Mapua University

School of Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering

Experiment 1
Familiarization with Electrical Measuring
Instruments

Date Performed: August 23, 2019

Date Submitted: August 30,2019

Name: Mark Louie V. Corporal

Group Number: 1
Course &Sec: EE21L-2/A21

Janette Fausto_
Professor
Answers to Questions and Problems
1. Describe the type of meter movement used in analog meters.

A commonly used sensing mechanism used in DC ammeters,

voltmeters, and ohm meters is a current-sensing device called a
D’Arsonval meter movement specifically the D’Arsonal galvanometer.
Galvanometers are instruments which are used for measuring a small
electrical current or a function of the current by deflection of a
moving coil. The deflection is a mechanical rotation derived from
forces resulting from the current. This type of movement is a DC
moving coil-type movement in which an electromagnetic core is
suspended between the poles of a permanent magnet. When there is
current in the movable coil, its core is magnetized. The pointer
deflects the current flows through the circuit because the coil
experiences a torque and rotates in its attempt to align its plane
perpendicular to the line joining the poles of the permanent magnet,
resulting to the deflection of the pointer. The direction of the pointer
changes with the change in the direction of current flow.

2. What device is used to extend the range of a DC ammeter and how is

it connected to the basic meter?

To extend the range of a DC ammeter, a suitable low resistance

which is called a shunt resistor is connected in parallel with the
galvanometer of an ammeter. The purpose of the shunt resistor is to
 serve as an additional resistance with the consideration that it must
be less than the resistance of the galvanometer. Adding the shunt
resistor would result to attracting more current which in turn the
ammeter will receive less current but adding the shunt resistor would
not affect the total current in the circuit thus extending the full scale
range of the ammeter.

3. What device is used to extend the range of a DC voltmeter and how

is it connected to the basic meter?

To extend the range of a DC voltmeter, a suitable high resistance

called a multiplier resistor is connected in series with the
galvanometer of a voltmeter. It serves as an additional resistor which
is placed in series with the galvanometer of a voltmeter to extend the
range of the DC voltmeter. This will cause the path of the voltmeter
to draw less current without changing the voltage of the voltage
source thus extending the full scale range of the voltmeter.

4. Why is it necessary that an ammeter be a low resistance instrument?

Why must a voltmeter be a high resistance instrument?

It is necessary that an ammeter must be a low resistance instrument

because it affects the total resistance of the circuits resulting in a
shift in the current flowing out of the loop resulting in an inaccurate
reading of the ammeter. Meters are not supposed to alter the
 behavior of the circuit, or at least not significantly, and it follows that
an ammeter must have a very low resistance since it is connected in
series. Likewise, the voltmeter provides a parallel path, thus, it
should take little current as possible. Also, since the current arrives in
a junction of a parallel path, most of the current will likely go to the
least resistive path. It is important that no current shall pass through
the voltmeter in order for the voltmeter not to alter anything with in
the circuit.

5. What type of basic meter is configured as a wattmeter?

A wattmeter is a device used to measure power. Since power is the

product of voltage and current, a voltmeter and an ammeter can be
configured to measure power wherein the ammeter is connect in
series while the voltmeter is connected in parallel to the circuit.
Another basic meter that can be configured as a wattmeter was an
electrodynamometer which is similar to the galvanometer of the DC
meters but it does not include permanent magnet. It basically
depend on the reaction between the magnetic field of moving and
fixed coils. Observing from the diagram shown in Figure 1.1, there
are two coils configured as a wattmeter. One coil is placed in series
while the other one is placed in parallel with the circuit. The
deflection of the pointer will be proportional to both coil resulting to
the magnitude of power.
6. Two 150V voltmeters are being compared; A has 5KΩ/V while meter
B has a total meter resistance of 750KΩ. Which is the more sensitive
meter? Why?

