Prepared By: Er.

Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic

(Asst. Lecturer)

Unit 4. Extension Of Measuring Range of Instruments

 Conversion of PMMC instruments into Ammeter and use of Shunts

 Conversion of PMMC instruments into Voltmeter and use of
Multipliers
 Multi-range meters – ammeter, voltmeter, ohmmeter and multi-meter.

Conversion of PMMC instruments into Ammeter

DC Ammeter is just simple modification of D’Arsenoval
galvanometer(PMMC Instrument) in which very low resistive coil in
placed in parallel with the PMMC meter coil so that most of the current
can be bypassed through that parallel coil as shown in figure below.

In above figure,
Rm=Resistance of PMMC instrument
Im=Current through PMMC instrument
Ish=Current through shunt element
Rsh=Resistance of shunt element

Now,
VAB=VCD;being parallel.
Hence,ImRm=IshRsh………………………..(1)
But,I=Im+Ish
or,Ish=I-Im

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

From equation (1)

I m  R m  I  I m R sh

 
I m  R m  R sh   I  R sh
 
 R sh 
 
or , I m   I
R
 m  R sh 
 
Solving this equation we can get,
Im  R m
R sh 
I  Im

This can also be derived as:

I
Let,  m; this is called multiplying factor in converting PMMC into Ammeter.
Im
R m  R sh
Rm
m 1
R sh R sh

But R sh can be found in folloowing term also.

Rm
R sh 
m -1
Thus to increase the range of PMMC to measure current ‘m’ times, the
shunt resistance(Rsh) required to be inserted in parallel with the PMMC
R I
instrument is m ,where m=
m -1 Im

Note:
Rm
R sh 
m -1
I
Since, m   1  R sh  R m
Im

Multirange Ammeter
To convert a DC ammeter into a multirange ammeter a number of low
resistive shunts should be connected in parallel with the resistance of

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

meter. Selector point/switch is used to select the particular range of the

instrument as shown in figure below.

As shown in above figure,Rsh1,Rsh2,Rsh3 and Rsh4 are the four shunt

resistors connected in parallel with PMMC instrument having its own
resistance Rm.Selector switch is used to select four terminals of shunt
resistors separately to vary the range of instrument.Let,m1,m2,m3 and m4
be the multipliers when the switch is connected at different positions as
shown in figure above.Then,the corresponding shunt resistors can be
calculated by using following relation:
Rm
R sh1 
m1  1
Rm
R sh 2 
m2  1
Rm
R sh 3  and
m3  1
Rm
R sh 4 
m4  1

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

In this way the current measured by the PMMC instrument can be

increased by using smaller and smaller resistors in parallel with PMMC
instrument.

Conversion of PMMC instruments into Voltmeter

DC voltmeter is just simple modification of D’Arsonval galvanometer in
which very high resistive coil in placed in series with the PMMC meter
coil so that no current(ideally zero current) passes through that parallel
coil as shown in figure below.

As shown in figure above,Let

Rm=Internal resistance of the coil.
Rse=Series multiplier resistance
Im=Full scale deflection current of the PMMC instrument
Vm=Voltage developed across PMMC instrument
V=Full voltage that a voltmeter has to measure.

V  I m  R se  I m  R m
1
R se  V  I m  R m 
Im
V
  Rm
Im
Hence,series resistance Rse required to convert PMMC into voltmeter can
be obtained by using above formula.
Also,

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

The multiplying factor for multiplier is the ration of the full range voltage
to be measured to the voltage drop across the PMMC instrument.
V
i.e, m 
Vm
But,Vm=ImRm and V  I m  R se  I m  R m .
Hence,

V I m  R se  I m  R m
m 
Vm Im  R m
R se
1  1
Rm

Also from above formula we can calculate required series multiplier

resistance in terms of PMMC internal resistance.
R se  R m m  1 .
Thus to increase the range of PMMC to measure voltage ‘m’ times the
series resistance(Rse) required to be inserted in series with the PMMC
V
instrument is (m-1)Rm,where,m=
Vm
Multirange Voltmeter
To convert a DC voltmeter into a multirange voltmeter a number of high
resistive series should be connected in series with the resistance of meter.
Selector point/switch is used to select the particular range of the
instrument as shown in figure below.

