Module

10
Measuring Instruments
Version 2 EE IIT, Kharagpur








Lesson
43
Study of Electro-Dynamic
Type Instruments
Version 2 EE IIT, Kharagpur
Objectives
To understand the basic construction of a dynamometer instrument.
Explain basic operation and development of torque expressions for ammeter, voltmeter
and wattmeter.
Study of ammeter, voltmeter and wattmeter connections.
To investigate the errors involve in wattmeter readings and its compensation.
Understanding the effect of inductance of voltage coil (moving coil) on the wattmeter
readings.

L.43.1 Introduction

Electrodynamic type instruments are similar to the PMMC-type elements except that the magnet
is replaced by two serially connected fixed coils that produce the magnetic field when energized
(see Fig.43.1). The fixed coils are spaced far enough apart to allow passage of the shaft of the
movable coil. The movable coil carries a pointer, which is balanced by counter weights. Its
rotation is controlled by springs. The motor torque is proportional to the product of the currents
in the moving and fixed coils. If the current is reversed, the field polarity and the polarity of the
moving coil reverse at the same time, and the turning force continues in the original direction.
Since the reversing the current direction does not reverse the turning force, this type of
instruments can be used to measure AC or DC current, voltage, or its major application as a
wattmeter for power measurement. In the first two cases, the moving and fixed are serially
connected. For power measurement, one of the coils (usually the fixed coils) passes the load
current and other coil passes a current proportional to the load voltage. Air friction damping is
employed for these instruments and is provided by a pair of Aluminum-vanes attached to the
spindle at the bottom. These vanes move in a sector shaped chamber. Cost and performance
compared with the other types of instruments restrict the use of this design to AC or DC power
measurement. Electro-dynamic meters are typically expensive but have the advantage of being
more accurate than moving coil and moving iron instrument but its sensitivity is low. Similar to
moving iron vane instruments, the electro dynamic instruments are true RMS responding meters.
When electro dynamic instruments used for power measurement its scale is linear because it
predicts the average power delivered to the load and it is calibrated in average values for AC.
Voltage, current and power can all be measured if the fixed and moving coils are connected
appropriately. Other parts of the instruments are described briefly below:

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Electro dynamic (or Dynamometer) type Instruments:

Fixed coil: The magnetic field is produced by the fixed coil which is divided into two sections
to give more uniform field near the centre and to allow passage of the instrument shaft.

Moving coil: The moving coil is wound either as a self-sustaining coil or else on a non-
magnetic former. A metallic former cannot be used, as eddy currents would be induced in it by
alternating field. Light but rigid construction is used for the moving coil. It should be noted that
both fixed and moving coils are air cored.

Springs: The controlling torque is provided by two control springs. These hairsprings also act
as leads of current to the moving coil.

Dampers: Air friction damping is employed for these instruments and is provided by a pair of
Aluminum-vanes attached to the spindle at the bottom. These vanes move in a sector shaped
chamber.

Shielding: Since the magnetic field produced by fixed coils is weaker than that in other types of
instruments, these meters need a special magnetic shielding. Electro-dynamic instruments are
effectively shielded from the effects of external magnetic fields by enclosing the mechanism in a
laminated iron hollow cylinder with closed ends.

L.43.2 Operating Principle

Let us consider the currents in the fixed and moving coils are
f
i and respectively. The action
of electrodynamic instrument depends upon the force exerted between fixed and moving coils
carrying current. The flux density ( ) produced by the fixed coil is proportional to
m
i
B
2
/ wb m
f
i
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(fixed coil current). The force on the conductors of the moving coil, for a given strength field,
will proportional to (moving coil current) and the number of turns of the moving coil. In
case of ammeter and voltmeter fixed and moving coils are connected in series and the developed
torque is due to the interaction of the magnetic fields produced by currents in the fixed and
moving coils and thus it will be proportional to

m
i N
2
i (
f
i = = ). Thus, dynamic instruments can
be used for dc and ac measurements.
m
i i

