CHAPTER 2

DC AND AC METER

1
 OBJECTIVES

 At the end of this chapter, students

should be able to:
1. Explain the basic contruction and
working principle of D’Arsonval meter
movement.
2. Perfom basic electronic circuit analisis
for D’Arsonval meter family.
3. Identify the difference electronic circuit
design for measurement meters using
D’Arsonval meter principle.

2
 CHAPTER OUTLINE

1. D’Arsonval Meter Movement 8. Multi-range Ohmmeter

2. DC Ammeter 9. Multimeter
3. DC Voltmeter 10. AC Voltmeter using half-
4. Multi-range Voltmeter wave rectifier
5. Voltmeter Loading Effects 11. AC Voltmeter Loading
6. Ammeter Insertion Effects Effects
7. Ohmmeter 12. Wheatstone Bridge
13. Kelvin Bridge
14. Bridge-controlled Circuit

3
 2.1: D’ARSORVAL METER
MOVEMENT

 Also called Permanent-Magnet Moving Coil

(PMMC).
 Based on the moving-coil galvanometer
constructed by Jacques d’ Arsonval in 1881.
 Can be used to indicate the value of DC and
AC quantity.
 Basic construction of modern PMMC can be
seen in Figure 2.1.

4
 2.1.1:Operation of D’Arsonval
Meter
 When current flows through the coil, the
core will rotate.
 Amount of rotation is proportional to the
amount of current flows through the coil.
 The meter requires low current (~50uA) for
a full scale deflection, thus consumes very
low power (25-200 Uw).
 Its accuracy is about 2% -5% of full scale
deflection

5
 Pointer

Permanent magnet

Coil
Core
Air Gap

Figure 2.1: Modern D’Arsonval Movement

6
 2.2: DC AMMETER
 The PMMC galvanometer constitutes the
basic movement of a dc ammeter.
 The coil winding of a basic movement is
small and light, so it can carry only very
small currents.
 A low value resistor (shunt resistor) is used
in DC ammeter to measure large current.
 Basic DC ammeter:

7
+
I Ish Im
+
Rsh
Rm
_
D’Arsonval
_ Movement

Figure 2.2: Basic DC Ammeter

8
 Referring to Fig. 2.2:
Rm = internal resistance of the
movement
Rsh = shunt resistance
Ish =shunt current
Im = full scale deflection current
of the movement
I = full scale current of the
ammeter + shunt (i.e. total
current)

9
I sh Rsh  I m Rm
I sh  I  I m
I m Rm
Rsh 
I  Im
10
 EXAMPLE 3.1
A 1mA meter movement with an
internal resistance of 100Ω is to be
converted into a 0-100 mA. Calculate
the value of shunt resistance
required. (ans: 1.01Ω)

11
2.2.1: MULTIRANGE AMMETER
The range of the dc ammeter is extended
by a number of shunts, selected by a
range switch.
The resistors is placed in parallel to give
different current ranges.
Switch S (multiposition switch) protects
the meter movement from being damage
during range changing.
Increase cost of the meter.

12
+
+
R1 R2 R3 R4
Rm
_
D’Arsonval
Movement

Figure 2.3: Multirange Ammeter

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 2.2.2: ARYTON SHUNT OR
UNIVERSAL SHUNT
Aryton shunt eliminates the possibility of having
the meter in the circuit without a shunt.
Reduce cost
Position of the switch:

a)‘1’: Ra parallel with series combination of Rb, Rc

and the meter movement. Current through the
shunt is more than the current through the meter
movement, thereby protecting the meter movement
and reducing its sensitivity.
b)‘2’: Ra and Rb in parallel with the series
combination of Rc and the meter movement. The
current through the meter is more than the current
through the shunt resistance.
c)‘3’: Ra, Rb and Rc in parallel with the meter.
14 Maximum current flows through the meter
movement and very little through the shunt.
This will increase the sensitivity.
 Rc

