ECE Emerge Lab #1: Introduction to ADALM2000 (M2K)

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Spring 2026

Overview

The purpose of Lab 1 is to:

1. Prelab Assignment

1.1 Reflective AI Exercise

Objective: Demonstrate conceptual understanding of physical signal capture and conversion using AI-assisted exploration.

Part 1: Exploration

Before starting, read the chapter A Mind Worth Questioning in your course textbook, paying particular attention to the Putting It Into Practice section, which explains the three-part format and what each part requires. Use the prompts below exactly as written. After each response, write two or three sentences in your own words summarizing what you learned before moving on. (These per-response summaries are for your own notes and are not submitted.)

Focus Area 1: Single-Ended vs. Differential Measurements

"I am a first-year electrical engineering student about to do my first lab using a data acquisition instrument. Can you explain the difference between single-ended and differential voltage measurements? Focus on how each method connects to the circuit under test, and explain in physical terms why one is more immune to noise picked up along the wiring."

Follow up with:

"Can you give me a concrete example of a situation where using a single-ended measurement instead of a differential one would cause a significant measurement error? Describe what would happen physically."

Focus Area 2: ADC and DAC Hardware

"I am a first-year electrical engineering student. Can you explain what an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) does, using the idea of resolution and quantization? I want to understand why a higher bit-depth ADC produces a more faithful digital representation of an analog signal, and what quantization error means physically."

Follow up with:

"Now explain the DAC (the digital-to-analog converter) and how it is the reverse process. If a DAC has 12-bit resolution and a 5 V output range, what is the smallest voltage step it can produce? Walk me through the calculation."

After completing both focus areas, work through the following concrete scenario in 3–5 sentences, for yourself, not for submission. Your M2K ADC has a resolution of approximately 2 mV in the $\pm$2.5 V range: that is the smallest voltage change it can distinguish. Now suppose your single-ended wiring picks up 15 mV of noise before the signal reaches the ADC. What is the smallest signal change you can actually detect? How does switching to differential wiring change that answer, and why? The goal is to see that the ADC's resolution sets a theoretical limit, but your wiring choice determines whether you can get anywhere near it in practice.

Part 2: The Self-Test

A quiz prompt is a set of instructions you give the AI telling it to quiz you. You are not asking for an explanation. You are asking the AI to test whether you can apply what you have learned.

Before writing, review the Step 2: Writing Your Own Quiz Prompt subsection in the textbook's Putting It Into Practice section. Your prompt must satisfy all four structural criteria listed there, and the worked example in that subsection is a useful template to adapt.

Using Gemini (or whichever AI tool you used for Part 1), write a quiz prompt that instructs the AI to ask you at least three questions, one at a time, waiting for your answer before continuing. Beyond the four structural criteria, your questions must also cover both of the following topics:

Your prompt must explicitly instruct the AI not to ask definition-only questions.

Next, use the meta-prompt from the Step 3: The Meta-Prompt subsection. Copy it exactly as written, paste your draft prompt where indicated, and submit it to the AI. Save the AI's critique and revised version. Then run the final quiz using the revised prompt and save the complete transcript.

You will collect four items for submission: (1) your original draft prompt, (2) the AI's critique of your draft, (3) your revised prompt, and (4) the full quiz transcript. Take a screenshot of each and add your name before uploading.

Prelab Deliverable #1

Submit the following four items via the course submission app. For each item, take a screenshot of the AI chat window showing the full text, add your name using your device's markup tool, and upload the image.

Part 3: Formal Reflection (150–250 words)

Your written synthesis must address all three of the following points:

What a strong reflection looks like

This reflection will be assessed by an AI grader. To help you write a response that demonstrates real understanding, here is what distinguishes a strong response from a weak one.

The Link is strong when your prose makes a chain of cause and effect: a wiring decision leads to a signal property (or problem), which affects what the ADC receives. Weak versions state the two topics side by side without connecting them.

The Technical Why is strong when you use a term like common-mode rejection or quantization error to explain how something works physically. Naming the term alone is not enough; show that you understand the mechanism it describes.

The Lab Application is strong when it names a specific, concrete action you could get wrong (for example: connecting both signal wires to the same reference instead of using the differential inputs) and describes what you would actually observe as a result (for example: a measurement corrupted by mains noise). Vague statements like "the measurement would be less accurate" do not meet this standard.

Write as a single argument in continuous prose. Do not use bullet points or separate paragraphs for each point; they should flow together. Include your word count at the end.

Prelab Deliverable #2

Submit your Part 3 formal reflection (150–250 words) via the course submission app.

1.2 Solderless Breadboard

You will use a solderless breadboard, as depicted in Figure 1, to construct basic circuits. Take the time to understand What is a solderless breadboard? and how it is used.

Solderless breadboard viewed from above. Four horizontal power rails run the full width of the board, one pair at the top and one pair at the bottom, marked with red and blue stripes for positive and negative connections respectively. The central area contains two banks of vertical tie-point columns separated by a center gap, with yellow lines showing that holes in each column of five share an electrical connection. The center gap isolates the two banks, allowing integrated circuits to span it.

Figure 1: Typical solderless protoboard, with yellow lines indicating the electrical connections. The horizontal connections, the two at the top and the two at the bottom, are typically used for connecting any power supplies and ground.

Figure 2 shows how a solderless protoboard will be used in ECE Emerge.

