum current value.

The inductor’s currents with time as shown in Figure 2. Even though equation (1) and
this curve indicate that the inductor’s current will never be fully reached, for most practical

1
purposes we consider that the inductor’s current is fully “charged” after a time that is more
than 5 time-constants have passed.
The challenge of this experiment is the maximum sample rate of the current sensor
and voltage sensor is too low (1K Hz), which limits the sensors taking only one data point at
one ms. From equation (3), we see the time constant is proportional to the inductance value
(L), and inversely proportional to the resistance value (R). In order for the sensors to take
enough data points within one time constant, we need to maximum the time constant. That
is, minimum the resistance of the circuit (only use the internal resistance of the inductor) and
maximum the inductance of the inductor (put iron core into the
coil).
Figure 3 shows the real measurement setup of this
experiment, R L is the internal resistance of the inductor, R A is
the internal resistance of the current sensor.
The maximum current of the circuit is given by
∆V ∆V
I m= = (2 B)
RL + R A R
Where ∆ V is the voltage of the two batteries, and ∆ V Lis the voltage across the
inductor’s internal resistor R Lwhen its value reaches to the stable value.

The time constant (τ) of the RL circuit is given by

L L
τ= = (3 B)
R L+ R A R
PROCEDURE
A. Build the RL circuit as shown in Figure 1 using Pasco AD/DC Electronics Lab.
B. Capstone Software and checking the circuit connection.
C. Data collection and calculations
Using Pasco AD/DC Electronics Lab to build circuits:

2
 Figure 4: definition of the names of each spring connector
The names of each spring connector in the circuit board are shown in Figure 4. In the
rectangular areas of Figure 4, the springs are connected in pairs, oriented perpendicular to
each other and named C and S. In a given rectangular area, the two springs should be treated
equally in circuit connection. For example, connecting to C1 means connecting to S1 also.
Therefore the names C1 and S1 are interchangeable in the following circuit build procedures.
Similarly for C2 and S2.

Procedure A: Build a circuit as shown in Figure 1 using Pasco AD/DC

Electronics Lab
1. Use the inductor at the circuit board between L1 and L2 ( L 40 mH , with air core).

2. The total resistance ( R ) of the RL circuit use the internal resistance ( R L) of the inductor
and the internal resistance ( R A ) of the current sensor.
3. Since the time constant is too small to switch the wire by hand we use the switch between
W1 and W2 on the circuit board. The switch is off by default, and is on when pushing
down.
4. Build the circuit:
3.01 B2 wire connects to W1
3.02 W2 wire connects to L1
3.03 L2 wire connects to C4
3.04 B1 wire connects to C8
3.05 S4 current sensor connects to S8
3.06 L1 voltage sensor connects to S8 (voltage cross the inductor and current sensor)

Figure
5
Procedure B: Capstone Software and checking the circuit connection.
1 Capstone Software and Sensors:
7.1 Turn on the Capstone Software. Press the power button on the wireless voltage sensor
and wireless current sensor. The red LED should start blinking. The voltage/current
sensor is now ready to connect via Bluetooth.
7.2 In the “Tools Palette” (on left side of screen) click on “Hardware Setup”. This will open
the hardware palette. Select the Bluetooth symbol. You should see the voltage/current

3
 sensor that is visible to Bluetooth to the computer. Select the sensor. Make sure its ID
is the same as on the sensor.
7.3 Click Hardware Setup once again. This will close the Hardware Palette.
7.4 As the Hardware Palette closes, the Display Palette opens up. Double click the "Graph"
on the up-right corner to open a graph. On the graph, set the Y-axis as Current and X-
axis as Time. Double click the "Graph" again on the up-right corner to open a second
graph. On the graph, set the Y-axis as Voltage and X-axis as Time. You can adjust the
size of the graph, and the scale of the X- and Y-axes.
7.5 At the bottom-lower left of the screen is the ‘RECORD’ button. Once you click it, the
system will start recording the current and the voltage as a function of time. It will stop
recording when clicked a second time.
7.6 You need to change the sample rate at the bottom-lower middle (left of the “Recording
Condition”) of the screen. The default sample rate is 20 Hz, which means that the
sensor will take 20 data points within one second. Since the RL time constant is too
small, you need to increase the sample rate to the maximum 1KHz for both sensors.
7.7 You can get the values of the RL time constant ( τ =1/B ) of the RL circuit from the I (t)
curve by clicking on the “Highlight Data” icon to get a colored square on the screen.
You can adjust its width and height, and move it around the screen. On the graph,
move and adjust its size so that a portion of the data showing a charging/discharging
data is inside the box. Then click the “Curve Fits” icon and choose “Inverse Exponent”
for charging data and “Natural Exponential” for discharging data to get the B value of
the curve.

Highlight Data Apply Curve Fit to Highlighted Data

Procedure C: Data collection and calculations (Case-A: charging; Case-B:

discharging)
1. Refer to Procedure B step 5, click the ‘RECORD’ button. Than push the switch button
immediately. In about 1 second click the “STOP” button again to stop record. Now your
current-time curve and voltage-time curve should like as in Figure 6 and 7:

Figure 6: Inductor’s Current-time Figure 7: Inductor’s Voltage-time

curve curve

4
2. From the current and voltage value when they reach to the stable state, calculate the
total resistance ( R ) of the RL circuit, which equal to the sum of the internal resistance ( R L)
of the inductor and the internal resistance ( R A ) of the current sensor. Put your calculation
in the table.
3. Find the RL time constant (τ ) from current-time curve: Read the time when the current
equal to 63.2% of maximum current (current reach to the stable state). Then minus the
switch-on time. You will get the RL time constant (τ ). Record to the table.
4. Pasco Capstone has a function to read data quickly along a curve. Click anywhere on the
curve, you will see three icons. Click the left “Add Coordinates/Delta Tool” icon and now
you can read the data of the selected point on the curve. You can change the data point
by simply click the “←” or “→” on the key board.
5. Using equation (3), obtain the inductor’s inductance value (L), and enter in Table.
6. Compare the given value and the experimental value of inductance (with iron core) using
% error. Put your calculation in the table.

DATA Table

Battery voltage between B1 and B2 (V) = _______________

Voltage (V) Current (A) Calculated Measured Calculated % error

resistance ( time inductance ( L)
(Stable (Stable (inductance)
value) value) R) constant (τ)
(mH)
(Ω) (ms)
(Sensor) (Sensor)

5
REPORT SUBMISSION:

Submit all the following (1-3) in the Online Lab Activity during Lab time:

% in report
Procedure A4: Use your camera take an image of your setup.
1. Submit an image of your Lab setup during the lab time. 10 %
Image without Bluetooth ID will be zero

2. Procedure C1: Screenshot of your Current-time “charging” curve.

10 %
Submit the image during the lab time.
Procedure C1: Screenshot of your Voltage-time curve. Submit the
3. 10 %
image during the lab time.

Submit the following (4-7) in the Lab Report (due time

11/17):
4. Procedure C1: Screenshot of your Current-time “charging” curve. 10 %
Submit the image during the lab time.
5. Data Table 40 %

6. Conclusions 10 %

7. Typewriting 10 %

total 100 %