EE101 - MEASUREMENT
Ohmmeter
1. An ohmmeter is an instrument used to measure resistance and check the continuity of electrical
circuits and component. This resistance reading is indicated through a meter movement.
2. The ohmmeter must then have an internal source of voltage to create the necessary current to
operate the movement, and also have appropriate ranging resistors to allow desired current to flow
through the movement at any given resistance.
3. Two types of schemes are used to design an ohmmeter – series type and shunt type.
4. The series type of ohmmeter is used for measuring relatively high values of resistance, while the
shunt type is used for measuring low values of the resistance.
Series type ohmmeter
1. In this Figure1, R1 is the current limiting resistor, R2 is the zero adjust resistor, RX is the unknown
resistor, E is the internal battery voltage and Rm is the internal resistance of the d’Arsonval
movement. A and B are the output terminals of the ohmmeter across which an unknown resistor is
connected.
Figure1: Basic series type ohmmeter.
2. When RX = 0 (short circuit), R2 is adjusted to get full-scale current through the movement.
Then, I = Ifsd. The pointer will be deflected to its maximum position on the scale. Therefore, this full-
scale current reading is marked 0 ohms.
3. When RX = ∞ (open circuit), I = 0. The pointer will read zero. Therefore, the zero current reading is
marked ∞ ohms.
4. By connecting different values of RX, intermediate values are marked. The overall accuracy of the
scale markings depends on the repeating accuracy of the movement and tolerance of the resistors
used for calibration. Figure 2 shows a typical scale of the series type ohmmeter. Note that the scale
is logarithmic – “expended” at the low end of the scale and “compressed” at the high end to be able
to span a wide range from zero to infinite resistance.
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EE101 - MEASUREMENT
Figure2: Typical scale of series type ohmmeter.
To Calculate R1 and R2
1. R1 and R2 used in Figure 1 can be determined by using a value of RX corresponding to half the
deflection of the meter. For the given movement, Ifsd and Rm are known.
2. Let Rh be the half deflection resistance. For this value of RX, I = Ifsd/2.
Further, at half deflection,
Rh = internal resistance of the circuit looking from terminals A and B.
R2 Rm
R1
R2 R m
Battery current needed to supply half-scale deflection is given by
E
Ih
2 Rh
Total current, It, is supplied by the battery for full-scale deflection is double of this current, i.e.
E
It
Rh
and
I 2 I t I fsd
Using KVL
I 2 R2 I fsd I fsd Rm
Solving these equations, we get
I fsd Rm Rh I fsd Rm Rh
R2 R1 Rh
E I fsd Rh E
Example 1
In the circuit of Figure 1, a 1mA meter movement with an internal of 50Ω is to be used. The battery
voltage is 3V. Half-scale deflection should be for 2500 Ω
a) Calculate the values of R1 and R2
b) Find the change in the value of R2 if the battery voltage reduces by 10%.
c) What is the half-scale deflection if battery voltage reduces by 10%?
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EE101 - MEASUREMENT
Solution
I fsd Rm Rh 10 3 50 2500
a) R2 = 250
E I fsd Rh 3 (10 3 2500)
I fsd Rm Rh 10 3 50 2500
R1 Rh 2500 = 2458.33
E 3
b) E = 3V – 0.3V = 2.7V
I fsd Rm Rh 10 3 50 2500
R2 = 625
E I fsd Rh 2.7 (10 3 2500)
R2 should be changed from 250Ω to 625Ω to compensate for this reduction in battery voltage.
R2 Rm 625 50
c) Rh R1 2458.33 = 2504.63
R 2 Rm 675
Half-scale deflection now correspond to 2504.63Ω instead of 2500Ω
Shunt type ohmmeter
1) Figure 3 shows the basic circuit of the shunt-type ohmmeter where movement mechanism is
connected parallel to the unknown resistance. In this circuit it is necessary to use a switch,
otherwise current will always flow in the movement mechanism.
Figure3: Basic shunt-type ohmmeter
2) Resistor Rsh is used to bypass excess current.
3) Let the switch be closed. When RX = 0 (short circuit), the pointer reads zero because full current
flows through Rx and no current flows through the meter and Rsh. Therefore, zero current reading is
marked 0 ohms.
4) When RX = ∞ (open circuit), no current flows through RX. Resistor R1 is adjusted so that full-scale
current flows through the meter. Therefore, maximum current reading is marked ∞ ohms.
Comparison of series and shunt ohmmeter scales is shown in Figure 4.
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EE101 - MEASUREMENT
(a)
(b)
Figure4: Ohmmeter scales : (a) series scale and (b) shunt scale
To Calculate R1 and Rsh
1. Again, we can use the concept of half-scale deflection.
2. Let Rh be the half-deflection resistance. For this value of RX,
Im = Ifsd /2
Further, at half deflection, current through Rh is equal to sum of the currents through Rsh and Rm, i.e.
I x I sh I m
Also
E I R
Ix m m
Rh Rh
Solving for Ish, we get
R Rh
I sh I m m
Rh
Therefore,
I m Rm
Rsh
I sh
Now,
I t I m I sh I x 2( I m I sh )
Rm
2I m
Rh
Therefore,
E I m Rm
R1
It
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