Overview

In this lab we will learn to operate some basic thermal and electronic tools and meters.

Measurements and Safety Planning Day

Safety Concerns

  • (coronavirus)
  • shock hazards
  • burn hazards
  • electrical short hazards

Note that Ohm’s law doesn’t ask before acting.

Also note that even at harmful temperatures, hot items look exactly the same as cold items.

Materials

We’ll review the basic operation of each of these tools.

  • IR thermometer
  • Thermocouple and meter
  • Multimeter
  • DC power supply
  • Kill-a-watt meter

Calibration

We must periodically check our tools to be sure they are operating correctly.

These procedures are often called a calibration, where we measure a known quantity and check that we get the expected measurement.

Demonstrations

  • DC Power Supply

Representations of System

  • Photograph, drawing of physical system
  • Schematics showing connections
  • Mathematical representation

Measurements

  • Direct Measurements
    • Length, Mass
  • Indirect Measurements
    • Require multiple direct measurements that are combined to measure the quantity
    • Gravimetric Density
    • Thermal conductivity
    • Electrical Resistance

Troubleshooting

  • Understand the system
  • Make it fail
  • Quit Thinking and look
  • Divide and conquer
  • Change one thing at a time
  • Keep an audit trail
  • Check the plug
  • Get a fresh view
  • If you didn’t fix it, it ain’t fixed

David J. Agans

Measurements and Safety Data Collection Day

Today we will perform calibration experiments to check that instruments are working correctly and providing reasonable values.

Here are several calibrations you can perform

  • Voltage using power supply
  • Voltage using 5V supply
  • Temperature using boiling point
  • Temperature using ice point
  • Temperature using body temperature

If you finish those, here are some more advance calibrations you can try. Please ask your instructor before trying these as there are some shock and burn risks.

  • Voltage using wall supply
  • Current using power supply

Measurements and Safety Data Analysis Day

  • Were you able to make the measurements and calibrations you wanted to?
  • What measurements would you still like to perform?

Assignments

1 Calibration Plan

(Measurements and Safety After Planning Day Calibration Plan)

Write a short essay covering the following questions.

  • What calibration would you like to perform?
  • What is device are you calibrating?
  • What are you using as a measurement standard?

2 Calibration Diagram

(Measurements and Safety After Data Collection Day)

Submit a diagram from your notes showing how you performed one of your calibrations.

3 Calibration Analysis and Reflection

Please write a short essay covering the following questions. There should be a link on canvas for this.

  • What new technical skills did you learn?
  • What could you take from this activity and apply to your career interests?
  • Do you have more confidence using measurement tools now?