REPORT # 5

Design an Ammeter and Voltmeter using Weston type

Galvanometer

Submitted by
 Abdullah Tahir(FA21-
BEE-211)
 Zain ul Abdin (FA21-
BEE-231)
 Sara Iqbal (FA21-BEE-
242)
 Mudasser (FA21-BEE-
)
Dated: 04th October 2021
Submitted to: Sir Zaka ur Rehman
COMSATS UNIVERSITY
ISLAMABAD

SUBMITTED TO SIR. ZAKA UR REHMAN

SUBJECT APPLIED PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS
DATE 04TH OCTOBER 2021

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL
ENGINEERING
 Designing Ammeter Using Weston Type Galvanometer

EXPERIMENT 4
OBJECTIVE:
This report represents procedure of designing a Weston type galvanometer into an ammeter.

APPRATUS:
 Weston type galvanometer
 Low resistance box
 High resistance box
 Plug keys
 Rheostat
 Ammeter
 Battery
 Connecting wires
 Screw gauge

INTRODUCTI0N:
In this experiment, we converted a Weston type Galvanometer into an Ammeter by connecting
it to a small resistance in parallel known as shunt resistance. For this, we devised a scale on the
galvanometer for the current by providing full scale deflection to the Galvanometer. The
Galvanometer was easily deflected, and the needle moved out of scale which is why the
resistance was required. Internal resistance of the Galvanometer Rg is found using a digital
voltmeter. The internal resistance is noted and the current for full scale deflection Ig are
implied to calculate the amount of current at every step of the scale on the Galvanometer for
the current when it is converted to an ammeter as follows:

 GALVANOMETER
Definition
The galvanometer is the device used for detecting the presence of small current and voltage or
for measuring their magnitude. The galvanometer is mainly used in the bridges and
potentiometer where they indicate the null deflection or zero current.
Principle of Galvanometer
The galvanometer is based on the premise that the current sustaining coil is kept between the
magnetic field experiences a torque.
The Galvanometer functions by conversion of electrical energy o mechanical energy. The flow
of electric current creates a magnetic torque.
The Galvanometer is an extremely sensitive device for its actual purpose is to measure
resistance and not currents for which we use ammeter. For this conversion, we must apply a
shunt resistance in parallel to the Galvanometer which is relatively low. We can measure the
current using this ammeter despite the limitations of voltage and scale. If we apply a large
resistance in series with the galvanometer, we can extend these limitations.

We can test this ammeter using a digital ammeter to verify the values we obtain by attaching
the ends of the resistors to the newly constructed ammeter. The calculations are authentic but
very small values can be measured without a resistance attached in series to extend the range.

 AMMETER
A meter designed to measure electrical current is popularly called an “ammeter” it’s unit of
measurement is “amperes.”
The galvanometer is used as an ammeter by
connecting the low resistance wire in parallel
with the galvanometer. The potential difference Is
between the voltage and the shunt resistance are equal. Ig

 SHUNT
Shunt is a device which allows electric current to pass around another point in the circuit by
creating a low resistance path. A shunt (also known as a current shunt resistor or an ammeter
shunt) is a high precision resistor which can be used to measure the current flowing through a
circuit.

 HALF DEFLECTION METHOD

A method of finding the internal resistance of a cell when the value is known to be high. A second
cell, a galvanometer and a resistance are connected in series with the cell under test, and the
value of the resistance required to give a galvanometer. Deflection of half the value obtained
with the cell alone is found.

 AMMETER DESIGN
An ammeter is placed in series with a circuit element to measure the electric current flow through
it. The meter must be designed offer very little resistance to the current so that it does not
appreciably change the circuit it is measuring. To accomplish this, a small resistor shunt is placed
in parallel with the galvanometer to let most of the current around the galvanometer. Its value
is chosen so that when the design current flow through the meter it will deflect to its full-scale
reading. A galvanometer full-scale current is very small on the order of milli-amperes. If a
galvanometer with Rg in Ω, Ig in 𝑚𝐴 is used to design an ammeter for full scale deflection current
I amperes,
The required shunt resistance is given by
𝐼𝑔 𝑅𝑔
𝑅𝑔 = Ω
1 − 𝐼𝑔

 LAB PROCEDURE
Firstly, we arrange the circuitry as per the circuit diagram which implies attaching the shunt
resistance in parallel with the galvanometer. We must determine the current required for full
scale deflection in this regard. However, we also attach resistance in series with the circuit in
order to extend the range of the ammeter. After we obtain full scale deflection with use of a
variable resistor, we calculate the current per deflection scale needle and hence devise a scale
for measurement of the current.
After the connections are complete, we use the terminals of the newly constructed ammeter to
measure the current flowing across the resistors attached in the circuitry and verify the readings
by using a digital ammeter.

Value of Value measured Value measured % Difference

resistance (Ω) by designed by DMM (V)
Ammeter
2200 0.0028 0.003 Min
100 0.0021 0.002 Min
1000 0.070 0.074 Min

PRECAUTIONS:
 The cell used should have a constant e.m.f.
 The length of the wire used as shunt should not be too small.
 The ammeter should always be connected in series of the cell.

Part 02:
 Equipment Required
 Galvanometer
 Variable resistor / potentiometer
 Resistors
 DMM
 Breadboard
 DC power supply
 Connecting wires.
 Testing the designed voltmeter

Measurement Table:
1. Make connections according to the circuit while keeping both keys K1 and K2 open. High
resistance box (HRB) should connect in series with galvanometer and battery through key K1
and low resistance box (LRB) should be connected in parallel to galvanometer.
2. First take some resistance (about 5000Ω) from HRB and then close key K1. Note deflection in
galvanometer. Adjust resistance R in HRB such that galvanometer shows full scale deflection (of
30 divisions) exactly.
3. Now close key K2 without taking resistance from LRB. Deflection in galvanometer will become
zero. Adjust resistance in LRB to such a value that deflection in galvanometer becomes 15
divisions. Note resistance in LRB now.
4. Open key K2 (K1 should remain closed) and adjust resistance R in HRB such that deflection in
galvanometer becomes 28 division. Then close K2 and adjust resistance in LRB such than
deflection in galvanometer becomes 14 division
5. Repeat step 4 for deflection of 26, 24 and 22 division in galvanometer and find out S to half
deflection in each case.
6. Calculate resistance Rg of galvanometer by using relation Rg = R S/ R-Seach of observation. Then
find out mean value of Rg.
7. Connect a high resistance box in series with the galvanometer across a battery through key K.
First take out a high resistance (e.g.5000Ω) from resistance box and then close key K. Now
adjust resistance R in the resistance box in such a way that there deflection of 30 divisions in
galvanometer. Measure e.m.f. E of battery by voltmeter and calculate figure of merit K.