MAJOR PROJECT REPORT

Normally ac voltmeters are average responding type and the meter is calibrated in terms of the
rms values for a sine wave. Since most of the voltage measurements involve sinusoidal
waveform so this method of measuring rms value of ac voltages works satisfactorily and is less
expensive than true rms responding voltmeters. However, in case of measurement of non-
sinusoidal waveform voltage, this meter will give high or low reading depending on the form factor
of the waveform of the voltage to be measured.

The circuit diagram for an average reading voltmeter using a vacuum tube diode is shown in
figure. The arrangement requires a vacuum tube diode, an high resistance (of the order of 10 5 Q.)
R and PMMC instrument, all connected in series, as shown in fig. Resistance R is used to limit
the current and make the plate
voltage-current characteristics linear. The linear plate characteristics are essential in order to
make the current directly proportional to voltage. Also because of high series resistance R, plate
resistance of vacuum tube diode becomes negligible and therefore variations in plate resistance
do not cause non-linearity in voltage-current characteristics. In this way we get the scale of
PMMC instrument uniform and independent of variations of tube plate resistance. Voltage across
the high resistance is fed to dc amplifier and output of the amplifier is fed to PMMC instrument.
Circuit diagram of an average reading ac voltmeter using semi-conductor diode is