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MEASURING INSTRUMENTS By: Nafees Ahmed, Asstt, Prof, EE Deptt, DIT, Dehradun

2 MEASURING INSTRUMENTS The device used for comparing the unknown quantity
with the unit of measurement or standard quantity is called a Measuring Instrument.
OR An instrument may be defined as a machine or system which is designed to
maintain functional relationship between prescribed properties of physical variables &
could include means of communication to human observer.

3 CLASSIFICATION OF INSTRUMENTS Electrical instruments may be divided into two

categories, that are; 1. Absolute instruments, 2. Secondary instruments. - Absolute
instruments gives the quantity to be measured in term of physical constant of the
instrument. ie tangent galvanometer - In Secondary instruments the deflection gives
the magnitude of electrical quantity to be measured directly. These instruments are
required to be calibrated by comparing with another standard instrument before
putting into use.

4 CLASSIFICATION OF INSTRUMENTS Electrical measuring instruments may also be

classified according to the kind of quantity, kind of current, principle of operation of
moving system. CLASSIFICATION OF SECONDARY INSTRUMENTS Secondary
instruments can be classified into three types; i. Indicating instruments; ii. Recording
instruments; iii. Integrating instruments.

5 CLASSIFICATION OF SECONDARY INSTRUMENTS - Indicating Instruments: It indicate

the magnitude of an electrical quantity at the time when it is being measured. The
indications are given by a pointer moving over a graduated dial.

6 CLASSIFICATION OF SECONDARY INSTRUMENTS - Recording Instruments: The

instruments which keep a continuous record of the variations of the magnitude of an
electrical quantity to be observed over a defined period of time.

7 CLASSIFICATION OF SECONDARY INSTRUMENTS - Integrating Instruments: The

instruments which measure the total amount of either quantity of electricity or
electrical energy supplied over a period of time. For example energy meters.

8 ESSENTIALS OF INDICATING INSTRUMENTS A defined above, indicating instruments

are those which indicate the value of quantity that is being measured at the time at
which it is measured. Such instruments consist essentially of a pointer which moves
over a calibrated scale & which is attached to a moving system pivoted in bearing. The
moving system is subjected to the following three torques: 1. A deflecting ( or
operating) torque; 2. A controlling ( or restoring) torque; 3. A damping torque.
9 DEFLECTING TORQUE - The deflecting torque is produced by making one of the
magnetic, heating, chemical, electrostatic and electromagnetic induction effect of
current or voltage and cause the moving system of the instrument to move from its
zero position. - The method of producing this torque depends upon the type of
instrument.

10 CONTROLLING TORQUE - The magnitude of the moving system would be some what
indefinite under the influence of deflecting torque, unless the controlling torque
existed to oppose the deflecting torque. - It increases with increase in deflection of
moving system. - Under the influence of controlling torque the pointer will return to its
zero position on removing the source producing the deflecting torque. - Without
controlling torque the pointer will swing at its maximum position & will not return to
zero after removing the source.

11 -Controlling torque is produced either by spring or gravity control. Spring Control:

When the pointer is deflected one spring unwinds itself while the other is twisted. This
twist in the spring produces restoring (controlling) torque, which is proportional to the
angle of deflection of the moving systems.

12 Spring Control Controlling torque Deflecting torque At equilibrium position

13 Gravity Control In gravity controlled instruments, a small adjustable weight is

attached to the spindle of the moving system such that the deflecting torque produced
by the instrument has to act against the action of gravity. Thus a controlling torque is
obtained. This weight is called the control weight. Another adjustable weight is also
attached to the moving system for zero adjustment and balancing purpose. This weight
is called Balance weight.

14 DAMPING TORQUE We have already seen that the moving system of the instrument
will tend to move under the action of the deflecting torque. But on account of the
control torque, it will try to occupy a position of rest when the two torques are equal
and opposite. However, due to inertia of the moving system, the pointer will not come
to rest immediately but oscillate about its final deflected position as shown in figure
and takes appreciable time to come to steady state. To overcome this difficulty a
damping torque is to be developed by using a damping device attached to the moving
system.