+
3
Rm
+ 2 Rb _
1 D’Arsonval
Meter

Ra

Figure 2.4: Aryton Shunt

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 EXAMPLE 2.2
 Design an Aryton shunt to provide an ammeter with a
current range of 0-1 mA, 10 mA, 50 mA and 100 mA. A D’
Arsonval movement with an internal resistance of 100Ω
and full scale current of 50 uA is used.
1m
A
+
R4

10mA
R3
+
50mA _
R2 D’Arsonval
Movement
100mA
R1

_
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 REQUIREMENT OF A SHUNT
1) Minimum Thermo Dielectric Voltage Drop
Soldering of joint should not cause a voltage drop.
2) Solderability
- never connect an ammeter across a source of e.m.f
- observe the correct polarity
- when using the multirange meter, first use the highest
current range.

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 2.3: BASIC METER AS A DC
VOLTMETER
To use the basic meter as a dc voltmeter, must
know the amount of current (Ifsd) required to deflect
the basic meter to full scale.
The sensitivity is based on the fact that the full
scale current should results whenever a certain
amount of resistance is present in the meter circuit
for each voltage applied.

1
S
I fsd
18
 EXAMPLE 2.3

Calculate the sensitivity of a 200 uA meter

movement which is to be used as a dc voltmeter.

Solution:

1 1
S   5k / V
I fsd 200uA

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 2.4: A DC VOLTMETER
A basic D’Arsonval movement can be converted
into a DC voltmeter by adding a series resistor
(multiplier) as shown in Figure 2.3.
Rs
+
Multiplier
Im

V Rm

Figure 2.5: Basic DC Voltmeter

20 Im =full scale deflection current of the movement (Ifsd)

Rm=internal resistance of the movement
Rs =multiplier resistance
V =full range voltage of the instrument
 From the circuit of Figure 2.5:

V  I m ( Rs  Rm )
V  I m Rm V
Rs    Rm
Im Im
V
Therefore, Rs   Rm
Im

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 EXAMPLE 2.4
A basic D’ Arsonval movement with a full-scale
deflection of 50 uA and internal resistance of 500Ω is
used as a DC voltmeter. Determine the value of the
multiplier resistance needed to measure a voltage range
of 0-10V.

Solution:

V 10V
Rs   Rm   500  199.5k
Im 50uA

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 Sensitivity and voltmeter range can be used to calculate
the multiplier resistance, Rs of a DC voltmeter.
Rs=(S x Range) - Rm
 From example 2.4:

Im= 50uA, Rm=500Ω, Range=10V

Sensitivity,

1 1
S   20k / V
I m 50uA
So, Rs = (20kΩ/V x 10V) – 500 Ω
= 199.5 kΩ

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 2.5: MULTI-RANGE VOLTMETER
 A DC voltmeter can be converted into a multirange
voltmeter by connecting a number of resistors
(multipliers) in series with the meter movement.
 A practical multi-range DC voltmeter is shown in Figure
2.6.

R1 R2 R3 R4

Im
V2
V1 V3
Rm

+
V4

Figure 2.6: Multirange voltmeter 24

 EXAMPLE 2.5

Convert a basic D’ Arsonval movement with an internal

resistance of 50Ω and a full scale deflection current of 2
mA into a multirange dc voltmeter with voltage ranges
of 0-10V, 0-50V,
0-100V and 0-250V.

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 2.6: VOLTMETER LOADING EFFECTS
 When a voltmeter is used to measure the voltage across a
circuit component, the voltmeter circuit itself is in
parallel with the circuit component.
 Total resistance will decrease, so the voltage across
component will also decrease. This is called voltmeter
loading.
 The resulting error is called a loading error.

 The voltmeter loading can be reduced by using a high

sensitivity voltmeter.
 How about ammeter??