Photograph of a solderless breadboard mounted on a green printed circuit board adaptor. A blue LCD module is visible at the top. Two resistors with color-coded bands are inserted horizontally into the center of the breadboard. Four wires connect the breadboard to a female 1x15 pin connector on the adaptor board: a red wire indicating a positive voltage connection, a black wire indicating negative, a green wire for ground, and an orange wire for a signal connection. The wiring demonstrates how a breadboard circuit interfaces with a structured connector for use with external equipment.

Figure 2: An example of how a solderless circuit board will be used in ECE Emerge. The circuit contains two 1 kΩ resistors. You can verify this value from their color codes. If you are unfamiliar with resistor color coding, you can use any Large Language Model (LLM) with the prompt: "Please explain color codes used on resistors" to learn how to interpret them. Note how these resistors are connected to the female 1x15 connector on the printed circuit board. Pay attention to the colored wires, which provide hints about the circuit connections. When a circuit is built, the person will typically use (not always) red wires to indicate positive voltage connections, black wires for negative voltage connections, and green for ground. Observe how the red, green, red, and orange wires are used in this circuit — their colors give you important clues about the electrical connections being made.

The M2K is a USB-powered data acquisition module featuring two 12-bit ADCs (100 MSPS sampling rate) and two DACs (150 MSPS sampling rate). An analog-to-digital converter samples an analog signal to produce a digital representation of the signal, as shown in Figure 3. A digital-to-analog converter does the opposite, using a digital representation of the signal to produce an analog signal, as shown in Figure 4.

Block diagram of an analog-to-digital conversion system. An analog input signal flows right into a Sample and Hold block, which feeds into an Analog to Digital Converter block. A Reference signal enters the converter from below. The converter outputs multiple parallel lines, represented by three arrows and an ellipsis indicating a multi-bit digital output, into a Digital Signal Processing System block on the right.

Figure 3: An analog digital converter samples an analog signal to produce a digital representation of the signal.

Block diagram of a digital-to-analog conversion system. A Digital Signal Processing System block on the left outputs multiple parallel lines, represented by three arrows and an ellipsis indicating a multi-bit digital input, into a Digital to Analog Converter block. A Reference signal enters the converter from below. The converter output flows right through a Filter block, then an Amplifier block, producing an Analog Output signal on the far right.

Figure 4: A digital to analog converter produces an analog signal from a digital representation.

When the M2K is paired with Analog Devices' Scopy™ graphical application software on a computer, the M2K provides the following advanced instrumentation functionalities:

Block diagram of the ADALM2000 M2K module showing five functional sections stacked vertically. Source section: V-out terminals, plus or minus 5 V, 50 ohms, 12-bit, 150 MSPS DAC with 30 MHz bandwidth. Measure section: V-in terminals, plus or minus 25 V, 1 megaohm in parallel with 30 picofarads, 12-bit, 100 MSPS ADC with 25 MHz bandwidth. Power Supply section: V-plus, V-minus, and GND terminals, 0 to 5 V and negative 5 to 0 V at 50 milliamps. Digital Trigger section: Trigger terminal, 3.3 V and 1.8 V at 10 MSPS, 5 V tolerant. Digital IO section: DIO0 through DIO15 terminals, 3.3 V and 1.8 V at 10 MSPS, 5 V tolerant.

Figure 5: The ADALM2000 (M2K) USB module provides five instrument functions in a single device: a dual-channel DAC source, a dual-channel ADC measurement input, a variable power supply, digital trigger I/O, and 16-channel digital I/O, all accessible via the Scopy software interface.

1.3 M2K Connections

You need to get acquainted with the M2K connections input/outputs. Electrical connectors are categorized by their gender, as illustrated in Figure 6. The M2K unit comes with one 2×15 male connector to which mates a 2×15 female connector.

Diagram showing two electrical connectors side by side with a rightward arrow between them. On the left, a blue male plug labeled Male Plug (Pins) shows a rectangular connector body with multiple protruding metal pins arranged in rows. On the right, a blue female receptacle labeled Female Receptacle (Sockets) shows a matching connector body with recessed sockets designed to receive the pins.

Figure 6: Terminology analogy: The male connector protruding pins fit into the female connector's recessed sockets, similar to biological mating.

In this course you will encounter two types of 2×15 female connections:

  1. The wire harness that comes with the M2K (i.e., the M2K Wire Harness Connector)
  2. The UC Davis Adaptor Board, which you will assemble in the lab for your future use.

1.3.1 M2K Wire Harness Connector

Figure 7 shows the M2K wire harness connector and the connections to the M2K unit. From the wire harness, connections are made to a solderless board. The M2K connections that will be used most of the time in this course are the connections on the left side of the connector (5 on top and five on the bottom row).

To use the M2K wire harness connector, you will need to know how to interpret the colored wires:

Pinout diagram of the ADALM2000 M2K module labeled at top and bottom rows. Top row left to right: pin 1-plus Analog Input 1 Positive, pin 2-plus Analog Input 2 Positive, V-plus Positive Supply, W1 Analog Output 1, Ground, TI Trigger In, then digital I/O pins 0 through 7. Bottom row left to right: pin 1-minus Analog Input 1 Negative, pin 2-minus Analog Input 2 Negative, V-minus Negative Supply, W2 Analog Output 2, Ground, TO Trigger Out, then digital I/O pins 8 through 15. Each pin is represented by a distinct color-coded wire connecting the two 1x15 connector rows through a central cable harness, allowing visual identification of each signal line.

Figure 7: Pinout diagram of the ADALM2000 M2K module showing the signal assignment and color code for each of the 30 pins across the two 1×15 connectors. The top connector carries analog inputs, positive supply, analog output W1, trigger input, and digital I/O lines 0–7. The bottom connector carries the complementary analog input references, negative supply, analog output W2, trigger output, and digital I/O lines 8–15.

