Scribd
Upload
2K views6 pages

Types of Rectifier Based AC Voltmeters

The document discusses different types of AC voltmeters. An AC voltmeter uses a rectifier to convert the alternating current (AC) voltage to direct current (DC) so it can be read by a standard DC voltmeter. There are two main types of rectifier-based AC voltmeters: one using a half-wave rectifier that reads 45% of the RMS voltage, and one using a full-wave rectifier that reads 90% of the RMS voltage. In addition to rectifier-based AC voltmeters, the document also discusses peak responding AC voltmeters that read peak voltage values, and true RMS responding AC voltmeters that directly read root mean square voltage values.

Uploaded by

Rochelle May Catbagan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
2K views6 pages

Types of Rectifier Based AC Voltmeters

The document discusses different types of AC voltmeters. An AC voltmeter uses a rectifier to convert the alternating current (AC) voltage to direct current (DC) so it can be read by a standard DC voltmeter. There are two main types of rectifier-based AC voltmeters: one using a half-wave rectifier that reads 45% of the RMS voltage, and one using a full-wave rectifier that reads 90% of the RMS voltage. In addition to rectifier-based AC voltmeters, the document also discusses peak responding AC voltmeters that read peak voltage values, and true RMS responding AC voltmeters that directly read root mean square voltage values.

Uploaded by

Rochelle May Catbagan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

AC voltmeter

The instrument, which is used to measure the AC voltage across any two points of
electric circuit is called AC voltmeter. If the AC voltmeter consists of rectifier, then it is
said to be rectifier based AC voltmeter.
The DC voltmeter measures only DC voltages. If we want to use it for measuring AC
voltages, then we have to follow these two steps.
 Step1 − Convert the AC voltage signal into a DC voltage signal by using a rectifier.
 Step2 − Measure the DC or average value of the rectifier’s output signal.
We get Rectifier based AC voltmeter, just by including the rectifier circuit to the basic
DC voltmeter. This chapter deals about rectifier based AC voltmeters.

Types of Rectifier based AC Voltmeters


Following are the two types of rectifier based AC voltmeters.

 AC voltmeter using Half Wave Rectifier


 AC voltmeter using Full Wave Rectifier
Now, let us discuss about these two AC voltmeters one by one.

AC Voltmeter using Half Wave Rectifier


If a Half wave rectifier is connected ahead of DC voltmeter, then that entire combination
together is called AC voltmeter using Half wave rectifier. The block diagram of AC
voltmeter using Half wave rectifier is shown in below figure.

The above block diagram consists of two blocks: half wave rectifier and DC voltmeter.
We will get the corresponding circuit diagram, just by replacing each block with the
respective component(s) in above block diagram. So, the circuit diagram of AC
voltmeter using Half wave rectifier will look like as shown in below figure.
The rms value of sinusoidal (AC) input voltage signal is

Vrms=Vm2–√Vrms=Vm2

⇒Vm=2–√Vrms⇒Vm=2Vrms

⇒Vm=1.414Vrms⇒Vm=1.414Vrms

Where,
VmVm is the maximum value of sinusoidal (AC) input voltage signal.
The DC or average value of the Half wave rectifier’s output signal is

Vdc=VmπVdc=Vmπ

Substitute, the value of VmVm in above equation.

Vdc=1.414VrmsπVdc=1.414Vrmsπ

Vdc=0.45VrmsVdc=0.45Vrms

Therefore, the AC voltmeter produces an output voltage, which is equal to 0.45 times the
rms value of the sinusoidal (AC) input voltage signal

AC Voltmeter using Full Wave Rectifier


If a Full wave rectifier is connected ahead of DC voltmeter, then that entire combination
together is called AC voltmeter using Full wave rectifier. The block diagram of AC
voltmeter using Full wave rectifier is shown in below figure
The above block diagram consists of two blocks: full wave rectifier and DC voltmeter.
We will get the corresponding circuit diagram just by replacing each block with the
respective component(s) in above block diagram.
So, the circuit diagram of AC voltmeter using Full wave rectifier will look like as shown
in below figure.

The rms value of sinusoidal (AC) input voltage signal is

Vrms=Vm2–√Vrms=Vm2

⇒Vm=2–√Vrms⇒Vm=2Vrms

⇒Vm=1.414Vrms⇒Vm=1.414Vrms

Where,
VmVm is the maximum value of sinusoidal (AC) input voltage signal.
The DC or average value of the Full wave rectifier’s output signal is
Vdc=2VmπVdc=2Vmπ

Substitute, the value of VmVm in above equation

Vdc=2×1.414VrmsπVdc=2×1.414Vrmsπ

Vdc=0.9VrmsVdc=0.9Vrms

Therefore, the AC voltmeter produces an output voltage, which is equal to 0.9 times the
rms value of the sinusoidal (AC) input voltage signal.

Other AC Voltmeters

Other AC Voltmeters

Advertisements

Previous Page
Next Page

In previous chapter, we discussed about rectifier based AC voltmeters. This chapter covers the
following two types of AC voltmeters.

 Peak responding AC voltmeter


 True RMS responding AC voltmeter
Now, let us discuss about these two types of AC voltmeters one by one.

Peak Responding AC Voltmeter


As the name suggests, the peak responding AC voltmeter responds to peak values of AC voltage
signal. That means, this voltmeter measures peak values of AC voltages. The circuit diagram of
peak responding AC voltmeter is shown below −
The above circuit consists of a diode, capacitor, DC amplifier and PMMC galvanometer. The diode
present in the above circuit is used for rectification purpose. So, the diode converts AC voltage signal
into a DC voltage signal. The capacitor charges to the peak value of this DC voltage signal.
During positive half cycle of AC voltage signal, the diode conducts and the capacitor charges to the
peak value of AC voltage signal. When the value of AC voltage signal is less than this value, the
diode will be reverse biased.
Thus, the capacitor will discharge through resistor of DC amplifier till the next positive half cycle of
AC voltage signal. When the value of AC voltage signal is greater than the capacitor voltage, the
diode conducts and the process will be repeated.
We should select the component values in such a way that the capacitor charges fast and discharges
slowly. As a result, the meter always responds to this capacitor voltage, i.e. the peak value of AC
voltage.

True RMS Responding AC Voltmeter


As the name suggests, the true RMS responding AC voltmeter responds to the true RMS values of
AC voltage signal. This voltmeter measures RMS values of AC voltages. The circuit diagram of true
RMS responding AC voltmeter is shown in below figure.
The above circuit consists of an AC amplifier, two thermocouples, DC amplifier and PMMC
galvanometer. AC amplifier amplifies the AC voltage signal. Two thermocouples that are used in
above circuit are a measuring thermocouple and a balancing thermocouple. Measuring
thermocouple produces an output voltage, which is proportional to RMS value of the AC voltage
signal.
Any thermocouple converts a square of input quantity into a normal quantity. This means there exists
a non-linear relationship between the output and input of a thermocouple. The effect of non-linear
behavior of a thermocouple can be neglected by using another thermocouple in the feedback circuit.
The thermocouple that is used for this purpose in above circuit is known as balancing
thermocouple.
The two thermocouples, namely measuring thermocouple and balancing thermocouple together form
a bride at the input of DC amplifier. As a result, the meter always responds to the true RMS value of
AC voltage signal.

https://www.tutorialspoint.com/electronic_measuring_instruments/measuring_instruments.htm

You might also like