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 2.7 AMMETER INSERTION EFFECTS
 Inserting Ammeter in a circuit always increases the
resistance of the circuit and, thus always reduces the
current in the circuit. The expected current:
E (2-4)
Ie 
R1
 Placing the meter in series with R1 causes the current to
reduce to a value equal to:
(2-5)
E
Im 
R1  Rm
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 2.7 AMMETER INSERTION EFFECTS
 Dividing equation (2-5) by (2-4) yields:

Im R1
 (2-6)
Ie R1  Rm
 The Ammeter insertion error is given by :
 Im 
Insertion Error 
1  I 
 X 100
(2-7)
 e 

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 2.8 OHMMETER (Series Type)
 Current flowing through meter movements depends on the magnitude of the
unknown resistance.(Fig 4.28 in text book)
 The meter deflection is non-linearly related to the value of the unknown
Resistance, Rx.
 A major drawback – as the internal voltage decreases, reduces the current and
meter will not get zero Ohm.
 R2 counteracts the voltage drop to achieve zero ohm. How do you get zero
Ohm?
 R1 and R2 are determined by the value of Rx = Rh where Rh = half of full scale
deflection resistance.
R2 Rm
Rh  R1  ( R2 // Rm )  R1 
R2  Rm (2-8)

 The total current of the circuit, It=V/Rh

 The shunt current through R2 is I2=It-Ifsd
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 2.8 OHMMETER (Series Type)
 The voltage across the shunt, Vsh= Vm

So, I2 R2=Ifsd Rm
Since I2=It-Ifsd

Then, I fsd Rm
R2 
I t  I fsd

Since It=V/Rh

So, I fsd Rm Rh
R2 
V  I fsd Rh (2-9) 30
 2.8 OHMMETER (Series Type)
From equation (2-8) and (2-9):

I fsd Rm Rh (2-10)
R1  Rh 
V

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Figure 2.7: Measuring circuit resistance with an ohmmeter
32
Example:

1) A 50µA full scale deflection current meter movement is to be used

in an Ohmmeter. The meter movement has an internal resistance
Rm = 2kΩ and a 1.5V battery is used in the circuit. Determine Rz
at full scale deflection.
2) A 100Ω basic movement is to be used as an ohmmeter requiring a
full scale deflection of 1mA and internal battery voltage of 3V . A
half scale deflection marking of 2k is desired. Calculate:
i. value of R1 and R2
ii. the maximum value of R2 to compensate for a 5% drop in battery
voltage

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 2.9 MULTI-RANGE OHMMETER
 Another method of achieving flexibility of a measuring
instrument is by designing it to be in multi-range.
 Let us analyse the following examples. (figure 4.29 of
your textbook)

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 2.10 MULTIMETER
 Multimeter consists of an ammeter, voltmeter and
ohmmeter in one unit.
 It has a function switch to connect the appropriate circuit
to the D’Arsonval movement.
 Fig.4.33 (in text book) shows DC miliammeter, DC
voltmeter, AC voltmeter, microammeter and ohmmeter.

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2.11 AC VOLTMETER USING HALF-WAVE
RECTIFIER
 The D’Arsonval meter movement can be used to measure alternating
current by the use of a diode rectifier to produce unidirectional current
flow.
 In case of a half wave rectifier, if given input voltage, Ein = 10 Vrms, then:

Peak voltage,
E p  10Vrms  1.414  14.14V
Average voltage,

Eave  Edc  0.636  E p  8.99V

o Since the diode conducts only during the positive half cycle as shown in
Fig 4.18(in text book), the average voltage is given by:
Eave / 2=4.5V

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2.11 AC VOLTMETER USING HALF-WAVE
RECTIFIER
 Therefore, the pointer will deflect for a full scale if 10 Vdc is
applied and only 4.5 V when a 10 Vrms sinusoidal signal is
applied.
 The DC voltmeter sensitivity is given by:
1 1
S dc    1k / V
I m 1mA
 For the circuit in Figure 4.18, the AC voltmeter sensitivity is
given by:
S ac  0.45S dc  0.45k / V

