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Overview of Voltage Measuring Instruments

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
17 views5 pages

Overview of Voltage Measuring Instruments

Uploaded by

SHAWN 2.0
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
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EXPERIMENT No.

Objective: To study measuring instruments and safety precautions while working on electrical
systems.
Apparatus Required:

S. No. Name of Apparatus Type Range Quality


1. Ammeter MI, MC (0-2)A AC, (0-1) A DC As required
2. Voltmeter MI, MC (0-300)V AC, (0-20) V DC As required

3. Multimeter DIGITAL 1
4. Resistors Fixed, Variable As required
5. Capacitors Fixed, Variable As required
6 Inductors Fixed, Variable As required

Theory

Ammeter:
Ammeter is an electronic instrument device used to determine the electric current flowing
through a circuit. Ammeters measuring current in the milli-ampere range are known as milli-
ammeters. Common types of ammeters are moving-coil ammeter and moving-iron ammeter.
Ammeters are connected in series to the circuit whose current is to be measured. Hence these
electronic instruments are designed to have as minimum resistance/loading as possible.

Fig. 1.1 Ammeter- Electronic Instrument Moving Coil Ammeter:


Moving coil ammeters are used to measure DC Currents. This electronic instrument consists
of a coil suspended by two hairsprings. This coil is placed in a magnetic field created by a fixed
permanent magnet. A torque is experienced when current passes through this coil which is
proportional to the current.

Basic Electrical Engineering FY B. Tech(SoET) 1


Fig. 1.2 Moving coil ammeter

When the coil turns, the springs will exert a restoring force proportional to the angle turned.
By these two forces, the coil will stop at some point and the angular deflection will be
proportional to the current.

Moving Iron Ammeter:


Moving iron ammeters as electronic instruments can be used for measuring both direct and
alternating currents in the electronics lab. In this type of ammeter, a piece of soft iron is used.
This iron piece constitutes a moving vane and a fixed vane. Current to be checked flows
through a fixed coil placed around the iron piece. This coil produces a magnetic field
proportional to the current. So the iron pieces will get magnetized with the same polarity. The
movable vane turns away from the fixed vane due to magnetic repulsion. As the iron turns, the
spring of the electronic instruments will exert a restoring force and stop the vane, when both
the forces become equal. The pointer of the ammeter is attached to the movable vane, which
will point to the proper current reading using a calibrated scale.

Fig. 1.3 Moving Iron Ammeter

Voltmeter:

Basic Electrical Engineering FY B. Tech(SoET) 2


Voltmeter is an electronic instrument used in an electric circuit to determine the potential
difference or voltage between two different points. Digital and analog voltmeters are available
in electronics labs. They are usually connected in parallel (shunt) to the circuit. Hence they are
designed to have maximum resistance as possible to reduce the loading effect. This device is
also common in electronics labs.

Fig.1.4 Analog and digital Voltmeter

Analog voltmeter:
It is a type of voltmeter and electronic instruments with an extra connection of a series resistor
(high resistance). It consists of a movable coil placed in a magnetic field. The coil ends are
connected to the measuring terminals. As current flows across the coil, it will start turning due
to magnetic force exerted on the coil and thus the hair spring will stop the coil by an equal and
opposite restoring force. Angular rotation will be proportional to the voltage in this electronic
instrument.

Digital voltmeter:
It can measure both AC and DC measurements with high accuracy as an electronics instrument.
It can measure a high voltage up to 1 kV. Main component of a digital voltmeter is an Analog
to Digital Converter (ADC). Voltage to be measured is amplified or attenuated properly by the
circuit and the output is sent to an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) IC. This IC will convert
the analog signal input to digital signal output. A digital display driven by this IC will display
the proper voltage value.

Basic Electrical Engineering FY B. Tech(SoET) 3


Digital multimeter:
A multimeter or a multi-tester, also known as a VOM (Volt-Ohm meter), is an electronic
measuring instrument that combines several measurement functions in one unit. A typical
multimeter would include basic features such as the ability to measure voltage, current, and
resistance. Analog multimeters use a microammeter whose pointer moves over a scale
calibrated for all the different measurements that can be made. Digital multimeters (DMM,
DVOM) display the measured value in numerals, and may also display a bar of a length
proportional to the quantity being measured. Digital multimeters are now far more common
than analog ones, but analog multimeters are still preferable in some cases, for example when
monitoring a rapidly-varying value.
A multimeter can be a hand-held device useful for basic fault finding and field service work,
or a bench instrument which can measure to a very high degree of accuracy. They can be used
to troubleshoot electrical problems in a wide array of industrial and household devices such as
electronic equipment, motor controls, Domestic appliances, power supplies, and wiring
systems.

