MOVING IRON INSTRUMENTS
A soft iron piece when attracted or repelled by the magnetic field a coil is moves.
A pointer is attached with the moving piece. Then shows deflection on a
calibrated scale. These instruments are simple cheap and reasonably accurate
and can be used for ac/dc measurement.
There are two general types of moving instruments, which are
• Attraction type moving iron instruments
• Repulsion type moving iron instruments
Attraction type operates on the principle of attraction of a single piece of soft iron
into a magnetic field. Repulsion type operates on the principle of repulsion of two
adjacent iron pieces which is magnetized by the same magnetic field. Repulsion
type of measuring instruments is more sensitive. Because in these instruments
large operating torque is developed. This torque is developed by having two iron
elements positioned close together inside the field coil where the magnetizing
effect is maximum.
Attraction type
The earliest and simplest form of attraction type moving iron instrument uses a
solenoid and moving oval-shaped soft iron pivoted eccentrically as shown in Fig.
To this iron, a pointer is attached so that it may deflect along with the moving iron
over a graduated scale. The iron is made of sheet metal specially shaped to give
a scale as early uniform as possible. The moving iron is drawn into the field of
the solenoid when current flows through it. The movement of the iron is always
from the weaker magnetic field outside the coil into the stronger magnetic field
inside the coił.
Attraction type moving iron instrument
When the current to be measured is passed through the solenoid Then a
magnetic field is set up inside the solenoid, which magnetizes the iron. Thus, the
iron is attracted into the coil causing the spindle and the pointer to rotate. Such
instruments normally have spring control and pneumatic damping. In Fig. gravity
control attraction type instrument.
It has a scale cramped at the lower end and greatly expanded at the upper end.
As the operating torque is quite low when the moving iron is just entering the
solenoid and increases rapidly as iron is drawn further in. However, it does
permit the development of large working torque. It is still used in some
instruments requiring high operating torque.
Repulsion Type
In this type of instrument, there are two irons. Curved iron of soft iron or of mu-
metal is fixed to the inside of the bobbin former. Another curved iron is mounted
on a spindle which passes axially through the solenoid. The two irons lie in the
magnetic field produced by a solenoid. When there is no current in the solenoid
the two irons, moving one and fixed one. Both are almost touching each other
and the pointer rests on zero position.
Repulsion type moving iron instrument
When the current to be measured is passed through the solenoid, which is
wound with insulated copper wire on a cylindrical nonmagnetic former, a
magnetic field is set up inside the solenoid and the two irons are magnetized in
the same direction. This sets up a repulsive force so moving iron is repelled by
fixed iron, thereby results in the motion of the moving iron carrying the pointer.
The pointer comes in a rest in a deflected position when equilibrium is attained
between the repulsion force of the working elements and the controlling force.
Control of the movement is either by hair-spring, when the instrument is to be
employed in any position. Or by gravity, when the instrument is to be operated
only vertically.
Damping used is air friction (pneumatic) one. Eddy current damping is not
possible because of the presence of permanent magnet needed for such
purpose would affect the deflection.
Scale of Moving Iron Instrument
The repulsion of iron is proportional to the square of the current. So the scale is
uneven, being crowded at the lower values and wide spread at the higher values.
The iron may be so shaped and arranged that the scale is spread out to some
extent at the lower values of current.
Errors in moving iron instruments
The errors usually occurring in moving iron instruments are friction, temperature,
stray magnetic field, hysteresis, frequency and wave form. The first four errors
affect the instrument on AC and DC. While last two affect only on ac.
Stray Magnetic Field
Stray magnetic field error may be serious if not guarded against because of the
weakness of the operating magnetic field in case of moving iron instruments.
This error is minimized by the following methods:
• By shielding the instrument with the help of steel case.
• By sheet steel lining to the case.
Hysteresis Error
Hysteresis error is a serious type of error in moving iron instrument specially
when used on a circuit. This error may be reduced by the following methods:
• By making the iron part short. So that they demagnetize themselves.
• By choosing a value of flux density in the iron or by using a mu-metal.
• By permalloy having negligible hysteresis.
Frequency Change
Change in frequency may cause due to change of reactance of the operating
coil. It is also due to the changes in magnitude of eddy current set up in the metal
part of the instrument near the operating portion. The change in instrument
reactance owing to change in frequency causes serious error in the case of
voltmeters. The eddy current error affects both the measuring instruments
equally. The frequency error may be compensated for the connecting a suitable
capacitor in parallel with the swamping resistance R.
Waveform
Moving iron instruments may be seriously affected by waveform. It affects on
both account of the change in the form of flux waveform.
Torque Equation of Moving Iron Instruments
Consider a small increment in current supplied to the coil of the instrument. due to
this current let dθ be the deflection under the deflecting torque Td. Due to such
deflection, some mechanical work will be done.
Mechanical Work = Td .dθ
There will be a change in the energy stored i the magnetic field due to the change
in inductance. This is because the vane tries to occupy the position of minimum
reluctance. The inductance is inversely proportional to the reluctance of the
magnetic circuit of coil.
Let I = initial current
L = instrument inductance
θ = deflection
dI = increase in current
dθ = change in deflection
dL = change in inductance
In order to effect an increment dL in the current, there must be an increase in the
applied voltage given by,
Hence t he deflection is proportional to square of the r ms value of the operating
current. The deflecting torque is, therefore, unidirectional
Advantages of moving iron instruments
1. The instruments can be used both in ac as well as dc circuits.
2. These instruments are simple in construction of moving part.
3. The stationary part of the instruments is very Simple.
4. They are less costly.
5. These instruments possess high operating torque.
6. These instruments can withstand overload momentarily.
Disadvantages of moving iron instruments
1. Scale of these instruments is not linear.
2. Power consumption is higher for low voltage range.
3. If the temperature increases then the stiffness of the spring decreases.
4. The errors that are caused by hysteresis in the iron of the operating
system and due to stray magnetic field.
5. Change in frequency and in waveform causes serious errors in ac
measurements.
