Page 1 of 6

Experiment: 4-wire network with an unbalanced ohmic-

capacitive load

In this experiment, we will again examine the behaviour of an asymmetrically loaded four-wire circuit,
except that the unbalanced load is now a combination of a load resistor connected in parallel to a
capacitor.

Assemble the circuit as illustrated below in order to first measure the line currents I1, I2 and I3 as well
as the neutral conductor's current IN.

Open the virtual instrument Three-channel oscilloscope via the menu path Instruments |
Three-phase measuring device | Oscilloscope or by clicking on the image below, and perform
the settings indicated in the adjacent table.
 Page 2 of 6

3-channel oscilloscope settings

Time base
2 ms
(TIME/DIV):

Trigger: A (rising edge)

Channel-
CH CH CH
specific
A B C
settings:

Amplitude 200 200 200

(VOLTS/DIV): mV mV mV

ON x x x

Open the virtual instrument Three-phase power supply via the menu path Instruments | Power
supplies | Three-phase supply or by clicking on the image below, perform the settings
indicated in the adjacent table, and turn on the instrument.

3-phase power supply settings

Frequency: 50 Hz

Amplitude: 7.5 V

Using the mouse, drag the obtained oscillogram to the chart placeholder provided below.
 Page 3 of 6

:
2ms

:
200mv

:
200mv

:
200mv

What can be said about the line currents' amplitudes?

All three line currents have the same amplitude.

I1 has a smaller amplitude than I2 and I3, both of which have
identical amplitudes.
I1 has a large amplitude than I2 and I3, both of which have
identical amplitudes.
Correct.
I2 has a smaller amplitude than I1 and I3, both of which have
identical amplitudes.
I2 has a larger amplitude than I1 and I3, both of which have
identical amplitudes.
All three line currents have different amplitudes.

Close the oscilloscope. Open the virtual instrument Three-phase multimeter via the menu path
Instruments | Three-phase measuring device | Multimeter or by clicking on the image below,
and perform the settings indicated in the adjacent table.
 Page 4 of 6

3-phase multimeter
settings

MEASURE: CURRENT

MODE: RMS

RANGE: 100 mA

Open the virtual instrument Ammeter A via the menu path Instruments | Measuring devices |
Ammeter A or by clicking on the image below, and perform the settings indicated in the
adjacent table.

Ammeter A settings

Measuring range: 100 mA, AC

Measuring mode: RMS

Shunt: 10 W

Measure the neutral conductor's current IN as well as the line currents I1, I2 and I3.

Enter the results in the fields provided below.

I1: 41.1 I2: 34.8 I3: 32.4

Line currents:
mA mA mA
Correct.
IN: 19
Neutral conductor current:
mA

Modify the experiment setup as shown in the next animation to be able to simultaneously measure
the phase voltage V1N and line voltage V12.
 Page 5 of 6

Close the three-phase multimeter and ammeter. Open the virtual instrument Voltmeter A via
the menu path Instruments | Measuring devices | Voltmeter A or by clicking on the image
below, and perform the settings indicated in the adjacent table.

Voltmeter A settings

Display mode: Digital

Measuring range: 20 V

Measuring mode: RMS

Open the virtual instrument Voltmeter B via the menu path Instruments | Measuring devices |
Voltmeter B or by clicking on the image below, and perform the settings indicated in the
adjacent table.
 Page 6 of 6

Voltmeter B settings

Display mode: Digital

Measuring range: 20 V

Measuring mode: RMS

Measure the phase voltage V1N and line voltage V12. Modify the experiment setup to be able to
respectively measure the remaining phase and line voltages.

Enter the results in the fields provided below.

V1N: V2N: V3N:

Phase voltages:
7.4 V 7.4 V 7.5 V
Correct.
V12: V23: V31:
Line voltages:
12.8 V 13.0 V 12.9 V

Which conclusions can be drawn from the results of this experiment as regards a four-wire
circuit with an unbalanced ohmic-capacitive load?


The neutral conductor`s amperage is much higher compared
with the case involving a purely ohmic, unbalanced load.
The neutral conductor`s amperage is much lower compared
with the case involving a purely ohmic, unbalanced load.
 The line currents differ.
All line currents are identical. Correct.
The line voltages differ.
 All line voltages are identical.
The phase voltages differ.
 All phase voltages are identical.