Expression for developed torque:

Case-a: Torque expression based on energy concept

Let us assume that the fixed and moving coils having self-inductances
f
L and
respectively. Further it is assumed that the mutual inductance between the fixed and movable
coils is
m
L
M .
Total energy stored in the magnetic field of the coils is given by

2 2
f f m m f m
1 1
W= L i + L i + M i i
2 2
(43.1)
where
f
i and are the currents through the fixed and moving coils. From equation (43.1) one
can write the expression for torque developed as
m
i

d f m
dW dM
T = = i i
d d
(43.2)
Note
f
L and are not functions of but the mutual inductance
m
L M between the coils is a
function of the deflection (i.e relative position of moving coil). The equivalent inductance
between fixed and moving coils can be found out as
2
eq f m
L L L M = + + (cumulative manner) and from this one can find the mutual inductance
between them as
1
(
2
eq f m
M L L L = +

With all deflection type instruments, however, the mutual inductance varies with the
relative positions of the moving and fixed coils. The maximum value of the mutual
inductance occurs when the axes of the moving and fixed coils are aligned with = 180, as this
position gives the maximum flux linkage between coils. When = 0,
max
M
M = - . If the plane
of the moving coil is at an angle with the direction of B that produced by the fixed coil, then
the mutual inductance
max
M
M is expressed by
M = -
max
cos M (43.3)

D.C operation: Expression (43.2) for the developed torque is rewritten by setting ( . )
f f
i I d c =
and ( . )
m m
i I d c =

d f m f m max
dM
T = I I = I I M sin
d
(43.4)
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If the control is due to spiral springs, the controlling torque is proportional to the angle of
deflection .
Controlling torque
c s
T k = (43.5)
where
s
k is the spring constant.

Note that = at steady deflection, i.e,
d
T
c
T

f m s
dM
I I = k
d

f m
s
I I dM
=
k d

(43.6)

A.C operation: The dynamometer instrument is used to measure alternating current or voltage,
the moving coildue to its inertia takes up a position where the average deflecting torque over a
complete cycle is balanced by the restoring torque of the spiral spring. The deflecting torque is
proportional to the mean value of the square of the current or voltage (note both coils are
connected in series for ammeters or voltmeters), and the instrument scale can therefore be
calibrated to read r.m.s values of alternating current or voltage.

Average deflecting torque
T
d,av f m
0
1 d
T = i (t) i (t) d
T
M
t
d

Let
max, max.
( ) sin , ( ) sin( )
f f m m
i t I t i t I t = = where is the phaseangle between two
currents

d, av 1 2
dM
T = I I cos
d
(43.7)
where
1
I and
2
I are the r.m.s values of fixed and moving coil currents. In steady state condition
of deflection,

, d av c
T T =

1 2 s
dM
I I cos = k
d

1 2
s
I I cos dM
=
k d
(43.8)
In case of ammeter or voltmeter, both the coils are connected in series and the same current is
flowing through the coils. Equation (43.8) can be written as
2
s
I dM
=
k d
(43.9)
where
1 2
I I = = I and .
0
0 =





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Case-b: Torque expression based on electro-magnetic force concept

Fig. 43.1(b) shows that the torque exerted in all electro-dynamic instruments depend
upon the current flowing through the moving coil and the magnetic flux density which is
directly proportional to the current
m
i B
f
i through the fixed coil.



