FINAL DATA SHEET

Experiment 1: Familiarization with electrical measuring instruments

Table 1.1 Measured Data

SAMPLE CALCULATIONS
PART A.

IT =

10 10 A

RT = 4.4
VM = IT * RT = 0.044 V
PART B.
RT = 2003
VT = 10V
4.99 10

IM =

Voltmeter Sensitivity = RT/VT = 2003 /10V = 200.3 /V

PART C.

For Trial 1:

Given RL = 1000
VL = 15V
IL =

16 10 A

3
PL = VL * IL = (15V)( 16 10 A ) = 0.24

VL
15
=
=937.5
I L 16 103
PL
I

2
L

0.24
=937.5
16 1032

V L2 152
=
=937.5
P L 0.24 2
VL
15
=
=0.015
R L 1000
DISCUSSION

There are specific measuring instruments used in studying electric

circuits. Each instrument has its own function and procedures on how to
operate. In the early 1880s, Jacques DArsonval and Marcel Deprez invented
the first kind of ammeter the DArsonval galvanometer. It is a versatile
analog instrument used in detecting and in measuring a small amount of
current in the circuit. Galvanometer is the name given to a moving coil
electric current detector. When a current is passed through a coil in a
magnetic field, the coil experiences a torque proportional to the current. If the
coils movement is opposed by a coil spring, then the amount of deflection of
a needle attached to the coil may be proportional to the current passing
through the coil. Such meter movements were at the heart of the moving coil
meters such as voltmeters and ammeters until they were largely replaced
with solid state meters. The accuracy of moving coil meters is dependent
upon having a uniform and constant magnetic field.
In 1886, Edward Weston produced a practical precision, direct reading,
and portable instrument to accurately measure electric current, a device
which became the basis for voltmeter, ammeter, and wattmeter.
An ammeter is an instrument for measuring the electric current in
amperes in a branch of an electric circuit. It must be placed in series with the
measured branch, and must have very low resistance to avoid significant
alteration of the current it is to measure. By contrast, a voltmeter must be
connected in parallel. So far, there are four kinds of ammeter the DArsonval
galvanometer which measure direct current from 0.1% to 2.0%; the
electrodynamic ammeter which uses a moving coil rotating in the field
produced by a fixed coil and measure alternating current with accuracies from
0.1% to 25%; the thermal ammeter wherein the measure current heats a
thermo converter (thermocouple), and measure alternating current from 0.5%
to 3%; and the digital ammeter which uses a circuit such as the dual slope
integrator to convert a measured analog (continuous) current to its digital
equivalent and have accuracies better than 0.1%.
A voltmeter measures the change in voltage between two points in an
electric circuit and therefore must be connected in parallel with the portion of
the circuit on which the measurement is made. Its resistance is very high, so
it diverts a minimal amount of current away from the intended path through
the circuit element. Technically, voltmeter is an ammeter, but using Ohms
law, the amperes could be scaled up to voltages.
In this experiment, the basics on electrical circuits must be understood
first. In order to do so, the functions of the basic electric circuit training kit
were needed to be familiarized and the proper connection must be learned.

