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Wheatstone Talk 1
Wheatstone Talk 1
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V+ x R2
(R1 + R2)
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V+ x R2
(R1 + R2)
V+ = 10V
`R1` = R1 + R2 + R3 = 3k
`R2` = R4 + R5 + R6 + R7 + R8 + R9 + R10 = 7k
So Vx = 10V x 7k
3k + 7k
= 70Vk
10k
= 7V
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V+ x R2
(R1 + R2)
Vy =
V+ x R4
(R3 + R4)
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R2 x R3 = R4 x R1
Or
But if
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Early Wheatstone
bridge designs had
slider contacts on
resistive conductors so
the ratio (of R1 and R2)
could be determined by
using a ruler.
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Another arrangement to
sliders on a bar was to
calibrate the resistive
wire along its length
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So far, we have been energising the bridge from dc supply, which is how
the early engineers used this instrument, but will it work with an ac supply?
Why should we consider an ac supply anyway?
The answer to this question relates to the other passive components that
we use, capacitors and inductors, since these components respond to ac,
rather than dc, signals.
The most significant problem associated with a Wheatstone Bridge and ac
supplies is the detecting device, where a dc galvanometer will not respond
to ac signals.
There were meter movements available like the moving iron type which do
respond to ac, but these tend to be insensitive devices.
These days it is quite easy to rectify an ac signal, so as to produce a dc
signal that will activate a galvanometer, but remember that in the early
days, before thermionic diodes and valves were invented, such rectification
was not an easy task.
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The resistor limits the meter current and the silicon diodes conduct
when the voltage applied to the inputs exceeds about 0.7V in
either polarity.
When the bridge is in balance the voltage across the inputs is zero, so the
diodes have no effect. The resistor reduces the meters sensitivity and so
could be shorted out near balance to improve circuit sensitivity. Commercial
Wheatstone bridges sometimes included such a switch.
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