ELECTRICAL TECHNOLOGY

LABORATORY

EXPERIMENT 2:
MEASUREMENT AND CALCULATION OF
ELECTRICAL PARAMETERS.

OBJECTIVES:
After this lesson, you will be able to:

1). To demonstrate Ohm's Law and to show its various forms.

2). To become familiar with dc voltmeters and ammeters as well as ac voltmeter and ac
voltmeter.
3). To operate Portable Wheatstone and Precision Wheatstone Bridge to measure an
unknown resistor

KEYWORDS:
Ohm’s law, direct current, alternating current, resistor, capacitive reactance, inductive
reactance.

Experiment 2: Measurement and Calculation of Electrical Parameters.

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1.0) INTRODUCTION:
Electrical resistance is the opposition to the flow of electrical current in a circuit and is
dependent on many factors. Copper wire, though considered a good conductor of electric
current, does offer some resistance. A German physicist, George Simon Ohm (1787-1854)
discovered that the ratio of voltage to current was constant for a given metal conductor of
specified length and cross-sectional area. This ratio is known as resistance and is
expressed in units of ohms, in his honor.
Ohm's Law is often referred to as the foundation of circuit analysis and can be expressed
by the equation:
E=IR
Where;
E = the potential difference from one end of a resistive element to the other (measured in
volts).
I = the electrical current through the same resistive element (measured in amperes).
R = the resistance of the same element (measured in ohms).

In order to produce a current, a voltage must first exist across the resistive element.
Early experimenters in electricity recognized the fact that an electric current was a
movement of charges along a conductor. The direction of the flow of current was not
known and unfortunately, it was arbitrarily chosen to be from a positively charged body to
a negatively charged body (positive to negative) and this convention has been so firmly
established that it is still in use. Thus, the conventional direction or positive direction of
current flow is taken to be from positive to negative even though it is now known that the
direction of electron flow, which actually constitutes an electric current, is from negative
to positive. Electric power systems of which this program is a part use conventional
current flow for electric current. In this conventional system, current flows from a
positive to a negative terminal.
A volt is the unit of electrical pressure or potential. Voltage is measured by using a
voltmeter. Voltmeters have a high internal resistance and are always connected in parallel
with a circuit or component such as a resistor.

Figure 11

Experiment 2: Measurement and Calculation of Electrical Parameters.

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Note that the polarities marked on the meter terminals must be observed to obtain a
positive (up-scale) meter reading. If the connections are reversed, the pointer will deflect in
the negative direction.
The ampere is the unit of electric current. Current is measured by using an ammeter.
Ammeters have low internal resistance and are always connected in series with a circuit
or component such as a resistor.

Figure 12

The same note about the voltmeter polarity applies to an ammeter. Polarity must be
maintained for proper pointer deflection.

1.1) INSTRUMENTS AND COMPONENTS

Decade Resistance Box
Variable Inductor
Variable Capacitor
Portable Wheatstone Bridge
Precision Wheatstone Bridge
DC Ammeter
DC Voltmeter
AC Ammeter
AC Voltmeter
AC/DC Power Supply
Connection Leads

Experiment 2: Measurement and Calculation of Electrical Parameters.

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Section: ______________ Group: __________ Date:_______________

Name : ____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________

2.0) EXPERIMENT 1

2.1) PROCEDURES
Precision Wheatstone bridge is used for exact determination of resistance in the 100mΩ
to 110MΩ range with accuracy of 0.01 to 0.05%. Since this instrument includes a high
sensitivity transistorized galvanometer and bridge power source, no auxiliary device is
required. Follow these steps to operate the precision Wheatstone Bridge.
1. Figure 13 below shows a precision Wheatstone bridge.
2. Connect a measured resistor to the RX terminals (H, L). Prior to connect the
resistor, check the galvanometer pointer indicates 0 on the scale.
3. Based on the table 9 below, for an approximate RX value, choose the multiplying
range.
4. Select the power supply voltage depending on the value of the measured resistor.
As standard, the voltage to use in measuring less than 100kΩ is 3V and for the
resistance above 100kΩ , use 15V.
5. Conduct a battery check by switching the select switch to the cell check side (B
CHECK), see that the pointer deflects to the blue band. To begin experiment, set
the switch to the internal galvanometer (INT GA). Starting with the sensitivity
knob at the minimum, check that the pointer is at 0.
6. For the measuring arm dial (RS) at 1.9999, press the BA and GA buttons to check
deflection. If pointer deflects to + side, increase resistance on RS, but if the
pointer deflection is small, then increase the galvanometer sensitivity. Adjust RS
until pointer indicates 0. The value of RX, the unknown resistance is:

RX = (Measuring arm dial reading)*(Multiplying factor dial reading) Ω

7. To approximately obtain the value of unknown resistance, set the multiplying

factor dial to X1kΩ , the power supply to 1.5V and measuring arm dial to 1000Ω .
Check on deflection direction by pressing down GA and BA buttons. If deflection
is + side, resistance is larger than 1000Ω . Subsequently, increase the multiplying
factor dial to 10kΩ and check for the pointer deflection direction. In case the
pointer deflects to – side, the resistance is then between 1kΩ to 10kΩ .

Experiment 2: Measurement and Calculation of Electrical Parameters.

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 8. On the contrary, if the pointer is on the – side, RX is less than 1kΩ . Therefore,
decrease the value on the multiplying factor dial until the pointer deflects to +
side. Hence obtain the approximate value of RX.
9. Try to measure other resistor values by using different voltage supply and
multiplying factor.

Multiplying factor Measuring Range Resolution

(Range)
X 100mΩ 0.1000 to 1.1111 Ω 10µΩ
X 1Ω 1.0000 to 11.1110Ω 100µΩ
X10Ω 10.0000 to 111.1100Ω 1mΩ
X100Ω 0.10000 to 1.1111kΩ 10mΩ
X1kΩ 1.0000 to 11.1100 kΩ 100mΩ
X10kΩ 10.0000 to 111.1100kΩ 1Ω
X100kΩ 0.1000 to 1.1111 MΩ 10Ω
X1MΩ 1.0000 to 11.1110 MΩ 100Ω
X10Ω 10.0000 to 111.1100MΩ 1000Ω
Table 9

Figure 13

Using standard resistor, measure the value of these resistors using precision Wheatstone
bridge. Record all the values in the table 10 below.

Experiment 2: Measurement and Calculation of Electrical Parameters.

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 Standard value (Ω) Experiment value (Ω)
0.1
10
100
1000
10000
Table 10

2.2) PROCEDURES

Portable Wheatstone bridge measures resistances from 1Ω to 10Ω by operation of dials

and switches. Batteries and a galvanometer are self-contained, one ratio arm dial and four
measuring arm dials. Follow these steps to operate the Portable Wheatstone Bridge.
1. Figure 14 below shows a portable Wheatstone Bridge. Connect a measured
resistor between terminals X1 and X2 on the Wheatstone Bridge.
2. Prior to starting resistance measurement, check that the GA terminals on the
Wheatstone Bridge is completely shorted with a short bar. Also check that the
R-MV select switch is turned to the R side, the power select switch is turned to
the INT BA side and the galvanometer pointer indicates 0 on the scale.
3. Having knowledge of an approximate value of the measured resistor, use the
multiplying table in the table 11 to determine the multiplying factor required.
4. Set the measuring arm dial to 1999 while the BA button is depressed, push down
the GA switch to check the pointer deflection. If the galvanometer pointer deflect
to the + side, increase resistance of the measuring dial, but if to the – side then
decrease the value until the pointer indicates 0 on the scale.
5. The value of RX can be obtained using:
RX = (Sum value on measuring dial)*(Multiplying factor dial) Ω
6. It may be difficult for the portable Wheatstone Bridge to measure accurately
resistance of several kΩ or more due to insufficient galvanometer sensitivity.
Therefore, for high resistance measurement use an external galvanometer to
replace the internal galvanometer.
7. To obtain an approximate value of the unknown resistance RX, first set the ratio
arm to 1 and the measuring arm dial to 1000. Under this condition, depress the
GA and BA push-button switch and observe the galvanometer pointer deflection
direction. If the deflection is to the + side, RX is larger than 1000Ω . Therefore, set
the ratio dial arm dial to X10 and then check the deflection. If the deflection is
still in the + side, increase the value on the ratio arm dial. Thus, supposing that the
pointer deflects to the – side for dial setting of X100, it is known that RX is
between 10kΩ to 100kΩ .
8. On the contrary, if the pointer deflects to the – side, RX is smaller than 1000Ω .
Therefore, turn the dial to X0.1 or X0.01 to obtain the approximate value of the
unknown resistor.