The experiment is divided into three parts. In the first part of the
experiment, the different characteristics of an analog ammeter were to be
determined. For the second part, the different characteristics of an analog
voltmeter were to be determined and last part focuses on the usage of a
basic circuit trainer kit.
The first part of the experiment is concerned with the determination
and observation of the different characteristics on an analog ammeter. The
first thing that the group did was to measure the input resistance of an analog
ammeter across the input terminals by using a VOM. The group was able to
measure a 4.4 resistance across the ammeter. After then, the group was
able to compute for the voltage V M that will cause full deflection by
multiplying the input resistance RT by the full scale reading of the ammeter I T.
The value of the voltage is 0.044V. The group used 10x10 -3A as current. In this
part of the experiment, the group can say that the ammeter really possess
and should always possess a very small value of resistance.
The second part of the experiment, the group is to determine the
different characteristics of an analog voltmeter. This was done by measuring
the input resistance of an analog voltmeter across the input terminals by
using a VOM. The input resistance measured is 2003 . By dividing the full
scale voltage reading of the voltmeter by the input resistance of the meter,
the group was able to get the current which is 4.99x10 -4 Adc. The Voltmeter
sensitivity was also computed through the reciprocal of the current and the
value is 200.3. The voltmeter is a high resistance instrument so that it does
not draw appreciable current from the circuit and this was observed in this
part of the experiment since the value for the input resistance that the group
got was high. The voltmeter sensitivity shows how efficient and effective the
voltmeter is. As the voltmeter sensitivity increases, the better and more
effective the voltmeter that is used.
The last part focuses on the usage of a basic circuit trainer kit. In doing
so, the group was tasked to assemble and measure the corresponding value
of the current and voltage in the circuit. The group used different resistors
that are supplied. Although the individual resistances of the resistors are
already indicated by the respective color codes, the group still measured the
resistance by using the VOM. The resulting voltage readings for every trial
does not differ that much and with an average of 15.05V. The group found out
that the reading in the VOM is somehow deviated by the amount of tolerance
each resistor possesses. The only varying factor is the current which depends
on voltage and resistance of the circuit.

CONCLUSION
In this experiment, the students are asked to determine the
characteristics and the proper connection of common electrical measuring
devices, to learn how to read measurements of basic electrical measuring
devices and to be familiar with the functions of the basic electric circuit
training kit (EEC471-2 and EEC470) and to learn their proper connection.
In the experiment, the group found out that meters are not supposed to
alter the behavior of the circuit, or at least not significantly. For that reason,
the voltmeter has a high resistance so as to minimize the amount of current
being drawn from the current while the ammeter on the other hand has
parallel resistors of very small value to shunt most of the current away so as
not to affect the flow of current throughout the series. Ammeter must be
places in series with the measured branch and by contrast, a voltmeter must
be connected in parallel. Since the purpose of the voltmeter is to measure the
voltage across a load, it has to be in parallel with that element so that they

will share the same amount of voltage. In order to extend the range of the
voltmeter that it can measure, resistors are placed inside it and is connected
in series with the basic meter. It will affect the voltage but not the current.
The group was also able to know one important practice in the laboratory
and it is to be able to carry out the proper way of connecting the terminals of
different elements in a circuit. The ammeter for example, has several
terminals depending on the range of the current to be measured. It is a must
to always start with the highest range of the current to the lower range until
the acceptable measurement is acquired.
Instrumental errors are inherent in measuring instruments because of
their mechanical structure. For example, the irregular spring tensions,
stretching of the spring or reduction in tension due to improper handling or
over loading of the instruments or not calibrated instruments. Errors due to
human mistakes in reading or in using instruments or errors on recording
observations are also a factor which could affect the measurements of
quantity. There are also errors that are caused by the habits or individual
observers. For example, an observer may introduce an error by holding his
head too far to the left while reading a needle and scale reading. Complete
elimination of gross errors is not possible, but one can minimize them.
The group concludes that in a given linear circuit containing a resistor, the
amount of current being drawn by the resistor is inversely proportional to the
total resistance of the resistor when the voltage source is constant. Like what
is stated in Ohms law, by increasing the resistance of the resistor, the current
flowing in the circuit is decreased. The group also concludes that
familiarization with the different electrical measuring instruments is
necessary in order for the students to fully understand the succeeding
experiments.