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

In this arrangement the multipliers are connected in series with the

string.The selector switch is used to select the particular resistance in
string.
When selector switch is at position ‘1’,(Rse)total=Rse1
When selector switch is at position ‘2’,(Rse)total=Rse1+Rse2
When selector switch is at position ‘3’,(Rse)total=Rse1+Rse2+Rse3
When selector switch is at position ‘4’,(Rse)total=Rse1+Rse2+Rse3+Rse4

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

Solved Numerical:
Question No.1
A 2mA meter with an internal resistance of 100  is to be converted
to a 0-150mA ammeter.Calculate the values of shunt resistance.
Solution:
Given,
Internal resistance,Rm=100 
Current through meter,Im=2mA
Current flowing in circuit,I=150mA
Required shunt resistance,Rsh=?

We know,
I 150
m   75
Im 2
Rm
R sh 
m 1
100
  1.351 
75  1

Hence,required resistance to be added in parallel with Rm is 1.351  .

Question No.2
A moving coil instrument gives a full scale deflection of 25mA when a
p.d across its terminal is 75mV.Calculate the series resistance
required for full scale reading with 1000V.[CTEVT 2072
Bhadra/Ashwin]
Solution:
Given,
Meter full scale deflection current Im=25mA
Meter voltage,Vm=75mV
Voltage of circuit to be measured,V=1000V
V 75
Meter own resistance, R m  m   3 .0 
I m 25

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

V
Series resistance required, R se   Rm
Im
1000
 3
25  10 3
 39997   39.97 k

Question No.3
A moving coil milli-ammeter having a resistance of 10  gives a full
scale deflection when a current 5mA is passed through it.Explain how
this instrument can be used for measurement of:
i. current up to 1A
ii. voltage up to 5V
[CTEVT 2071,Bhadra]
Solution:
Given,
Internal resistance,Rm=10 
Current through meter,Im=5mA

i. For Ammeter
Current flowing in circuit,I=1.0 A
Required shunt resistance,Rsh=?
We know,
I 1 .0
m   200
I m 5  10 3
Rm
R sh 
m 1
10
  0.050 
200  1

Hence,required resistance to be added in parallel is 0.050  .

ii. For voltmeter

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

Meter current Im=5mA

Internal resistance,Rm=10 
Circuit voltage=5V

V
Series resistance required, R se   Rm
Im
5
  10
5  10 3
 990.0 
Question No.4
A moving coil instrument gives a full scale deflection of 100mA.When
the potential difference across the terminal is 100mV.Calculate
i. The shunt resistance for the full scale deflection corresponding to
80A
ii. Series resistance for the full scale reading with 100V
iii. Calculate power dissipation in each case.[CTEVT 2070,Bhadra]

Solution:
Current through meter,Im=100mA
Voltage of meter,Vm=100mV
ii. For Ammeter
Current flowing in circuit,I=80 A
Required shunt resistance,Rsh=?
We know,
V 100
Rm  m  1
I m 100
I 80
m   800
I m 100  10 3
R
R sh  m
m 1
1
  1.251  10 3 
800  1

Power loss , PL  I 2m R m  Ish2 R sh

 100  10-3   1  79.9   1.251  10-3
2 2

 7.996W

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

ii. For voltmeter

Meter current Im=100mA
Internal resistance,Rm=1 
Circuit voltage=1000V
Series resistance required,
V
R se   R m
Im
1000
 1
100  10 3
 9999 
 9.99k

Power loss , PL  I 2m R m  R sh 
 100  10-3   9.99  103  1
2

 99.91W
Question No.5
A moving coil instrument gives full scale deflection of 24mA when pd.
Across its terminals is 72mV.Calculate series resistance required for full
scale reading with 600V.[CTEVT 2068 Bhadra]
Solution:
Given,
Current through meter,Im=24mA
Voltage of meter,Vm=72mV
V 72
Rm  m   3
I m 24
Series resistance required,
V
R se   R m
Im
600
 3
24  10 3
 24997 
 24.997k

Question No. 6

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

Calculate the multiplying factor of a shunt of 200 Ω resistance used

with a galvanometer of 1000 Ω resistance. Determine the value of
shunt resistance to give a multiplying factor of 50.

