Smartzworld.com Smartworld.

asia

UNIT V
Basic Instruments

jntuworldupdates.org Specworld.in
Smartzworld.com Smartworld.asia

Principle of instruments:

All electrical measuring instruments depend for their action on one of the many physical effects of
an electric current or potential and are generally classified according to which of these effects is
utilized in their operation. The effects generally utilized are:
1. Magnetic effect-for ammeters and voltmeters usually.
2. Electro dynamic effect-for ammeters and voltmeters usually.
3. Electromagnetic effect-for ammeters, voltmeters ,wattmeters and watt hour meters.
4. Thermal effect-for ammeters and voltmeters.
5. Chemical effect-for d.c.ampere-hour meters.
6. Electro static effect-for voltmeter sonly
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

jntuworldupdates.org Specworld.in
Smartzworld.com Smartworld.asia

Principle of operation: the interaction between the induced field and the field produced by the
permanent magnet causes a deflecting torque, which results in rotation of the coil.

Deflecting Torque:
If the coil is carrying a current of , the force on a coil side = .i amp BilN (newton, N).
∴Torque due to both coil sides =2rBil Nm = Gi Nm
Controlling Torque: The value of control torque depends on the mechanical design of the control device.
For spiral springs and strip suspensions, the controlling torque is directly proportional to the angle of
deflection of the coil.,ie Control torque =Cθ
Damping Torque:
It is provided by the induced currents in a metal former or core on which the coil is wound or in the
circuit of the coil itself. As the coil moves in the field of the permanent magnet, eddy currents are set up
in the metal former or core. The magnetic field produced by the eddy currents opposes the motion of the
coil. The pointer will therefore swing more slowly to its proper position and come to rest quickly with
very little oscillation. Electromagnetic damping is caused by the induced effects in the moving coil as it
rotates in magnetic field, provided the coil forms part of closed electric circuit.
Moving Iron Instruments:
The deflecting torque in any moving-iron instrument is due to forces on a small piece of magnetically
„soft‟ iron that is magnetized by a coil carrying the operating current. In repulsion type moving–iron
instrument consists of two cylindrical soft iron vanes mounted within a fixed current-carrying coil. One
iron vane is held fixed to the coil frame and other is free to rotate, carrying with it the pointer shaft. Two
irons lie in the magnetic field produced by the coil that consists of only few turns if the instrument is an
ammeter or of many turns if the instrument is a voltmeter. 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. Only the fixed coil carries load current, and it is constructed so as to withstand high
transient current. Moving iron instruments having scales that are nonlinear and some what crowded in the
lower range of calibration.

jntuworldupdates.org Specworld.in
Smartzworld.com Smartworld.asia

Attraction type instrument consists of a few soft iron discs (B) that are fixed to the spindle (D), pivoted in
jeweled bearings. The spindle (D) also carries a pointer (P), a balance weight (W1), a controlling weight
(W2) and a damping piston which moves in a curved fixed cylinder (F). The special shape of the moving-
iron discs is for obtaining a scale of suitable form.

jntuworldupdates.org Specworld.in