1.3.2 UC Davis M2K Adaptor Board

Most of the time in the course, you will be using the UC Davis M2K Adaptor Board as it simplifies the connections to a solderless board. The PCB makes connections from the M2K to two 1×15 female headers mounted on the PCB. From these connections, wired connections are made to the solderless board fixed to the PCB.

Photograph of the ADALM2000 Active Learning Module connected to the UC Davis ADALM2000 Adapter Board. The blue ADALM2000 device is at the top, showing its label, USB and power indicators, and the Analog Devices logo. Below it, the green adapter board holds a solderless breadboard on the right side and two 1x15 pin connectors on the left that interface directly with the M2K module's output pins. The UC Davis branding is visible on the lower left of the adapter board.

Figure 8: The ADALM2000 Active Learning Module plugged into the UC Davis adapter board. The adapter board provides a solderless breadboard for circuit assembly and routes all M2K signals to labeled connectors for easy access.

The silkscreen lettering shows the connections (they are in exactly the same order as shown in Figure 7).

One 1×15 connector connects to the M2K connections:

Close-up of the top 1x15 connector on the UC Davis M2K adapter board, showing six labeled pins from left to right: pin 1-plus Analog Input 1 Positive, pin 2-plus Analog Input 2 Positive, ground symbol Ground, V-plus Positive Supply, W1 Analog Output 1, ground symbol Ground, and TI Trigger In. Pin labels are printed on a dark blue background with diagonal text annotations above identifying each signal.

Figure 9: UC Davis M2K Adaptor Board: Connections on the top connector that will be used extensively in ECE Emerge.

The second 1×15 connector connects to the M2K connections:

Close-up of the bottom 1x15 connector on the UC Davis M2K adapter board, showing six labeled pins from left to right: pin 1-minus Analog Input 1 Negative, pin 2-minus Analog Input 2 Negative, ground symbol Ground, V-minus Negative Supply, W2 Analog Output 2, and ground symbol Ground. Pin labels are printed on a dark blue background with diagonal text annotations below identifying each signal.

Figure 10: UC Davis M2K Adaptor Board: Connections on the bottom connector that will be used extensively in ECE Emerge.

Photograph of the UC Davis adapter board with a circuit wired on the solderless breadboard. A single resistor is inserted in the center of the breadboard. Four wires connect the breadboard rails to the top 1x15 connector: a red wire from the positive supply to the top-left plus rail, a black wire from negative supply to the bottom-left plus rail, and two green wires connecting ground to the minus rails on both the top and bottom horizontal power rails. The color coding demonstrates the convention of red for positive voltage, black for negative voltage, and green for ground.

Figure 11: Example of how UC Davis M2K Adaptor Board is used with M2K. The board will be plugged into a M2K. There are two sets of horizontal rails on the solderless board. In each set, they are labeled + (red) and − (blue). Ignore the specific meaning of the labels on the solderless boards. In this example, the person implementing the circuit chose to use the horizontal rails such that: the "+" on the top rail is for the positive supply voltage; the "+" on the bottom rail for negative supply voltage; and the "−" on both the top and bottom horizontal rails for ground. Note how the red, black, and green wires were used to indicate positive, negative, and ground connections, respectively. Get into a habit of doing the same, as it makes debugging a circuit much easier.

During the lab you will be given a printed circuit board and the necessary connectors, and you will assemble and solder your own adapter board. This video shows how this will be done: Assembling a UC Davis M2K Adaptor Board

1.4 Software Installation and Calibration

Before coming to Lab 1, two software installations are required. One is for the M2K, and the other is the Scopy™ graphical application software. Follow the directions:

  1. M2K Video Series: Video 1 - Unboxing

  2. M2K Video Series: Video 2a - Windows Installation
    (Note: If you experience problems setting up the M2K device, before contacting a teaching assistant, verify that you have installed Scopy version 1.4.1 with firmware version 0.31, as these specific versions are known to be reliable.)

WARNING: Documentation Convention — Your Name in Every Image

Every screenshot, photograph, or saved plot you submit in this course must have your name visible inside the image itself, not just in the filename. Images without your name cannot be attributed and will not receive credit.

For screenshots on Windows: Use the Snipping Tool (Win+Shift+S) to capture. Open the saved file in the Photos app, select Edit and Create, then Draw, and use the text tool to type your name in the upper-left corner. Save.

For screenshots on Mac: Press Shift+Cmd+4 to capture. Open in Preview, click the markup toolbar (pencil icon), select the Text tool, and type your name. Save.

For photographs of hardware: Before photographing, place a small piece of paper with your name written clearly next to the hardware so it appears in the frame. Alternatively, annotate the photo after using your phone's built-in photo editor or the methods above.

Save files with descriptive names, for example: Smith_Lab1_Deliverable2a.png.

Prelab Deliverable #3

Take a screenshot of your Scopy application's main interface. Add your name to the screenshot using the method described in the Documentation Convention above, then insert the labeled image into your prelab report.

M2K Calibration

Watch M2K Video Series: Video 3 - Calibration. Plug in your M2K using the USB connector in the middle. Open SCOPY, click the connect button and allow the calibration of the unit to conclude.

(Note: During calibration, the M2K signal generator temporarily switches to low impedance mode, which can disrupt any connected circuits. The generator outputs a ground signal (0 V) followed by a near full-scale voltage for approximately 100 ms. This sudden voltage change explains why you should never have circuitry connected during the calibration process. Furthermore, if a load is connected during calibration, the system will incorrectly adjust its calibration values to compensate for that specific load. This compromises accuracy, as voltages near full scale may not be output correctly when different loads are used later.)

