RESISTIVE TRANSDUCERS

Resistive Potentiometer:
A resistance potentiometer is a kind of variable resistance transducer.
It consists of a resistance element provided with a movable metallic
contact (wiper). This contact motion can be translational , rotational
or combination of both translational and rotational. So resistive
potentiometer basically used for translatory or rotary displacement. A
resistive potentiometer consists of resistive element, winding former
and wiper. Constructions of linear and rotary potentiometer are
shown below.

Rotary type

Translatory type

The moving body, the displacement of which is to be measured is

coupled to the wiper. For the displacement of the body the wiper of
the potentiometer is moved along the resistive element of the
potentiometer from one end (A). The resistance of the resistive
element between the wiper and that end (A) is measured. Resistance
increases if the wiper moves away from the end A. If a potentiometer
is designed in such a way that the resistance of the potentiometer
varies linearly with the displacement, the output voltage eo obtained
across AB is proportional to the displacement provided the
potentiometer is supplied with a fixed dc or ac voltage ei . A
measuring meter is connected between the output terminals of the
potentiometer to measure this output voltage. As this output voltage
is proportional to displacement so the scale of the measuring meter
can be calibrated in displacement. In this way a resistive
potentiometer can be used to measure any unknown displacement.

Different Constructions:

1. Single slide wire type

2. Wire wound type
3. Cermet

1. Single slide wire: In single slide wire there is step less variation
of resistance as the wiper moves along it. But since the length of
the wire is limited by the desired stroke in a translational device
and by the diameter in a rotational device, this type of
potentiometer is limited to rather small values of resistance.
 2. Wire wound type: In this type the resistance wire is wound on a
straight or circular card depending on the type of device –
translational or rotational. The wire wound construction
produces a stepwise increase in resistance as the wiper moves
from one turn of wires to another. Resistive material is made up
of nickel-chromium, nickel-copper, nickel-gold etc.

3. Cermet : Precious metal particles fused into a ceramic base

constitute cermet. This has many advantages such as step less
variation of resistance offering a very high resolution, large
power rating because it is not easily fusible, low cost, moderate
temperature coefficients and utility in ac applications. Overall
they have good stability of total resistance over time and
temperature changes.

Apart from these hot molded carbon, Carbon films are also used to
construct potentiometer.

Characteristics: Loading effects

The resistance element is supplied with dc or ac voltage and the
input-output relation i.e. displacement and output voltage relation is
ideally linear. But in practical case the voltage measuring device acts
as a load for the potentiometer. Voltmeter is connected in parallel to
the output terminals. Though in ideal case the internal resistance of
voltmeter is infinite but still it has some finite resistance practically.
So the indicated voltage in the voltmeter is less than the actual
voltage which is proportional to the displacement. This error is
referred to as a loading error or the loading effect. This effect can be
proved in the following analysis.
Here,

Rp = Total resistance of potentiometer wire AB

R = Resistance of the part CB of the potentiometer

RM = Resistance of the measuring meter

Xt = Total length of the potentiometer wire

Xi = Displacement which is to be measured

e = Supply voltage

eo = output voltage of the potentiometer

For ideal voltmeter, RM = infinite

So. eo / ei = Xi / Xt and thus eo is proportional to Xi

But due to the presence of finite value of meter resistance R M this

relationship is not exactly linear, it varies with different values of
Rp /RM . The variation of eo / ei with Xi / Xt for different values of

Rp /RM is shown in the figure below.

In practical case, RM ≠ infinity,

the characteristic curve is non-
linear. To achieve good linearity
for a meter resistance RM, we should choose a potentiometer of
sufficiently low resistance relative to RM so that Rp /RM approximately
0. But this requirement conflicts with other requirement of high
sensitivity.

Advantages:

1. Less expensive and simple to set up.

2. Sufficient output to drive control circuit.

3. Rather large displacement can be measured.

Disadvantages:

1. Mechanical loading owing to wiper friction.

2. Misalignment owing to friction.

3. Electrical noises from the sliding contact.