FUNCTION GENERATOR OVERVIEW

Sometimes a device will not properly respond to electrical impulses and other times a device won’t respond at all. In these situations a function generator is handy for diagnosing the problem. Function generators test the response of various circuits to electrical signals and impulses by releasing voltage patterns of differing frequencies and amplitudes, which are controlled by the operator of a function generator. Function generators are frequently used in conjunction with an oscilloscope, which displays electrical waveforms.

Waves

Function generators allow you to choose the shapes of the output which replicate several mathematical functions: a square wave moves abruptly from high to low voltage; a sine wave gently curves from from high to low voltage; triangle waves move from high to low at a fixed rate (i.e. diagonal lines); and sawtooth waves rise slowly and drop quickly.

Reason to Use a Function Generator

Function generators are a very easy and convenient means of testing electrical devices. You can use a function generator when a device or part of an electrical system malfunctions or stops functioning altogether. You test the device or system’s response to electrical activity by replicating its ordinary impulses using the function generator’s waveforms. When you send a device/system an electrical impulse like the one which it would usually have and the device/system either distorts or fails to accept the signal, you know that your device/system is defective.

Function generators are also used for measuring feedback from musical equipment — amplifiers, microphones, electric instruments, etc. — because the waveforms imitate situations when the device you’re testing will be affected by electricity, enabling you to draw conclusions as to what’s not working right.

Function Generator Use

The first step to using a function generator is (you guessed it) powering it on. Next you’ll connect your lead and ground to your oscilloscope in order to check the controls and make sure the generator is configured to use the waveform you need. After you have the waveform you want you’ll connect the signal lead to the device you want to test and the ground lead to the device’s ground (some devices have a negative lead; connect your ground lead to the negative lead in this case). After everything is set up you can then send impulses to your device. Not only can you control the waveform you send the device, you can also control the volume of the wave as well.