Conversion of Galvanometer
into Ammeter & Voltmeter
by
Dr. Ayesha Younus
GALVANOMETER
It is a device used to find direction of current and
its magnitude.
It has small resistance and is connected in series.
Being a sensitive instrument, it
can’t be used for heavy current.
• However, we can measure small
current but main purpose is to
detect current not to measure
the current.
Principle
• The basic principle of galvanometer is permanent
magnetic moving coil.
• It works on the principle of conversion of electrical
energy into mechanical energy. When a current flows
in a magnetic field it experiences a magnetic Torque.
• If coil is free to rotate under this Torque, it rotates
through an angle proportional to the current flowing
through it.
Advantages and Disadvantages
• Advantages of • Disadvantages of
galvanometer are: galvanometer are:
1. It is not affected by 1. Over load can spoil
strong magnetic field the galvanometer
2. It is accurate and 2. Temperature change
reliable the restoring Torque
3. Uniform scales are 3. They cannot be used
used in it. for AC
measurements.
Ammeter
• It is a low resistance galvanometer used to measure
the current in a circuit.
• It has very small resistance
• Current to be measured must pass through it, hence,
it is connected in series.
• Measuring range depends upon resistance
• Symbolic representation
Advantages & Disadvantages
• Advantages of • Disadvantages of
Ammeter: Ammeter:
1. It is portable instrument. 1. It is heavy instrument.
2. It does not dependent on 2. It could not store data
the earth magnetic field. 3. It reduces the accuracy of
3. It could be very accurate. device in which it is
4. It is used both AC and DC applied
Measurements. 4. It is expensive than other
measuring instrument like
galvanometer.
Connection of Ammeter in
circuit:
• Ammeter always connected in series
• It has low resistance
• Small voltage drop due to low resistance
• Why resistance is kept low?
• Whole measured current pass through it.
Effect of temperature.
on Ammeter
• It is a sensitive device ,temperature affected the readings of
ammeter.
• To remove this problem, swamping resistance can be used.
• It also has inbuilt fuse which helps to damage the ammeter
from high current.:
• 𝑰𝒎 current passes
Through ammeter
• 𝑹𝒔𝒉 is shunt
Resistance.
Voltmeter
• It is a high resistance galvanometer, used to measure the
potential difference between two points.
• It is connected across the component’s ends potential
difference across which is to be measured. Hence, it is
parallel to that component.
• Symbolic representation:
Why voltmeter used parallel?
• Because, internal resistance always remains high.
• If it connect in series, it minimizes the current which
disturb the readings of voltmeter.
• Always connect in parallel so that same voltage drop across
the circuit
Why voltmeter has high
resistance?
• Voltmeter has high resistance rather than the galvanometer
and ammeter due to two reasons:
• Because it measure the potential difference between two
points.
• High resistance does not allow current to pass thorough it.
Advantages and Disadvantages
• Advantages are given • Disadvantages are
below: given below:
1. They have low 1. It give some extra
power features that are
consumption. expensive.
2. They possess high 2. Speed of operation
Torque ratio. is limited due to
3. Their scales are digitizing circuit.
uniform.
Difference between
galvanometer and voltmeter
• Galvanometer • Voltmeter
• It is a instrument It is used to measure
used to detect the the potential
strength and difference between
direction of small two points.
current
Difference between
galvanometer and ammeter
• Galvanometer • Ammeter
Instrument used for Instrument used for
detecting strength determining the
and direction of small magnitude of current
current presence in presence in electrical
circuit. circuit.
Galvanometer into Ammeter
• Galvanometer can be converted into ammeter by shunting
it with a very small resistance.
• Potential difference across the galvanometer and shunt
resistance are equal.
Working
• Let I be the current passes through the circuit
• At the junction A, I divide into 2 parts
• 𝑰𝒈 passes through galvanometer
• I-𝑰𝒈 passes through shunt resistance
• Value of shunt resistance is so adjusted that 𝑰𝒈 produces
full scale deflection
• Potential differ. Of galvanometer and shunt resistance will
be equal
Resistance and Current
• S/Rg ratio is very small • I ideal is current measured
by ideal ammeter
• This means Rg is small, • I actual current measured in
ammeter resistance is very circuit
small • Percentage error in
• Resistance of ammeter measuring a current
can be found by computing through ammeter
the effective resistance
Galvanometer into Voltmeter
• Galvanometer can be converted into voltmeter by connecting it
with a very high resistance.
• By connecting high resistance Rh in series with galvanometer
• Then, gives measurement in volts
• Value of resistance is so adjusted that only Ig current shows
deflection
Working
• 𝑹𝒈 and 𝑰𝒈 is the resistance of galvanometer
• 𝑰𝒈 is same as the current of circuit
• Galvanometer $ high resistance are in series, total
resistance of voltmeter:
• 𝑹𝒗 = 𝑹𝒈 +𝑹𝒉
Note:
• Deflection in galvanometer proportional to Ig
• Ig proportional to P.D
• So, deflection in galvanometer is proportional to
potential difference
• Resistance of voltmeter is very large ,it draw least
current
• Ideal voltmeter has infinite resistance