IMPORTANT

Calibration occurs each time you connect to the ADALM2000 after power on. A COMMON MISTAKE IS TO CONNECT THE M2K ANALOG INPUTS AND OUTPUTS BEFORE STARTUP. ALWAYS DISCONNECT THE ANALOG INPUTS AND OUTPUTS BEFORE CALIBRATION TAKES PLACE WHEN SCOPY IS LAUNCHED.

1.5 Lab Safety

Complete the required ECE Safety Training quiz before attending your first lab session. Carefully review all safety requirements detailed in Appendix B. These safety protocols are mandatory for maintaining a safe lab environment.

1.6 Guidelines for Good Soldering Practices

Complete the required ECE Solder Training before your first lab session. During the lab, you will be soldering electronic components. Review the guidelines for good soldering practices in Appendix C to ensure proper technique and safety.

1.7 M2K Adaptor Construction

During the lab period, you will construct your M2K adaptor board. Review the detailed instructions in Appendix A before lab so you can ask any clarifying questions during the lab session.

1.8 Lab Instructions: Become Familiar

Carefully read through the lab procedure in the next section before coming to the lab session. This preparation will help you use your lab time efficiently and allow you to ask specific questions about any steps you find unclear.

1.9 Complete Pre-Lab Assessment

Complete your pre-lab assessment as well as the assessments of lab safety and soldering training.

Finally, before coming to the lab, read through all the lab instructions to understand the procedures, prepare clarifying questions, and maximize your lab time efficiency.

You are now ready for the lab!

2. Lab Procedure

Coming to the labs, you must bring:

  1. Your laptop
  2. Your M2K with all software installed
  3. Phone/camera to take pictures during lab

During the lab there are three general tasks that need to be completed:

  1. Investigate the M2K Power Supply and Voltmeter (if your adaptor board is done, use it. If not, just use the solderless board without attaching it to the adaptor board)
  2. Building the UC Davis M2K Adaptor Board
  3. Collection of parts for future labs

The tasks will not be completed sequentially. The lab will be divided into groups that will cycle through the activities.

IMPORTANT

At each step that requests an image, capture it immediately. Do not wait until the end of the session. Your name must be visible in every image you submit (see the Documentation Convention in the Prelab Assignment). Blurry or unlabeled images will not receive credit.

Complete all steps during your scheduled lab session when teaching assistants are available to help. Address any issues during this time by consulting student assistants or the teaching assistant. If you need assistance after the lab period, contact only your assigned teaching assistant.

While you may complete unfinished M2K measurements after the lab period if necessary, you are strongly encouraged to take full advantage of the lab session when expert help is readily available.

Part 1: Software Installation Verification

Verify that you have successfully installed both the M2K drivers and the Scopy™ application. Connect your M2K to your computer using the USB cable and launch the Scopy™ application. Confirm that the software recognizes your device.

Part 2: M2K Power Supply

The M2K has two power supplies that can be used in tracking and independent modes:

  1. Positive supply from zero to plus five volts that can provide up to 50 milliamps of current
  2. Negative supply from zero to minus five volts that can provide up to 50 milliamps of current
  3. The ground of power supplies are made internally and shows up externally as the ground connections.

In tracking mode, the supplies are maintained equal and opposite, whereas in independent mode, you can adjust positive and negative voltage individually.

Set the positive supply voltage to the last three digits of your telephone number multiplied by 5, scaled to fall within 0–5 Volt, for instance:

Adjust the negative supply voltage to reflect your birth date in the format of d.dmm (day.month); for instance:

Lab Deliverable #1

Enable the output voltages and capture a screenshot of the power supply displaying the programmed and measured voltages. Add your name to the screenshot before saving. Upload the image via the course submission app.

Screenshot of the Scopy software Power Supply interface showing two channels. Channel 1 generates an output of 3.000 VDC. Channel 2 generates an output of -1.000 VDC

Figure 12: The Scopy Power Supply interface configured to generate 3 V and -1 V: The positive power supply (V+) is generating approximately 2.996 V and the negative power supply (V-) is generating approximately -0.988 V.

Part 3: M2K Voltmeter

Become familiar with Scopy™ Voltmeter. The M2K voltmeter uses 12-bit ADCs to measure voltages. There are two channels:

  1. Channel one uses differential analog input channels 1 positive (1+) and 1 negative (1−)
  2. Channel two uses differential analog input channels 2 positive (2+) and 2 negative (2−)

In each channel, there are two ranges: ±25 V and ±2.5 V. It is important to pay attention to what range the voltmeter is using as that will determine the resolution of the measurement. The ADC is 12-bit, which implies that changes in voltage can be detected as small as $50/(2^{12}) = 12.2$ mV in the ±25 V range, and 1.2 mV in the ±2.5 V range.

Allowing for noise and non-ideal ADC behavior, you can expect results slightly worse than this. For this course, we will state that the smallest voltage change that the M2K ADC can detect is 20 mV for the ±25 V and 2 mV in the ±2.5 V range. Resolution is optimized by performing a measurement in the smallest range. For instance, with the M2K a 1 V measured signal in the ±2.5 V range can be measured within 2 mV, so the measured value should be reported as $(1.000 \pm 0.001)$ V.

The DC voltages provided by the M2K power supplies are produced on the RED and WHITE output leads (corresponding to V+ and V−, respectively). The input voltages of the voltmeter are measured using the ORANGE and BLUE wires.

