Analog Meters

AC
Voltmeters
 Rectifier Voltmeter
• PMMC Instrument on AC
• As discussed earlier, the PMMC
instrument is polarized, its terminals are
identified as +ve and-ve, and it must be
connected correctly for positive deflection
to occur.
• When the alternating current with very low
frequency is passed through a PMMC
instrument, the pointer tends to follow the
instantaneous level of the AC.
 Rectifier Voltmeter
• As the current grows positively, the pointer
deflection increases to a maximum at the
peak of the ac.
• Then as the instantaneous current level
falls, the pointer deflection decreases
toward zero.
• When the ac goes negative, the pointer is
deflected (off-scale) to the left of zero.
• This kind of pointer movement occur only
with ac having a frequency of 0.1Hz or
 Rectifier Voltmeter
• With the normal 60Hz or higher supply
frequencies;
• The damping mechanism of the instrument
and the inertia of meter movement prevent
the pointer to follow the instantaneous
changing levels.
• Instead, pointer settles at the average
value of the current through the moving
coil.
 Rectifier Voltmeter
• The average value of pure sinusoidal is
zero.
• So, if we measure PMMC directly to 60Hz
ac, it will indicates zero but there can
actually be very large rms current flowing
in its coils.
 Rectifier Voltmeter
• There are two types of rectifier Voltmeters
1. Full Wave Rectifier Voltmeter
2. Half Wave Rectifier Voltmeter
 Full Wave Rectifier Voltmeter
• Rectifier instruments use silicon or
germanium diodes to convert alternating
current to a series of unidirectional current
pulses;
• Which produce positive deflection when
passed through a PMMC instrument.
• The full wave passes the +ve cycle of
sinusoidal input waveform and inverts the
–ve cycles.
 Full Wave Rectifier Voltmeter
• When the input is +ve, D1 and D4
conduct, causing the current to flow from
the meter from top to bottom as shown in
figure.
 Full Wave Rectifier Voltmeter
• When the input is -ve, D2 and D3 conduct,
causing the current to flow from the meter
from top to bottom as shown in figure.
 Full Wave Rectifier Voltmeter
• The circuit is using series connected
multiplier to limit the current flow through
the PMMC.
• The meter deflection is proportional to the
average current, which is 0.637*peak
current.
 Full Wave Rectifier Voltmeter
• But the actual current or voltage to be
indicated in ac measurements is rms
quantity, which is 0.707 of peak value or
1.11 of average value.
• Since, there are direct relationships
between average, peak an rms values, the
meter can be calibrated to indicate rms
volts
Full Wave Rectifier Voltmeter
Full Wave Rectifier Voltmeter
 Full Wave Rectifier Voltmeter
• Calculate the sensitivity of voltmeter in
second last example.
 Half Wave Rectifier Voltmeter
• Half wave rectifier can be employed as ac
voltmeter as shown in figure below.
• Shunt resistance is placed to pass less
current from Rm, when D1 is forward bias.
 Half Wave Rectifier Voltmeter
• D2 conducts during negative cycle cause
a small voltage drop on D1 and meter to
prevent reverse current and reverse
voltages.
• For Full wave rectifier Iav=0.637Im
• Accordingly for Half Wave case
Iav=0.5(0.637)Im.
Half Wave Rectifier Voltmeter
Half Wave Rectifier Voltmeter
Half Wave Rectifier Voltmeter