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Potentiometer and LVDT

The document discusses potentiometers, which are three-terminal resistors that act as adjustable voltage dividers. It describes different types of potentiometers and their working principles, advantages like high sensitivity and accuracy, and disadvantages like inconsistent wire thickness. Applications include use as voltage dividers, in audio equipment, televisions for brightness/contrast, and transducers to measure displacement. Linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs) are discussed as displacement transducers using mutual induction to convert displacement to electrical signals.

Uploaded by

Abhishek Kumar Jaiswal
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493 views4 pages

Potentiometer and LVDT

The document discusses potentiometers, which are three-terminal resistors that act as adjustable voltage dividers. It describes different types of potentiometers and their working principles, advantages like high sensitivity and accuracy, and disadvantages like inconsistent wire thickness. Applications include use as voltage dividers, in audio equipment, televisions for brightness/contrast, and transducers to measure displacement. Linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs) are discussed as displacement transducers using mutual induction to convert displacement to electrical signals.

Uploaded by

Abhishek Kumar Jaiswal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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#What is potentiometer?

Potentiometer working can be explained when the potentiometer is understood. It is defined as a


three-terminal resistor having either sliding or rotating contact that forms an adjustable voltage
divider. In order to use the potentiometer as a rheostat or variable resistor, it should have only two
terminals with one end and the wiper.

Following are the terms used to describe types of potentiometers:


-> Slider pot or slide pot: This can be adjusted by sliding the wiper right or left with a finger or
thumb.
->Thumbwheel pot or thumb pot: This can be adjusted infrequently with the help of small
thumbwheel which is a small rotating potentiometer.
->Trimmer pot or trimpot: This can be adjusted once for fine tuning of an electric signal.

#Potentiometer working principle:


The potentiometer consists of L which is a long resistive wire and a battery of known EMF V whose
voltage is known as driver cell voltage. Assume a primary circuit arrangement by connecting the two
ends of L to the battery terminals. One end of the primary circuit is connected to the cell whose EMF
E is to be measured and the other end is connected to galvanometer G. This circuit is assumed to be
a secondary circuit.

The working principle depends on the potential across any portion of the wire which is directly
proportional to the length of the wire that has a uniform cross-sectional area and current flow is
constant.

R=ρL/A
#Advantages
The advantages of potentiometer include the following.
i)There is no chance of getting errors because it uses the zero-reflection method.
ii) The standardization can be done by using a normal cell directly
iii) It is used to measure small emf’s due to highly sensitive
iv) Based on the requirement, the potentiometer length can be increased to get accuracy.
v) When the potentiometer is used in the circuit for measurement then it doesn’t draw any current.
vi) It is used to measure the inner resistance of a cell as well as compares the e.m.f. of two cells but
by using a voltmeter, it is not possible.

#Disadvantages
The disadvantages of potentiometer include the following.
i)The potentiometer usage is not convenient
ii)The cross-section area of potentiometer wire should be consistent so that is not possible
practically.
iii) While doing an experiment, the wire temperature should be stable but this is hard due to the
current flow.
iv)The main drawback of this is, it needs a huge force to move their wiper or sliding contacts. There
is erosion because of the movement of the wiper. So it decreases the transducer’s life
v)Bandwidth is limited.

#Applications of Potentiometers
The applications of potentiometer include the following.
i) Potentiometer as a Voltage Divider
The potentiometer can be worked as a voltage divider to obtain a manually adjustable output
voltage at the slider from a fixed input voltage applied across the two ends of the potentiometer.

ii)Audio Control
Sliding potentiometers, one of the most common uses for modern low-power potentiometers are as
audio control devices. Both sliding pots (faders) and rotary potentiometers (knobs) are regularly
used to frequency attenuation, adjust loudness, and for different characteristics of audio signals.

iii) Television
Potentiometers were used to control picture brightness, contrast, and color response. A
potentiometer was often used to adjust “vertical hold”, which affected the synchronization between
the received picture signal and the receiver’s internal sweep circuit (a multi-vibrator).

iv)Transducers
One of the most common applications is measuring displacement. To measure the displacement of
the body, which is movable, is connected to the sliding element located on the potentiometer. As
the body moves, the position of the slider also changes accordingly so the resistance between the
fixed point and the slider changes. Due to this the voltage across these points also changes.
Linear Variable Displacement Transducer (LVDT):
A very basic transducer which is always useful in the field of instrumentation.

Principle of LVDT:
LVDT works under the principle of mutual induction, and the displacement which is a non-
electrical energy is converted into an electrical energy.

Construction of LVDT:

LVDT consists of a cylindrical former where it is surrounded by one primary winding in the centre of
the former and the two secondary windings at the sides. The number of turns in both the secondary
windings are equal, but they are opposite to each other, i.e., if the left secondary windings is in the
clockwise direction, the right secondary windings will be in the anti-clockwise direction, hence the
net output voltages will be the difference in voltages between the two secondary coil. The two
secondary coil is represented as S1 and S2. Esteem iron core is placed in the centre of the cylindrical
former which can move in to and fro motion as shown in the figure. The AC excitation voltage is 5 to
12V and the operating frequency is given by 50 to 400 HZ.
Working of LVDT:
Let's study the working of LVDT by splitting the cases into 3 based on the iron core position inside
the insulated former.

Case 1: On applying an external force which is the displacement, if the core reminds in the null
position itself without providing any movement then the voltage induced in both the secondary
windings are equal which results in net output is equal to zero i.e.,
Esec1-Esec2=0

Case 2: When an external force is appilied and if the steel iron core tends to move in the left hand
side direction then the emf voltage induced in the secondary coil is greater when compared to the
emf induced in the secondary coil 2. Therefore the net output will be Esec1-Esec2
Case 3: When an external force is applied and if the steel iron core moves in the right hand side
direction then the emf induced in the secondary coil 2 is greater when compared to the emf voltage
induced in the secondary coil 1. therefore, the net output voltage will be Esec2-Esec1

Advantages of LVDT:
* Infinite resolution is present in LVDT
* High output
* LVDT gives High sensitivity
* Very good linearity
* Ruggedness
* LVDT Provides Less friction
* Low hysteresis
* LVDT gives Low power consumption.

Disadvantages of LVDT:
* Very high displacement is required for generating high voltages.
* Shielding is required since it is sensitive to magnetic field.
* The performance of the transducer gets affected by vibrations
* It is greatly affected by temperature changes.

Applications of LVDT: LVDT is used to measure displacement ranging from


fraction millimeter to centimeter. Acting as a secondary transducer, LVDT can be used as a device to
measure force, weight and pressure, etc.

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