Instrumentation and Measurement

(EL-220)

LABORATORY MANUAL

Engr. Fakhar Abbas

Engr.jahanzaib zafar

Balanced/Unbalanced Wheatstone Bridge

(LAB # 09)
Student Name: ______________________________________________
Roll No: ________________ Section: ____
Date performed: _____________, 2016
Manual Submission Date: _____________, 2016
MARKS AWARDED:

________ / 50

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF COMPUTER AND EMERGING SCIENCES, ISLAMABAD

Prepared by:
Last Edited by:
Verified by:

Engr.Fakhar Abbas,
Engr. Fakhar Abbss, 20st October , 16
Rashid kareem

Version: 2.0
Updated: Fall 2016

Lab #

Instrumentation &
National University
Roll No: __________
Measurement Lab
of Computer and Emerging Sciences
Islamabad
(EL220)
Fall 2016
_____________________________________________________________________________________

09

Lab # 09: Balanced/Unbalanced DC Bridge

Learning Objectives:
1. To verify the balanced bridge equation for DC circuits experimentally
2. To verify the Thevenin analysis of unbalanced DC bridges experimentally
Equipment Required:
1. Digital Multimeter (DMM)
2. Breadboard
3. DC Power Supply
4. Galvanometer
5. Resistors (as required)
6. Connecting Wires

Introduction:

Wheatstone bdridge

Figure 9.1 Wheatstone bridge configuration

Precision measurements of component values have been made for many years using various forms
of bridges. The simplest form of bridge is for the purpose of measuring resistance is called the
Wheatstone bridge.

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Lab #

Instrumentation &
National University
Roll No: __________
Measurement Lab
of Computer and Emerging Sciences
Islamabad
(EL220)
Fall 2016
_____________________________________________________________________________________

09

Bridge Operation:Figure 9.1 shows the schematic of a Wheatstone bridge. The bridge has four resistive arms ,
together with a source of emf (a battery) and a galvanomenter. The current through the
galvanometer depends on the potential difference between points c and d.
The bridge is said to be balanced when the P.D. across the across the galvanometer is 0V so that
there is no current through the galvanometer. This condition occurs when the voltage from point c
to point a equals the voltage from point d to point a ; or by referring to the other battery terminal,
when the voltage from point c to point b equals the voltage from point d to point b. Hence the
bridge is balanced when

1 1 = 2 2 (9.1)
If the galvanometer current is zero, the following conditions also exist:

1 = 3 =

1 + 3

(9.2)

And

2 = 4 =

2 + 4

.(9.3)

Substituting equations (9.2) and (9.3) in (9.1) and simplifying, we obtain

1
1 + 3

2
2 + 4

(9.4)

from which

1 4 = 2 3 (9.5)
Equation (9.5) is the well-known expression for balance of the Wheatstone bridge. If three of the
resistances have known values, the fourth may be determined from equation (9.5). Hence if 4 is
the unknow resistor, its resistance can be expressed in terms of the remaining resistors as
follows:

= 3

2
1

.(9.6)

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Lab #

Instrumentation &
National University
Roll No: __________
Measurement Lab
of Computer and Emerging Sciences
Islamabad
(EL220)
Fall 2016
_____________________________________________________________________________________

09

Procedure:

Figure: 9.2 Galvanometer test for Full Scale Deflection (FSD).

1. Finding the Full Scale Deflection (FSD) parameters of the Galvanometer:
i.

Turn ON the DC Power supply and set both voltage outputs to 0V.

ii.

On the breadboard, connect the galvanometer and a series resistance of 400 - 800
to a voltage supply output.
R = ___________________ RMEAS = __________________

iii.

Slowly increase the voltage from 0V and see if the needle of the galvanometer
starts moving or not. If not, reverse the polarity of the voltage source. Note the
terminal of the galvanometer connected to the positive terminal of the voltage
source (red lead). In future, always connect the galvanometer in the right polarity.

iv.

Now set such a voltage at the supply which would cause the needle of the
galvanometer to reach full scale (please read the galvanometer directly from top
and not at an angle to avoid any parallax error in reading).
VS = ____________________

Measure using the DMM

Vm = ____________________

Measure using the DMM

Im = _____________________

Measure using the DMM

Find Internal resistance of the galvanometer coil.

Rm = ____________________

Calculate using

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Page 4 of 9

Lab #

Instrumentation &
National University
Roll No: __________
Measurement Lab
of Computer and Emerging Sciences
Islamabad
(EL220)
Fall 2016
_____________________________________________________________________________________

09

2.
i.
ii.
iii.

Select the needed two sets of resistors (each set have 4 resistor)and note
down the measured values of the supply voltage and resistors.
Note down the equation of balance bridge. Calculte the value of in the
terms of rest of resistor for each set.
Connect the circuit according to schematic and power it up for each of two
sets one by one. Note down any Ig present.

