The Wenner Potentiometer

The Review of
Scientific Instrutnents
Vol. 3 MARCH, 1932 No.3
THE WENNER POTENTIOMETER
By LEO BEHR
[RESEARCH DEPARTMENT, LEEDS & NORTHRUP COMPANY, PHILADELPillA, PA.
RECEIVED NOVEMBER 27,1931]
ABSTRACT
A two-range, five-dial potentiometer is described which incorporates a decade construction
suggested by Wenner. The upper range is 1.9111 volts in steps of 10 microvolts and the lower
range is one tenth of this. The effect of contact resistance, thermal emf's and of errors in ad-
justment is considered in detail.
The limit of error for the instrument is 0.005 percent or 2 microvolts for the high range and
0.01 percent or 0.2 microvolt for the low range.
Dr. Frank Wenner has described a potentiometer decade design* in
which the contacts are so disposed in the circuit that the inevitable
electromotive forces and resistance variations at the contacts influence
the measured result only very slightly. His description is brief enough
to permit reproduction here in full.
This communication relates to a device for the lower decades of a potentiometer to be used
in the measurement of small electromotive forces. From the figure (which shows the arrange-
ment of one decade) it will be seen that a part of the circuit including the potential point M is
shunted by a comparatively high resistance. By means of a double dial switch both branch
points between the shunt and the main circuit may be shifted in steps of equal resistance so as
to introduce a larger or smaller resistance between T and N while keeping the resistance
shunted constant. The shifting of the switch then produces a change in the potential difference
between M and N equal to the change in the resistance between T and N times the current in
the shunt. The device works out well in the design of a low range two circuit potentiometer
having a low resistance between potential terminals.
T
At
FIG. 1.
This decade design has been used 'in the construction of a double
range, five-dial potentiometer. The upper range is 1.9111 volts in steps
* Phys. Rev. 31, 94; 1910.
109
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110 LEO BERR [R.S.l.,3
of 10 microvolts and the lower range is one-tenth of this. The resistance
in the galvanometer circuit is approximately constant at 174 ohms and
if the high dial is not in use this resistance can be reduced to 40 ohms by
setting the dial at a point provided for that purpose. The two upper
dials are of the usual construction, with contacts in the galvanometer
circuit, and the three lower dials are of the Wenner design. A split cir-
cuit is used and provision is made for conveniently checking and ad-
justing the zero of the potentiometer and the ratio of the currents
through the upper dial and through the remaining dials.
FIG. 2.
This construction has certain distinctive advantages:
(1) The low resistance makes it possible to attain sufficient galvanometer sensitivity to
realize the precision made available by the potentiometer.
(2) Contact resistance in any of the dials has an entirely inappreciable effect on the meas-
urements.
(3) Electromotive forces that may originate during manipulation of the three lower dials
have a negligible influence on the measured voltage.
(4) The low resistance of the important coils and the manner in which changes in these
coils affect the measurements, are both factors conducive to inherently good stability.
A low range Wenner potentiometer has been built which also has two
ranges, 0.11111 volt in steps of 1.0 microvolt and 0.011111 volt in steps
of 0.1 microvolt. This instrument will be the subject of a later paper.
March, 1932] THE WENNER POTENTIOMETER 111
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
A photograph of the high range potentiometer is shown in Fig. 2.
The dials A and B are set to correspond to the standard cell voltage and
u
~
c
~
"
~ .
~
N
g
"'
~
~ ,
-=-
g
..,
N
~ ~
112 LEO BEHR [R.S.L, 3
are adjustable in steps of 10 microvolts from 1.01800 to 1.01960 volts.
The small dial in the upper right corner is the range-changing switch.
When it is set on xl, the potentiometer is direct reading, at the x.l set-
ting the readings are to be divided by 10. The quick-change switch for
checking the current against the standard cell is at the lower left corner
and the rheostats are at the right side.