15 DAMPING TORQUE The damping torque is proportional to the speed of rotation of

the moving system, that is Depending upon the degree of damping introduced in the
moving system, the instrument may have any one of the following conditions as
depicted in above graph.
16 DAMPING TORQUE 1. Under damped condition: The response is oscillatory 2. Over
damped condition: The response is sluggish and it rises very slowly from its zero
position to final position. 3. Critically damped condition: When the response settles
quickly without any oscillation, the system is said to be critically damped. The damping
torque is produced by the following methods: 1.Air Friction Damping 2.Fluid Friction
Damping 3.Eddy Current Damping 4.Electromagnetic Damping

17 TYPES OF AMMETERS & VOLTMETERS 1) Moving Iron Type Meters (AC & DC); a)
Attraction type, b) Repulsion type. 2) Moving Coil Type Meters (AC & DC); a) Permanent
Magnet type, b) Electrodynamic or Dynamometer. 3) Hot Wire Type (AC & DC); 4)
Induction Type (AC & DC); a) Split phase, b) Shaded Pole type. 5) Electrostatic Type for
Voltmeters Only;

18 1.Moving-iron instrument Moving element: a small piece of soft iron in the form of a
vane or rod Coil: to produce the magnetic field due to current flowing through it and
also to magnetize the iron pieces. In repulsion type, a fixed vane or rod is also used and
magnetized with the same polarity. Control torque is provided by spring or weight
(gravity) Damping torque is normally pneumatic, the damping device consisting of an
air chamber and a moving vane attached to the instrument spindle. Deflecting torque
produces a movement on an aluminum pointer over a graduated scale.

19 a)Attraction type MI Instrument: An attraction type of moving-iron instrument is

shown diagrammatically in Figure. When current flows in the solenoid, a pivoted soft-
iron disc is attracted towards the solenoid and the movement causes a pointer to move
across a scale.

20 Attraction type MI Instrument

21 a)Repulsion type MI Instrument: In the repulsion type moving-iron instrument

shown diagrammatically in Figure, two pieces of iron are placed inside the solenoid,
one being fixed, and the other attached to the spindle carrying the pointer.

22 Repulsion type MI Instrument

23 Repulsion type MI Instrument Scale Pointer Fixed Cylindrical Coil Coil leads to meter
Terminals Fixed Iron Vane Moving Iron Vane

24 Repulsion type MI Instrument Current in the coil induces both vanes to become
magnetized and repulsion between the similarly magnetized vanes produces a
proportional rotation. The deflecting torque is proportional to the square of the current
in the coil, making the instrument reading is a true RMS quantity. Rotation is opposed
by a hairspring that produces the restoring torque.

25 Moving-Coilinstrument Two types a. Permanent Magnet Moving Coil (PMMC) type

instrument: used only for DC b. Dynamometer type: Used for DC & AC

26 a.
Permanent Magnet Moving Coil (PMMC) The principle operation of PMMC is based
upon the principle of current carrying conductor is placed in a magnetic field it is acted
upon by force which tends to move it.

27 Permanent Magnet Moving Coil (PMMC)

28 Permanent Magnet Moving Coil (PMMC) A moving coil instrument consists basically
of a permanent magnet to provide a magnetic field and a small lightweight coil is
wound on a rectangular soft iron core that is free to rotate around its vertical axis.
When a current is passed through the coil windings, a torque is developed on the coil
by the interaction of the magnetic field and the field set up by the current in the coil.
The aluminum pointer attached to rotating coil and the pointer moves around the
calibrated scale indicates the deflection of the coil.

29 b. Dynamometer or Electrodynamometer This instrument is suitable for the

measurement of direct and alternating current, voltage and power. The deflecting
torque in dynamometer is relies by the interaction of magnetic field produced by a pair
of fixed air cored coils and a third air cored coil capable of angular movement and
suspended within the fixed coil.

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