Electrical Measurements

 Measurement of Resistances;

 Potentiometers;

 AC Bridge Methods for Measurement of Inductance &

Capacitance;

 Magnetic Measurements
Measurement of Resistances
1. Low Resistance: Up to 1Ω;
2. Medium Resistance: 1Ω to 100KΩ;
3. High Resistance: Above 100KΩ.

Measurement of Medium Resistances:

1. Ammeter-Voltmeter Method;
2. Substitute Method;
3. Wheatstone Bridge Method;
4. Ohmmeter Method.
1. Ammeter-Voltmeter Method:

V VR + Va V R
Rm1 = = = R + Ra Rm 2 = =
I I I R + IV 1 + R
RV
 
 Ra   
R = Rm1 1 −  R = Rm 2 
1 
 Rm1   Rm 2 
1− R 
 V 
2. Substitution Method:

Accuracy of this method is greatly affected if there is any change in

the battery emf.

This method is not widely used for medium resistance

measurements and is used in a modified form for measurement of
high resistances.
3. Wheatstone Bridge Method:

I1 P = I 2 R

E
I1 = I 3 =
P+Q

E
I2 = I4 =
R+S

P R
=
Q S
Sensitivity of Bridge
E (R + ∆R )
Ead = I 2 (R + ∆R ) =
EP
Eab = I1 P =
P+Q (R + ∆R + S )
 R + ∆R P  P R
e = Ead − Eab = E  −  =
 R + ∆R + S P + Q  P+Q R+ S

ES∆R ES∆R
e= e=
(R + S )2 + ∆R(R + S ) (R + S )2

SV be the voltage sensitivity ES∆R

θ = SV e = SV
of Galvanometer (R + S )2
SB is the Bridge Sensitivity
θ SV E SV E
SB = SB = SB =
∆R R S 4
R +2+
S R
4. Ohmmeter Method:
(i) Series Type Ohmmeter: Rsh Rm
Rh = Rse +
Rsh + Rm

V V
Ih = I f = 2I h =
2 Rh Rh

I sh = I f − I fm I sh Rsh = I fm Rm

RX = Unknown Resistance;
Rm = Internal Resistance of the meter; I fm Rm I fm Rm Rh
Rsh = =
Rh = Half scale position Resistance; I f − I fm V − I fm Rh
Ih = Half-full scale deflection;
Ifm = Full scale deflection current of the meter;
If = Full scale deflection battery current
Rsh Rm I fm Rm Rh
Rse = Rh − = Rh −
Rsh + Rm V
(ii) Shunt Type Ohmmeter:
V V
I fm = IB =
Rse + Rm Rm RX
Rse +
Rm + RX

V RX
Im = .
Rse + m X Rm + RX
R R
Rm + RX

Im RX (Rse + Rm )
S= =
RX = Unknown Resistance;
I fm Rse (Rm + RX ) + Rm RX
Rm = Internal Resistance of the meter;
Rh = Half scale position Resistance;
IB = Battery Current; RX
Ifm = Full scale deflection current of the meter;
S=
RX + RP
If = Full scale deflection battery current
(iii) Crossed Coil Type Ohmmeter:

(a) Fixed Magnetic Moving Coil (b) Crossed Coil Moving Magnetic
Measurement of Low Resistances:
Measured Contact
Resistance Resistance % error

100Ω Negligible
0.002Ω
0.02Ω 10%

Methods for Measurement of Low Resistance

1. Ammeter-Voltmeter Method;
2. Kelvin Double Bridge Method;
3. Potentiometer Method.
Kelvin Double Bridge Method:

r1 P r1 P
= =
r2 Q r1 + r2 P + Q

P Q
r1 = r r2 = r
P+Q P+Q

 P  P Q 
 R + r  =  S + r 
 P+Q  Q  P+Q 

P R
=
Q S
 Eab =
P  ( p + q)r 
Eac Eac = I  R + S + 
P+Q  p + q + r 

 p  ( p + q ) r 
Eamd = I R +  
 p + q  p + q + r 

 pr 
Eamd = I R + 
 p + q + r 

P   ( p + q ) r   pr 
I R + S +   = I  R + 
P+Q   p + q + r   p + q + r 

P p P R
P
R= S+
qr
 −  =
Q p + q + r Q q  Q S
Measurement of High Resistances:
1. Insulation resistance of cables;
2. Resistance of high resistance circuit elements;
3. Volume resistivity of a material;
4. Surface resistivity.

Difficulties in Measurement of High Resistances

1. Due to leakage current;

2. Due to electrostatic effect;
3. Definite ratios in potential distribution with respect to
surroundings;
Use Guard Circuit

Methods for Measurement of High Resistance:

1. Price’s Guard-wire Method;
2. Loss of Charge Method;
3. Megohm Bridge Method;
4. Megger Method.
Price’s Guard Wire Method:
Measurement of Volume and Surface Resistivity

Volume resistivity of specimen:

πd1 2
πd1 V1
2
ρ= R=
4t 4t I1

Surface Resistivity:
d1 = Diameter of the upper electrode d1;
d2 = Diameter of the lower electrode d2; πd 2 πd 2 V2
t = Thickness of the specimen sheet;
ρs = R2 =
t t I2
V1 , V2 = Reading of voltmeter;
I1 = current through galvanometer G1 ;
I2 = current through galvanometer G2
Loss of Charge Method:
V dv dv dt
= −C =−
R' dt V CR '

V2 t
dv dt
∫V V = − ∫0 CR'
1

dq dv −t
i=− = −C V2 = V1e CR '
dt dt
R1 R'
Again, i = Potential drop across R' = V R=
R' R' R1 − R'
Megohm Bridge Method:
Megger Method:
Detail Circuit Diagram: