DC Ammeter

Figure 1: A dc ammeter consists of a PMMC instrument and a low resistance shunt

Where
Rm = internal resistance of the coil
Rsh = resistance of the shunt
Im = full-scale deflection current of the coil
Ish = shunt current
I = full-scale current of the ammeter including the shunt
Example
An ammeter exists with Rm = 99 Ω and FSD current of 0.1 mA, also Rs
= 1 Ω. Determine the total current passing through the ammeter at (a)
FSD, (b) 0.5 FSD, (c) 0.25 FSD.
Multirange Ammeter
 To increase the measuring capacity
 Protecting the instrument from excessive current flow

Figure 2: Multirange ammeter using switched shunts

Figure 3: An Ayrton shunt used with an ammeter consists of several
series-connected resistors all connected in parallel with the PMMC
instrument
Precaution of using ammeter

 Never connect an ammeter across a source of emf

 Observe the correct polarity
 When using a multirange meter, first use the highest current range.
Always use the range that will give you a reading as near to full-
scale as possible
DC Voltmeter

Figure 4: A dc voltmeter is made up of a PMMC instrument and a series multiplier resistor.

Where
Im = deflection current of the meter
Rm = internal resistance of the meter
Rs = multiplier resistance
V = full-range voltage of the meter
Example

A PMMC instrument with FSD = 100 µA and Rm = 1 kΩ, to be

converted into voltmeter. Determine Rs if the voltmeter is to measure
50 V at full scale. Also, calculate the applied voltage when the
instrument indicates 0.8 FSD.
Multirange Voltmeter

Figure 5(a): Multirange voltmeter using switched multiplier resistors

Figure 5(b): Multirange voltmeter using series-connected multiplier
resistors
Example

A PMMC instrument with FSD = 50 µA and Rm = 1700 Ω is to be

employed as a voltmeter with ranges of 10 V, 50 V, 100 V. Calculate
required values of multiplier resistors for the above circuits.
Series Ohmmeter

Figure 6: Basic series ohmmeter circuit consisting of a PMMC instrument and a standard resistor (R1)

Where
Eb = battery
Rx = resistance to be measured
Rm = meter resistance
R1 = standard resistor
 Eb
Im 
R x  R1  Rm

For Rx = 0 Ω, the pointer indicates 0 Ω → max. current will flow

For Rx = ∞, the pointer indicates ∞ → no current will flow
Pointer position depends on the relationship between Rx and (R1 + Rm)
Example

A series ohmmeter has 1.5 V battery, a 100 µA meter and R1 which

makes (R1 + Rm) = 15 kΩ.
(a) Determine the instrument indication when Rx = 0 Ω
(b) Determine how the resistance scale should be marked at 0.5 FSD,
0.25 FSD and 0.75 FSD.
Ohmmeter with Zero Adjust
Series ohmmeter will operate satisfactorily as long as the battery
remains exactly at its value. When the battery voltage falls, the
instrument scale is no longer correct. Falling battery voltage can be
taken care of by an adjustable resistor connected in parallel with the
meter.
Figure 7: An adjustable resistor (R2) connected in parallel with the
meter provides an ohmmeter zero control.

The ohmmeter terminals are initially short-circuited and the zero control
(R2) is adjusted to give zero-ohms reading.
Example

For the above figure, Eb = 1.5 V, R1 = 15 kΩ, Rm = 50 Ω, R2 = 50 Ω

and FSD = 50 µA. Determine the meter reading at 0.5 FSD, and new
value of R2 when Eb falls to 1.3 V. Also, determine the meter reading
at 0.5 FSD when Eb = 1.3 V.

Ans: 15 kΩ, 68.18 Ω, 15 kΩ

Shunt Ohmmeter - Multirange

Major inconvenience of series ohmmeter: large adjustment of zero

control would have to be made.

Using shunt ohmmeter, only zero adjustment is needed.

Figure 8: Circuit, scale and range switch for a typical multirange shunt
ohmmeter
Example

(a) In the above figure, calculate Im when Rx = 0 Ω at the range of Rx1.

Also, calculate Im when Rx = 24 Ω.
(b) With the range of Rx10, calculate Im for Rx = 0 Ω and Rx = 70 Ω.

Ans: (a) 37.5 µA, 18.72 µA; (b) 37.53 µA, 29.04 µA.
Megger

Figure 9: Megger
 Measuring very high resistance.
 It has hand-driven dc generator – supplies high voltage.
 Coil ‘a’ tends to move the pointer clockwise, and coil ‘b’ tends to
move the pointer counterclockwise.
 Coil ‘a’ is connected in series with R3 and Rx, and connected
across the generator.
 Coil ‘b’ is connected in series with R2, and also connected across
the generator.
 There are no restraining springs – therefore the pointer floats freely.
If the test leads are open-circuited (Rx = ∞),
 No current flows in coil ‘a’
 Current flows in coil ‘b’
 Pointer is deflected to infinite resistance

If the test leads are shorted (Rx = 0),

 Pointer rests at zero because the current in coil ‘a’ is relatively high
comparing to coil ‘b’

If 0<Rx< ∞,
 Current flows through coil ‘a’, tending to move the pointer clockwise
 Current will also flow through coil ‘b’, tending to move the pointer
counterclockwise
 The pointer comes to rest at a position at which the two forces are
exactly balanced