PMMC Instrument: DC Voltmeter and Ammeter

Mohamad Hafizzudin Bin Hamdan

Faculty of Engineering Technology
Department of Electrical Engineering Technology
University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia
Johor, Malaysia

Abstract—The permanent-magnet moving-coil II. CONSTRUCTION AND BASIC PRINCIPLE OPERATION

(PMMC) instrument consist basically of a light-weight coil
of copper wire suspended in the field of a permanent A. DC Voltmeter
magnet. DC voltmeter and ammeter is a instrument that
used to measured the value of current and voltages in the The current is directly proportional to the voltage across
electrical circuit. Ohm's law and Kirchhoff's rules is the coil and the scale of PMMC meter could be calibrates to
fundamental for understanding of dc circuit. This paper indicate the value of voltage. The coil resistance is normally
will describe about the DC voltmeter and ammeter in very small and the coil voltage is also usually very small
details. value. Resistance must add to the PMMC instrument to make
the voltage measured value is larger. To increase range of the
voltmeter, connect the resistance in series with the PMMC
instrument.
I. INTRODUCTION
The permanent-magnet moving-coil (PMMC) instruments
basically consist of a light-weight coil of copper wire
suspended in the field of a permanent magnet. The current in
the wire cause the magnetic field is produces that interacts
with the field from the permanent magnet. For the example , in
DC ammeter and voltmeter are used this system. DC Ammeter
and Voltmeter is used to measure the value of current in
amperes in branch of an electric circuit and voltage in the
circuit. Both instrument are mainly used in company, school,
and etc. Before the instruments are used, the instrument must
calibrated to get the accurate measurement.
There are two types of ammeter which is analog
ammeter and digital ammeter. Analog voltmeters move a
pointer across a scale in proportion to the current of the circuit
and the digital ammeter give a numerical display of current by
use of an analog to digital converter .This ammeter always Figure 1 : construction of dc voltmeter
connected in series with a circuit in which current is to be
measured. This is because, the value of current flow is same at
the circuit. The value of currents changes when there is a
junction in the circuits. Besides, to avoid affecting the current
level in the circuit, the ammeter must have a resistance much
lower than the circuit resistance.
A voltmeter is an instrument used for
measuring electrical potential difference between two points in
an electric circuit. There are two types of voltmeter which is
analog and digital voltmeter. Analog voltmeters move a
pointer across a scale in proportion to the voltage of the circuit
and the digital voltmeters give a numerical display of voltage
by use of an analog to digital converter. Figure 2 : Voltmeter circuit
 1. Multirange voltmeter using series-connected
multiplier resistors.
Im = full scale deflection current of the movement (Ifsd)
Rm = internal resistance of the movement Formula for calculate the voltages ( V1,V2,V3);

RS = multiplier resistance
V = full range voltage of the instrument V1 = I(Rm +R1)
V2 = I(Rm + R1 + R2)
V3 = I(Rm + R1 + R2 + R3)

Current in series;

Is = Im

From the Ohm’s Law;

V = Im (Rs + Rm )
= ImRs + ImRm
Rs = V/Im - Rm
Figure 4: series-connected multiplier resistors
B. Multirange Voltmeter
In the multirange voltmeter, it consist of a deflecting
instrument, several multiplier resistors, and a rotary
switch. The voltage can measured from the smaller value A. DC Ammeter
until higher value by change the multiplier resistor.
The DC ammeter is an instrument for measuring the
electric current in amperes in a branch of an electric circuit. It
There are two types of Multirange voltmeter circuit; must be placed in series with the measured branch, and must
have very low resistance to avoid significant alteration of the
III. MULTIRANGE VOLTMETER USING SWITCHED current that is needed to measure. The pointer deflection is
MULTIPLIER RESISTOR directly proportional to the current flowing in the coil. The
Formula for calculate the voltage (V1,V2,V3); ammeter is also used the principle of d’Arsonval meter
movement with slight modification
V1= I(Rm + R1)
V2 = I(Rm + R2)
V3 = I(Rm + R3

Figure 3: switched multiplier resistor

 Figure 5: construction of dc ammeter swamping resistance because it have resistance temperature
coefficient very close to zero.