Solution:
Given,
Meter resistance,Rm=1000 Ω
Shunt resistance,.Rsh=200Ω
Now,
I R
Multiplying factor, m   1  m
Im R sh
1000
1 6
200
Multiplying factor, m  50 and R m  1000
Rm
then , m  1  
R sh
Rm 1000
R sh    20.408
m  1 50  1

Question No.7
Design a multi‐range DC ammeter using the basic movement with an
internal resistance Rm= 50 Ω and full‐scale deflection current
Im=1 mA. The ranges required 0‐10 mA, 0‐50 mA, 0‐100 mA and
0‐500 mA.
Solution:
Given,
Meter current,Im=1mA
Meter resistance,Rm=50Ω
Ranges of circuit current,I=0-10mA,0-50mA,0-100mA and 0-500mA.
We know,
I R
Multiplying factor, m  and R sh  m
Im m 1
Hence,
For current range,I1= 0-10mA
I 10mA
Multiplying factor, m1  1   10
I m 1mA
Rm 50
and R sh1    5.556
m1  1 10  1
For current range,I2 =0-50mA

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

I 2 50mA
Multiplying factor, m 2    50
I m 1mA
Rm 50
and R sh2    1.020
m 2  1 50  1
For current range ,I3=0-100mA
I 100mA
Multiplying factor, m 3  3   100
Im 1mA
Rm 50
and R sh3    0.505
m 3  1 100  1
For current range,I4= 0-500mA
I 500mA
Multiplying factor, m 4  4   500
Im 1mA
Rm 50
and R sh4    0.1002
m 4  1 500  1

Question No.8
Design a multi‐range DC ammeter using the basic movement with an
internal resistance Rm= 50 Ω and full‐scale deflection current Im= 10
mA. The ranges required 0‐0.1 A, 0‐1 A, 0‐10 A and 0‐100 A.
Solution:
Given,

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

Meter current,Im=10mA
Meter resistance,Rm=50Ω
Ranges of circuit current,I=0-0.1A,0-1A,0-10A and 0-100A.
We know,
I R
Multiplying factor, m  and R sh  m
Im m 1
Hence,
For current range,I1= 0-10mA
I o.1A
Multiplying factor, m1  1   100
I m 1mA
Rm 50
and R sh1    0.505
m1  1 100  1
For current range,I2=0-1A
I 1A
Multiplying factor, m 2  2   1000
I m 1mA
Rm 50
and R sh2    0.0500
m 2  1 1000  1
For current range ,I3=0-10A
I 10A
Multiplying factor, m 3  3   10000
I m 1mA
Rm 50
and R sh3    5.005  10 3 
m 3  1 100  1
For current range,I4= 0-100A
I 100A
Multiplying factor, m 4  4   105
I m 1mA
Rm 50
and R sh4   5  5.00  10 4 
m 4  1 10  1

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

Question NO.9
The coil of a moving coil voltmeter is 4 cm long and 3 cm wide and
has 100 turns on it. The control spring exerts a torque of 2.4x10-4
N-m when the deflection is 100 divisions on the full scale. If the flux
density of the magnetic filed in the air-gap is 0.1 Wb/m2, estimate the
resistance that must be put in series with the coil to give one volt per
division. The resistance of the voltmeter coil may be neglected.
Solution:
Given,
Area of coil, A  4  3cm 2  12  10 4 m 2
Number of turns,N=100
Torque exerted by coil,T= 2.4x10-4 N-m
Flux density,B=0.1Wb/m2
Number of divisions=100division
Voltage per division =1V
Total voltage V=1  100=100V
We know,torque developed in PMMC instrument by radial magnetic
field,T=BINA
T 2.4  10 4
So, I    0.02A
BNA 0.1  100  12  10  4