Both meters A and B have equal sensitivity. Sensitivity can be solved

by dividing the resistance of the voltmeter by the full scale voltage
reading of the voltmeter. Solving the resistance for meter be would
be 750 KΩ divided by 150V will result to 5KΩ/V which is equal to the
sensitivity of meter A thus they have equal sensitivity.

7. What current is required for full scale deflection of a galvanometer

having a current sensitivity of 50µA per scale division? The meter has
exactly 50 divisions on either side of the mid-scale index.

To solve for the current required for full scale deflection of a

galvanometer, the current sensitivity is multiplied to the number of
divisions. Thus from the given, 50µA per scale division multiplied by
50 divisions would result to 2500 micro-amperes.

8. What potential difference appears across the galvanometer described

in problem 6 when the pointer is fully deflected? The meter
resistance is 10Ω.
To solve for the potential difference, we will find the product of the
resistance and the reciprocal of the voltmeter reading. Thus the
potential difference would be:
9. Determine the series resistance needed to convert a galvanometer to
a voltmeter reading 15V on full scale. Deflection if a current of 2.5Ma
causes full scale deflection and the resistance of the coil is 10 Ω.

Rearranging the formula VT = 1m(Rs+Rm) we can solve for the

resistance thus having the formula and by

inputting the values from the problem we will obtain

10. Determine the shunt resistance needed to convert a

galvanometer to an ammeter with a full scale reading of 10A if the
scale requires 2.5Ma to cause full deflection with a coil resistance of
10Ω.
Interpretation of Results
In part A of the experiment, we are tasked to determine the
characteristics of an analog ammeter. From the data gathered, we can say
that the input resistance of the analog ammeter is very small. Since
ammeters are used to measure currents, the small amount of input
resistance enables the ammeter to allow the flow of larger currents. While
in part B of the experiment, we are to determine the input resistance of the
analog voltmeter. We are able to have a much larger amount of input
resistance compared to that of the analog ammeter. If we will observe the
data gathered in Table 1.1 which is mathematically computed through the
use of the different formula, we can say that as the resistance of the
resistors increases, the amount of current and power decreases thus
having an inversely proportional relationship. This event is supported by
the idea of Ohm’s Law which states if we increase the resistance, then the
current will decrease. Since the main purpose of resistors is to control the
flow of current to other components we could see that there is a great
effect in the current and power produced in the circuit due to the amount
of current being restricted by the resistor. Similar results were observed
from the results given by the software TinaPro. Although the results
significantly differ by some amount, it shows that our results were
somehow accurate. This is due to the difference in the amount of voltage
entered in the software. Different voltage amount was inputted since in
Table 1.1 the group used the amount shown in the digital voltmeter. While
in Table 1.2, the group used the reading in the analog voltmeter which
somehow less accurate compared to the digital voltmeter.
Conclusion
After doing the experiment, we can conclude that the input
resistance of the analog ammeter must be a small value since it will affect
the total resistance of the circuits which results to a change in the current
flowing through out the circuit. Also, we can conclude that the input
resistance of the analog voltmeter is greater compared to that of the
ammeter. It is important that the analog voltmeter has a greater resistance
in order for it not to alter the results of the reading even though there is a
high flow of current. We also observed the effect of changing the resistors
to the amount of power and current which is flowing from the voltage
source. We can conclude that the change in resistor has an inversely
proportional relationship to the amount of current and power produced in a
circuit. This is supported by the idea stated by the Ohm’s Law which states
that if we increase the resistance, then the current will decrease. The
mathematical computations were significantly accurate to what was
computed in the simulated data from the software thus we can conclude
that the data gathered were correct and were significantly accurate. After
the experiment, we are able to meet the objectives for this experiment.
Our group was able to determine the characteristics and proper connection
of common electrical measuring devices as well as read the results shown
by the devices. Lastly, we are able to familiarize ourselves with the
functions of the basic electric circuit training kit and learn their proper
connection. Thus, we are able to come up with reliable and accurate data
for this experiment.