MCT-335 InM LabManual 01
MCT-335 InM LabManual 01
Lab Manual # 01
Title: Positional Resistance Transducers
Objective:
1. Describe the basic construction of rotary and slider variable resistors.
2. Draw the basic characteristics of output voltage against variable control setting.
3. Describe the effect on the output voltage of loading the output circuit.
Apparatus
• Transducer and Instrumentation trainer DIGIAC 1750
• DIGIAC Accessories
• Digital Multimeter
Introduction
A variable resistor consists of a "track" having a fixed overall resistance with a "wiper" which
can be moved to make contact with any point along the track. In the carbon type, the total track
resistance is varied by adjusting the proportion of non-conducting material to carbon in the
compound during manufacture. This will produce a track of constant resistance along its length,
so that any section of the track will have the same resistance as any other similar section. The
track will be linear.
Variable resistors intended for use in audio applications, where subjective appreciation of
sound amplitude (loudness) is proportional to logarithmic scales, are made with similar
logarithmic (non-linear) scales. The resistance along the track is not a linear relationship,
increasing with the square of the rotation of the spindle, or movement of the slide wiper (R ∝
S2, where S is the setting of the wiper). A close approximation is made to the ideal logarithmic
characteristic by using three or four sections of track with different resistance slopes.
Effect of Loading
Consider a 10kOhms variable resistor connected to a 10V supply with the wiper in its central
position. There will be a resistance of 5kOhms from the wiper to each end of the track (Fig
1.3(a)). If a 5kOhms fixed resistor is connected across the output then it will be in parallel with
the lower half of the potentiometer (Fig 1.3(b)) and will draw current through the upper half of
the potentiometer. This causes a higher voltage drop across the upper half of the track than the
lower half (Fig 1.3(c)).
Another way of looking at this is that the shunting effect of the 5kOhms load resistor is to
reduce the total resistance of the lower half to 2.5kOhms (Fig 1.3(c)). Only one third of the
applied voltage will be dropped across the lower half and two thirds across the upper.
The variations of resistance as the wiper is moved will be quite complex and the voltage at the
output will be non-linear.
Practical Performance
Task 1: Place the circuit such that the Rotary Carbon Track variable resistor becomes a
Potentiometer with one terminal at ground and other at +12V. Change the position of the wiper
and record the voltage output between the wiper and the ground terminal in Table 1.1.
Table 2.1
Graph 1.1
Question 1: Have you obtained a linear or a non-linear curve? State the reason for the shape
of the curve you obtained.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Task 2: Repeat the experiment for Slider Carbon Track Variable Resistor. This time, instead
of using +12V to 0V range, use -5V to +5V range. Record the voltage output between the wiper
and the ground terminal. Fill Table 1.2 and plot the results on Graph 1.2 as well.
Table 1.2
Graph 3.2
Question 2: Have you obtained a linear or a non-linear curve? State the reason for the shape
of the curve you obtained.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Task 3: With the power supply switched OFF and no connections made to any components,
measure the resistance of the 100kOhms Carbon Track rotary variable resistor between contact
A and the wiper as it is set to the marked points on its scale. Use a suitable scale (200kOhms)
on your digital multimeter and record the results in Table 1.3 overleaf in the row marked "Load
Resistance".
Lab Manual for the Course of Instrumentation & Measurements
Mechatronics & Control Engineering Department, UET, Lahore
The 100kOhms resistor is to be used as a load resistance across the output of a 10kOhms
position sensing variable resistor.
Apply +12V and 0V to the Terminal A and C of Wirewound Variable resistor and using a
DMM adjust the wiper terminal (B) such that the output voltage is 6V.
Now connect the load resistance in parallel to the lower leg of the Wirewound Variable Resistor
(i.e. across Terminal B and C). Fill the table 1.3 by changing the position of wiper contact of
load resistance, i.e. by changing the value of the load resistance and plot the results on Graph
1.3
Table 1.3
Graph1.3