EKT212/4 Principles of Measurement and Instrumentation (Sem2 2014/15)

Tutorial 2

Part 1:
(a) Explain with a circuit diagram the operation of a basic dc ammeter using PPMC
instrument.

(b) What the value of shunt resistance is required for using 50 A meter movement having an
internal resistance of 250 for measuring current in the range of 0-500 mA?

I m Rm (50 )(250)
Rs 25m
I I m 500m 50

(c) Design a multirange ammeter with ranges of 0-1 A, 5 A, 25 A, 125 A employing

individual shunts for each range. A D Arsonval movement with an internal resistance of
730 and a full scale current of 5 mA is available.

I m Rm (5m)( 730)
Rs1 3.67
I1 I m 1 5m

I m Rm (5m)(730)
Rs 2 0.73
I2 Im 5 5m

I m Rm (5m)( 730)
Rs 3 0.15
I3 I m 25 5m

I m Rm (5m)(730)
Rs 4 0.03
I 4 I m 125 5m
EKT212/4 Principles of Measurement and Instrumentation (Sem2 2014/15)

(d) Design an Ayrton shunt to provide an ammeter with current ranges of 0 -1 mA, 5 mA, 20
mA, and 50 mA, using a DArsonval movement having internal resistance of 50 and a
full scale current of 100 A.
EKT212/4 Principles of Measurement and Instrumentation (Sem2 2014/15)

(e) Figure 1 shows an Aryton shunt of 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 100 and
full scale current of 50 A is used. Propose the value of Ra, Rb, Rc and Rd for this
design.
EKT212/4 Principles of Measurement and Instrumentation (Sem2 2014/15)

Figure 1

(f) A current meter that has an internal resistance of 100 is used to measure the current
through resistor Ra in Figure 2. Determine the percentage of error of the reading due to
ammeter insertion.

Figure 2

(1k )(1k )
Req 500
1k 1k

V 3
I a ( calculated) 2mA
R1 Req 1k 500

V 3
I a ( measured) 1.875mA
R1 Rm Req 1k 500 100

I a (calculated) I a ( measured) 2m 1.875m

E% x100% x100% 6.25%
I a ( calculated) 2m
EKT212/4 Principles of Measurement and Instrumentation (Sem2 2014/15)

Part 2:

Question 1

(a) Explain with a circuit diagram the operation of a basic dc voltmeter using PPMC
instrument.

multiplier is to limit the current through movement so that it does not

exceed full scale deflection.
EKT212/4 Principles of Measurement and Instrumentation (Sem2 2014/15)

1
Sensitivit y (/V)
I fs
(b) Define sensitivity of voltmeters. What is the significance of
sensitivity in voltmeters?

Sensitivity is based on the full scale current (fsd) results whenever resistance is present in the meter circuit
for each voltage applied.
The ideal voltmeter should have an infinite internal resistance so that it reacts almost like an open circuit.
High internal resistance does not contribute to the measured voltage drop.
Low sensitivity means high fsd current, subsequently low internal resistance. Low sensitivity voltmeter
usually contributes to slightly high error compared to high sensitivity voltmeter.

(c) A basic DArsonval movement with a full scale deflection of 50A and having an internal
resistance of 1800 is available. It is to be converted into a 0 1V, 0-5V, 0-20V, 0-100V
multirange voltmeter using individual multipliers for each range. Calculate the values of
the individual resistor.

Step 1 for 1V (V1)

V1 1
R1 - Rm 1800 18.2k
I fsd 50A

Step 2 for 5V (V2)

V2 5
R2 - Rm 1800 98.2k
I fsd 50A

Step 3 for 20V (V3)

EKT212/4 Principles of Measurement and Instrumentation (Sem2 2014/15)

V3 20
R3 - Rm 1800 398.2k
I fsd 50A

Step 4 for 100V (V4)

V4 100
R4 - Rm 1800 1998.2k
I fsd 50A

Question 2

(a) State the effect of using a voltmeter of low sensitivity.

A low sensitivity voltmeter may give a correct reading when measuring voltage in a low resistance circuit, but it
may produce unreliable reading in a high resistance circuit.

