For ac, the instrument indicates the average power.

This can be proved as follows:

Tin ∞ Vi

Average deflecting torque × average

power Let, v = Vm sin d
I = Im sin (θ - Ф)
Average deflecting torque ∞ average value of Vm sin d × Im sin (θ - Ф) ∞ VI cos θ If Td be
the average torque, then

where P is the true power and k is the constant.

For spring control TC = ksθ1
where TC is the control torque, ks is the spring constant and θ1 is the angle of deflection of
the pointer.
For steady deflection,

Hence, in case of ac also the deflection is proportional to the true power in the circuit.
The scale of the electrodynamometer wattmeter is therefore uniform.

Advantages of Electrodynamometer-type Instruments

1. They can be used on ac as well as dc measurements.
2. These instruments are free from eddy current and hysteresis error.
3. Electrodynamometer-type instruments are very useful for accurate measurement of rms values of voltages
irrespective of waveforms.
4. Because of precision grade accuracy and same calibration for ac and dc measurements these instruments are
useful as transfer type and calibration instruments.

Disadvantages of Electrodynamometer-type Instruments

1. As the instrument has square law response, the scale is non-uniform.
2. These instruments have small torque/weight ratio, so the frictional error is considerable.
3. More costly than PMMC and MI type of instruments.
4. Adequate screening of the movements against stray magnetic fields is essential.
5. Power consumption is comparably high because of their construction.

The inductance of a 25 A electrodynamic ammeter changes

uniformly at the rate of 0.0035 mH/radian. The spring