Moving iron instrument (MI)

Moving iron instrument is used to measure the current and voltage of AC and DC. They are
non-directional.
The working principle depends upon the movement of iron attracted by the magnetic field
towards it and repulsion between them.
➢ The magnetic field is produced by the current in the coil.
The deflecting torque (which is the cause for the movement) is due to forces developed between
soft iron pieces (vanes) which are magnetized by the current in the coil.
This instrument can be used as an ammeter, voltmeter, and wattmeter. The coil has less number
of turns if the instrument is ammeter and more turns if the instrument is a voltmeter.
➢ To use this instrument as ammeter, connect the circuit in series and the coil must have
fewer turns of thick wire which shows less resistance.
➢ To use it as a voltmeter, connect the circuit in parallel and the coil has a high impedance
and a large number of turns.
The deflecting torque is proportional to the square of the current in the coil, making the
instrument reading is a true “RMS” quantity

Moving iron instruments having scales that are nonlinear and somewhat crowded in the lower
range of calibration.

Proper shape and position of the soft iron piece (vane) helps to get very nearly uniform over a
considerable part of its scale. Effectively shielded from the influence of external magnetic
fields by enclosing the working parts, except the pointer, in a laminated iron cylinder

The construction of moving iron instrument is divided into two types:

1. Attraction type moving iron instrument (Uses single iron)
2. Repulsion type moving iron instrument (Uses double iron)
Attraction type moving iron instrument
Construction:
It consists of a moving system which has soft iron. The current is passed through a coil placed
near it. The moving iron is attracted to the coil which produces a magnetic field when a current
flow through the coil.

It consists of a fixed coil wounded by a copper wire. Soft iron is free to move on the spindle
and a pointer is also attached to the spindle.
Working:
The working of the attraction type instrument is; when the current flows through the coil, the
moving iron attracted to the coil which causes the pointer to move.
The pointer will come to equilibrium position where deflecting torque is equal to the
controlling torque.
➢ When the current in the coil is changed, the direction of the magnetic field also changed
and the moving iron will get magnetize in such a way that it is pulled inwards. Hence
these types of instruments can be used for both AC and DC currents.
The air friction damping is provided by the air chamber because the magnets can affect the
deflection of the pointer and the readings can be changed.
Controlling torque is provided by the spring.
➢ The special shape of the moving-iron discs is for obtaining a scale of suitable form.

The magnetic field created by the coil carrying the instrument current will always pull the soft
iron disc inside the coil space. Thus, a deflecting torque is produced.
Repulsion type moving iron instrument
Construction:
➢ The repulsion type moving iron instrument consists of one moving soft iron vane and
one fixed iron vane. A shaft is attached to the moving iron.
➢ A cylindrical stationary coil is used to produce the magnetic field when there is a flow
of current through it.
➢ A pointer is fixed on the shaft which gets deflected shows the reading on a non-uniform
scale.
➢ The strength of the magnetic field increases or decreases with the magnitude of the
current flows through it.

Working:
The moving iron and fixed iron are magnetized with the same polarity due to which the two
irons repel each other (when the same type of magnetic materials is placed in a magnetic field
they will get magnetized uniformly and they repel each other).
Because of their repulsive force, the moving iron starts moving away from the fixed iron.
The deflection torque makes the pointer to move away from the zero position.
The controlling torque is exerted by the spiral spring made of phosphor bronze which is
connected to the shaft.
An air chamber is provided for air friction damping because the magnets can affect the
deflection of the pointer and affect the reading.
 ➢ The deflecting torque in the moving iron instruments is as follows.
𝑇𝑑 ∝ 𝐼 2 𝑟𝑚𝑠
𝑑𝐿
𝑇𝑑 ∝
𝑑𝜃
where 𝐿 is the coil circuit inductance.
➢ By using spring control, the controlling torque is as follows.
𝑇𝐶 ∝ 𝜃

Torque-Weight Ratio
Torque is a force that makes an object move and weight is a force applied on the object by
gravity.
If a pointer in the meter has less weight, it will have a high torque-weight ratio.
➢ Even for a small deflection in the meter, the pointer will start moving and it shows
measured value.
Advantages:
➢ This type of instrument is simple and cheap in construction.
➢ It is non-directional hence can be used in both AC and DC circuits.
➢ Because of the current-carrying part is stationary and has lighter moving parts, the
torque weight ratio is high.
➢ Due to the high torque weight ratio, the frictional error is very less.
Disadvantages:
➢ Accuracy is less because of the instrument is non-directional.
➢ It cannot be calibrated with a high degree of precision for DC on account of the effect
of hysteresis in the iron vanes.
➢ High power consumption.
 Dynamometer Type Instrument
The instrument whose working depends on the reaction between the magnetic field of moving
and fixed coils is known as the Electro-dynamo meter. It uses for measuring the power of both
the AC and DC circuits.
➢ When a current carrying conductor placed in a magnetic field experiences a mechanical
force. This mechanical force deflects the pointer which is mounted on the calibrated
scale.
➢ No permanent magnet, no soft iron pieces
Coils are wound over non-magnetic substances with only air inside the coils.
➢ Fixed coils are called current coils.
➢ Moving coil is called voltage coil.

➢ Construction:
Fixed coil:
The magnetic field is produced by the fixed coil which is divided into two sections to give more
uniform field near the centre and to allow passage of the instrument shaft and moving coil.
Moving coil:
The moving coil is wound either as a self-sustaining coil or else on a non-magnetic former. A
metallic former is not used, as eddy currents would be induced in it by alternating field effecting
the weak magnetic field produced by the coils.
The both fixed and moving coils are air cored to avoid non-linearity in the iron core.
 ➢ Springs for controlling torque
The controlling torque is provided by two control springs. These hairsprings also act as leads
of current to the moving coil.
➢ Dampers for damping torque
Air friction damping is employed for these instruments and is provided by a pair of aluminium-
vanes attached to the spindle at the bottom. These vanes move in a sector shaped chamber.
➢ Shielding
Since the magnetic field produced by fixed coils is weaker than that in other types of
instruments, these meters need a special magnetic shielding.
▪ Electro-dynamic instruments are effectively shielded from the effects of external
magnetic fields by enclosing the mechanism in a laminated iron hollow cylinder with
closed ends.

➢ Working of Electrodynamometer Wattmeter

The fixed coil connects in series with the circuit whose power consumption use to be measured.
The supply voltage applies to the moving coil. The resistor controls the current across the
moving coil, and it is connected in series with it.
The pointer is fixed on the moving coil which is placed between the fixed coils. The current
and voltage of the fixed and moving coil generate the two magnetic fields. And the interaction
of these two magnetic fields deflects the pointer of the instrument. The deflection of the pointer
is directly proportional to the power flows through it.
The deflecting torque,
𝑇𝑑 ∝ 𝐼𝑓_𝑟𝑚𝑠 × 𝐼𝑚_𝑟𝑚𝑠 × cos 𝛼

where 𝛼 is the phase angle difference between the two currents. For DC currents, it should be
considered as zero.
Also,
𝑑𝑀
𝑇𝑑 ∝
𝑑𝜃
where 𝑀 is the mutual inductance between the fixed coil and moving coil.
Controlling torque provided by the spring,
𝑇𝑐 ∝ 𝜃

How to use this instrument for measurement of power?

Fixed coils carry the load current and the current passing through the moving coil is made
proportional to the voltage applied across the load.
➢ Thus, the scale can be calibrated in power as the deflecting torque is proportional to the
power.