Figure 6: dc ammeter circuit

For calculation;
Figure 7: swamping resistance
Vm = ImRm
Vsh = IshRsh B. Multirange DC Ammeter

ImRm = IshRsh In the multirange DC Ammeter, it have a rotary

I = Ish + Im switched that can select any one of several shunt having
the different resistance values. Make – before – break-
Ish = I - Im switch must be used. The instrument is not left without a
Rsh = ImRm/(I – Im) shunt in parallel with it even for a brief instant. Besides,
the resistance of the instrument would affect the current
flowing in the circuit.
Shunt Resistance

The smaller value of shunt resistance are used , the

larger the shunt current and the total meter current than the
levels calculated because current will flow at the less
resistance.

Swamping Resistance

The swamping resistance is usually three times that Figure 8:multirange ammeter using switched shunts
of coil thereby reducing a possible error. In the PMMC
instrument, it used the small cooper wire. When the
Based on figure 8 : formula for calculation of current, I;
temperature is changes, the resistance of the wire will change
When the rotary switch at terminal B
too. The heating effect of the coil can cause the value of
resistance is change. Its mean have error happen. To minimize Is = Vs/Rs =Vm/Rs1
the error, the swamping resistance is used. Swamping
When the rotary switch at terminal D
resistance made of manganin or constantan is connected in
Is = Vs/Rs =Vm/Rs1
series with the coil. The manganin and constantan is used as
 1. Advantages:

a) The scale is uniformly divided (see at steady state ,

sθ=G/C*Is).
b) The power consumption can be made very low
(25μW to 200μW).
c) The torque-weight ratio can be made high with a
view to achieve high accuracy.
d) A single instrument can be used for multi range
ammeters and voltmeters.
e) Error due to stray magnetic field is very small.

2. Limitations:

a) They are suitable for direct current only.

b) The instrument cost is high.
c) Variation of magnet strength with time.
d) The magnetic field will be decrease when the
instrument fall.
e) The reading will not accurate when the instrument
near with other magnet.

Figure 9: make-before-break switch

IV. Measurement Errors of the Instrument

Figure 10: multirange DC Ammeter using series connected i) Frictional error,

resistor the value measured change cause the instruments to
have friction when the component moving

Formula for calculation of current, I based on figure 10; ii) Magnetic decay,
- magnetic field will decrease when the instrument
When rotary switch at terminal B fall or in hot environment.
iii) Thermo electric error,
Vm = Im + Rm iv) Temperature error. (systematic error)
Vm = Vs - temperature is the main problem because the coil in
IT = Im + Is the PMMC instrument is very small. when the
Is = Vs/Rs = Vm/(R1 + R2 + R3 ) temperature change, the temperature of the coil will
change and cause the value of resistance change
When rotary switch at terminal C
Vm = Im + Rm
Vm = Vs V. CONCLUSION
IT = Im + Is
Is = Vs/Rs = Vm/(R1 + R2 ) PMMC system is used in the instrument
that consist of coil. In this case, DC ammeter and
When rotary switch at terminal D Voltmeter used the PMMC system to measured the
Vm = Im + Rm value of current and voltage in a circuit. PMMC also
Vm = Vs have measurement error such as temperature error,
IT = Im + Is magnetic decay, and etc. The instrument had make it
Is = Vs/Rs = Vm/(R1) easier for the users to measured any voltage or
current. With this paper, basic operation and DC
voltmeter and ammeter had been explained with the
aid of the diagram. The advantages, limitations and
III. Advantage and limitation its error of the instruments also had been explained.
 VI. References [3] , “textxbook,all about circuit,” ammeter design, published
under the terms and condition of the Design Science
License,.
[1] David A. Bell, “Electronic Instrumentation and web : http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/direct-
Measurement,” Prentice Hall , Inc , second edition, pp. current/chpt-8/ammeter-design/
39-51, 1994. [4] wikipedia, “arsene d'arsonval,” unpublished.
[2] 21. Circuit and DC Instruments, :pp.21.3&21.4,. web : https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars%C3%A8ne_d
unpublished, web:http://philschatz.com/physics- %27Arsonval
book/contents/m42720.html [5] , “Permanent Magnet Moving Coil Instrument or PMMC
Instrument,”unpublished.
web : http://www.electrical4u.com/permanent-magnet-
moving-coil-instrument/