Fig 1.5 Digital multimeter


Digital instruments, which necessarily incorporate amplifiers, use the same principles as analog
instruments for range resistors. For resistance measurements, usually a small constant current
is passed through the device under test and the digital multimeter reads the resultant voltage
drop; this eliminates the scale compression found in analog meters, but requires a source of
significant current. An auto ranging digital multimeter can automatically adjust the scaling
network so that the measurement uses the full precision of the A/D converter.

Precautions:
1. All connections must be tight.
2. Get the circuit connections checked by the teacher before performing the
experiment.
3. Power to the circuit must be switched on in the presence of the teacher.
4. Get the experimental readings checked by the teacher.
5. Don't touch directly the live parts of the equipment and circuit.

Basic Electrical Engineering FY B. Tech(SoET) 4


6. Wear leather shoes in the lab.

Conclusion:
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Questions:

What are the various uses of multimeters?

What is an ammeter?

Which device is used to measure AC current?

What is a voltmeter?

BE
***************************** E1 *******************************

Basic Electrical Engineering FY B. Tech(SoET) 5

Common questions

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High resistance in voltmeters is critical to minimizing the loading effect on the circuit, ensuring accurate voltage measurements without altering the circuit's behavior significantly . In analog voltmeters, this is achieved by including a high resistance in series with the movable coil within the magnetic field, allowing voltage measurement across the coil terminals while preserving scale sensitivity through the magnetic force exerted on the coil and balancing hair spring action .

Challenges in measuring resistance using a digital multimeter include the necessity for a significant current source to provide consistent readings, as digital meters rely on detecting voltage drops across the device being measured . While this eliminates the scale compression issue present in analog meters, it may require calibration to maintain accuracy across diverse environments. Additionally, sensitive electronic components might be affected by the current levels used in these measurements, posing another challenge .

A digital voltmeter's key components include an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC), measurement amplification or attenuation circuitry, and a digital display . The ADC converts the analog voltage signal into a digital output, allowing for high precision readings. Measurement amplification or attenuation adjusts the input to suitable levels for the ADC, enabling accurate readings across a range of voltages, and the digital display presents this value clearly in numerical form .

Safety precautions in lab settings such as ensuring tight connections, having a teacher check circuit connections before activation, and switching on power only with supervision help prevent accidental electrical shocks and equipment damage . They ensure that errors are corrected before experimentation, reduce the risk of electric accidents by avoiding direct contact with live parts, and provide a controlled environment where risks are minimized .

Checking experimental readings in the presence of a teacher is necessary to ensure their accuracy and reliability. Teachers can verify that proper procedures and safety measures are followed and provide immediate feedback or corrections, enhancing the educational experience and ensuring adherence to safe practices in handling electrical apparatus .

Instructional supervision is crucial during the initial power-on stage of working with electrical circuits as it ensures that connections and configurations are correct, reducing the potential for component mishaps or safety hazards. Supervision allows experienced individuals to verify circuit integrity and confirm the readiness of the system for operation, mitigating risks associated with incorrect setups that could result in equipment failure or unsafe conditions .

A moving coil ammeter is primarily used for measuring direct currents (DC) and operates by employing a coil suspended in a magnetic field created by a permanent magnet. The coil experiences a torque proportional to the current, and the attached springs provide a restoring force, allowing for angular deflection that corresponds to the current . In contrast, a moving iron ammeter can measure both alternating and direct currents. It uses a piece of soft iron influenced by a surrounding magnetic field generated by the current flowing through a fixed coil, leading to magnetic repulsion between the iron pieces. This ammeter type provides reading through the deflection caused by magnetic forces and the restoring spring .

Digital multimeters have several advantages over analog multimeters, including higher accuracy, the ability to display values in numerals, and better usability for measuring fluctuating signals due to the rapid update rate . They incorporate auto-ranging features, automatically adjusting the measurement scale for optimal precision with their A/D converters. Digital multimeters also eliminate scale compression issues found in analog meters when measuring resistance .

In industrial applications, multimeters play a crucial role in troubleshooting electrical issues by allowing technicians to measure key electrical parameters such as voltage, current, and resistance across various circuit components . Their ability to be handheld for field service or used as bench instruments provides flexibility for on-site evaluations or more controlled lab conditions. Multimeters can diagnose issues in motor controls, electronic equipment, power supplies, and wiring systems by identifying abnormal readings and pinpointing faults .

The design of a moving iron ammeter, featuring a moving vane and fixed vane both made of soft iron, allows it to operate with both AC and DC currents. The current flowing through a fixed coil generates a magnetic field irrespective of current type, inducing magnetization with identical polarity in the iron pieces. The resulting magnetic repulsion causes the movable vane to deflect, with the spring providing opposing force to indicate current levels, making it suitable for both AC and DC flow .

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