Revised in 2008

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

FIRST YEAR E.T. LAB EXP.NO. 1


CHARACTERISTICS OF LAMPS

OBJ ECTIVE:
To obtain
i) The Volt Amp (VI) characteristics of Incandescent (Tungsten & Carbon
filament) and Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL).
ii) The steady state operation of a typical circuit containing both linear & non
linear resistive elements.

1. INCANDESCENT LAMPS

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:




Fig 1: Circuit diagram for testing of Tungsten, Carbon and CFL Lamps

PROCEDURE:
1. Choose the appropriate ratings of the Ammeters, Voltmeters and Fuse wire.
Available ranges are: Fuse: 3A; 5A; 10A; Ammeter: 0 1A, 0 0.5 1A;
Voltmeter: 0 150V; 0 300V.
2. Set up the circuit as shown in Fig.1 with the lamps and instruments as indicated.
Keep the switch S open.
3. Cut the external resistance R
ext
out of the circuit and set the autotransformer for
zero output voltage. Close the switch S.


4. Increase the autotransformer output voltage in steps of 20/30 V, until the full
voltage is obtained. At each step, note the readings of V
1
, V2, A1, A2 and A
3
and
record them in Table 1.
5. Repeat step 4 decreasing output voltage from full to zero volts.
6. Remove the (C.F.L.) lamp from the circuit. Increase the resistance R
ext
to
maximum value and note all the meter readings for maximum autotransformer
output voltage. Enter the readings in the appropriate columns of Table 2. Set R
ext

at another value (mid range) and repeat the above steps for this value of R
ext
.
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Revised in 2008


RESULT:

Table 1: Observation for v-i characteristics of the lamps.

I
1
(Tungsten Lamp)
(A)
I
2
(Carbon Lamp)
(A)
I
3
(C.F.L. Lamp)
(A)
SL.
No.
V
1
(V)
V
2
(V)
Inc.

Dec.

Mean

Inc.

Dec.

Mean

Inc.

Dec.

Mean









Table 2: Observation/Estimation of Steady state operation
R
ext
=170 ohms (max.), V
0
=Input Voltage (Reading of VoltmeterV
1
)
V
10
(V) =Voltage across the lamps (Reading of voltmeter V
2
)

Observed Values Estimated Values Input
Voltage
V
0
(V)
I
10
(A) I
20
(A) V
10
(V) I
10
(A) I
20
(A) V
10
(V)





Subscript 0 is used to indicate steady state operation.
Graph (Refer to Fig. 2)

Fig 2: V-I Characteristics and Load Lines for the circuit of Fig 1


2
Revised in 2008

1. Plot I
1
, I
2
and I
1
+I
2
as a function of voltage, V
1
.
2. Draw the load line representing the characteristics of linear resistive element R
ext

of the circuit.
3. The point of intersection of this load line with the resultant nonlinear
characteristics determines the steady state condition of the circuit. Estimated
values of I
1
, I
2
and V
1
are indicated in Fig. 2. Enter them in Table 2.

DISCUSSION:

1. How will you interpret the v-i characteristics of two different incandescent lamps?
2. Why do the readings differ for increasing and decreasing values of the lamp
voltages?
3. Account for the differences, if any, between the predicted and the observed steady
state operating points of the circuit.

II. FLUORESCENT LAMP

OBJECTIVE: To obtain the v-i characteristics of a Fluorescent Lamp.

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:


Fig 3: Circuit diagram for testing of a Fluorescent Lamp

PROCEDURE:

1. Set up the circuit as shown in Fig.3 Keep the switch S open.
2. With the autotransformer at zero output position, close the switch S.
3. Increase the autotransformer output gradually until the lamp lights up. Note the
meter readings and enter them in the proper column in Table 3. When the lamp
starts to glow, increase the autotransformer output voltage in steps until the rated
voltage is obtained. Enter the readings of the meters in Table 3.
4. Decrease the supply voltage in steps until the lamp extinguishes. Record the meter
readings.






3
Revised in 2008

RESULTS:

Table 3: Fluorescent lamp characteristics.

V
s
(V) V
L
(V) V
c
(V) I
L
(A) Remarks

Lamp lights up





Lamp extinguishes

V
s
=Voltage across the supply =reading of the voltmeter V
1
V
1
=Voltage across the lamp =reading of the voltmeter V
2
V
c
=Voltage across the choke =reading of the voltmeter V
3
I
L
=Current through the lamp =reading of the ammeter A


DISCUSSION:

1. Plot V
L
versus I
L
and V
c
versus I
L
on the same graph sheet.
2. Comment on the nature of the plots. How are V
L
and Vc related?
3. Discuss the function of the choke in the lamp circuit. Can it be replaced by a
resistor?
4. What is the necessity of a starter? Can a single- pole switch replace it?
5. The voltage needed for starting the glow of the lamp and the voltage when the
lamp extinguishes, are not equal. Explain why?
6. If ac supply is replaced by dc, will the circuit work? If not, what changes are to be
made?















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