ELECTRICAL MEASURING INSTRUMENTS

CHAPTER 15
ELECTRICAL MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
THE MOVING COIL GALVANOMETER
The moving coil galvanometer is a basic electrical instrument. It is used for the detection or
measurement of small currents.
Principle
When current flows in a rectangular coil placed in a magnetic field it experience a magnetic
torque due to which it rotates through an angle proportional to the current flowing through it.
Construction:
The essential parts of a moving coil galvanometer are
1. A U-shaped permanent magnet with cylindrical concave pole-pieces.
2. A flat coil of thin enamel Insulated wire (usually rectangular)
3. A soft iron cylinder
4. A scalar lamp and scale arrangement.
In suspended type or D Arsonvals galvanometer the flat rectangular coil of thin enamel insulated
wire of suitable number of terms wound on a light non-metallic or non-magnetic (brass or
aluminum) frame is suspected between the cylindrical concave pole pieces of the permanent Ushaped magnet by a thin phosphor-bronze strip. One end of the wire of the soil is soldered to
strip. The other end of the strip is fixed to the frame of the galvanometer and connected to an
external terminal. It serves as one current lead. The other end of the wire of the coil is soldered to
a loose and soft spiral of wire connected to another external terminal. The soft spiral of wire
serves as the other current lead. A soft iron cylinder, coaxial with the pole-pieces is placed within
the frame of the coil but quite detached from it and is fixed to the body of the galvanometer. In
the space between it and the pole pieces, where the coil moves freely, the soft iron cylinder
makes the field stronger and radial so that the magnetic field is always parallel to the plane of the
coil. To note the deflection a concave mirror along with lamp and scale arrangement is used.
Working
When a current passes through the galvanometer coil, it experiences a magnetic deflecting
torque, which tends to rotate it from its rest position. As the coil rotates it produces a twist in the
suspension strip. The coil rotate until the elastic restoring torque due to which the strip does not
equalize and cancel the deflecting magnetic torque and then it attains equilibrium and stops
rotating further.
i.e. Deflecting torque = Restoring torque
But deflecting torque = BINA Cos
BINA Cos = c0
Where B = strength of the magnetic field

I = current in the coil

A = Area of the coil
N = Number of turns in the coil
= Angle of twist of the suspension strip
c = torque per unit twist of the suspension strip for the equilibrium
As c/BNA is constant.
In pivoted type or Weston galvanometer the coil instead or being suspended by a strip is pivoted
between two jeweled bearings. The restoring torque is provided two hair springs one on either
side of the coil and curling on the opposite sense are connected one to each spring. The
hairspring thus also serve as current leads to the coil. A light aluminum pointer is fixed to the
coil, which moves over a calibrated circular scale with equal divisions, which measures the
deflection directly.
Current Sensitivity of a Galvanometer
A galvanometer is said to be sensitive if for a small current the deflection is sufficiently
large. A galvanometer can be made more sensitive if c/BNA is made small. Thus to increase
sensitivity c may be decreased or B, N and A may be increased C can be decreased by
increasing the length of suspension wire or by decreasing its can be decreased by increasing the
length of suspension wire or by decreasing its diameter, but this process cannot be taken too far <
as the suspension must be strong enough to carry the coil. N or A cannot be increased
because it makes the coil heavy. The loss of sensitivity due to the use of fewer turns is however
made us by the very high value of the magnetic field employed.
The current sensitivity of a galvanometer is usually defined as the current in microampere
required to cause one-millimeter deflection on a scale place 1.0 meter from the mirror of the
galvanometer.
THE AMMETER
Ammeter is an instrument, which is used for measuring electric current. A galvanometer can
measure small current if its scale is calibrated for the current. For the measurement of large
current a bypass resistance called a shunt, of appropriate small value is connected in parallel with
the galvanometer coil. This resistance allows the large excess current through itself while a
fraction of the current passes through the galvanometer coil. The scale of the instrument is so
calibrated that it can measure the main current directly.
Consider a galvanometer G whose resistance is Rg and which gives full scale deflection
when current Ig flows through it to convert the galvanometer into an ammeter which can
measure a maximum current I a shunt Rs of appropriate small resistance should be
connected in parallel with the galvanometer such that the current Ig must flow through the
galvanometer coil.
The potential difference Vg across the galvanometer is given by
Vg = Ig Rg
The potential difference Vs across the shunt is given by
Vs = Is Rs = (I Ig) Rs
Where Is = I Ig = current through the shunt.
As Rg and Rs are connected in parallel to each other therefore potential difference across
them will be equal i.e.