ANSWER TO QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS

1. Describe the type of meter movement used in analog meters.
The first meter movements built were known as galvanometers. A very
simple galvanometer may be made from a magnetized needle suspended
from a string, positioned within a coil of wire. Current through the wire coil
will produce a magnetic field which will deflect the needle from pointing in
the direction of earths magnetic field.
2. What device is used to extend the range of a DC ammeter and how is it
connected to the basic meter?
Direct current instrument shunts (DC Shunts) are used to extend the
range of ammeters whenever the current to be measured is too large to
be passed through the instrument usually currents over 50 amperes.
Shunts are used not only to extend the range of instruments, but also
where low current must be applied to the metering panel. The shunt
resistor of an ammeter is usually encased within the protective metal
housing of the meter unit, hidden from sight. Proper installation of a shunt
is important in maintaining its accuracy. For Bus-Type shunts, it is
intended to be installed in the bas bar structure. For Portable-Type shunts,
it should have an insulating base which can be fastened to any flat
surface.

3. What device is used to extend the range of a DC voltmeter and how is it

connected to the basic meter?
A resistor is added on the circuits to extend the range of DC voltmeter. It
will then affect the voltage in the voltmeter but not the current. By adding
a resistor with the same resistance with the voltmeter, the range will be
doubled. This device is sometimes called the multiplier resistor.
4. Why is it necessary that an ammeter be low resistance instrument? Why
must a voltmeter be a high resistance instrument?
Meters are not supposed to alter the behavior of the circuit, or at least not
significantly. The voltmeter is a high resistance instrument so that it does
not draw appreciable current from the circuit. A series resistor limits the
current. The ammeter has a parallel resistor of very small value to shunt
most of the current away from the sensitive current measuring element. It
must carry the total current of the circuit to be measured without
appreciable voltage drop.
5. What type of basic meter is configured as a wattmeter?
A wattmeter measures power. Since power is the product of Voltage and
Current ( P = V*I ), if we have a voltmeter and an ammeter available,
these basic meters can be configured to measure power. The ammeter
will be connected in series to the circuit element while the voltmeter is
connected in parallel to the circuit element.

6. Two 150V voltmeters are being compared; meter A has 5K/V while meter
has a total meter resistance of 750K. Which is the more sensitive meter?
Why?
The sensitivity of a voltmeter is determined by dividing the total
resistance of the voltmeter by the full scale voltage reading of the
voltmeter. Since Meter B has a resistance of 750k, dividing it by 150V
will result to a sensitivity if 5k/V, which is equal to the sensitivity of
Meter A. Therefore, both 150V voltmeters have the same sensitivity.
7. What current is required for full scale deflection of a galvanometer having
a current sensitivity of 50A per scale division? The meter has exactly 50
divisions on either side of the mid-scale index.

Sensitivity:
k 50divisions

Division:

Current required for full-scale deflection:

I m=kd = (50 divisions)

I m 2.5 10 3 2.5m

8. What potential difference appears across the galvanometer described in

problem 6 when the pointer is fully deflected? The meter resistance is
10.
RM 10

Internal resistance:
5k
Voltmeter sensitivity: d= v
Current that will cause full scale deflection:
I m d (5k / V ) 1 0.2 10 3 A
1

Potential difference:
VT I m R m (0.2 10 3 )(10)

VT 2.00 10 3V 2.00mV

9. Determine the series resistance needed to convert a galvanometer to a

voltmeter reading 15V on full scale deflection if a current of 2.5mA causes
full scale deflection and the resistance of the coil is 10.
Voltage for full-scale deflection:
Current for full-scale deflection:
RM 10
Internal Resistance:
Series resistance multiplier:

VT 15V

I M 2.5m 2.5 10 3

VT I m ( R S Rm )
RS

VT
15V
Rm
10
Im
2.5 10 3

RS 5990

I M 2.5m 2.5 10 3 A

10.
Determine the shunt resistance needed to
convert a galvanometer to an ammeter with a full scale reading of 10A if
the scale requires 2.5mA to cause full deflection with a coil resistance of
10.
Small current to cause full scale deflection:
I T 10
Current at full scale deflection:
RM 10
Resistance of the basic meter:
Shunt resistance:
R sh
Im
IT
R sh Rm
R sh

Im
2.5 10 3 A
10
Rm
IT I m
10 2.5 10 3 A

R sh 2.50 10 3 2.5m

Rsh 2.50 10 3 2.5m