Important Viva Questions &
Answers – Electrical Measurements
1. Measurement using Clamp-on Meter, Digital Multimeter
(DMM), L-C-R Meter
Q1. What is a clamp-on meter?
Ans: A clamp-on meter measures current without breaking
the circuit, using the principle of electromagnetic
induction.
Q2. What types of current can a clamp meter measure?
Ans: AC current (most common)
DC current (only Hall-effect clamp meters)
Q3. Advantage of clamp-on meter?
Ans: Non-intrusive measurement
Safe for high current
Quick and easy to use
Q4. What is a digital multimeter?
Ans:A digital multimeter is an instrument used to measure
voltage, current, resistance, and sometimes **capacitance,
frequency, diode testing*, etc.
Q5. Why is DMM preferred over analog meter?
Ans:
* High accuracy
* No parallax error
* High input impedance
* Digital display
Q6. What is the principle of LCR meter?
Ans: It works on the principle of *impedance measurement
using AC excitation*.
Q7. What parameters are measured by LCR meter?
*Ans:*
Inductance (L)
Capacitance (C)
Resistance (R)
*Q-factor, Dissipation factor
---
# 2. Three-Phase Power Measurement
## (Single Wattmeter & Two Wattmeter Methods)
### Q8. Why single wattmeter method is used?
*Ans:* To measure power in a *balanced 3-phase load*.
### Q9. How many readings are required in single
wattmeter method?
*Ans:* Two readings by changing the connections.
### Q10. Why two wattmeter method is preferred?
*Ans:*
* Applicable to both *balanced and unbalanced loads*
* No neutral required
### Q11. Formula for total power in two wattmeter method?
*Ans:*
[P = W_1 + W_2]
### Q12. What happens when power factor is unity?
*Ans:*
Both wattmeters show *equal positive readings*.
### Q13. What happens at 0.5 power factor?
*Ans:*
One wattmeter reads *zero*.
### Q14. What happens when power factor is less than
0.5?
*Ans:*
One wattmeter shows *negative reading*.
---
# 3. Study of Trivector Meter
### Q15. What is a trivector meter?
*Ans:* A trivector meter measures *kWh, kVARh, and kVAh*
in a 3-phase system.
### Q16. Why is trivector meter used?
*Ans:*
To measure *energy consumption and reactive power* for
billing purposes.
### Q17. What are the three quantities measured?
*Ans:*
* Active energy (kWh)
* Reactive energy (kVARh)
* Apparent energy (kVAh)
---
# 4. Calibration of 1-Φ Energy Meter
## (Direct Loading & Phantom Loading)
### Q18. Why is calibration necessary?
*Ans:*
To ensure the energy meter gives *accurate readings*.
### Q19. What is direct loading?
*Ans:*
Actual load is connected to the energy meter during
testing.
### Q20. Disadvantage of direct loading?
*Ans:*
* Large power loss
* Heavy load required
### Q21. What is phantom loading?
*Ans:*
Voltage and current circuits are energized *separately*
using low power.
### Q22. Advantage of phantom loading?
*Ans:*
* Very low power consumption
* Suitable for high current meters
### Q23. What is meter constant?
*Ans:*
Number of revolutions per kWh
(e.g., 600 rev/kWh)
---
# 5. Measurement of Unknown Inductance
### Q24. Why bridges are used to measure inductance?
*Ans:*
Because they provide *high accuracy* and eliminate
instrument errors.
### Q25. Which bridges are used for inductance?
*Ans:*
* Maxwell bridge
* Anderson bridge
---
# 6. Measurement of Inductance Using
## Anderson & Maxwell Bridge
### Q26. Principle of Maxwell bridge?
*Ans:*
It compares *unknown inductance with a standard
capacitor*.
### Q27. Advantage of Maxwell bridge?
*Ans:*
* Simple balance equations
* Suitable for medium Q inductors
### Q28. Disadvantage of Maxwell bridge?
*Ans:*
Not suitable for *high Q inductors*.
### Q29. Advantage of Anderson bridge over Maxwell?
*Ans:*
More accurate for *low inductance values*.
---
# 7. Measurement of Capacitance Using Schering
Bridge
## & Low Resistance Using Kelvin’s Double Bridge
### Q30. Principle of Schering bridge?
*Ans:*
It compares *unknown capacitance with a standard
capacitor*.
### Q31. What parameters can Schering bridge measure?
*Ans:*
* Capacitance
* Dielectric loss
* Dissipation factor
### Q32. Why Kelvin’s double bridge is used?
*Ans:*
To measure *very low resistances* accurately.
### Q33. Advantage of Kelvin’s double bridge?
*Ans:*
Eliminates *error due to lead and contact resistance*.
1. Why phantom loading is preferred over direct loading?
Phantom loading is preferred because it consumes very
less power while allowing the energy meter
to be tested at rated voltage and rated current. In phantom
loading, voltage and current circuits are
energized separately, which reduces power loss and
heating.
2. Why two wattmeter method is widely used?
The two wattmeter method is widely used because it can
measure three-phase power for both
balanced and unbalanced loads and does not require a
neutral connection. It is simple, reliable, and
commonly used in industrial power measurement.
3. Difference between Maxwell bridge and Anderson bridge
Maxwell bridge uses a standard capacitor and is suitable
for medium Q inductors. It has a simple
circuit and simple balance equations. Anderson bridge
uses a standard capacitor with an additional
resistor and is more accurate for measuring low
inductance values, but the circuit is more complex.
4. Why Kelvin bridge is better than Wheatstone bridge for
low resistance?
Kelvin bridge is better because it eliminates the effect of
lead and contact resistance, which causes
large errors in Wheatstone bridge when measuring very
low resistance. It provides high accuracy
for milliohm range resistance measurement.