Fig. 3 is a complete wiring diagram and Fig. 4 is an outline diagram
from which such details as the battery rheostat, galvanometer shunts
and standard cell switch have been omitted. The normal battery cur-
rent is 0.022 ampere and when the range changing switch is at xl., 0.002
ampere circulates through the resistance (a + 9a) and 0.02 ampere
flows to the point P, Fig. 4. At P the current divides equally, the resist-
ance between P and Q by either path being 500 ohms. The current to
the right of P divides among the parallel paths as indicated. The main
and compensating resistances of decades III, IV and V are equal and
the brushes are mechanically connected so that the current distribution
shown is maintained for all settings of the decades.
The resistances are of such value that, with all the dials set at zero,
the potential drop from E+ to Q is equal to the rise from Q to E- and
the net potential difference at the emf posts is zero. Dial I consists of
18 resistances of 10 ohms each and dial II has 10 2-ohm coils. With cur-
rents of 0.01 and 0.005 ampere respectively, the potential difference per
step of dial lis 0.1 volt and of dial II is 0.01 volt. For the remaining dials
it is clear from Dr. Wenner's description, that the potential difference
per step of each dial is equal to the resistance per step multiplied by the
current through the brush, and that dials III, IV and v have potential
steps of 0.001, 0.0001 and 0.00001 volt respectively.
The current through the potentiometer is standardized in the usual
manner by comparing the potential drop across a known resistance with
the emf of a standard cell. The principal part of the potential drop
1 volt, is obtained across the first ten coils of dial I, and dials A and B
make possible the use of standard cells having values between 1.01800
and 1.01960 volts. The switch for checking the current without dis-
turbing the potentiometer setting, is not shown in Fig. 4 but is included
in Fig. 3.
Referring to Fig. 4, when the range changing switch is set at x.l, 0.02
ampere flows through the resistance a, and 0.002 ampere through 9a
and the potentiometer. The potentiometer resistance and resistances a
and 9a are symmetrically arranged in the figure in order to make clear
how the range-changing switch alters the current through the potenti-
March, 1932]
113
2
~
~ ~
~
~
"1:/
:;; -
.
0
2
:.
2
<
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<
.
~
0
-/il
~ ! !
/il
.q;
~
~
e
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11
N
~
1 ~
N
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<1
l ~
~ T ;
114 LEO BEHR [R.S.l.,3
ometer while maintaining constant the total battery current. The cur-
rent can be checked against the standard cell only on the xl. range.
The resistance coils in dials I and II, between the junctions of the
main coils and the studs, are so proportioned that the galvanometer
circuit resistance IS approximately constant for all settings of the
brushes.
DISCUSSION OF ERRORS
GENERAL
As in other two-circuit potentiometers in which a single battery is
used or in which the measured voltage is the difference of two voltages,!
the correctness of the zero is not inherent in the design of the Wenner
potentiometer nor is the ratio of the potential difference per step of dial
I to that of dial II, defined solely by the ratio of the resistances of the
main coils of these decades. Although these are points that should re-
quire only infrequent attention, the instrument has been designed with
rheostats, adjustable over a small range, for changing the ratio of the
currents through dials I and II and for setting the zero. The two similar
rheostats Ra and Ra of Fig. 4 are mounted on the same shaft. Rotation
of the shaft increases the resistance of one rheostat and equally de-
creases the resistance of the other so that the zero of the potentiometer
can be corrected without altering the currents in the various branches.
The rheostat R2 is in a branch carrying the sum of the currents through
all the dials but I, and so operation of R2 changes the current through
all these dials in the same proportion.
THERMAL EMF AT BRUSH CONTACTS
Thermal emf's in dials I and II are introduced directly into the
emf circuit. As I and II are not moved immediately before the final
balance is obtained, the emf originating at these decades are compara-
tively small and constant. Rapid rotation of the dial may introduce an
emf as large as 1 /l V. When the dial is operated at usual speed, one
step at a time, the emf does not exceed 0.1 /lV. In either case the gen-
erated emf dies down quickly after the dial is brought to rest, being
certainly less than 0.05 /l V at the end of a time equal to the period (6
sec.) of the galvanometer used in the measurements.
