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Beginner Analog Discovery, Module 1

Voltage Instrument

DC Power Supplies

Applying voltage using the Analog Discovery's Voltage instrument to a diode to produce light.
25.6K
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Voltmeter Instrument

Measuring DC Voltages

Utilize the Analog Discovery's Voltmeter instrument to measure voltage in a circuit.
15.5K
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Basic Periodic Signals

Project 1: Waveform Generator

Using the Analog Discovery's arbitrary waveform generator to apply a time-varying signal to an LED to make it flash on and off. This project builds off of the previous Analog Discovery material.
14.3K
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Sinusoids and Swept Signals

Project 2: Waveform Generator

Use the arbitrary waveform generator on the Analog Discovery to apply sinusoidal and swept sinusoidal voltages to a speaker.
15.0K
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Modulated Signals

Project 3: Waveform Generator

Use the arbitrary waveform generator on the Analog Discovery to create frequency modulated signals and apply them to a speaker. This project builds off of the previous Analog Discovery material.
10.1K
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Audio and .wav Files

Project 4: Waveform Generator

Use the Analog Discovery to play back .wav files through the speaker included in the analog parts kit. This project builds off of material presented in previous Analog Discovery projects.
13.8K
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Importing Files and Playing “Scales”

Project 5: Waveform Generator

Use the Analog Discovery's ability to import "custom" waveforms from a file.
10.4K
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Creating Signals from Math and “Beating”

Project 6: Waveform Generator

Use the Analog Discovery's ability to create "custom" waveforms according to a mathematical function.
8.89K
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Basic Waveform Measurement and Display

Project 1: Oscilloscope

Introduces the Analog Discovery's Oscilloscope instrument. Explains the basics of the ways in which voltages are acquired and displayed by the oscilloscope.
20.3K
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Triggered Acquisition

Project 2: Oscilloscope

The Arbitrary waveform generator instrument will be used to apply relatively rapidly varying wave forms to the oscilloscope, and then triggering of the waveform will be used to make the waveform easier to view and analyze.
11.2K
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Measurements and Cursors

Project 3: Oscilloscope

How to use some of the most basic and common oscilloscope tools to simplify the measurement process.
12.8K
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Math Channels

Project 4: Oscilloscope

Introduces the use of the math channel function on the Analog Discovery. This function allows the user to perform a wide variety of mathematical operations, all of which can be applied to the voltages being measured.
13.5K
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XY Plots

Project 5: Oscilloscope

Use the Analog Discovery to plot the voltage-current characteristics of a light emitting diode.
15.9K
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Exporting data

Project 6: Oscilloscope

Export the voltage-current data of a light emitting diode.
12.1K
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Single Sequence Acquisition

Project 7: Oscilloscope

Acquiring vibration data from the piezoelectric sensor from the analog parts kit.
8.64K
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Voltmeter Instrument

Measuring DC Voltages

Voltmeter Instrument:

Measuring DC voltages

Introduction

Related Material:
Voltage

This experiment introduces the Analog Discovery's™ Voltmeter instrument. Voltmeters are used to measure voltage differences in a circuit. Since voltages are a difference in electrical potential energy at two different points in a circuit, voltmeters generally have two terminals, or leads. When the leads are connected to two different points in a circuit, the voltmeter displays the voltage difference between the two points.

Voltages are often categorized as being either constant or time-varying. Constant voltages are often referred to as “DC” voltages (DC stands for direct current, but DC has come to be used to describe any signal which doesn't change with time). Time-varying voltages are often called “AC” voltages, where AC stands for alternating current. The Voltmeter instrument on the Analog Discovery can be used for measuring both DC and AC voltages, but we will only be using it to measure DC voltages in this experiment.

Before you begin, you should:
  • Be able to use the Voltage Instrument on the Analog Discovery to apply ±5V relative to the Analog Discovery's ground.
  • Be able to state how the reference voltage polarity and connection of voltmeter terminals are related to the sign of the measured voltage.
  • Be able to identify the voltmeter instrument terminals on the Analog Discovery and also state the voltage polarity sign convention associated with those terminals.
After you're done, you should:
  • Be able to use the Analog Discovery Voltmeter instrument to measure constant voltages.

Inventory:

Qty Description Typical Image Schematic Symbol Breadboard Image
1 LED
1 100Ω resistor

Procedures

Shortcut!

If you have completed the Voltage Instrument project and your circuit is still intact, feel free to skip ahead to complete Part C of Steps 1 and 2 in this exercise.

Step 1: Understanding the Circuit

A. Circuit Schematic

  1. Use V+ to apply 5V voltage across the LED to light it up.

  2. The resistor limits the current.

  3. To measure the voltage V, connect 1+ to the LED anode and 1- to the LED cathode.

B. Create Basic Circuit

  1. Connect V+ (red wire) to the 100Ω resistor.

  2. Connect the 100Ω resistor to the LED anode.

  3. Connect ground (, black wire) to the cathode of the LED.

C. Voltage Measurement Connections

  1. Connect 1+ (orange wire) to the diode's anode.

  2. Connect 1- (orange and white striped wire) to the diode's cathode.

Step 2: Set up Instruments

A. Open Voltage Instrument

  1. Return to the WaveForms™ main window.

  2. Click on the Voltage icon to open the Power Supplies instrument.

B. Turn on Power

  • The LED should light up!

 

C. Open Voltmeter Instrument

The images above are screenshots of Digilent WaveForms running on Microsoft Windows 7.

  1. Open WaveForms to view main window.

  2. Click on the More Instruments dropdown menu to open the Voltmeter instrument.

Step 3: Experiment

A. Voltmeter Instrument

  • The voltage across the diode will be displayed under “Channel 1”.

Test Your Knowledge!

  1. Try reversing the polarity on your voltage measurement (just interchange the 1+ and 1- terminals). This should just change the sign on the displayed number.

  2. Use channel 2 of the voltmeter (the 2+ and 2- terminals) to measure the voltage across the resistor. Set your polarity such that the assumed positive voltage is at the V+ connection, and the assumed negative voltage is at the diode's anode.
    • Reverse the polarity on the resistor measurement and verify that the sign on the measured voltage changes.
  • Other product and company names mentioned herein are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies. © 2014 Digilent Inc. All rights reserved.
  • Circuit and breadboard images were created using Fritzing.
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