AC Meters

Submitted by :
Ayush Krishna
ECS - 403
1212231048
For the measurement of a D.C quantity,
generally a PMMC instrument is used.

But if a DC meter is connected
in an AC circuit with the normal 50 Hz
or higher supply frequencies, the
damping mechanism of the instrument
and the inertia of the meter movement
prevent the pointer from following the
changing instantaneous levels. Instead,
the instrument pointer settles at the
average value of the current flowing
through the moving coil. The average
value of the perfectly sinusoidal wave is
zero. Therefore the PMMC instrument
connected directly across 50 Hz supply
indicates zero.
Sinusoidal wave
Square wave
Triangle wave
Meter Movement DC Use AC Use Applications
Electrodynamometer YES YES Standards meter, wattmeter, frequency
meter
Indicator applications such as in
automobiles
Iron Vane YES YES Indicator applications such as in
automobiles
Thermocouple YES YES Measurement of radio frequency ac signal
PMMC YES YES with
rectifier
Most widely used meter movement for
measuring direct current or voltage and
resistance
Rectifier PMMC
1
Electrodynamometer
2
Moving Iron Instrument
3
Volt-Ohm-Milliammeter
4

Rectifier instruments use silicon or
germanium diodes to convert AC to
DC which produce positive
deflection when passed through a
PMMC instrument.

The meter deflection is proportional
to the average current, which is 0.637
x peak current.

But the actual current (or voltage) to
be indicated in ac measurements is
normally the rms quantity, which is
0.707 of the peak value, or 1.11 times
the average value.
AC Voltmeter
AC Ammeter
The use of a current transformer gives
the ammeter a low terminal resistance
and low voltage drop.

The transformer also steps up the input
voltage (more secondary turns than
primary turns) to provide sufficient
voltage to operate the rectifiers

It steps down the primary current to a
level suitable for measurement by a
PMMC meter.

The current transformation ratio is also
very important since transformer is
used

CONSTRUCTION :-

The major difference from PMMC
instrument is that two magnetic field coils
are substituted in place of the permanent
magnet.

Electrodynamic instrument usually has air
damping. A lightweight vane pushes air
around damping out rapid movements and
oscillations

There is no iron core in an electrodynamic
instrument, so the flux path is entirely an air
path

The deflecting torque is proportional to the
product of the two currents: field coil current
and moving coil current. Thus scale is non-
linear.

AC Voltmeter
WORKING :

When the instrument is used as a
voltmeter, the fixed and moving coils are
joined in series (I= I1= I2) along with a
high resistance (R) and connected in
parallel with the load.

When the total resistance of the coils and
the required current for FSD are known,
the multiplier resistance is calculated
exactly as for dc voltmeters.

The instrument scale can be read either
as dc voltage or rms ac voltage.

An electrodynamic voltmeter is not
suitable for measuring voltages in
electronics circuits because of the
loading effect.

AC Ammeter

The moving coil and its series-
connected swamping resistance are
connected in parallel with the
ammeter shunt.

The two field coils should be
connected in series with the
parallel arrangement of shunt and
moving coil.

The instrument scale can be read
either as dc levels or rms ac values.

In moving-iron instruments the movable system
consists of one or more pieces of specially-shaped
soft iron, which are so pivoted as to be acted upon by
the magnetic field produced by the current in coil.

Ammeter
Always connected in series with the circuit and
carries the current to be measured.
This current flowing through the coil produces
the desired deflecting torque.
It should have low resistance as it is to be
connected in series.

Voltmeter
Always connected in parallel.
Current flowing through the operating coil of the
meter produces deflecting torque.
It should have high resistance. Thus a high
resistance of order of kilo ohms is connected in
series with the coil of the instrument.

VOM is a multifunction instrument that can be
used to measure voltage resistance and current.

Using a VOM as a DC Voltmeter

Set the function and range switches to +DC
and 250 V (the largest selectable range).
If necessary adjust the mechanical zero
control
Connect the instrument in parallel with the
circuit. The + terminal should be connected
to most positive of the two points at which
the voltage is to be measured. The
COMMON terminal should be connected to
the most negative of the two points (If the
voltage polarity is reversed positive pointer
deflection can be obtained by switching from
+DC to -DC.)
Adjust the range selection to give the greatest
possible on-scale deflection.
Tap the instrument gently to relieve friction
when reading the pointer position.

Using VOM as AC Voltmeter :
Set the function and range twitches to AC VOLTS ONLY and 250
V (the largest selectable range).
Continue as for a dc voltmeter, with the exception that terminal
polarity need not be observed.

Using VOM as AC Ammeter :
Set the Polarity Switch to the +AC position. Set the Model 60-M
Range, 3VAC AC AMP CLAMP position. Select the desired AC
current range with the Model 10 Range Switch and attach
adapter leads to the Model 60-M.
With power removed from the circuit under test, press the
plunger on the side of the Model 10 to open the jaws and place
the jaws around ONE conductor of the circuit to be measured.
Release the plunger. Apply power to the circuit under test.

AC Meters

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