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

V 100
Resistance must be put in series, R    5000  5.0k
I 0.02

Question No.10
A moving coil has 100 turns, 5 cm2 coil area, and air-gap magnetic
flux density of 0.1 Tesla (Wb/m2). The control spring exerts a torque
of 5x10-6 N-m at the full-scale deflection of 90°. The potential
difference across the coil terminals at the full-scale deflection is 100
mV. Using the above movement, design a multi-range DC ammeter
with ranges 0-50 mA, 0-1 A and multi-range DC voltmeter with
ranges 0-10 V and 0-200 V.
Solution:
Area of coil, A  5cm 2  5  10 4 m 2
Number of turns,N=100
Torque exerted by coil,T= 5x10-6 N-m
Deflection angle,  =900
Flux density,B=0.1Wb/m2
Voltage for full deflection,V =100mV
We know,torque developed in PMMC instrument by radial magnetic
field,T=BINA sin(  )
T 5  10 6
So, I    1mA
BNA sin() 0.1  100  5  10  4  sin(90)

Calculation for making Ammeter

Current through meter,Im=1mA as calculated above.
Meter voltage,Vm=100mV
Circuit current ranges for making ammeter are:0-50mA and 0-1A
V 100mV
Meter internal resistance, R m  m   100
Im 1mA
For current range,I1= 0-50mA
I 50mA
Multiplying factor, m1  1   50
I m 1mA
Rm 100
and R sh1    2.040
m1  1 50  1
For current range,I2=0-1A
I 1A
Multiplying factor, m 2  2   1000
I m 1mA
Rm 100
and R sh2    0.1001
m 2  1 1000  1

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

Calculation for making Voltmeter

Current through meter,Im=1mA as calculated above.
Meter voltage,Vm=100mV
Circuit voltage ranges for making voltmeter are:0-10V and 0-200V
V 100mV
Meter internal resistance, R m  m   100
Im 1mA
We know series resistance required,
V
R se   R m
Im
For voltage range,V1=0-10V
V 10V
R se1  1  R m   100  9900  9.90k
Im 1mA

For voltage range,V2=0-100V

V 100V
R se 2  2  R m   100  99900  99.90k
Im 1mA

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 Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

Numerical for Exercise

Question No.1
A 2mA meter with an internal resistance of 200  is to be converted
into a 0-500mA ammeter. Calculate the value of shunt resistance.

Question No.2
A moving coil ammeter has a fixed shunt of 0.01  with a coil
resistance of 750  and a voltage drop of 400mV across it,the full
scale deflection is obtained:
i. Calculated current through shunt.
ii. Calculate resistance of meter to give full scale deflection if the
shunted current is 50A.

Question No.3
Design a multi range DC multi ammeter with a basic meter having a
resistance of 75  and full scale deflection for the current of
2mA.The required ranges are 0-10mA,0-50mA and 0-100mA.

Question No.4
A moving coil instrument gives a full scale deflection with a current
of 40 A while the internal resistance is 500  .It is to be used as a
voltmeter to measure a voltage range of 0-10  .Calculate the
multiplier resistance needed.

Question No. 5
A moving coil instrument gives a full deflection reading for a current
of 20mA with a potential difference of 200mV across it.Calculate:
i. Shunt resistance required to use it as an ammeter to get a range of
0-200A.
ii. Multiplier required to use it as a voltmeter range of 0-500V.

Question No.6
A basic moving instrument with a internal resistance of m50  and a
full scale deflection current of 2mA is to be used as a multi range
voltmeter.Design the series string of multipliers to obtain the voltage
range of 0-10V,0-50V,0-100V and 0-500V

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