Vs = Vg
(I Ig) Rs = Ig Rg
Rs = Ig Rg / I Ig
Ammeter is always connected in series with the circuit.
Multi Range Ammeter
Sometimes an ammeter has more than one range, which means that it has as many different
shunts as the ranges. The desired range is selected by insertion the proper shunt in position. In
one type, one end of each shunt is permanently connected to a common terminal while the other
end of each is connected through a range to a second common terminal.
THE VOLTMETER
Voltmeter is an instrument which is used for measuring potential difference between any two
points of a current carrying (or between the two terminals of a source of emf). A galvanometer
can be used for measuring a very small Potential Difference. If its scale is calibrated for voltage.
For the measurement of large potential difference. A high resistance of the order of Kilo-ohms is
connected in series with it. This resistance is commonly known as Multiplier Resistance.
Consider a galvanometer G where resistance is Rg and which deflects full scale for the
current Ig to convert this galvanometer into a voltmeter measuring a Potential difference upto
V volts. An appropriate high resistance Rn must be connected in series with it such that for
the potential difference V applied between the ends of the above combination. The current
Ig must flow through the galvanometer. However the total resistance between the terminal a &
b is Rn + Rg.
(Rn + Rg+ Ig = V
Rn + Rg = V / Ig
Rn = V / Ig Rg
Voltmeter is always connected in parallel with the circuit.
Multirange Voltmeter
Sometimes a voltmeter has more than one range, which means it has as many different resistance
as the ranges. The desired range is selected by inserting the proper resistance in position.
We have a common terminal marked (+) and as many other terminals as the ranges. In the other
type one terminal is common marked (+) while the different range terminals can be connected by
a range switch to the other common terminals.
WHEAT STONE BRIDGE
If four resistances R1, R2, R3 and R4 are connected end to end in order to form a closed mesh
ABCDA and between one pair of opposite junctions. A and C cell is connected through a key K1
while between the pair of opposite junctions B and D a sensitive galvanometer G is connected
through another key K2. The circuit so formed is called a Wheatstone-bridge.
In the above bridge if the key is closed first, some current flows through the cell and the
resistance R1, R2, R3 and R4. If the key K2 is also closed the current will usually be found to
flow through the galvanometer indicated by its deflection. However if the resistance R1, R2, R3
and R4 (or at least one of them) are adjusted, a condition can always be attached in which the

galvanometer show no deflection at all i.e. no current passes through it. Then the potential
difference between B & D must be zero i.e. B & D must be at the same potential. This implies
that
P.d. between A and B = p.d. between A and D
OR
V(AB) = V(AD)
P.d. between B and C = p.d. between D and C
OR
V(bt) = V(Dt)
Since no current flows through the galvanometer the current R1 equals that in R2, say II and the
current in R3 equals that in R4 say 12
As,
V(AB) = V(AD)
1(1) R(1) = 1(2) R(3) (I)
Also,
V(BC) = V(DC)
1(1) R(2) = 1(2) R(4) (II)
Dividing eq 1 by eq 2
1(1) R(1) / 1(1) R(1) = 1(1) R(1) / 1(1) R(1)
R(1) / R(1) = R(1) / R(1)
Under balanced condition if any three resistance are known then the fourth can be found easily
(i.e. wheatstone principle).
The wheatstone principle is used in Meter Bridge, the P.O. box Carey Fosters Bridge, Callender
and Graffites Bridge etc.
METER BRIDGE
The Meter Bridge also called slide Wire Bridge is an instrument based on wheatstone principle.
It consists of a long thick copper strip bent twice at right angles. Two small portions are cut off
from it near the bends to provide the gaps across which two resistances are known one and an
unknown may be connected. Each of the three pieces of the strip is provided with binding
screws. A uniform wire (of magnetic or other) one meter long and of fairly high resistance is
stretched, along the side a meter scale is connected to the ends of the strip.
For measuring an unknown resistance X it is connected in one gap of the Meter Bridge and a
standard resistance box R is connected in the other gap. A cell and a galvanometer are
connected. The jockey J is moved along the wire to obtain the balance point D. Under
balanced condition if the length of the wire segment. A D toward X is Lx and the length of the
wire segment CD towards R is L(R) then their resistances are L(R) respectively.
Where = resistance per unit length of the wire.
POST OFFICE BOX [P.O BOX]
Post Office Box is an instrument, which is based on wheatstone principle. It was first introduced
for finding resistance of telegraph wires and for fault findings work in the post and telegraph
office thats why it is called Post Office Box. It is more compact and easier to use.
It consists of three sets of resistances P, Q and R. The arms P and Q called the ratio arms, usually