In computing the effect of a thermal emf, E, at the contacts of III
or IiI', the battery branch between P and Q, in Fig. 4, will be considered
to have a resistance of 100 ohms. The circuit to the right of the brushes
1 M. Stein, Transactions A.I.E.E. 50, 1302; 1931.
of III and III' has a resistance of 250 ohms. With II, IV and v set at
zero, the ratio of the potential difference between M and E - to the
current entering at M' and leaving at M is
0.008 X 10 X 0.05 + 0.006 X 10 X 0.01 + 0.005 X 10 X 2
--------------= 13. + ohms
0.008
and it is evident that the principal part (12.5 ohms) of this resistance is
contributed by II.
For our immediate purpose, the circuit is conveniently drawn as in
Fig. 5 from which it can be readily shown that .the maxium potential
difference between Q and E- is approximately e/l00. The maximum
46)J\.
M'
J\.
IOOOn.. t'
IOOf\.
II-
250-(5+131').1\.
liS XIO./'\. I!)oen. 10 x . .5 J\ 13+J\.
M
'I..
Q
m
L
FIG. 5.
voltage from E to Q is also approximately ejl00 and is obtained when
I is set at 1.8 volts. These two potential differences are in opposition so
that an emf e in III affects the measured voltage by an amount that
is certainly less than e/IOO.
A thermal emf in IV or v introduces a somewhat smaller error than
a corresponding emf in III.
CONTACT RESISTANCE
Contact resistance at I or II is without influence on the accuracy of
the potentiometer.
The effect of contact resistance at III can be computed by convert-
ing the contact resistance into an equivalent emf equal to the product
of the resistance and the current through the contact. For a total re-
sistance at the two contacts in dial III of 4X 10-4 ohms and a current of
2 X 10-
3
ampere, the equivalent emf is 0.8 microvolt and the error in
the measured voltage is less than 0.8/100 microvolt.
116 LEO BEHR [R.S.L,3
In dial IV or V, contact resistance is of less importance.
COMPENSATING COILS
In estimating the errors caused by inaccuracies of the compensating
coils, it will be assumed that Ra has been adjusted to make the zero
setting of the potentiometer correct and that R2 has been set so that the
potential difference per step of II is correct when III, IV and V are at
zero.
10 X.5
E+
E-
5001"\
1000 A
295A
(10 X .5) (I + 1I)
FIG.6a.
Figs. 6a and 6b are simplified diagrams showing the circuit with dial
III at zero and ten respectively. In Fig. 6a, the total resistance to the
right of P and Q is
1000 X (245 + 10 X 0.5(1 + .6
295+ lOX .5+----------
1000 + 245 + 5(1 + .6)
and in Fig. 6b the resistance is
1000 X 250
295+lOXO.5(1+.6)+ .
1000 + 250
The difference between these two resistances is 2.:i and if.:i is as much
as 0.05 percent, 2.:i is 0.001 ohm which is two parts per million of the
total branch resistance of 500 ohms.
The distribution of current between the 1000 ohm resistance of dial
II and the circuit to the right of III, is also altered by imperfect com-
pensation. From Appendix A the change in current through the 1,000
ohm resistance is given by
b.i = _ S _ ( ~ ~ _ b.S) = 1000 X 10 X 0.5 X b. = ~ .
i S + T T S 1000 + 250 250 125
For A = 0.0005 this reduces to 8 X 10-
6
and this is the proportional error
in dial III; the proportional change in II, IV and v is one-fourth as
great.
lOX.!>
E+
E-
!>OO f\.
1000 f\.
295 f\.
FIG.6b.
The resistances of IV and v are smaller than those of III so that an
error in the compensating coils for these dials has a substantially smaller
effect than a proportional error in the compensating coils of III.
MAIN COILS
To a first approximation the accuracy of the potentiometer is inde-
pendent of changes in the main coils of dials I and II provided that the
coils of each decade remain equal to each other. For dial I this is due
to the fact that the current is adjusted by comparison of the emf of
the standard cell with a potential difference derived principally from
the first ten coils of decade 1. For dial II, adjustment of rheostat R2
118 LEO BEHR [R.S.L,3
alters the distribution of current to properly compensate for any changes
in the coil resistance.
The coils of I and II are of such construction as to minimize the prob-
ability of any changes. Their resistance is low enough to permit the
use of wire of substantial cross section and the coils are made of adja-
cent lengths of wire selected for low temperature coefficient from a
large supply.
