Mapúa Institute of Technology

School of Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering

EXPERIMENT 1
Familiarization with Electrical Measuring Instruments

Marasigan, Neil Darren P.

EE21L- B16

Date Performed: 2 May 2015

Date Submitted: 9 May 2015

Engr. Jose Ferlino P. Raymundo

Instructor
SAMPLE COMPUTATIONS
Part A.
RT =5.3 x 1 03 Ω I T =10 x 1 0−3 A

V M =I T R T = ( 10 x 1 0−3 A ) ( 5.3 x 1 03 Ω )=53 V

Part B.
RT =19930 ΩV T =10 V

VT 10 V −4
I m= = =5.02 x 10 Adc
RT 19930 Ω
RT 19930 Ω Ω
Voltmeter Sensitivity = = =1993
VT 10V V

Part C. Table 1.1

TRIAL 1:
V L=14.51 V I L=0.070 A R L =216.9 Ω

P L=I L V L =( 0.070 A ) ( 14.51V )=1.0157W

V L 14.51 V
= =207.29 Ω
I L 0.070 A
PL 1.0157 W
2
= =207.29 Ω
I L ( 0.070 A )2
V L 14.51 V
= =0.0669 A
R L 216.9 Ω

TRIAL 10:
V L=13.95 V I L =0.145 A R L =101.3 Ω

P L=I L V L =( 0.145 A ) ( 13.95V ) =2.02775W

V L 13.95 V
= =96.21 Ω
I L 0.145 A

PL 2.02775 W
2
= =96.40 Ω
I L ( 0.145 A )2
 V L 13.95 V
= =0.1377 A
R L 101.3 Ω

DISCUSSION
An essential part of performing laboratory experiments is
familiarizing yourself with the instruments that you will use in
conducting an experiment. The aim of this experiment is to help
the students to be familiar with electrical measuring instruments
utilized in the laboratory, as well as to determine several
parameters in a simple electric circuit. The parameters that are
determined are the current, voltage and resistance.
One of the instruments essential in the study of electric
circuits is the voltmeter, ammeter and multimeter which usually
combines several measurement functions in one unit. The typical
multimeter is capable of measuring voltage, current and
resistance. It can either be of analog or digital form, with the
latter being widely used because of its efficiency and precision.
A voltmeter is an instrument that measures the difference in
electrical potential between two points in an electric circuit. An
analog voltmeter moves a pointer across a scale in proportion to
the circuit's voltage; a digital voltmeter provides a numerical
display. A voltmeter is placed in parallel with a circuit element to
measure the voltage drop across it and must be designed to draw
very little current from the circuit so that it does not appreciably
change the circuit it is measuring. This is necessary because
objects in parallel experience the same potential difference.
 While a voltmeter is placed in parallel, 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 is
placed in parallel with the galvanometer to shunt most of the
current around the galvanometer. Its value is chosen so that
when the design current flows through the meter it will deflect to
its full-scale reading.

