ELECTRICAL MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
Introduction
While studying electricity we come across number of quantities such as current,voltage,power,energy,
resistance etc . Each quantity has its own unit and there should be an instrument to measure that quantity it is
clear that there are separate meter for different quantities.
Classification of instrument
The electrical instrument are classified into three main types
[Link] instrument
[Link] instrument
[Link] instrument
[Link] instrument
Indicating instrument are those which are provide with pointer and graduated scale, the reading is indicated by
the pointer on the scale, the instrument indicates reading only for the duration for which they remain
connected in the circuit. When they are disconnected from the circuit the pointer returns back to zero position
on the graduated scale such type of instrument do not keep any record of reading.
Example : Ammeter, Voltmeter and Wattmeter
[Link] instrument
These type of instrument keeps a record of the total quantity of electricity or total amount of electrical energy
consumed from the time that they are connected to the supply to the reading of the instruments. It means
these instrument keep a record of the total reading from the time they are connected to the supply.
Example : Kilowatt-hour meter, Ampere-hour meter
[Link] instrument
Recording instrument are similar to indicating instrument but keep a record of the reading on a graph
paper,which moved to uniform low speed. The pointer of this type of instrument is provided with marking pen
and moves over the graph paper
Example : Service meter, ECG etc
Essential force required for an indicating instrument
Permanent magnet moving coil (PMMC) instrument
Principle : The working principle of the P.M.M.C instrument is based on the principle that when current-
carrying conductor is placed in a magnetic field ., it is acted upon by a force which tends to move the
conductor. The DC motor also works on this principle.
Construction : This type of instrument is used for DC measurement [Link] shows moving coil
instrument. It consists of essentially a permanent power full magnet with soft iron pole pieces, a
cylindrical iron core is mounted between the two pole sof the magnet between the magnet and core roles
rectangular coil of fine wire the current is led into and out of the coil through phosphor bronze hair
spring, the spring also provide the controling torque is set up propostional to the product of current field
strength in the air gap , the spring use are arranged that when coil is deflected one spring is comresses
and the other is expand deflection is proportional to the current in coil
i.e
As spring control is used so controling torque
In other word pointer deflected is propostional to the current and so the scale is uniform damping is
provided by winding , the coil on a copper or aluminium frame ,eddy currents produce in the frame are
reponsible for it.
When used as a voltmeter the coil is connected in series with a series resistance and used as an ammeter
it is connected across a shunt
Moving Iron instruments
These instrument derives its name from the fact that a piece of soft iron which is attached to the spindle and
needle in a magnetic field, produced by the current or by a current proportional to the quantity of electricity
being measured .
There are two types of this instrument which are used as voltmeter or ammeter
Attraction type * Repulsion type
Principle of operation : The attraction type instrument works on the principle of magnetic attraction, and
the repulsion type instrument works on the principle ofmagnetic repulsion between two adjacent pieces of
soft iron, magnetised by the same magnetic field
Multimeters
Parts of a multimeter : A standard multimeter consists of
the main parts and control
Control : The meter is set measure the current, voltage
( AC and DC) or resistance by means of the FUNCTION
switch.
The meter is set to the required current, voltage or
resistance range - by means of the RANGE switch, the
switch is set to 2.5 volts or mA, depending on the setting
of the FUNCTION switch.
For example the switch set to 25V DC of a meter having
the fuction and the range selected by a single switch
The switches set to 250V AC of a meter that uses two
function/range switches, one for DC range and the other for
AC and resistance ( ohms) range
Scale of multi meter
Separate scales are provide
Resistance * Voltage and current
The scale of current and voltage is uniformly graduated .
The scale of the ohmmeter is non-linear. That is, the division
between zero and infinity are not equally [Link] you move zero
to the left across the scale, the division becomes closer together.
The scale is usually ”backward” with zero at the right.
Rectifiers are provided inside the meter to
convert AC to DC in the AC measurement circuit
Types of multi meter
Wattmeter
Energy meter ( Analog and Digital )
3-Phase energy meter
Insulation Tester (Megger)
Megger is an instrument to test the insulation
between a high potential point and earth. It
determines the resistance between the two
points at which it is connected the the
principle is shown in figure the system consist
of two coils mounted at right angles to each
other on a common shaft one coil is called
current coil and the other pressure coil as
shown they are pivoted in magnetic field of
permanent magnet, then two coil are so
wound that tend to move in opposite direction
when current passes the pointer . thus comes
to rest in an equilibrium position determined
by the relative value of the current flowing in
the two coils.
The pressure coil is connected in series with a
high value of fixed resistance to adjust the
range directly across the generator one end of
the generator is earthed, while the other is
connected through the current coil and a fixed
resistance to the point whose insulation to
earth is to be tested.
When the resistance is of infinite value the
circuit flow only in the pressure coil and the
pointer takes the position on the scale marked
infinity when the lien- earth terminal are short
circuited i.e unknown resistance is zero, the
pointer will indicate zero on the scale
intermediate value of resistance will be
indicated is thus calibrated to read resistance
directly.
The generator armature is rotated by hand
from a handle out side the instrument a
constant speed clutch is inter posed between
handle and the armature so that the armature
current rotated at a certain rate (160 rpm
usually) flows fast the handle may be rotated
also if the handle is stopped suddenly the free
wheel allows the armature to connect to rest
slowly so that the generator is not damaged .
The lowest resistance which can be measured
with the instrument is about 0.01 ohms but
the range can be extend to 10000 ohms with
the help of a change over switch.
ohmmeter
Frequency Meter
Tacho Meter
Phase-sequence indicator (Meter)
Tong-tester ( Clamp-on ammeter )