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I bought a Function Generator. I wanted it because I wanted to supply various waveforms to my electronic projects in the future.

What I wanted to know is.....does a function generator act as a sinusoidal voltage source to a circuit? In particular, if I construct an LRC circuit, can I power it with the function generator's sinusoidal waveform? The specs say the output voltage is 10volts peak, for a 50ohm load. If not, what kind of equipment do I need to provide a sinusoidal voltage source to an LRC circuit?

(The function generator can attenuate the amplitude by 10 db. If this makes any difference. )

The specs make no mention of output current.

I was also wondering could I possible amplify the output signal of the function generator, if necessary, to make it 'drive' an LRC circuit?

Thanks

Juke

Just to add, the sine wave output is 10Vpp into 50 ohm load.

Juke

Do you have an oscilloscope? I think the 50Ohm rating is the output impedance. Can you give more info about the Function generator that you have, maybe a link.

I have the GW-Instek gfg-8216A analog function generator. (GFG-8200A Series).

From what I now understand, the output impedance is 50 ohms, and the amplitude is greater or equal to 10Vpp(into a 50ohm load).

I'm still getting the hang of things!!!!

I'm reading an electronics book at the moment, and I'm currently learning about simple RC, RL, CL and RLC networks.

Is my function generator likely to blow up if I connect it to a parallel LC network? The load impedance won't be 50ohms, but some other impedance. WIll the 50ohms output impedance protect the function generator?

There's a sticker on the function generator saying "do not apply voltage to output jacks - can cause damage". Is anything else that I attach my probes to likely to damage the generator? Or are function generators pretty sturdy?

Juke

I

A few times I thought I messed my function generator up but it seems to survive. An LA circuit should be fine, I always think you don't want two powered devices trying to make the same node two different voltages. Just think your function generator is trying it's best make the signal you set it to, if it has to fight with another powered device with lower output impedance it's going to loose

Here is a RLC series circuit, tuned to its resonant frequency:-

https://www.circuitlab.com/circuit/r793e3/rlc/

Although the peak voltage of the function generator is 14.14V, the voltage cross the capacitor reaches a maximum of 80V. Likewise, the voltage across the inductor reaches a maximum of 80V.

If I constructed this circuit, and supplied the input voltage from my function generator set to 63.662kHz, would my generator survive the experiment? (The output impedance of the generator is 50 OHM).

Juke

Here's the RLC Circuit modified to take into account the output resistance of my function generator.

https://www.circuitlab.com/circuit/qg8kgs/rlc-2/

This time the max.voltage across the capacitor is 10.82V. (same for the inductance, 10.82V). But the voltage at node n2 (output of function generator) has reduced to 700mV,approx.

Juke

It is fine that the voltage at some components is higher then the function generator can handle. Modeling the output impedance is important, with out it the circuit was drawing ~2nd not 200mA.