Measuring Voltage and Current

dArsenval analog meter movement

ECE 201 Circuit Theory I 1

 Analog Ammeter
Use a dArsenval meter movement with a
parallel resistor (shunt).
The parallel resistor diverts some of the
current away from the meter movement.

ECE 201 Circuit Theory I 2

 Analog Voltmeter
Use a dArsenval meter movement in
series with a resistor (multiplier).
The resistor limits the voltage drop across
the meter movement.

ECE 201 Circuit Theory I 3

 Sources of Error

Any instrument (meter) used to make

measurements extracts energy from the
circuit. (Known as loading the circuit).
The amount of error due to loading
depends on the effective resistance of the
instrument compared with the resistance
in the circuit.

ECE 201 Circuit Theory I 4

 Rule of the one-tenth

The effective resistance of the ammeter

should be no more than 1/10th of the value
of the smallest resistance in the circuit.
The current being measured should be the
same with or without the ammeter.

ECE 201 Circuit Theory I 5

 For a Voltmeter

Since voltage is a parallel measurement,

the loading effect is minimized when the
voltmeter resistance is much higher than
the circuit resistance across which the
measurement is being made.

ECE 201 Circuit Theory I 6

 Problem # 3.32
An ammeter with a resistance of 5 is
used to measure the current io in the
circuit.
What is the % error in the measured
value?

ECE 201 Circuit Theory I 7

 io

R2
5.5

I R1
20mA 24
Rmeter
0.5

24
itrue 20mA 16.27mA
24 5.5
24
imeasured (20mA) 16mA
24 5.5 0.5
imeasured 16
%error 1 100% 1 100% 1.66%
itrue 16.27
ECE 201 Circuit Theory I 8
 Problem # 3.33

A dArsenval voltmeter is shown.

Determine the value of Rv for a full-scale
reading of 5 Volts.

ECE 201 Circuit Theory I 9

 Choosing the Multiplier Resistor

When 5V is applied, the meter will be at

full-scale deflection.
The meter resistance is 50.
Total resistance needs to be 5k.
The series resistor Rv (multiplier) needs to
be 4950.

ECE 201 Circuit Theory I 10

 Problem # 3.34

The dArsenval voltmeter described in

Problem # 3.33 is used to measure the
voltage across the 24 resistor.

ECE 201 Circuit Theory I 11

 What will the voltmeter read?
What is the % error in the reading?

I R1 R2 Reffective
20mA 24 5.5 5k

vtrue (20mA)(24 5.5) (20mA)(4.47) 0.089492V

vmeasured (20mA)(24 5.5 5000) 0.89411V
vmeasured 0.89411
%error 1 100% 1 100% 0.09%
vtrue 0.89492
ECE 201 Circuit Theory I 12