The torque acting upon the moving coil can be easily calculated if the flux density is assumed
constant throughout the space occupied by the moving coil.
B
Consider the length of the coil is l and the width is , then when a current flows
through it, the force acting on the top portion of the moving coil of turns is
' 2 ' r
m
i
N
m
f N Bl i = and
hence the resulting torque is
d
T 2
m
f N Bl i r = . If the plane of the moving coil is at an angle
with the direction of , then resulting clockwise torque developed on the moving coil is given
by
B
2 cos 2 cos
d m f f m
T N Bl i r N k i l i r = =
where, the flux density is directly proportion to the fixed coil current i.e B
f f
B k i = . At steady
state condition of deflection, the resulting torque developed by the moving coil is balanced by
the spring restraining torque
d
T
c s
T k = , one can obtain the following relationship.
2 cos
d f f m s
T N k i l i r k = = 2 cos
f
f m
s
k
N l r i i
k


=



We see that the angle of deflection depends on the product of the moving coil current and
the fixed coil current
m
i
f
i . When the both coils carry alternating currents, say
( ) ( )
max, 1 max, 2
cos cos
f f m m
i i wt and i i wt = + = + , the average value of deflection-angle
expression has the form
max, max,
cos
f m
k I I

=
where the value of cos
f
s
k
k N l r
k

varies as the value of varies. Note that the average

value of the product of two instantaneous current signals is expressed as
max, max,
cos
f m
I I where
1 2
= .



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L.43.2.1 More about ammeters

Ammeters

Fig. 43.2(a) shows that fixed coils and moving coil of a dynamometer instrument
connected in series and assumed the current through moving coil does not exceed a certain the
upper limit depending on its construction.


The flux direction through the fixed and movable coils due to current is shown in Fig. 43.2 (a). it
can be noted that the pole of the moving coil flux is reflected from the adjacent pole of
the fixed coil and on the other side adjacent S poles are also repelled each other. This results
the pointer to move clockwise direction from zero position to a steady position depending upon
the magnitude of current flowing through the coils. Fig.43.2(b) illustrate the effect of reversing
the direction of the current through the coils and shows that the deflecting torque produces
movement of the pointer in the same direction. This means that the dynamometer instrument
suitable for both dc and ac measurements of current and voltage. The dynamic instrument when
uses as a voltmeter, the fixed coils wounded with thin wire are connected in series with the
moving coil and a non-inductive resistance (see Fig.43.5). For ammeter application the fixed
coils are connected in parallel with the moving coil, and in parallel with a shunt, as required (see
Fig.43.4).
N N

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Remarks: The scale of the instrument can be conveniently calibrated on dc and then used to
measure ac.

L.43.2.2 Ranges of Ammeters and Voltmeters

Ammeters
A given size of instruments requires a definite number of ampere-turns to be supplied by
the fixed and moving coils to obtain a fullscale deflection. Ammeter ranges are altered by
changing the number of turns and size of conductor in the fixed and moving coils. A double
range instrument may easily be obtained by connecting different coil sections either in series or
in parallel. The internal connections are shown in Fig.43.3. The maximum range for which
ammeters are usually constructed is dependent on its application. For ammeter use in which only
fraction of rated current (say 200 ma) is carried by the moving coil to alter its range by changing
the mode of connection of the fixed coils.

Voltmeters: With voltmeters the ranges is altered by changing the number of turns in the coils
and the value of series resistances, but the range of a given instrument may be increased by
connecting additional resistances in series with it. For example, the range of a given voltmeter
may be doubled while connecting in series with it a noninductive resistance equal in value to
the original resistance of the instrument.

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L. 43.3 Connections for ammeter, voltmeter and wattmeter

Ammeter
When ammeters for ranges above about 250 , the moving coil cannot be connected in
series with the fixed coil (note the control spring is unsuitable for currents above about 250 ).
Therefore, the moving coil must be connected in parallel with the fixed coils as shown in Fig
43.4.
mA
mA


Here the moving coil current is kept within 200 mA and the rest of current is passed through the
fixed coil. Moving coil carries a small fraction of measured current through the moving coil.
For extreme accuracy the connection shown in Fig. 43.4 must fulfill the following conditions.

The resistance/reactance ratio must have the same value (i.e time constant of moving coil
= time constant of fixed coil) for each branch.
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The percentage change of resistance with temperature must be the same for the two
The connection for use as a voltmeter is shown in Fig. 43.5, in which fixed and
oving coils are connected in series with a high series resistance having zero resistivity co-
efficients.

branches.

