This document outlines a procedure to study the characteristics of a silicon diode under forward and reverse bias. The apparatus required includes an analog board, DC power supplies, digital multimeters, and potentiometers. Under forward bias, the potentiometer is used to vary the diode voltage from 0 to 1V while measuring the corresponding current values. A graph of the voltage-current relationship is plotted. Under reverse bias, the potentiometer varies the voltage from 0 to 10V and the current is observed and recorded.

1. 1 April 2009
Object:
To study the characteristics of silicon diode in
(i) Forward bias and
(ii) Reverse bias
Apparatus Required:
(i) Analog board of AB01
(ii) DC power supplies +12V from external source
or ST 2612 Analog Lab.
(iii) Digital Multimeter (2)
Procedure:
(a) Power supply (+12V DC) is connected at its
indicated position.
(b) Plotting of forward characteristics are done
as:
a. Potentiometer P1 is rotated fully in counter-
clockwise direction.
Silicon Diode Characteristics

2. 1 April 2009
b. Ammeter is connected between test points 2
and 8 to measure diode currents Id (mA).
c. Voltmeter is connected between test points
1 and 9 to measure voltage VD diode.
d. Power supply is switched on.
e. Potentiometer P1 is varied so as to increase
the value of diode voltage VD from zero to 1V
in step and corresponding values of diode
current ID in table.
f. A curve is plotted between voltage VD and
diode current ID. The curve is the required
forward characteristic of silicon diode.
Silicon Diode Characteristics

3. 1 April 2009
S. Diode Voltage Diode Current
No. V D (V) I D (mA)
1. 0.2 0
2. 0.3 0
3. 0.4 0
4. 0.5 0
5. 0.65 1
6. 0.74 2
Readings for Characteristics for Silicon Diode
Characteristics for Silicon Diode
Silicon Diode Characteristics

4. 1 April 2009
To plot reverse characteristic of Si diode:
(a) Potentiometer P1 is rotated fully in counter
clockwise direction.
(b) Ammeter is connected between test points 3 and
8 to measure diode current id.
(c) Voltmeter is connected between test points 1 and
9 to measure VD diode.
(d) Power supply is switched on.
(e) Potentiometer P1 is varied so as to increase the
value of diode voltage VD from zero to 10V in step
and corresponding values of diode current ID in
observation table.
Silicon Diode Characteristics

5. 1 April 2009
Faculty:
Dr. Anurag Srivastav
Submitted by:
Abhiranjan Kumar
Abhishek Anand
Adnan Mahboob
Akshay Jain
Alok Nayak
Akanksha Yadav
Abhilasha Sharma
Silicon Diode Characteristics