3. Observations
INPUT DATA
Sr.No.

Parameter

1.

Vin

Sr.No.

Range

R1

2.

<10K

3.

<1M

Value

R2

R3

R4=Rx

OUTPUT
DATA
Sr.No.

Parameter

1.

Bridge Balance

2.

Unknown Resistance Rx

Sr.No.

Range

3.

<10K

4.

<1M

Equation

Ig

R4=Rx(calc)

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Page 5 of 9

Lab #

Instrumentation &
National University
Roll No: __________
Measurement Lab
of Computer and Emerging Sciences
Islamabad
(EL220)
Fall 2016
_____________________________________________________________________________________

09

Thevenin Equivalent Circuit:To determine whether or not the galvanometer has the required sensitivity to detect an unbalance
condition, it is necessary to calculate the galvanometer current. Different galvanometers not only
may require different currents per unit deflection (current sensitivity), but they also may have a
different internal resistance. It is impossible to say, without prior compuation, which galvanometer
will make the bridge circuit more sensitive to an unbalance condition. The solution is approached
by converting the Wheatstone bridge of Fig. 9.1to its Thevenin equivalent Fig. 9.3

Figure 9.3 Complete Thevenin circuit with galvanometer connected to terminals c and d
Since we are interested in the current through the galvanometer, the Thevenin equivalent circuit is
determined by looking into galvanometer terminals c and d in Fig. 9.1. Two steps must be taken to
find the Thevenin equivalent: The first step involves finding the equivalent voltage appearing at
terminals c and d when the galvanometer is removed from the circuit. The second step involves
finding the equivalent resistance looking into terminals c and d with the battery replaced by its
internal resistance.
The Thevenin, or open-circuit, voltage is found by referring to Fig. 9.1 and we can write

= = 1 1 2 2
Where

1 =

1 + 3

and 2 =

2 + 4

From above equations, you can find the value of Thevenin Voltage.

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Lab #

Instrumentation &
National University
Roll No: __________
Measurement Lab
of Computer and Emerging Sciences
Islamabad
(EL220)
Fall 2016
_____________________________________________________________________________________

09

The resistance of the Thevenin equivalent circuit is found by looking back into terminals c and d
and replacing the battery by its internal resistance. The circuit shown below represents the
Thevenin resistance.

Figure 9.4 Thevenin resistance looking into terminals c and d.

Notice that the internal resistance of the battery has been included in the Fig. 9.4. Converting
this circuit into a more convenient form requires use of the delta-wye transformation theorem. In
most cases, however the extremely low internal resistance of the battery can be neglected and this
simplifies the reduction of Fig. 9.4 to its Thevenin equivalent consideralbly.
So, we assume that internal resistance of the battery to be 0 ohms, thus we see a shor circuit exists
between points a and b. Now you can find the Thevenin resistance quite easily.
After finding the Thevenin equivalent voltage and resistance, you can easily find the galvanometer
current if galavanometer has internal resistance .
Now you can fill the following Table with information you have calculated above.

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Page 7 of 9

Lab #

Instrumentation &
National University
Roll No: __________
Measurement Lab
of Computer and Emerging Sciences
Islamabad
(EL220)
Fall 2016
_____________________________________________________________________________________

09

4. Observations
INPUT DATA
Sr.No.

Parameter

1.

Vin

Sr.No.

Range

R1

2.

<10K

3.

<1M

Value

R2

R3

R4=Rx

OUTPUT
DATA
Sr.No.

Parameter

1.

Bridge Balance

2.

Vth

3.

Rth

4.

Ig

Sr.No.

Range

1.

<10K

2.

<1M

Equation

Ig(Calculated)

Ig(Measured)

Question:Do you see any difference in using different types of resistors? If yes explain how?

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Lab #

Instrumentation &
National University
Roll No: __________
Measurement Lab
of Computer and Emerging Sciences
Islamabad
(EL220)
Fall 2016
_____________________________________________________________________________________

09

Student's feedback: Purpose of feedback is to know the strengths and weaknesses of the system
for future improvements. This feedback is for the 'current lab session'. Circle your choice:
[-3 = Extremely Poor, -2 = Very Poor, -1 = Poor, 0 = Average, 1 = Good, 2 = Very Good, 3 = Excellent]:
The following table should describe your experience with:
S#

Field

Rating

Describe your experience in words

Overall Session

-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

Lab Instructor

-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

Lab Staff

-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

Equipment

-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

Atmosphere

-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

Any other valuable feedback: ______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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TOTAL

10

10

10

20

20

30

TOTAL

Conclusion

Originality

Initiative

Correctness
of results

Neatness

Attitude

MARKS
AWARDED

Student's Signature: _________________________________

100

EARNED

Lab Instructor's Comments:________________________________________________________

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Lab Instructor's Signature: _________________________________
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