Voltmeters:
m

This com nnected across the voltage source or across the load terminals whose
oltage is to be measured. The deflecting torque is given by
bination is co
v

d f m
dM V V dM
T = i i =
d Z Z d

where Z is the m gnitude of total impedance of the voltmeter circuit. At steady state condition
of deflection
a
d c
T T =
2
s 2
V d
k =
Z d
M

2
2
V dM
= (43.10)
s
Z k d

This implies that deflecting torque is directly proportional to
2
V if
dM
d
t nearly constant.
current through the moving coil. Electro-
ynamic ammeter needs to read r.m.s values of alternating current accurately irrespective of
load terminals. The fixed
oil is connected in series with the load to have the same load current. A typical connection of
an electrodynamometer for use as a wattmeter is shown in Fig. 43.6.

is kep
This is possible if varies from 45 to 135 over the range of instrument scale.

Remarks: Electro-dynamic meters use is much more common for ac voltmeters than for ac
ammeters because of practical limitation on the
d
signal waveform or distortion of signal waveform.

Wattmeter: Perhaps the most important use of the electrodynamometer is for the wattmeter.
The mechanism of electro dynamic wattmeter closely resembles that of an electro-dynamic
ammeter, but the moving coil of wattmeter is connected in series with a high noninductive
resistance. It provides with separate terminals to connect across the
c
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For a d.c circuit, the fixed coil current
f L
i I = is the load current, and the movingcoil current i
2

has a value
V
R
. The deflecting torque in a d.c circuit is proportional to the power and it is
given by

f m
dM
i i
d

or
L
V dM
I
R d


dM
power if is nearly constant
d

.

For a.c circuit: Let the applied voltage ( ) sin
m
v t V t = ; and the currents through the moving
and fixed coils are given by

m
m
V
i (t) = sin t
R
(assuming inductance of moving coil is negligible)
( ) ( ) sin( )
f L m
i t i t I = =
where is the power factor angle of the load ( + leading p.f of the load and for
lagging p.f of the load).

Instantaneous deflecting torque
d f m m m
dM
T (t) i (t) i (t) V I sint sin(t )
dt
(43.11)

The mean or average torque

T
d,av m m
0
1
T V I sint sin(t )dt
T

V I cos (43.12)
where and are the r.m.s values of load voltage and current respectively. It may be noted
that the developed torque must be equal to the controlling torque at steady state. In other words,
the controlling torque T
V I
c
and this implies that power (average). Thus an electro-dynamic
instrument, connected as shown in Fig. 43.6, becomes a wattmeter which will give a direct
deflection of the power in either dc or ac circuit.
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Remarks:
The moving coil is usually called the voltage coil (or pressure coil) and carries a small
current proportional to voltage across the coil.
The fixed coils are called the current coils and will carry load current.
The terminal M is connected to the source side where as the terminal is connected
to the load side.
L
Wattmeter Errors:
A wattmeter is normally required to measure power in the load. Two modes of wattmeter
connections to the load are shown in Fig. 43.7(a) and Fig.43.7(b). For the connection shown in
Fig. 43.7(a), the power supplied by the source to load = cos VI where is the load power
factor.




Refer to Fig.43.7(a), and let us study the reading of the wattmeter and its is expressed as
Wattmeter reading =
1 1 1 1
V I cos( V , I) = V I cos = (V cos)I
= (Vcos + V )I (see phasor diagram)
= VI cos V I = VI cos r VI cos r
2
+ + . . = + (43.13)

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where is the magnitude voltage across the current coil or fixed coil.
'
V

Equation (43.13) shows that the wattmeter reading is equal to the sum of power consumed in the
load ( cos VI ) + power loss (
2
I r ) in the fixed coil of resistance . r
If the connections are those of Fig. 43.7(b) the total current
1
I through the current coil will be the
vector sum of the load current I and the voltage coil or pressure coil or moving coil I (
V
I
R
=
where is the resistance of the voltage coil). The wattmeter reading corresponding to the
circuit configuration Fig. 43.7(b) is given by
R

Wattmeter reading =
1 1 1
V I cos( V, I ) = V I cos
= V(Icos + I ) = VIcos + VI
=
2
V V
VIcos + V VIcos +
R R
= (43.14)
= Power in load + Power in voltage coil.



