MAXWELL INDUCTANCE BRIDGE

EXPERIMENT: Measurement of a unknown self inductance using Maxwell

inductance bridge.

APARATUS REQUIRED: Maxwell induction bridge setup, null detector.

THERORY

The alternating current bridges are mainly designed to measure the electrical quantities such as
inductance and capacitance. These AC bridges are the improved versions of Whetstone Bridge.
These bridges in their basic form consist of normally four arms, an AC power source and a
detector. The Maxwell’s Inductance Bridge is one such type of bridge normally used for
measurement of inductance whose values lies below 10 Henry.

MAIN FEATURES OF THE BRIDGE

P — three decade resistance dials having value 10x100 ohm and 10x1ohm
R — two fixed standard resistances having value 100 ohm and 200 ohm.
L1- fixed standard inductance having value 20 mH.
L2- unknown inductance.
Terminals are provided for external connections to connect unknown
inductance. AC supply and digital null detector.

FORMULA USED

L2= R/PxL1,
Where R and P are known standard resistances and L1 is a standard known inductance.

PROCEDURE

1. Connect AC supply I KHz with the terminals marked supply, unknown

inductance with the terminals marked unknown and digital null detector with the terminals marked detector.
2. Set the resistance R to 100 ohm position .
3. Now adjust the decade resistance dial P minimize readings in the digital null detector -
4. Note the value L-, P and R. and calculate the value of unknown inductance using above given formula.
5. Now set the resistance R at 200 ohm position and repeat the above procedure to calculate the unknown inductance
again.

USE OF DIGITAL NULL DETECTOR

Connect the digital null detector. Proceed to achieve the minimum readings in the null detector. At
balance point it will show minimum readings

PRECAUTIONS
1. Minimum reading will not come to 0 so we should check for lowest possible value.

2. Resistance dials should be handled carefully.