 This means that an AC voltmeter is not as sensitive as a DC

voltmeter.
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2.11 AC VOLTMETER USING HALF-WAVE
RECTIFIER
 To get the multiplier resistor, Rs value:

Edc  0.45  Erms

E 0.45  Erms (2-11)
Rs  dc  Rm   Rm
I dc I dc
o The AC meter scale is usually calibrated to give the RMS value of an
alternating sine wave input.
 A more general AC voltmeter circuit is shown in Fig. 4.17 (in text book)
 A shunt resistor, Rsh is used to draw more current from the diode D1 to
move its operating point to a linear region.
 Diode D2 is used to conduct the current during the negative half cycle.
 The sensitivity of AC voltmeter can be doubled by using a full wave
rectifier.
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 EXAMPLE
 Calculate the value of the multiplier resistor for a 10
Vrms range on the voltmeter shown in Fig 4.19 (in text
book)

39
2.11 AC VOLTMETER USING FULL-WAVE
RECTIFIER
 Consider the circuit in Fig 4.20 (in text book)

Rs  S ac  range  Rm
 Example:
Calculate the value of the multiplier resistor for a 10 Vrms ac range on
the voltmeter in Fig. 4.21

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 2.12 WHEATSTONE BRIDGE
 Accurate method for measuring resistance between 1Ω ~
1MΩ.
 Figure 11.1 shows the schematic diagram of a
Wheatstone Bridge.
 When the bridge is set to null condition, voltages at point
C & D are equal.
 Thus
I1 R1  I 2 R2 (2-12)
(2-13)
I 3 R3  I 4 R4

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 2.12 WHEATSTONE BRIDGE
 Since I1 = I3 and I2 = I4, divide equation 2-12 by equation 2-13:

R1 R2

R3 R4 So, R2 R3
RX  R4
R1 (2-14)
Usually, the resistor R3 is a variable resistor to balance the bridge.
 RX is the unknown resistor to be measured.

 When bridge is balance, the value of the unknown resistor R X is equal to

resistance value of R3

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 2.12 WHEATSTONE BRIDGE
 Example:
1. Given the Wheatstone bridge with R1 = 15 kΩ, R2 = 10
kΩ, and R3 = 4.5 kΩ. Find RX.
2. Calculate the current through the Galvanometer in the
circuit. Given R1 = 1 kΩ, R2 = 1.6 kΩ, R3 = 3.5 kΩ, R4
= 7.5 kΩ, RG = 200Ω and V = 6V.

43
 2.13 KELVIN BRIDGE
 Kelvin Bridge is used to measure resistance below 1 Ω.
 In low resistance measurement, the leads connecting the
unknown resistor to the bridge may effect the
measurement.
 Kelvin’s Double Bridge known as Kelvin Bridge is
constructed to overcome this problem.
 Figure 11.10 (in text book) shows the Kelvin’s Bridge
and Figure 11.11 shows the Kelvin’s Double Bridge.

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 2.13 KELVIN BRIDGE
 The resistor RY represents the lead and contact resistance present in
the Wheatstone Bridge.
 The resistors Ra and Rb are used to compensate this low lead-contact
resistance.
 From circuit analysis, the unknown Resistor RX in a balanced Kelvin
Bridge is given by:
RX R3 Rb
  (2-15)
R2 R1 Ra

See example 11.4 (textbook)

45
 2.14 BRIDGE CONTROLLED CIRCUIT
 When a bridge is imbalance, a potential difference exists at its output
terminal.
 If it is used as an error detector in a control circuit, the potential difference
at the output of the bridge is called an error signal.
 The error signal is given by:

 R3 RV 
Es  E    (2-16)
R R  R R 
 1 3 2 V 
 The unknown resistor RV can be any passive circuit elements such as strain
gauge, thermistor and photo resistor.
 Since RV varies by only a small amount, an amplifier often needed before
being used for control purposes.
 Fig. 11.14 shows the Wheatstone Bridge error detector.
46