AC Voltmeter

-> The voltmeter which use rectifiers, diodes, amplifiers and other supporting
electronic circuits to produce a current proportional to the quantity to be measured,
are called electronic voltmeter.
-> The block diagram of electronic AC meters

-> AC Voltmeters are subdivided into 3 categories

1. Average reading voltmeter
2. Peak responding voltmeter
3. True RMS voltmeter
AC Voltmeter with Rectifier:-
Using Half wave Rectifier:-

FIG(a):- AC Voltmeter with half wave Rectifier

Using Full wave Rectifier:-

FIG(B):- AC Voltmeter with full wave rectifier

 Using Half wave Rectifier:-

S 1 1  1K 
I fsd 1mA
Fig: AC Voltmeter Using HWR
 If 10 Vrms sine wave is applied
Em or Ep = 10 Vrms * 1.414 = 14.14 V

The dc will respond to the average value of the ac input, Therefore

Eav = Ep * 0.636 = 14.14 * 0.636 = 8.99 V

Since the diode conducts only during the positive half cycle, the
average value over the entire cycle is one half the average value of 8.99
V, i.e about 4.5 V.
 If the meter reads 10 V for dc, and if we apply 10 Vrms to the HWR circuit the
meter reads 4.5 V.

 Edc = 0.45 Erms

 The sensitivity of the meter is only 45% of the sensitivity of the DC meter.

 To determine the multiplier resistance

Edc 045
. Erms
Rs   Rm Rs   Rm
Idc
Idc
or
Using Full wave Rectifier:-

 Consider fullwave rectifier Ep = 1.414 * Erms

Ep = 1.414 * 10 = 14.14 V Peak

 Average value is Eav = 0.636 * Epeak

= 0.636 * 14.14 = 8.99 V or 9V
 Therefore, we can see that a 10 V rms voltage is equal to a 9 V
dc for full scale deflection, i.e the pointer will deflect to 90% of
full scale or
Sensitivity (ac) = 0.9 * Sensitiviy (dc)
 General rectifier type
Diode Characterstics
AC Voltmeter

Mutirange AC Voltmeter
Average Responding Voltmeter:

 The a.c input is applied, is

first amplified with the help
of high gain stabilised
amplifier, upto a required
level. This voltage is then
rectified using the diodes D1
and D2. The rectified
voltage is fed to Meter. The
current obtained from the
rectifier, is averaged by
using a filter to produce a
steady deflection of the
meter pointer.
Peak Responding Voltmeter:

AC coupled Peak responding voltmeter

DC coupled Peak responding voltmeter

-> Usage of storage capacitors with the rectifying diode used in peak responding voltmeter.

The capacitor charges through the diode to the peak value of the applied voltage and the

meter circuit then respond to the capacitor voltage.

-> Fig(a) shows a dc coupled peak voltmeter, in which the capacitor charges to the total

peak voltage above ground reference. In this case the meter reading will be affected by the

presence of dc with ac voltage. Fig(b) shows an ac coupled peak voltmeter circuit.

-> In both the circuits the capacitor discharges very slowly through the high impedance

input of the dc amplifier. The dc amplifier is used in the peak responding meter to develop

the necessary meter current.

-> The disadvantage of peak responding voltmeter is the error caused due to harmonic

distortion in the input waveforms and limited sensitivity of the instrument because of

imperfect diode characteristics.

True RMS Voltmeter:-

-> Complex waveforms are most accurately measured with an rms voltmeter. This
instrument produces a meter indication by sensing waveform heating power, which is
proportional to the square of the rms value of the voltage. This heating power can be
measured by amplifying & feeding it to a thermocouple, whose o/p voltage is then
proportional to the Erms.
-> The effect of non –linear behavior of the thermocouple in the input circuit is cancelled
by similar non linear effects of the thermocouple in the feedback circuit.
-> The unknown ac voltage is amplified and applied to the heating element of the
measuring thermocouple. The application of heat produces an output voltage that upset
the balance of the bridge.
-> The dc amplifier amplifies the unbalanced voltage, this voltage is fed back to the
heating element of the balancing thermocouple, which heats the thermocouple, so that
the bridge is balanced again, i.e the output of both the thermocouples are the same.
-> At this instant, the ac current in the input thermocouple is equal to the dc current in
the heating element of the feedback thermocouple. This dc current is therefore directly
proportional to the effective or rms value of the input voltage.
OHMMETER:-
The ohmmeters are used to measure the resistance values. The
basic method of measurement of the resistance uses voltmeter and
ammeter to measure values and current. The resistance is
determined from the ratio of these two quantities.

Instead of measuring both voltage and current many instrument

keep one of the two quantities constant. Thus the measurement of
other quantity is proportional to the value of the resistance. If the
voltage is kept constant, an ammeter in series will have deflection
proportional to the conductance but the meter can be calibrated in
terms of the resistance.
 SERIES TYPE OHMMETER

It consists of basic d’Arsonval

movement connected in parallel
with a shunting resistor R2. This
parallel circuit is in series with
resistance R1 and a battery of emf
E. the series circuit is connected to
the terminals A and B of unknown
resistor Rx.

Form the figure,

R1 = current limiting resistor,
R2 = zero adjusting resistor,
E = emf of internal battery,
Rm = internal resistance of d’Arsonval movement
When the unknown resistance Rx = 0 (terminals A and B
shorted) maximum current flows through the meter. Under this
condition resistor R2 is adjusted until the basic movement meter
indicates full scale current Ifs. The full scale current position of
the pointer is marked “0Ω” on the scale.

Similarly when Rx is removed from circuit Rx = ∞ (that is

when terminal A and B are open), the current in the meter drops to
the zero and the movement indicates zero current which is the
marked “∞”.
When the unknown resistance is inserted at terminal A, B the
current through the meter is reduced and hence pointer drops
lower on the scale. Therefore the meter has “0” at extreme right
and “∞” at the extreme left.

Intermediate scale marking may be placed on the scale by

different known values of the resistance Rx to the instrument.
 A convenient quantity to use in the design of the series ohmmeter
is the value of the Rx which causes the half scale deflection of the
meter. At this position, the resistance across terminals A and B is
defined as the half scale position resistance Rh.

A convenient quantity to use in

the design of the series ohmmeter
is the value of the Rx which causes
the half scale deflection of the
meter. At this position, the
resistance across terminals A and B
is defined as the half scale position
resistance Rh.

Figure: Scale of Series ohmmeter

SHUNT TYPE OHMMETER

 The shunt type ohmmeter consist of a battery in series with an

adjustable resistance R1 and a meter movement. Across the meter
unknown resistance is to be placed.
The Switch is provided to disconnect the battery when the
instrument is not in use.
When the terminal A-B are shorted then the meter gets bypassed
by short circuit. Hence entire current flows through S.C and meter
current is zero. This pointer position is marked as zero and the
corresponding Rx = 0 as terminal A-B are shorted.
 When the terminal A-B are opened Rx is infinity, entire
current flows through the meter hence pointer deflects to
maximum. The resistance R1 is then adjusted such that current
through the meter is its full scale deflection current.

 The scale is marked from o to infinity and not reversely from

infinity to zero in the case of series ohmmeter.

 The use of shunt type ohmmeter is suited for the measurement

of low resistance.