These results can be also applied in d.c circuits; the verification of this is simple, as phase angles
are not involved.

Remarks:
Losses
2
2
V
I r or
R

are normally small in instrumentcircuit.

Normally the connection Fig. 43.7(a) is better, but under some heavy load current
conditions the wattmeter circuit configuration Fig 43.7(b) is preferable.

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How to Compensate Wattmeter Error?
The error involves in wattmeter reading with the circuit configuration Fig 43.7(b) can easily be
eliminated by introducing doublewound current coil. One conductor being the current coil as
usual. The additional conductor is an internal connection, corresponding to the lead from to
of Fig. 43.8(a), which carries the voltagecoil current in a reverse direction through the
winding.
L
V
+


Thus any extra torque due to the voltagecoil current in the current coil itself is neutralized by
the torque due to the voltagecoil current in the additional winding.

Note: (i) There are watt-meters, that directly read the power consumed by the load
L
P . In such a
meter, the movingcoil (voltage coil) current goes through an additional fixed coil located so as
to cancel the effect of on the current in the fixed coil. I
(ii) The input terminals of each coil (fixed and moving coils) is identified as sign as shown in
Fig.43.8(b). The marked terminal of the current coil should be connected to the incoming line
or to the source side and the voltage coil marked

terminal should be connected to the positive

side of the load. With the wattmeter terminal connection specified, the meter will read up-scale
when power is delivered to the load. If one of the coils is connected in reverse polarity
(backwards), the wattmeter will drive downscale and may be damaged. To get, up-scale reading
of watt-meters, the current coil connection should be reversed.



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L.43.4 Inductance of VoltageCoil Introduces an Error in
Wattmeter

Let us consider the wattmeter connection as shown in Fig. 43.7(b). The mean torque of an
electro-dynamic instrument is proportional to the mean value of the product , where and
being instantaneous values of the two currents. It may also be said that the mean torque is
proportional to
1
i
2
i
1
i
2
i

1 2
cos I I , where
1
I and
2
I are r.m.s values and the phase angle between the two currents
(pressure coil current and current coil current). The current through moving coil
V
I
R
= , is in the
same phase as that of load voltage, where is the resistance of a noninductive voltagecoil
circuit. Then
R
= , load phase angle.
Instantaneous Torque Expression (neglecting inductance of voltage coil or moving coil):-


m
inst m
V sint dM
T = I sin(t - )
R d


T
m m
av
0
V I 1 d
T = 2sint sin(t - )dt
RT 2 d

M

[ ]
T
0
1 d
= VI cos( - cos(2t - )dt
RT d

)

M

[ ]
T
0
VI VI dM
= cos cos
RT R d
= (43.15)

In practice, the voltagecoil must posses some inductances; at a given frequency, let the resulting
reactance be
L
X L = .

The instantaneous current through the voltage

-1 m
2 2
V sin(t - ) L
i (t) = where = tan
R
R +(L)

where v(t) = sin
m
V t = voltage across the load.

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m
instantaneous m
2 2
V sin(t - ) dM
T (t) = I sin(t - )
d
R +(L)


m m
2 2
V I dM
= sin(t - ) sin(t - )
d
R +(L)


T
m m
av
2 2 0
V I 1 d
T = sin(t - ) sin(t - ) dt
T d
R +(L)

M


2 2
VI dM
= cos( - )
d
R +(L)


VI dM
= cos cos ( - )
R d
(43.16)

Comparison of equations (43.15) and (43.16) shows that the correction factor by which the
deflection must be multiplied is
cos
cos cos ( - )

.
Remarks:
As is very small, it is usually sufficiently accurate to take the correction factor as (i)
cos

cos ( - )

(43.17)
for lagging power factor of the load. (ii)
cos
cos ( )

+
for leading power factor of the
load.
The effect of inductance in the moving coil circuit is to cause the wattmeter to read high
on lagging power factor (see the equation (43.16)).
For leading power factor the wattmeter will read low.
Correction factor is zero at load of unity power factor.