Single-Sided Voltage Measurements

In single-sided voltage measurement, the voltage is measured relative to ground. Use the solderless breadboard and implement the connections shown in Figure 13.

IMPORTANT

Get into a habit of using horizontal bus rails and colored wires connections, such as shown in Figure 11. Use jumper wires to make connections from the horizontal buses to the central part of the solderless board, where typically the components will be placed.

Two side-by-side circuit diagrams showing single-sided voltage measurements of the M2K power supplies. Left circuit: The V-plus terminal connects to the positive terminal of a battery whose negative terminal connects to an internal M2K ground. The V-plus node also connects to Ch1-plus, which connects through a voltmeter labeled V1 to Ch1-minus, which is tied to an explicit external ground. Right circuit: The V-minus terminal connects to the negative terminal of an inverted battery whose positive terminal connects to an internal M2K ground. The V-minus node connects to Ch2-plus, which connects through a voltmeter labeled V2 to Ch2-minus, also tied to an explicit external ground. Both circuits illustrate that one probe terminal must be explicitly connected to ground for a valid single-sided measurement.

Figure 13: Single sided voltage measurements of the power supplies.

If your UC Davis adaptor board is ready, use it. Otherwise, use the harness connector. Make sure to connect wires according to the circuit in Figure 13:

Lab Deliverable #2a

Take a clear photograph of your breadboard showing the connections made. You do not need to show the entire M2K, just enough to document which wires are connected and how the ground and negative terminals are wired. Your name must be visible in the photograph. Upload the image via the course submission app.

Turn on both channels of the voltmeter, and record the voltages produced by the power supply. You will find that they do not exactly match what you programmed — that is normal. See if you can get the output measurements to match your target values by making small adjustments to the power supply voltages.

Lab Deliverable #2b

Capture a screenshot of the voltmeter displaying the measured voltages for both channels. Add your name to the screenshot before saving. Upload the image via the course submission app.

Screenshot of the Scopy software Voltmeter application showing DC voltage measurements on two channels.

Figure 14: The Scopy Voltmeter instrument displaying two simultaneous DC voltage measurements: Channel 1 reading approximately 3.007 V and Channel 2 reading approximately negative 1.069 V, consistent with the M2K positive and negative supply outputs.

Differential Voltage Measurement

Since the connections to Ch1+ and Ch1− are "floating" (and also Ch2+ and Ch2−), they can be linked anywhere in a circuit for a differential measurement. This experiment makes a differential voltage measurement with Ch1+ and Ch1−. Make the connections illustrated in Figure 15 to perform a differential voltage measurement between the positive and negative power supplies, and a single sided measurement of the negative voltage supply.

Circuit diagram showing simultaneous differential and single-sided voltage measurements of the M2K dual power supply. A center-tapped battery stack represents the M2K supply: V-plus at the top, an internal ground midpoint labeled Internal in M2K on the left, and V-minus at the bottom. Ch1-plus taps from the V-plus node and connects through voltmeter V1 to Ch1-minus, which is wired all the way down to the V-minus node, so V1 measures the full differential voltage across both supplies. A second tap from the same vertical wire connects Ch2-plus through voltmeter V2 to Ch2-minus, which is tied to an explicit external ground, so V2 measures the V-minus supply voltage as a single-sided measurement relative to ground.

Figure 15: Differential and single-sided voltage measurements of the power supplies.

Lab Deliverable #2c

Take a screenshot showing the measured voltages from the differential setup. Add your name to the screenshot before saving. Upload the image via the course submission app.

Lab Deliverable #2d

In 2–3 sentences, interpret your results: what did Channel 1 measure, what did Channel 2 measure, and what does the comparison reveal about the difference between a differential and a single-ended measurement in this circuit? Enter your answer via the course submission app.

Part 4: Building the UC Davis M2K Adaptor Board

In this part of the lab, you will assemble your own UC Davis M2K Adaptor Board that will be used in future labs. This adaptor board simplifies connections and circuit construction for future experiments.

IMPORTANT

Detailed step-by-step instructions for the adaptor board construction are provided in Appendix A. Follow these instructions carefully as improper assembly can render the board unusable.

Materials Provided

Safety Requirements

Assembly Process Overview

  1. Identify proper board orientation (top vs. bottom)
  2. Position connectors correctly (edge connector from bottom, headers from top)
  3. Solder one terminal of each connector and get verification
  4. Complete soldering of all terminals after approval
  5. Mount the solderless breadboard to complete assembly

Lab Deliverable #3

Take clear photographs of your completed UC Davis M2K Adaptor Board from all sides. Ensure solder joints are visible in at least one photograph, and your name is visible in at least one photograph. Upload the images via the course submission app.

Part 5: Collecting Parts

Get your component box, assemble it, place TI sticker on it, and your name. Store your parts in this box for the duration of the course. Bring it with you to labs.

Solid Core Stripped Connecting Wires

  1. Cut approximately 2-inch long solid core wires in the following quantity and colors:
Part 5: Collecting Parts
Quantity Description
2 Red
2 Black
2 Green
1 Yellow
1 Blue
1 Orange

  1. Strip both ends of each wire using the stripping tool available in the lab. Ensure the tool is set to remove approximately 1/4 inch of insulation from each end.

  2. If you need additional wires in future, or wires of different length, make additional ones the next time you are in the lab. While wires could also be stripped with an edge cutter, the stripping tool makes it much easier.

