Determining Capacitance- Bridge Ratios

As before, the current symbols cancel out, leaving ratios expressed

in ternis of resistance and reactance. If you wish to use the bridge for its intended purpose,
reactance must be converted into. capacitance.
The expression in terms of C is:
Ri C_
Rs -Ct
The values of C are inversely proportional to the values of R in their legs of the circuit.
This makes sense because a large capacitance has a small reactance.
Practical Capacitance Bridge
The schematic for a typical capacitance bridge is shown below. A close study of this
illustration will reveal that it is essentially the same type of parallel circuit as those on
the preceding pages.
CAPACITANCE BRIDGE CIRCUITRY

R1 CALIBRATED
i \
j
/;CA
yUNKNOWN
CAPACITOR

POTENTIOMETER
RZ M C

ISTANDARD
CAPACITORS
AC VOLTAGE I

By manipulating a switch, one of several capacitors can be selected as a standard,

depending on the size of unknown C,. A calibrated potentiometer adjusts the bridge
ratio (R1/R2) for a null reading on the indicator. With this arrangement the arm of
the potentiometer can be connected to a pointer that moves on a scale calibrated in
capacitance values. This will be true only if all of the standard capacitors increase in
value by the same multiple.
The above bridge is suitable for measuring capacitors with little or no series resistance
and no leakage between the plates. Significant values of either series or parallel resistance
(leakage) will prevent balancing the bridge. This bridge can check most paper, ceramic,
mica and mylar capacitors.
QUESTIONS ANSWERS
Q12. What must the relationship of Al2. The capacitors must increase in
the standard capacitors be to value by the same multiple.
permit adjustment- of the po-
tentiometer to proportional
Q13.
Q
bridge ratios?
If R, R., is 1/10 and C, is 1,200
pF, what is the value of C2?
A13. Cz = 120 pF. - -
Rt
R2 =
Cz
CI
86 ELEMENTARY ELECTRONICS