(b) Convert a basic DArsonval movement with an internal resistance of 100 and a full
scale deflection of 1mA into a multirange dc voltmeter with the voltage ranges of a 0
1V,0-10V, 0-50V.
EKT212/4 Principles of Measurement and Instrumentation (Sem2 2014/15)

Step 1 for 1V (V3)

V3 1
R3 Rm 100 0.9k
I fsd 1m

Step 1 for 10V (V2)

V2 10
R2 ( Rm R3 ) (100 0.9k ) 9k
I fsd 1m

Step 3 for 50V (V1)

V1 50
R1 ( Rm R3 R2 ) (100 0.9k 9k ) 40k
I fsd 1m

Question 3

Figure 3
EKT212/4 Principles of Measurement and Instrumentation (Sem2 2014/15)

Two different voltmeters are used to measure the voltage across R2 in the circuit in Figure 3.
The meters are as follows:
(i) 5 V range, S = 20 k/V.
(ii) 10 V range, S = 20 k/V.

Let Vs = 40V, R1 = 20 k, R2 = 1 k and R3 = 10 k. Identify which voltmeter introduces

least error due to loading.
EKT212/4 Principles of Measurement and Instrumentation (Sem2 2014/15)

Question 4

Figure 4
EKT212/4 Principles of Measurement and Instrumentation (Sem2 2014/15)

(a) The circuit diagram of Figure 4 shows a full wave rectifier ac voltmeter. The meter
movement has an internal resistance of 250 and required 1 mA for full scale
deflection. The diodes each have a forward resistance of 50 and infinite reverse
resistance. Calculate:
(i) The ohms per volt rating of the ac voltmeter.
(ii) The series resistance required for full scale meter deflection when 25V rms is
applied to the meter terminals.

Solution
(i) Rm = 250 , Ifsd =1 mA, RD=50.
0 .9 0 .9
S dc 0 .9 k / V
I fsd 1mA
Ohms per volt rating =

RS S ac Vrms ( Rm 2 RD )
(ii) Series resistance,

RS 0.9k / V 25V ( 250 2(50)) 22.15k

(b) Sketch the circuit and waveforms for an ac voltmeter using PMMC instrument and a
half wave rectifier. Explain the circuit operation.

At +ve cycle, D1 is forward biased. The current is flowing through the

movement that caused deflection.

At -ve cycle, D1 is reversed biased. No current is flowing through the

movement, therefore no deflection.

(c) A DArsonval meter movement with a full scale deflection current rating 0f 1mA and
an internal resistance of 500 is to be used in a half wave rectifier ac voltmeter.
Calculate the ac and dc sensitivity and the value of the multiplier resistor for a
30Vrms range.
1 1
S DC 1k / V
I fsd 1m
EKT212/4 Principles of Measurement and Instrumentation (Sem2 2014/15)

S AC 0.45S DC 0.45(1k ) 0.45k / V

Rs ( S AC xVAC ) Rm (0.45k )(30) 500 13k

Part 3:
(a) Explain with a circuit diagram the operation of a series type ohmmeter.

(b) A 1mA full scale deflection current meter movement is to be used as an ohmmeter
circuit. The meter movement has an internal resistance of 500 and a 5V battery will
be used in the circuit. Mark off the meter face (dial) for reading resistance with a
20%, 50% and 100% deflection.
Solution
Rm = 500 , Ifsd =1 mA, E=5V
EKT212/4 Principles of Measurement and Instrumentation (Sem2 2014/15)

E
Rs Rm
I fsd
The value of Rs which limit current to FSD current,
5V
Rs 500 4.5k
1mA

The value of Rx with 20% deflection

5V
Rx 4.5 0.5 k 20k
0.2mA

The value of Rx with 50% deflection

5V
Rx 4.5 0.5 k 5k
0.5mA

The value of Rx with 100% deflection

5V
Rx 4.5 0.5 k 0k
1mA

(c) With reference to Figure 5, state the ohmmeter scale when the current is 0A, 1/2 FSD,
1/4FSD and FSD
EKT212/4 Principles of Measurement and Instrumentation (Sem2 2014/15)

Figure 5

I x Rx I m Rm
I m Rm I R
Rx m m
Ix I Im

The value of Rx at 0A scale(Im=0):

I m Rm 0(500)
Rx 0
I I m 5 0

The value of Rx at FSD (Im=0.5Ifsd):

0.5I fsd Rm 0.5(5 )(500)
Rx 500
I 0.5 I fsd 5 0.5(5 )

The value of Rx at 1/4 FSD (Im=0.25Ifsd):

0.25 I fsd Rm 0.25(5 )(500)
Rx 166.7
I 0.25I fsd 5 0.25(5 )

The value of Rx at FSD (Im=Ifsd):

I fsd Rm (5 )(500)
Rx
I I fsd 5 5