Electronic Voltmeter

Advantage over conventional Multi Meter:

1. The moving coil voltmeter is not able to detect the low voltages. The
electronic voltmeter overcomes this problem. The electronic voltmeter has
high input impedance because of which it detects the signals of very weak
strength, hence gives the accurate reading.
2. Electronics voltmeter possess very high sensitivity as a result their input impedance
is increased.
3. Since current taken by the instrument is very negligible, the loading effect is quite
low.
Working Principle of Electronic Voltmeter:

In this type voltmeter there is always at least an amplifier. This amplifier

amplifies the very small current taken by the electronic voltmeter during
measurement. Then this amplified current is measured by a conventional PMMC
instrument. That means this voltmeter takes very small current from the circuit
but it amplifies the current to higher value so that the current can be measured by
conventional PMMC instrument. In this way an electronic voltmeter can measure
a voltage without affecting the value of the original voltage.

Electronic voltmeter is illustrated in figure. This particular circuit is made

up of three stages: an input attenuator, an electronic amplifier, and an
electromechanical voltmeter stage
Note: the large triangular graphic symbol normally used to represent an amplifier. Also,

note the small triangular symbol representing the instrument ground.

The input attenuator: is simply a voltage divider that divides (or
attenuates) high input voltages to measurable levels.

The amplifier has a very high input resistance so that there is virtually no
loading effect on the attenuator resistors. It also has a low output resistance to
supply the current required by the electromechanical voltmeter stage.

Amplifier
The amplifier has voltage gain (or amplification) of 1, which means that a 1 V
input produces a 1 V output. So, its function is solely to offer a high input
resistance and a low output resistance. In this situation it is said to be a buffer
between the attenuator and voltage-measuring stages; thus, it is termed a buffer
amplifier.

Electromechanical Voltmeter Stage

The electromechanical voltage-measuring stage is typically designed to give
meter FSD for an amplifier output of 1 V. Because the amplifier has a gain of 1,
its output voltage (V0) is equal to the input (Vi) from the attenuator. Thus, meter
FSD is obtained when the attenuator produces a 1 V output.

Attenuator
The attenuator switch is the voltmeter range-selection switch. With the switch at
position A, an attenuator input of 1V is passed to the voltage measuring-stage to
give FSD. This (1V) is the maximum input voltage that can be measured when
the switch is at terminal A. Thus, position A of the range-selection switch is
identified at the 1V range position [see Figure 2].
 Fig.2: Electronic Voltmeter Range Selection

AC Voltmeter:
In electronic ac voltmeters input signal is firstly rectified and then supplied to the
dc amplifier, as shown in figure. Sometimes signal is firstly amplified by AC
amplifier and then rectified before supplying it to dc meter, as shown in figure.

Electronic Multimeter:

The Electronic Multimeter is a device which is used for the measurement of various
electrical and electronic quantities such as current, voltage, resistance etc. The multimeter
name is given to it to define its ability to measure multiple quantities.

Construction and Components of Multimeter:

The multimeter basically consists of a bridge DC amplifier, rectifier, PMMC meter,

function switch, internal battery and an attenuator. The function of the attenuator is that it
helps to select a particular range of voltage values. The rectifier is essential in a multimeter
for the conversion of AC voltage into DC voltage. The internal battery is needed for the
operational mechanism of the multimeter.
Working of the Multimeter:

The Multimeter performs its operation by providing the input voltage to the gate terminal
of the FET, and this gate voltage is responsible for the increase in the source voltage of the
FET. The PMMC meter is connected between the two FET.

In the ideal condition, no current should flow from PMMC meter so thus it must show zero
deflection, but in the practical implementation, the PMMC meter shows some deflection.
This is undesirable in steady state. Thus a zero adjusts control resistor is used for adjusting
the value of current to zero. After this again, the PMMC shows no deflection.

But make sure the above condition is defined when no input is applied to it. When the input
is applied to it either by connecting a resistor or any other component, the circuit switched
to the active state and the changes in the circuit due to the connection of the component is
deflected with the help of PMMC meter.

Knob of the multimeter:

we need to set the knob of the multimeter to set it on the values or quantity which is to be
measured. For example, if we want to measure resistance then the multimeter should be set
to option “ohm”. Apart from this, we need to set the range of multimeter. It is significant to
set the range of multimeter because if you are measuring the resistance of the resistor which
possesses value in kilo-ohms and the range of multimeter is not set and by default it is in
ohm or mega-ohms, then you will get wrong results. Therefore it is crucial to set the range
of the multimeter properly.
Measurement of Resistance by Multimeter:

The resistance can be measured by multimeter easily by connecting the two probes of the
multimeter with two ends of a resistor. The unknown resistor the resistance of which is to
be measured is connected to the function switch and the battery.

The battery of 1.5 V is connected to the circuit when the resistor is connected the circuit
becomes complete, and the voltage across the resistor is measured by the circuit, and the
particular range is indicated by the PMMC meter.

There are various resistors that are connected in parallel; all these resistors possess different
values of resistance. The range which is to be measured can be set and also a particular
range of value of resistance can be connected to the unknown resistor.

The Amplifier connected in series amplifies the signal. The signal gets distorted as it passes
through the circuit. Moreover, the current also flows from that path in which the resistor is
connected. And we all are aware of the fact that the value of voltage drop across the resistor
is directly proportional to the value of the resistor.

Thus, as the value of resistance increases the value of the voltage drop across it increases,
and thus the PMMC meter shows the deflection accordingly. In this way, the value of
resistance is measured.

Specification:

1. DC Voltage: range of DC voltage we can measure

2. Resistance: range of resistance we can measure
3. Accuracy: DC Voltage +/- X% on all range; Resistance +/- Y% on all range;
4. Input Impedance: high means drawing less current desired