Photograph of a 2-inch long solid core red wire with approximately half an inch of insulation stripped from each end, exposing bare metal leads. The wire is shown against a ruler for scale, spanning from the 0 to 2 inch marks.

Figure 16: Example of a 2-inch long solid core red wire.

Components for Lab #2 and #3

Collect the following components:

Part 5: Collecting Parts
Quantity Description
2 820 Ω ±10% Resistors
2 1 kΩ ±10% Resistors
2 1.2 kΩ ±10% Resistors
1 Red LED
1 100 Ω Resistor
1 2.2 kΩ Resistor
1 1 mH Inductor
1 1 µF Capacitor

Lab Deliverable #4a

Take a clear, well-lit photograph of all your stripped connecting wires, organized by color. Your name must be visible in the photograph. Upload the image via the course submission app.

Lab Deliverable #4b

Take a clear, well-lit photograph of all your collected components, arranged neatly so every item is identifiable. Your name must be visible in the photograph. Upload the image via the course submission app.

Resistance Measurements

Perform the following measurements:

  1. Measure the resistance of each resistor using the Keysight multimeter on your bench. See: How to Measure Resistance with Keysight EDU34450A Multimeter

  2. Measure the capacitance of the capacitor using the Keysight multimeter on your bench. See: How to Measure Capacitance with Keysight EDU34450A Multimeter

  3. Record all measured values for future reference.

Lab Deliverable #4c

Enter all measured component values via the course submission app: the resistance of each resistor (820 Ω ×2, 1 kΩ ×2, 1.2 kΩ ×2, 100 Ω, 2.2 kΩ) and the capacitance of the 1 µF capacitor.

BEFORE LEAVING THE LAB:

Lab Completion Self-Verification Checklist

Self-Verification Checklist

Before leaving the lab, verify that you have collected all the necessary information and materials to complete your lab report by checking off each item below:

  1. Part 1: Software Installation Verification

  2. [ ] Software has been installed and tested

  3. Part 2: M2K Power Supply

  4. [ ] Screenshot of the power supply displaying programmed and measured voltages (Deliverable 1)

  5. [ ] Recorded your programmed voltage values and target calculations

  6. Part 3: M2K Voltmeter

  7. [ ] Photograph of breadboard with single-sided connections (Deliverable 2a), name visible
  8. [ ] Screenshot of single-sided voltmeter readings (Deliverable 2b), name visible
  9. [ ] Screenshot of differential voltmeter readings (Deliverable 2c), name visible

  10. [ ] Written interpretation comparing the two measurement types (Deliverable 2d)

  11. Part 4: UC Davis M2K Adaptor Board

  12. [ ] Photographs of completed adaptor board, all sides (Deliverable 3), name visible in at least one
  13. [ ] Solder joints visible in at least one photograph

  14. [ ] Adaptor board is fully assembled and functional

  15. Part 5: Component Collection

  16. [ ] Photograph of stripped connecting wires (Deliverable 4a), name visible
  17. [ ] Photograph of all collected components (Deliverable 4b), name visible
  18. [ ] Measured resistance and capacitance values recorded (Deliverable 4c)

  19. [ ] All required components have been collected:

    • [ ] 2× Red, 2× Black, 2× Green, 1× Yellow, 1× Blue, 1× Orange wires. More will be better.
    • [ ] Resistors: 2× 820 Ω, 2× 1 kΩ, 2× 1.2 kΩ, 1× 100 Ω, 1× 2.2 kΩ
    • [ ] 1× Red LED
    • [ ] 1× 1 mH Inductor
    • [ ] 1× 1 µF Capacitor

  20. Work area

  21. [ ] Clean?
  22. [ ] Soldering iron off?

IMPORTANT

If any items are missing, consult with your lab TA before leaving. Completing this checklist ensures you have all required materials for your lab report.

3. Post Lab

Complete the following after your lab session and submit via the course submission app.

Lab Deliverable #5

Enter the positive and negative supply voltages you programmed and the actual voltages the M2K produced. For each supply, state whether the measured value matched the target and by how much it differed.

Lab Deliverable #6

In one or two sentences, state the resolution of the M2K voltmeter in the ±25 V range and in the ±2.5 V range. Explain why using the smaller range gives a more precise measurement.

Lab Deliverable #7

In 2–3 sentences, describe one observation or challenge from the lab session and what it revealed about the equipment or your understanding of the measurement concepts.

Lab Deliverable #8

In 2–3 sentences, describe one specific advantage the UC Davis M2K Adaptor Board provides compared to using the wire harness directly, based on your experience in this lab session.

Appendix A: M2K Adaptor Board Construction

Overview

In this lab, you will construct an adaptor board for the M2K. This adaptor board simplifies circuit construction and testing with the M2K. During this process, you will also develop essential soldering skills that will be valuable throughout your engineering career.

Materials Provided

Step-by-Step Assembly Instructions

Step 1: Identify Board Orientation

Familiarize yourself with the top and bottom of the PCB (see Figures A1 and A2).

Photograph of the top side of the UC Davis ADALM2000 adapter board printed circuit board, unpopulated without the breadboard attached. The green PCB shows two rows of through-hole pads for the 1x15 M2K connectors at the top, a large central area with solderless breadboard mounting pads arranged in the standard tie-point pattern, and two additional connector rows at the bottom. The UC Davis Electrical and Computer Engineering logo is printed in the lower right corner. The board is labeled ADALM2000 Adapter Board V1.0 in the lower left.

