Electro-dynamometer

Electrodynamometer:
 Construction and working principle
• working principle of a basic electrodynamometer instrument is same as the PMMC instrument. The
only difference is that the permanent magnet is replaced with two fixed coils connected in series.
• The magnetic field in which the moving coil is pivoted is generated by passing current through the
stationary field coils. When the current flows through the pivoted coil, the two fluxes interacts causing
the coil to be deflected.
• Spiral springs provide controlling force. The zero adjustment feature is exactly the same as in PMMC.
• Like in PMMC, the deflecting torque in electrodynamometer is
dependent on field flux (B), coil current (I), coil dimensions (A), and
number of coil turns (N). However the field flux is directly
proportional to the current through the field coils, and
moving coil flux is directly proportional to the current through
the moving coil. Consequently the deflecting torque is
proportional to the product of the two currents.

As the same current flows through the field and pivoted coil, the
deflecting torque is proportional to the square of current:
• This gives the deflection angle as: where C is constant.
• As deflection is proportional to the square of current, the scale of the instrument is non-
linear (more Crowded at the lower end and less crowded at the higher end, because of
square law).
• The major disadvantages of an electrodynamometer compared to PMMC are the lower
sensitivity and the non-linear scale.
• A major advantage of electrodynamometer is that it is not polarized. Means, a positive
deflection is obtained regardless of the direction of current in the coils. Thus it can be
used to measure AC or DC.
Operation:-
• Consider figures in which the fixed and moving coils of an electrodynamometer are shown
connected in series.
• In figure (a) the current direction is such that (clock wise) the flux of the field sets up S
poles at top, and N poles at the bottom of each coil. (according to right hand grip rule
shown in figure).
• As shown in the figure (a) the direction of the current in the pivoted coil is anti-clock wise
which produces N pole at the right hand side, and S pole at the left hand side of the
moving coil.
• The N pole of the moving coil is adjacent to the N pole of the upper field coil, and the S
pole of the moving coil is adjacent to the S pole of the lower coil. Since like poles repel,
the moving coil rotates in a clockwise direction causing pointer to move the right side.
Current moving
clockwise

Figure (a)
• Now consider figure (b), when the current through all 3 coils is reversed
the poles along all the coils also reversed (shown in figure b).
• Once again similar poles are adjacent , and repulsion produces clockwise
rotation of the coil and pointer.
• It is now seen that electrodynamometer has a positive deflection ,
regardless of current direction so can be used to measure AC and DC.
• When EDM is used for AC , the deflection settles down to a position
proportional to the average value of I2 thus the deflection is proportional
to the rms value. Since the scale of the meter is calibrated to indicate I
rather than I2 the meter indicates rms value.
• The rms value has the same effect as a numerical equivalent dc value.
Therefore the scale can be read as either dc or rms ac. This is the
characteristic of a transfer instrument , which can be calibrated on dc and
then used to measure ac(rms).
Current moving counter-clockwise

Figure (b)
 Schematic of EDM ammeter

• The addition of a Shunt resistance converts the

basic EDM to ammeter which can be used for AC
and DC currents measurements.
• The scale of the EDM ammeter can be read as DC
or rms AC.
 EDM voltmeter
• The addition of a series multiplier resistance converts the basic EDM to voltmeter
which can be used for AC and DC voltage measurements.
• All 3 coils are connected in series and a multiplier resistor made of mangnin is
included.
• The sensitivity of EDM voltmeter is low (10 to 30ohm/volt) compared to PMMC
(20K ohm/volt)
 EDM
Advantages
• It can be used for both DC
and AC measurements.
• It can be used as ammeter ,
voltmeter, and wattmeter.
Disadvantages
• It consume high power due
to its construction.
• It has low sensitivity as
compared to the PMMC