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L43.5 Advantages and disadvantages of electro-dynamic
instruments

Advantages:
i Free from hysteresis and eddy current errors.
ii Applicable to both dc and ac circuits.
iii Precision grade accuracy for 40 Hz to 500 Hz.
iv Electro-dynamic voltmeters give accurate r.m.s values of voltage irrespective of
waveforms.
Disadvantages:
i Low torque/weight ratio, hence more frictional errors.
ii More expensive than PMMC or MI instruments.
iii Power consumption higher than PMMC but less than MI instruments.
For these reasons, dynamometer ammeters and voltmeters are not in common use (except for
calibration purpose) especially in dc circuits. The most important application of the
dynamometer type instruments used as dynamometer wattmeter.

L43.6 Test your Understanding Marks: 50

T.1 Derive an expression for the torque on a dynamometer ammeter in terms of the currents in
the coils and the rate of change of mutual inductance with deflection. [10]
T.2 A dynamometer wattmeter is connected with the voltage coil on the supply side of the
current coil. Derive an expression for a correction factor to allow for the inductance of voltage
coil. Calculate the correction factor of the wattmeter if the phase angle of the voltage coil is 1
and the power factor of the load is (i) 0.8 lagging(ii) 0.8 leading. [8]
[Answer: (i) 0.987, (ii) 1.013.]
T.3 An electro dynamic wattmeter is used to measure the power consumed by the load. The
load voltage is 250 v and the load current is 10A at a lagging power factor of 0.5. The wattmeter
voltage circuit has a resistance of 2000 and inductance 40 mH. The voltage coil (moving coil)
is connected directly across the load. Estimate the percentage error in the wattmeter reading.
(Assume the supply frequency = 50 HZ) [8]
(Answer: 0.2% high)
T.4 A dynamometer ammeter is arranged so that 1/100
th
of the total current passes through the
moving coil and the remainder through the fixed coil. The mutual inductances between the two
coils varies with the angle of displacement of the moving coil from its zero position as indicated
below:


0 15 30 60 90 105 120
M( H ) -336 -275 -192 0 192 275 336

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If a torque of is required to give a full-scale deflection of 120, calculate the
current at half and full-scale deflection. [12]
5
1.05 10 N m

(Answer: 1.187A, 2.46A)
T.5 A voltmeter has a range of 120 volts and a resistance of 1550 at 20C, of which 77 is
due to the resistances of fixed and moving coils and the remainder 1473 for non-inductive
resistance connected to the moving coil. The inductances of the instrument (measured at 50 Hz )
for number of position of the moving system are given in Table. When voltmeter used on a 100
volt dc circuit and 50 Hz , 100 volt a.c. circuit.
Applied voltage 0 40 60 80 100 120
Angular deflection 0 7 13.8 24 37.1 54
Inductance ( mH ) 70.1 72.5 74.8 78.3 82.8 88.6
The inductance of the fixed coil is 74.5 mH and moving coil is 2.2 mH.
Calculate (i) Mutual inductance between fixed and moving coils against applied voltage using
above data
(ii) Plot mutual inductances against angular deflection and comments on
dM
d
.
(iii) Power loss in the instrument. [6+3+3]

Answer: (i)
Applied voltage 0 40 60 80 100 120
Mutual inductance ( ) mH -3.3 -2.1 -0.95 0.8 3.05 5.95

(ii)
dM
d
is constant.
(iii) 6.45 watts.
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