MECH450 Electronics & Instrumentation

AC Meters

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AC Meters
AC (alternating current) electromechanical meter movements comes in two basic arrangements:
those based on DC movement designs those engineered specifically for AC use.

PMMC meters will not work if directly connected to AC, because the direction of the needle will fluctuate with each half-cycle of the AC.

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Using dArsonval Meter

In order to use a DC-style meter, the AC must be rectified into DC. Diodes are commonly used.
They act like a one-way valve for electrons to flow.
current direction

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Full Wave Rectifier

A full wave rectifier provides a full wave pulsating DC. The needle displays the rectified average value.

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Root Mean Squared

Root mean squared (RMS) value of an AC is that current which will give the same heating effect as the equivalent DC. The RMS value of y(x) over the range x = a to x = b is given by:
1 b 2 RMS = a y dx ba

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Vrms and Vpeak

Vrms 1 = T

v dt

For v = V peak sin(t )

Vrms 1 = T

[V peak sin(t )] dt 1 T 1 T

= V peak = V peak
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0 T

sin (t )dt 1 cos 2(t ) dt 2

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Vrms = V peak

1 T 1

1 cos 2(t ) dt 2 1 cos 2(t ) dt 2

= V peak = V peak
= V peak

1 [t sin( 2t )] 0 2
1 1 [ sin( 2 )] = V peak 2 2

Vrms

1 = V peak = 0.707 V peak for sine waveform 2

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Value from dArsonval Meters

Using dArsonval movement, the output value is called average value. The average value of y(x) between x = a to x = b is:

1 b AVE = a ydx ba
The relationship between RMS and average value has to be determined.

Vrms

1 = V peak 2 Vrms = V peak 2 Vrms = ? Vave

form factor
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1 b AVE = a ydx ba
2

Vave

1 T = 0 V peak sin(t )dt T 0 =

= =

2 Vrms sin(t )dt

Vrms

sin(t )dt =

Vrms [ cos(t )] 0 2 2 Vrms = 2 V peak

Vrms ([(1)] [(1)]) =

Vrms =

2 2

Vave

1 = Vave for sine waveform 0.9

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Form Factors for Sine Wave using Full Wave Rectifier

Multiplication factor to value from value average average RMS peak peak-to-peak (p-p) RMS peak peak-to-peak (p-p)

1 0.9 0.637 0.32

1.11 1 0.707 0.3535

1.57 1.414 1 0.5

3.14 2.828 2 1

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Rs for Full Wave Rectifier

The value of the multiplier resistor, in a full wave rectifier circuit, with a sine-wave source, can be calculated as

Edc 0.9 Erms Rs = Rm = Rm = 0.9 S dc Erms Rm I dc I dc = S ac Erms Rm

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Try to do this
Calculate the value of the multiplier resistor for a 10 V rms AC range on the voltmeter using full wave rectifier. The DC sensitivity is given by Sdc = 1/Ifsd = 1/1mA = 1 k/V AC sensitivity is Sac = 0.9 Sdc = 0.9 k/V The multiplier resistor is Rs = Sac Vrange Rm =0.9 k/V 10 250 =8.75 k

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Half Wave Rectifier

If a diode D1 is added to the DC voltmeter, we have a voltmeter using half wave rectifier circuit capable of measuring AC voltages. Assume the diode is an ideal diode (i.e., negligible forward bias resistance and no leakage).

Rs

D1

Ifsd Rm

ein=Vpeak sin t

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Rs for Half Wave Rectifier

The value of the multiplier resistor, in a half wave rectifier circuit, with a sine-wave source, can be calculated as

Edc 0.45 Erms Rs = Rm = Rm = 0.45 S dc Erms Rm I dc I dc = S ac Erms Rm

Rs
D1

Ifsd Rm

ein=Vpeak sin t

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The sensitivity of the DC voltmeter is Sdc = 1/Ifsd = 1/1mA=1k/V Rs = 10k Rs = (SV)-Rm

Rs Rm V = 10V S

This means that a 10 V DC input would cause full scale deflection when connected with proper polarity. The DC input is replaced by a 10 V RMS sin wave input. The peak value of this input is: Ep = 10 V 1.414 = 14.14 V The DC meter will respond to the average value of the AC input: Eav=10 V 0.9 = 9.0 V Since the diode conducts only the positive half cycle, the average value over the entire cycle is half of the average value, i.e., 4.5 V. Therefore, a 10 V DC input causes a full scale deflection (10 V mark). A 10 V RMS sine wave input causes the pointer to deflect to 4.5 V mark.

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Multi-range AC Voltmeter
Resistances R1, R2, R3, and R4 form a chain of multipliers for voltage ranges of 1000 V, 250 V, 50 V, and 10 V respectively. Rsh is the meter shunt and acts to improve the rectifier operation.

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Square Wave Source

Consider the circuit with full wave rectifier has a square wave source.
Vrms
Vave

1 = T

[V peak ]2 dt = V peak

1 T = 0 V peak dt = V peak = Vrms T 0

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Loading Effect of AC Meters

For AC voltmeter using half wave rectifier, the loading effect of AC is greater than that of DC. For AC voltmeter using full wave rectifier, the loading effect is the same as DC.

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