Galvanometer is the historical name given to a moving

coil electric current detector. When a current is passed through a
coil in a magnetic field, the coil experiences a torque directly
proportional to the current. If the coil's movement is opposed by a
coil spring, then the amount of deflection of a needle attached to
the coil may be proportional to the current passing through the
coil. Such "meter movements" were at the heart of the moving
coil meters such as voltmeters and ammeters until they were
largely replaced with solid state meters. A galvanometer can
function as a voltmeter when it is connected in series with a large
resistance R. The value of R is determined by the maximum
voltage that will be measured.  The same galvanometer can also
function as an ammeter when it is placed in parallel with a small
resistance R, often called the shunt resistance. Since the shunt
resistance is small, most of the current passes through it, allowing
an ammeter to measure currents much greater than those that
would produce a full-scale deflection of the galvanometer.
CONCLUSION
In the first part of the experiment, we determined the
voltage Vm that will cause full deflection in an analog ammeter
using Ohm‘s Law. The connection of the ammeter is in series in
the circuit.
In the second part, we determined the characteristics of an
analog voltmeter by getting the current Im that will cause full
deflection. The voltmeter sensitivity is then computed using the
reciprocal of the current obtained. The connection of the
voltmeter is in parallel.
For the third part of the experiment, we obtained values for
the current and voltage by varying the resistors in the circuit
trainer and made ten trials. The results obtained from the
experiment agrees with the expected results. Different formulas
were given such as VL/IL whose value is close to that of the given
resistance RL. Similarly, the formula VL/RL gives a value close to
that in the current reading of the ammeter. These shows that the
results we obtained were right and agrees with our expectations.
Possible sources of error would be from the measuring
instruments and in the resistors. Whenever a measurement
instrument is connected to a circuit, it can alter the operation of
that circuit because it will draw some power from the circuit.
Aside from that, is the device‘s accuracy which can cause a slight
error in the data. The resistor can also cause error in the reading
if it is damaged.
For this experiment, the procedure must be strictly followed
and that the setup is properly arranged. I recommend that you
should make sure that everything is properly arranged before
starting the circuit trainer to avoid getting erroneous results or
even damaging the apparatus.
QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS
1. Describe the type of meter movement used in analog meters.
Analog meters have the moving coil meter movement. When a current
is passed through a coil in a magnetic field, the coil experiences a torque
proportional to the current. If the coil's movement is opposed by a coil
spring, then the amount of deflection of a needle attached to the coil may be
proportional to the current passing through the coil. Such meter movements
were at the heart of the moving coil meters such as voltmeters
and ammeters.
2. What device is used to extend the range of a DC ammeter and how is it
connected to the basic meter?
To extend the range of a DC ammeter, you should add an additional
resistor that is parallel with the galvanometer of the ammeter. This
additional resistance is called a shunt resistor. To attract more current, the
additional resistance must have a resistance less than the resistance of the
galvanometer. With this, the ammeter itself will get less current.
3. What device is used to extend the range of a DC voltmeter and how is it
connected to the basic meter?
A multiplier resistor is an additional resistor placed to extend the range
of a DC voltmeter. This must be placed in series with the galvanometer of a
voltmeter.
4. Why is it necessary that an ammeter be a low resistance instrument? Why
must a voltmeter be a high resistance instrument?
Since an ammeter is connected in series, it must have a low resistance
to avoid significant alteration of the current it is to measure. Contrary to the
ammeter, a voltmeter must be put in parallel to measure the voltage. It must
not change the amount of current going through the element between those
two points so it should have a high resistance so as to not draw current
through it.
5. What type of basic meter is configured as a wattmeter?
The traditional analog wattmeter is an electrodynamic instrument. The
device consists of a pair of fixed coils, known as current coils, and a movable
coil known as the potential coil. The ammeter can be used as the current coil
while the voltmeter as potential coil. The ammeter will be connected in
series while the voltmeter in parallel to the circuit element. The deflection of
the pointer will be proportional to both coil resulting to the magnitude of
power
6. Two 150V voltmeters are being compared; meter A has 5K|/V while meter
B has a total meter resistance of 750K|. Which is the more sensitive meter?
Why?
Both voltmeters have the same sensitivity.
Voltmeter Sensitivity = RT/VT = 750k|/150V = 5 K|/V  (meter B).
We can see that both meter A and meter B have the same sensitivity which
is equal to 5K|/V.
7. What current is required for full scale deflection of a galvanometer having
a current sensitivity of 50μA per scale division? The meter has exactly 50
divisions on either side of the mid-scale index.
(50 divisions) * (50 μA) = 2500 μA.
Thus, 2500 μA current is required for full scale deflection of the
galvanometer.
The other interpretation is that a meter can read from zero to a
maximum positive value of current, and that there are 100 divisions in
between these two extremes.
(100 divisions) * (50 μA) = 5000 μA.
8. What potential difference appears across the galvanometer described in
problem 6 when the pointer is fully deflected? The meter resistance is 10|.
Meter Resistance, RM = 10|
Voltmeter Sensitivity = 5K|/V
I = 1/ (Voltmeter Sensitivity) = 1/ (5000|/V) = 0.0002 A
VT = IMRM = (0.0002A) (10|) = 0.002 V
9. Determine the series resistance needed to convert a galvanometer to a
voltmeter reading 15 V on full scale deflection if a current of 2.5mA causes a
full scale deflection and the resistance of the coil is 10|.
VT = IM * (RS + RM), where VT = 15 V, IM = 0.0025A, RS = 10|
RM = (VT/IM) - RS = (15 V / 0.0025 A) - 10| = 5990|
10. Determine the shunt resistance needed to convert a galvanometer to an
ammeter with a full scale reading of 10A if the scale requires 2.5mA to cause
full deflection with a coil resistance of 10|.
Im = (Rsh) / (Rsh - Rm) x IT, where Im = 0.0025A, IT = 10A, Rm = 10|
Rsh = Im / (IT - Im) x Rm = (0.0025A) / (10A - 0.0025A) x 10|
Rsh = 2.501 x 10 -3 | or 2.501 m|
REFERENCES
 Voltmeters and Ammeters.” Boundless Physics.
Boundless, 03 Jul. 2014. Retrieved from
https://www.boundless.com/physics/textbooks/bound
less-physics-textbook/circuits-and-direct-currents-
20/voltmeters-and-ammeters-153/voltmeters-and-
ammeters-542-11287/
 Moving Coil Meters. Hyperphysics.
Georgia State University. Retrieved from
http://hyperphysics.phy-
astr.gsu.edu/HBASE/magnetic/movcoil.html
 Experiment 1: Instrument Familiarization.
Washington University in St. Louis, School of
Engineering and Applied Science. Retrieved from
http://classes.engineering.wustl.edu/2012/fall/ese331
/331Project1.pdf
 Meters, Multipliers and Shunts. Elliott Sound
Products. Rod Elliott, 06 May 2006. Retrieved from
http://sound.westhost.com/articles/meters.htm
 FINAL DATA SHEET
Experiment 1: Familiarization with electrical measuring
instruments
Marasigan, Neil Darren P. 2 May 2015
EE21L / B16 Group No.
5
Table 1.1 Measured Data
Trials VL IL PL Given VL/IL PL/IL2 ( VL/RL
(V) (A) (W) RL (Ω ) (Ω ) Ω) (A)
1 14.51 0.070 1.0157 216.9 207.29 207.29 0.0669
2 14.43 0.070 1.0101 216.2 206.14 206.1 0.0667
3 14.20 0.085 1.207 177.4 167.06 167.1 0.0800
4 14.42 0.070 1.009 216.0 206.0 205.9 0.0668
5 14.37 0.085 1.2214 177.3 169.06 169.1 0.0810
5
6 14.04 0.115 1.6146 129.2 122.09 122.1 0.1087
7 14.32 0.070 1.0024 215.5 204.57 204.6 0.0665
8 14.36 0.085 1.2716 177.1 168.94 176.0 0.0811
9 14.24 0.115 1.6376 128.2 123.83 123.8 0.1111
10 13.95 0.145 2.0277 101.3 96.21 96.40 0.1377
5

Part A. Determine the characteristics of an analog ammeter

RT = 5300 | IT = 0.010 A VM = 53.0 V

Part B. Determine the characteristics of an analog voltmeter

-4
RT = 19930 | VT = 10 V IM = 5.02 x 10 Adc
Voltmeter Sensitivity = 1993 |/V