Figure A1: Top of the PCB. The top side features the UC Davis logo.**

Photograph of the bottom side of the UC Davis ADALM2000 adapter board. The green PCB shows the solder side with exposed through-hole solder pads arranged in the breadboard tie-point pattern across the central area, connector pads at the top and bottom edges, and visible PCB trace routing connecting the various pads. No labels or logos are visible on this side.

Figure A2: Bottom of the PCB.

Figure A3 shows how the adaptor board will interface with the M2K.

Photograph of the ADALM2000 Active Learning Module plugged into the UC Davis adapter board with three connector locations highlighted by colored arrows. The blue ADALM2000 device is at the top. A yellow arrow on the left points to the edge connector mounted on the back of the adapter board where the M2K plugs in. Two red arrows on the right point to the two 1x15 female header connectors mounted on the top side of the adapter board, which provide access to all M2K signals for breadboard wiring. The assembled solderless breadboard is visible across the center of the adapter board.

Figure A3: The M2K connected to the UC Davis ECE adaptor board. The arrows highlight the three connectors and their proper mounting positions. The yellow arrow indicates the edge connector, which is mounted on the BACK of the adaptor board. The red arrows point to the 1×15 female headers, mounted from the adaptor board's TOP side.

IMPORTANT

Note that the 2×15 edge connector is mounted from the BACK of the board, while the 1×15 female headers are mounted from the top. DO NOT GET THIS WRONG.

Important Notes

Step 2: Position Connectors (DO NOT SOLDER YET)

  1. Insert all connectors:
  2. 1 edge connector mounted from the bottom of the PCB

  3. 2 1×15 female headers from the top of the PCB

  4. Important: Mount the 1×15 headers in the holes labeled J2 Female and J5 Female (refer to Figure A7).

  5. Have your lab partner verify the correct positioning before proceeding.

Step 3: Soldering Review

  1. Review the information in Appendix C: Guidelines for Good Soldering Practices before proceeding.

Step 4: Initial Soldering

  1. Solder ONLY ONE terminal on each of the three connectors — see Figures A4 and A5.

  2. STOP after soldering just one terminal per connector.

  3. Apply the appropriate amount of solder:

  4. Position the soldering iron so it simultaneously heats both the connector terminal and the PCB pad
  5. Only after both surfaces are heated (typically 2–3 seconds), apply the solder
  6. Work quickly but carefully — you have approximately 5 seconds before the board may overheat
  7. The solder should naturally flow and "wick" into the joint, creating a smooth, concave connection
  8. Avoid using excessive solder which creates unwanted "blobs"

WARNING

If you make a mistake, immediately notify the undergraduate student assistant for help.

Two-part close-up photograph showing the edge connector installation on the UC Davis adapter board. Top image: the top side of the adapter board showing the labeled pin header row with signal names 1-plus, 2-plus, ground, V-plus, W1, ground, TI, 0 through 7, and two rows of breadboard tie-point holes below. Bottom image: the underside of the adapter board showing the edge connector pins protruding through from below, with the black plastic edge connector body visible underneath, demonstrating that the edge connector is inserted and soldered from the bottom side of the board.

Figure A4: Close-up of the edge connector installation. Note the edge connector is mounted from the bottom of the adaptor board.

Two close-up photographs showing the 1x15 female header connectors on the UC Davis adapter board, both viewed from the bottom side. Left image: a side-angle view showing a row of 15 solder joints along the bottom edge of the board, with the female header pins soldered through from the top side and the blue ADALM2000 device visible in the background. Right image: a top-down view of the bottom side showing two parallel rows of solder pads for the two 1x15 connectors, with PCB trace routing visible connecting the pads to the breadboard area above.

Figure A5: Close-up of the solder joints for one of the two 1×15 female header connectors, viewed from the bottom of the adaptor board. The 1×15 connectors are mounted from the top of the adaptor board.

Close-up photograph of a row of through-hole solder joints on the green adapter board, viewed from the bottom side. The rightmost joint shows a properly soldered joint.

Figure A6: Example of properly soldered connection.

Step 5: Verification Check #1

CHECKPOINT

STOP HERE and have either:
- The undergraduate lab assistant, OR
- The teaching assistant

check your work and approve you to continue to the next step.

Step 6: Complete Soldering

  1. After receiving a check off to proceed, solder all remaining terminals
  2. Maintain consistent solder quantity for each joint
  3. If you make a mistake, immediately notify the undergraduate student assistant for help
  4. Your board should now match the appearance shown in Figure A7
  5. Verify all connections are properly soldered

Photograph of the fully assembled and soldered UC Davis ADALM2000 adapter board without the breadboard attached. The green PCB shows the completed assembly: the black edge connector mounted at the top center for M2K insertion, two 1x15 female header connector rows below it labeled with signal names including 1-plus, 2-plus, ground, V-plus, W1, ground, TI, and digital I/O pins 0 through 7 on the top row, and the complementary signals on the bottom row. The central area shows the solderless breadboard mounting rails. The board is labeled ADALM2000 Adapter Board V1.0 in the lower left and bears the UC Davis Electrical and Computer Engineering logo in the lower right.

Figure A7: Completed soldered board with all connectors installed, ready for breadboard attachment.

Step 7: Verification Check #2

CHECKPOINT

STOP HERE and have either:
- The undergraduate lab assistant, OR
- The teaching assistant

check your work and check it off, then proceed to the next step.

Step 8: Final Assembly

  1. Mount the solderless protoboard onto your completed adaptor board (Figure A3)
  2. Your M2K adaptor board is now ready for use in Lab 2

Documentation and Submission

Required Documentation

For your lab report submission, you must document your completed adaptor board with the following:

  1. Take clear photographs of your assembled adaptor board from the following angles:
  2. Top view showing the entire board with breadboard mounted
  3. Bottom view showing all solder joints

  4. Close-up view of at least 3–4 solder joints to demonstrate proper soldering technique

  5. Insert these photographs in the designated spaces in the Lab 1 Submission Template

  6. Complete the self-assessment checklist in the template regarding your soldering quality

This documentation is part of Deliverable #3 in your overall Lab 1 submission to Gradescope.

IMPORTANT

SAVE YOUR ADAPTOR BOARD CAREFULLY! This board will be used throughout the semester for all remaining labs. Store it in a safe place where it won't be damaged.

Appendix B: ECE Lab Safety Rules

The following safety rules must always be followed in ECE labs.

  1. Safety glasses must always be worn when soldering. The safety glasses are required even for users who wear prescription glasses. The safety glasses should be worn over regular glasses. The safety glasses must also be worn when trimming leads using horizontal cutters as pieces of metal can fly upward.

  2. Do not use faulty equipment. Inspect the soldering iron power cord for fraying, burns or exposed wire. Report faulty equipment immediately.

  3. Use lead-free solder whenever possible.

  4. Food and drink are never allowed in the work area.

  5. Avoid placing your face directly over the work when soldering.

  6. Tie back long hair so it cannot get burned by the soldering iron.

  7. Always return the soldering iron to its stand. Do not lay it on the workbench.

  8. Always turn off the soldering iron when you are done soldering.

  9. Wash your hands with soap and water when you finish soldering.

Appendix C: Guidelines for Good Soldering Practices

Safety First

Proper Soldering Technique

  1. Ensure clean surfaces: Both the component lead and PCB pad should be clean and free of oxidation
  2. Heat the joint properly: Apply the soldering iron tip to make contact with both the pad and component lead simultaneously
  3. Apply solder correctly: Add solder to the joint (not the iron tip) after both surfaces are properly heated
  4. Use appropriate timing: A good joint typically takes 2–3 seconds to form
  5. Proper solder amount: Use just enough solder to form a smooth concave fillet between the lead and pad
  6. Avoid movement: Hold components still until the solder has completely solidified

Four-step illustrated soldering sequence for through-hole components. Step 1: Heat Part and Pad for 2 to 3 seconds, showing the soldering iron tip touching both the component lead and the PCB pad simultaneously. Step 2: Add Solder, showing solder wire fed into the joint from the opposite side of the iron. Step 3: Continue Heating for 1 to 2 seconds, showing the solder flowing into and around the joint. Step 4: Let Cool, labeled Do Not Blow, showing the completed volcano-shaped solder fillet after the iron is removed and the joint is allowed to cool naturally.

Figure C1: Soldering sequence. Source: https://www.raypcb.com/through-hole-soldering/

Characteristics of a Good Solder Joint

Common Problems and Solutions

Common Problems and Solutions
Problem Cause Solution
Cold Solder Joint Insufficient heat or movement during cooling Reheat the joint properly
Solder Bridge Too much solder or iron touching adjacent pads Remove excess with solder wick
Insufficient Solder Not enough solder was applied Add more solder to create a proper joint
Blob Formation Too much solder or improper heating Remove excess and reheat properly

Illustrated comparison of six through-hole solder joint types. Perfect: a smooth, shiny, volcano-shaped fillet with a bright highlight, indicating ideal solder flow and adhesion. Too Much Solder: a large round ball of solder obscuring the component lead. Not Enough Solder: a thin, incomplete fillet that does not fully cover the pad. Cold Joint: a dull, rounded, grainy blob indicating insufficient heat during soldering. Too Much Heat: a dark, burnt, sunken joint indicating overheating. Short: two adjacent joints merged together forming an unintended electrical connection between neighboring pads.

Figure C2: Examples of soldering connections. Source: https://www.raypcb.com/through-hole-soldering/

Soldering Tip Maintenance Guidelines

Keep the soldering tip from becoming oxidized at all times.

Follow these specific guidelines to prevent oxidation:

  1. Keep the soldering iron tip tinned when in use and during storage. To tin the tip, wipe it on a slightly damp sponge or dry brass wool to clean it. Then melt a small amount of solder onto the tip (the copper part). Leave the melted solder coating on the tip to give it a shiny appearance. Tin the soldering iron tip before and after your soldering session and every few minutes during soldering. Whenever the soldering iron is in its stand, there should be solder coating the tip to prevent oxidation. Lead-free soldering wears out soldering tips two to three times faster than lead-based soldering, partly due to the higher temperature needed, so be sure to re-tin often when using lead-free solders. (Note: The ECE labs will be using lead-free solder.)

  2. Use the lowest possible temperature when soldering. Low temperatures reduce oxidation. The temperature should be just high enough to melt the solder. For lead-free solder, a temperature of around 600 degrees Fahrenheit should be sufficient.

  3. Use minimum pressure when soldering. Excessive pressure will damage the tip.

  4. Keep your sponge damp, not wet, with deionized water.

  5. Choose the largest possible soldering tip for the job to ensure proper heat transfer.

  6. Sponge wipe and re-tin the tip before turning the soldering iron off. Always leave a layer of melted solder coating on the tip to prevent oxidation.

  7. Turn the soldering iron OFF when finished soldering. Do not leave the soldering iron on any longer than necessary.

  8. Never file the tip to clean it as this removes the protective coating.

IMPORTANT

Remember: Soldering is a skill that improves with practice. If you are unsure about a joint, it is better to ask for assistance than to risk damaging your board.