Miscellaneous Instruments

Prepared and Compiled By

Prof. P. N. Kapil
Assistant Professor

Department of Electrical Engineering

Institute of Technology
Nirma University, Ahmedabad
 Lecture Overview
• Definition of Miscellaneous Instruments

• List of Important Miscellaneous Instruments

• Explanation of construction and working of Miscellaneous Instruments

 What are Miscellaneous Instruments ???
Definition:
Instruments which measure quantities which are very important yet not
conventional in nature.

The miscellaneous quantities and their measurement is done regularly but used in
very specific conditions. These quantities help in quantizing the nature and
outcome of any circuit or system.

Example: Measurement of Power Factor, Frequency, Synchronism between phases

etc.
 List of Miscellaneous Instruments
1. Frequency Meter

2. Power Factor Meter

3. Synchroscope
 Frequency Meters

Resonance Type Non-Resonance Type

(Moving Iron Type / Weston Type)

Mechanical Resonance Based Electrical Resonance Based

(Vibrating Reed Type) (Ferrodynamic Type)
 Vibrating Reed Type Frequency Meters
(Mechanical Resonance Type)
A vibrating reed frequency meter consists of a number of thin steel strips called reeds. These reeds are placed in a row
alongside and close to an electromagnet. The electromagnet consists of thin laminations and a coil is wound around it. The
reeds are not similar to each other but differ either in their dimensions or weight or carry different flags at their tops. This is
done to vary the natural frequency of vibration of each reed.
Flag

Reed
When the vibrating reed frequency meter or mechanical resonance type frequency meter is connected across the supply
whose frequency is to be measured an alternating current I flows through the coil of an electromagnet which produces a
force of attraction on the reeds. The force of attraction is proportional to the square of the current therefore it varies at
twice the supply frequency. Hence a force of exerted on the reeds at every half cycle.

All the reeds thus tend to vibrate, but only the one whose natural frequency is double that of supply will vibrate
appreciably. Mechanical resonance is obtained in the case of this reed. The frequency is determined, therefore by noting
the scale reading opposite the reed that vibrates with maximum amplitude.
 Ferrodynamic Type Frequency Meters
(Electrical Resonance Type)
Capacitor
It consists of a fixed coil. The
supply whose frequency is
to be measured is connected
across it. This coil is also
known as magnetizing coil. It
is mounted on a laminated
iron core. The core has a
typical varying cross section.
It varies along the length
and is maximum at the end
of core. The moving coil of it
is pivoted over this iron
core. The pointer is fixed to
the spindle and the
terminals of moving coil are
connected to a suitable
capacitor.
Current flowing through magnetizing coil produces flux in the iron core which will set up an emf in the
moving coil .This emf lags the flux ø by almost 90°. This will cause current I to flow through capacitor C. If
current is inductive it will lag induced emf and a torque will act on the coil.

If current is capacitive then also the torque will act, but if the inductive reactance is equal to capacitive
reactance two torques will act on the moving coil. The capacitive reactance is constant for given frequency
but the inductive reactance depends upon the position of pivoted coil on the core. The nearer the coil
approaches the magnetizing coil, the greater is it’s inductance .The moving coil is pulled towards the
magnetizing coil until both the reactances are exactly equal. i.e. when torque is zero.

The value of capacitor is so selected that the moving coil takes up a convenient position when frequency is of
normal value.
In nutshell the meter works in three conditions:
Weston Type Frequency Meters
(Moving Iron Type)
The main principle of working of Weston type
frequency meter is that “when an current flows
through the two coils which are perpendicular to
each other, due to these currents some magnetic
fields will produce and thus the magnetic needle
(soft iron piece) will deflect towards the stronger
magnetic field showing the measurement of
frequency on the meter”.

There are two coils viz. A & B. They are split as A1,
A2 and B1, B2. Coil A is connected with a Series
inductor LA and a parallel resistor RA where as coil
B is connected with Series Resistor RB and a
parallel inductor LB. Both resistors are non-
inductive. Inductor L is the inductance of the
source which acts as a higher frequency harmonic
filter.
Left side of the scale indicated lower frequency and right side of the scale indicates higher frequency
where as centre of the scale indicates normal supply frequency (in Indian scenario 50 Hz).

Now in practice RA, RB, LA, LB are chosen in such a way that current flowing them under normal applied
frequency (50 Hz) is same. So the pointer takes centre position as the fields of both the coils A and B are
same.

But when the frequency is higher than normal, then the reactance of LA and LB increases which basically
means that current flows from RA instead of LA and then flows from RB instead of LB leading to current in
coil B more than that of coil A. This makes the field of coil B dominant compared to coil A leading to
pointer aligning towards the axis of coil B there by indicating higher frequency on scale.

Similarly when the frequency is lower than normal, then the reactance of LA and LB decreases which
basically means that current flows from LA instead of RA and then flows from LB instead of RB leading to
current in coil A more than that of coil B. This makes the field of coil A dominant compared to coil B
leading to pointer aligning towards the axis of coil A there by indicating Lower frequency on scale.
Single Phase Electrodynamo meter Type Power
Factor Meter
There are two fixed coils F1 & F2 which
are connected in series with load. Coils A
& B are two moving coils connected in
parallel across the load. The pointer is
rigidly mounted on the moving coil.

Coils F1 & f2 being the current coil,

produces flux of the order of current
flowing through the load. Where as coils
A & B produces flux of the order of
applied voltage across the load.

Coil A is connected with a highly non-

inductive series resistor R where as coil
B is connected with a high value series
inductor L.
The values of R & L are chosen in such a way that normal supply frequency (i.e 50 Hz) R = ωL, where ω is
the supply frequency. Due to this both A and B coils carry same amount of current. Now the current in coil
A is in phase with applied voltage ‘V’ where as the current in coil B lags the applied voltage ‘V’ by an angle
of 90°. Now going into the derivation of deflection considering a random condition of pointer,
 Synchroscope
(Conventional)
R Y B
The winding of the outer limb of the transformer induces two flux. And the flux of the central limb
is the resultant of the outer two limb flux. The resultant flux induces the EMF in the central
winding of the transformer. The outer limbs of the transformer are connected in such a way so that
if the incoming machines are in phase with each other than maximum EMF induces in the central
limb winding of the transformer. And hence the lamp glows brightly.

If the voltages of the incoming machines are out of phase to each other in that case the resultant
flux of the central limb of the transformer becomes zero, and hence the lamp will not glow. If the
frequencies of the incoming machines and bus bar are not similar to each other in that case, the
lamp becomes flicker.

The frequency of flickering is similar to the difference in frequencies of the two. The
synchronisation can be done when the brightness is maximum and flickering becomes less. The
electrostatic instrument is used in the system for determining the speed of the incoming machines.
Electrodynamo meter Type
Synchroscope

This synchroscope consists of a fixed coil

divided into two parts. The fixed coil is
designed to carry a small current and is
Capacitor connected in series with a non-inductive
resistor and an inductor with the bus-
bars.

The moving coil is connected in series

with a capacitor across the terminals of
the incoming machine.
Now since the currents flowing in inductor and capacitor are always in quadrature (i.e 90°) with
respect to each other for the applied voltages V1 and V2 which are the two bus-bar voltages which
are meant to be synchronized, the net torque will be zero which indicates that the synchronism is
achieved and the voltages are in-phase. If they are out of phase then the angle between the two
bus-bar voltages will be 180°.

In-phase Scenario Out of phase Scenario