The main coils of III, IV and V introduce an error unless the ratio
of their resistances to that of dial II, is constant. The comparatively
low accuracy required of these coils combined with the high stability
that may be expected because of the very low resistance of the units,
makes most unlikely any significant changes in these dials.
SERIES RESISTANCES TIJI, Trv, rV, rlI
As before, it will be assumed that R2 and Ra have been properly set
so that the zero of the potentiometer and the current through II are
correct.
To a close approximation an error in ~ I I I , rIVor rv affects the cor-
responding dial only and the percent error in the dial is equal to the
percent error in the resistance.
An error in rII produces no error in dial II but ~ o e s cause an error
in III, IV and v, the percent error in these dials being equal to the per-
cent error in rn.
xl RANGE
The above discussion has been limited to the x 1 range. On the x1
range the effect of emf's at the brush contacts, and of inaccuracies in
the various resistances is not materially different from that given above.
Resistance variations at the contacts of III, IV and V are substantially
less important, however, because the current through the contacts is
one-tenth of its previous value.
OVERALL ACCURACY
As previously mentioned, provision is made for adjusting the zero
of the potentiometer and the ratio of the currents through dial I and
through the remaining dials. With I and II set at "Ck" and with III
at any stud not above 5, the correctness of this ratio is indicated by
the absence of current in the galvanometer circuit. Comparison of the
potential difference due to all of dial II with thaI due to one step of I,
may also be used as a criterion for the proper setting of R
2
The rheo-
March, 1932]
119
stats Rs and R2 are rotatable by means of the slotted heads visible to
the left and right respectively of the range changing switch in Fig. 2.
The relative values of the steps on all the dials can be compared con-
veniently with the aid of simple auxiliary apparatus, for each step of
a dial can be measured in terms of the total voltage of the next lower
dial.
The resistance units of dials I and II are initially adjusted to be
within 0.005 percent of their nominal value and to be alike to 0.002
TABLE 1
Reading of
Correction in
Reading of
Correction in
X 100000
X 100000
dial
microvolts
dial
microvolts
0 0 10 1
1 0 11
2
2 -2 12 3
3 -3 13
5
4 -2 14 7
5 -1 15 8
6 -3 16 10
7 0 17 12
8 -1
18 12
9 0
Reading of
Reading of
X 10000 Correction in X 1000 Correction in
dial microvolts dial microvolts
0 1 0 0
1 2 1 0
2 3 2 0
3 1 3 0
-+ 3 4 0
5 2 5 0
(i
3 6 if
7 3 7 1
8 3 8 1
9 2 9 1
10 2 10 0
The corrections to the 100 and 10 microvolt dial reading were all less than 1 microvolt.
Factor reading
1
0.1
Factor
1.00000
0.100002
120 LEO BEHR [R.S.L, 3
percent. For III the corresponding figures are 0.01 percent and 0.005
percent. The limits on the lower dials are appropriately broader. Of the
other important resistances, the 285.0 and 370.83 ohm coils are ad-
justed to 0.005 percent.
The results of measurements on a finished instrument are given in
Table 1. These measurements were completely independent of those
made in the construction of the instrument.
The analysis of the circuit and the measurements made on finished
instruments indicate that the limit of error for the Wenner potentiom-
eter is 0.005 percent or 0.2 step on the last dial when using the high
range and 0.01 percent or 0.2 step when using the x.1 range.
The writer had no connection with the design of the instrument,
which is due to other members of the technical staff of the Leeds and
Northrup Company. Acknowledgement is gratefully made to Dr. Wen-
ner for his helpful cooperation.
ApPENDIX A
If Sand T are two parallel resistances whose combined resistance
is R, j is the total current and i the current through S, it can be shown
that, if S is increased by a small amount t:..S, the corresponding increase,
t:..R, inRis
t.R t.S R t.S T
--=---=-----.
R S S S S+T
If the total current j is maintained constant while Sand Tare
changed slightly, the change in i is given by
~ ~ = S: T(t.; _ t.}) = : ( ~ ~ - ~ )
t.i ST (t.T t.S) R (t.T t.S)
T = (S + T)2 T - S = S + T r- - S .


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