Experiment 2: Measurement and Calculation of Electrical Parameters.

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 Unknown resistor Multiplying factor
Less than 10Ω 0.001
10Ω to 100Ω 0.01
100Ω to 1kΩ 0.1
1kΩ to 10kΩ 1
10kΩ to 100kΩ 10
100kΩ to 1MΩ 100
1MΩ to 10MΩ 1000
Table 11

Figure 14

Using standard resistor, measure the value of these resistors using portable Wheatstone
bridge. Record all the values in the table 12 below.

Standard value (Ω) Experiment value (Ω)

0.1
10
100
1000
10000
Table 12

Experiment 2: Measurement and Calculation of Electrical Parameters.

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3.0) EXPERIMENT 2

3.1) PROCEDURES
1). Using the Decade Resistance Box, DC Metering and Power Supply modules,
connect the circuit shown in figure 15 below. Be careful to observe instrument
polarities. Make certain that the power supply switch is off. The power supply
should be in the DC position and the meter should indicate zero volts.

1000 Ω

Figure 15

2). Turn on the power supply. Slowly adjust the DC voltage output until the
0-500V dc voltmeter, across the 1000Ω load - indicates 40 V dc. The current
flowing through your circuit is indicated by the 0-300mA ammeter. Record this
current in the space provided in the table 13. Repeat for each of the voltages listed
in table below. Return the voltage to zero and turn off the power supply switch. Do
not disconnect your circuit.

VOLTS (E) 0 40 80 120 160 200 240

AMPERES
(A)
Table 13

3). Plot the recorded currents of the table 13 on the graph. Draw a smooth curve
through these plotted points. Is the current directly proportional to the voltage?
_____________

Experiment 2: Measurement and Calculation of Electrical Parameters.

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 4). Using the values of I and E from the table 13, calculate the ratio of E/I in each
case. Record your calculations on the table 14 below.

E (V)
40 80 120 160 200 240
E/I
(Ω)
Table 14

5). The average value of E/I is ______________________. Note that the ratio
between the voltage applied across the resistor and the current flowing through it
is a constant value, called resistance.
6). You will now verify that the alternate form of Ohm's Law (I = E/R) is valid. Use
the same circuit and turn on the power supply and adjust for 140 V dc as indicated
on the voltmeter across the 1000Ω resistor. Measure and record the current
through the 1000 Ω resistor.

Imeasured = ___________ A dc.

Return the voltage to zero and turn off the power supply switch.
Does Imeasured = E/R = 140/1000?____________

7). You will now verify that the other alternate form of Ohm's Law (E = I x R) is
valid. Use the same circuit shown above. However, this time set the resistance to
2000Ω . Turn on the power supply and adjust the output voltage until the current
meter indicates 0.1A. Measure and record the voltage across the 2000Ω resistance.

Emeasured = _________ V dc.

Return the voltage to zero and turn off the power supply switch.
Does Emeasured = IxR = 0.1 x 2000? _____________

Experiment 2: Measurement and Calculation of Electrical Parameters.

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4.0) TUTORIALS

1) A 3 A dc meter has a resistance of 0.15 Ω and carries a current of 2 A. What is the

voltage across its terminal.

2) A 0-300 V dc meter has a resistance of 300 kΩ . What is the current through the
instrument when it is connected across a 240 V dc line.

3) An electroplating plant has bus-bars which carry up to 1000 A at 6 V dc. The

surroundings are very wet with water and electrolyte. Should the bus bars be
insulated and if so, why?

Experiment 2: Measurement and Calculation of Electrical Parameters.

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