EXPERIMENT 8

CLASS B POWER AMPLIFIER

(EXPERIMENTAL)

I. OBJECTIVES
-To explore the characteristics of class B power amplifier
-To enhance understanding of the concept and the theory of the power amplifiers.

II. INTRODUCTION AND THEORY

The final stage in any analog system is known as output stage. This output stage usually consists
of a power amplifier or a driver to deliver a high power output signal to the load without loss of
gain. Since the power amplifiers or the derivers deliver a relatively high power signal they are
known as large-signal amplifiers. Linearity and power-conversion efficiency of the power
amplifier are the main requirements.

a) Harmonic distortion
The total harmonic distortion (THD) imposed by the amplifier on the output signal is used to
evaluate the power amplifiers after the design. The total harmonic distortion (THD) is expressed
in a percentage (measured in rms values) of the harmonic components with respect to the
fundamental of the output signal.

b) Power efficiency
Power-conversion efficiency is a measure of the ability of an active device to convert the dc
power of the supply into ac (signal) power delivered to the load and is given by

signal power delivered to load (PL )

η= × 100 percent
DC power consumed from the supply (PS )
According to energy conservation law input power = output power + power losses, the most
efficient power amplifier is the one that is capable of converting the power of the dc power
source ( PS ) into the ac power without losses. The power loss is the portion of power that
dissipates or consumes by the active devices ( PD ) during the conversion process. The average
power dissipated in the class B stage is given by
PD = PS − PL
Where PL is power dissipation in the load R L . The above equation satisfies the law of energy

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conservation i.e. PS = PL + PD
Likewise small-signal amplifier classifications, power amplifiers are classified into classes
according to the initial location of the dc operating point Q. The four classes are; class A, class
B, class AB and class C.

C) Class B power Amplifier

Class B power amplifier is known as Push-Pull amplifier. It consists of two complementary pair
of power transistors (PNP and NPN) with emitters connected as shown in figure 1. The operating
point of each one of the complementary pair initially located in the cutoff region. This implies
that the operating points Q ≡ (ic , v ce ) for the transistor Q1 ≡ (0, VCC ) and the transistor
Q 2 ≡ (0,−VCC ) be equal when the input signal v i = 0 , also the quiescent power dissipation in
both transistors is zero when vi = 0 . The maximum instantaneous swing voltage (each
transistor) for the operating point is equal to the power supply VCC as shown in figure 2.
Notice that the linear regions in both sides of the output characteristics are represented by the
dashed curves and lie between the two solid
+ V c c

T 1

vi vo

R L

T 2

- V c c

Figure 1 Class B power amplifier

curves. The circuit operates in a push-pull fashion. One transistor will take care of the positive
half (assume a sinusoidal input signal) of the signal charged with power then pushes (sources)
current to the load, the second transistor will charge the negative half with power and pulls (sink)
current from the load. As a result of having the dc operating point in the cut off region a small
amount of the applied input voltage will be consumed in bringing the operating point into the
active region of the device. This amount is about 0.7 V for T1 and –0.7 V for T2 and can be seen
as a dead band in the transfer characteristic ( v o , vi ) of the class B stage. The presence of the
dead band in the transfer characteristic produces the crossover distortion in the output signal.

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 ic
N P N T 1

D C lo a d lin e

vo m a x s w i n g
- cv e Q 2 v ce
Q 1
vo m a x s w i n g

D C lo a d lin e

P N P T 2
- ci

Figure 2 Two-side output characteristics for the complementary pair transistors

To reduce the crossover distortion of a class B power amplifier a high gain (gain=A) operational
amplifier and a negative feedback are added to the circuit shown in figure 1. This circuit
configuration shown in figure 4 will reduce the dead band from ± 0.7 Volts to ± 0.7/A Volts.

1 5 V

R c 1

B
T 1

5 O h m s
S 1 K C vo
A
5 O h m s
R L = 8O h m s
vs

T 2
D + 1 5
B
R c 2 T 1
+ 1 5

E C Bottom View
- 1 5 V
_
C vo
L M 7 4 1
1 K S
Figure 3 Class B power amplifier
+
R L

vs
36 - 1 5
T 2

Figure 4 Class B power amplifier with low crossover distortion

- 1 5
Figure 5 - Bottom view of NPN transistor (NTE 128) and PNP transistor (NTE 129)

III. PROCEDURE

Caution! The transistors in this experiment get very hot so the power supply should be on,
only when you are taking the measurement. On other occasions such as when you are
modifying your circuit, turn off the power supply. Don’t touch the transistors.

1- Assemble the circuit shown in figure 3 with node S connected to the ground (zero input) and
RC1 = RC 2 = 8Ω . The pin-out for the transistors is shown in Fig. 5. Use the Digital
multimeter to measure the voltage at nodes B, C and D and the currents I C1 , I C 2 , I B1 and
I B 2 . Find the dc operating point for each transistor.
2- Repeat step 1 with node S connected to +2V and –2V. Comment on the results.
3- Apply a sinusoidal wave with frequency 1KHz and 2V peak to peak to the input (node S) use
channel 1 of the oscilloscope to display input signal at node S and channel 2 to display the
output wave forms at nodes B, C and D respectively. Sketch the input and the output
waveform in each case showing the relative amplitudes and shape. Discuss your observation.
4- Set RC1 = RC 2 = 0Ω (i.e. replace them with short circuit) and with the sinusoidal input at
node S of 1V peak-to-peak and a frequency of 10 KHz, display the input at node S and the
output at node C.
5- Slowly increase the input signal amplitude while observing the input and the output
waveforms. Sketch and discuss the results.
6- Continue to increase the input signal amplitude until the output just begins to clip but don’t
exceed 10 V. Don’t worry if you don’t see clipping. At the input amplitude of 5 V, measure
the gain, the input resistance, the total supplied power PS and the power dissipated on the
load RL. Estimate the power dissipation on the transistors T1 and T2. Power dissipation in
the transistors is VCE times IC. It is dc power. Power dissipation in the load is ac power and is
given by Vrms2 / RL.
7- Assemble the circuit shown in figure 4 and repeat steps 4 to 6. Compare the output
waveform with the results of the circuit shown in figure 3. Explain the difference. Why you
don’t see a dead band for the amplifier in Fig. 4.

IV. QUESTIONS
1- Why do you expect to see clipping for large input amplitude?
2- Explain why in step -4 where input is 1 Vp-p (Fig. 3), you see almost zero output.
3- Explain how class B power amplifier converts DC power form the supply to ac power.
4- Explain what happens if the load resistance is disconnected in Fig. 3

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