consists of three resistances each viz. 10, 100 and 1000 ohms so that any decimal ratio from
1:100 to 100:1 may be used. The third arm R is an ordinary set of resistances. The unknown
resistances X to be measured forms the fourth arm. Introducing the ratios 1:1, 10:1, 100:1 in
turn the balance or null position is traced by adjusting R. Balance is usually obtained at the
ratio 100:1 for some value of R. With this value of R the value of X can be easily be
calculated using relation of Wheatstone bridge i.e.
P/Q = R/X
X = R Q/P
THE OHMMETER
The ohmmeter is a device used for the measurement of resistance. It consists of a sensitive
galvanometer G, adjustable resister R and a torch cell E connected in series between two
terminals A and B. The unknown resistance X to be measured is connected between the
terminals A and B. The resistance R is so chosen that when the terminals A and B are short
circuited (i.e. X = 0). The galvanometer gives full-scale deflection when no connection is
between A and B (i.e. X = ). The galvanometer shows zero deflection for the value of X
between = and . The deflection is small or large depending on the value of X. The scale of the
galvanometer is calibrated with different known values of X and there the circuit serves as an
ohmmeter to measure any unknown resistance approx. The scale of the ohmmeter however is not
linear.
Using different conditions of R is series and different shunts across the galvanometer worked by
range switches, the ohmmeter can be adopted for different accessories for e.g. 1 accuracy in
tens of ohms, in hundreds of ohms, in thousands of ohms, in mega ohms etc. Ohmmeter is not a
very accurate instrument.
POTENTIOMETER
Potentiometer is device for measuring the p.d (voltage) between two points of a circuit or the
e.m.f of a current source. It consists of a uniform wire stretched on a wooden board along a
meter scale.
Consider a uniform resistance wire AB of length L and Resistance R, across which is connected
to a source of constant EMF (e.g. an accumulator) through a key and a rheostat to adjust and
maintain a constant current 1 through it.
As the current flows, the P.d. between A and B = V(AB) = IR
If one terminal of a wire is connected to A while other is moved on the wire AB then instrument
acts as a Potential Divider.
To find an unknown EMF of a cell or some other potential difference or the ratio of the emf of
two cells consider the circuit. The positive terminals of a cell of unknown EMF E(N) and a
standard cell of Emf E(N) are connected to the terminal A. The negative terminals of both the
cells are joint to the jockey through a two way key and a sensitive galvanometer. Using the twoway key first cell E(N) only is introduced into the galvanometer branch and balanced point C and
length L are found for it.
THE AVO-METER

An Avo-meter is an apparatus which is used to measure current, voltage and resistance in other
words it is an ampere, volts and ohms. It can measure direct as well as alternative voltage and
currents. It consists of a galvanometer with different scales graduated in such a way that all the
three quantities can be measured. A selector-cum-range switch is provided. Its has its own
battery. A rectifier is also included in the instrument to convert A.C. into D.C. before they pass
through the Galvanometer.