Tried. Tested. Trusted.

A Guide to Low Resistance Measurement

Contents
02-03 Introduction 04-05 Applications 06 Resistance

06-09 Principles of Resistance Measurement 09-10 Methods of 4 Terminal Connections 10-19 Possible Measurement Errors 14-18 Choosing the Right Instrument 18-24 Application Examples 25-33 Useful Formulas and Charts 34 Find out more

With resistance measurement, precision is everything. This guide is what we know about achieving the highest quality measurements possible.
The measurement of very large or very small quantities is always difficult, and resistance measurement is no exception. Values above 1G and values below 1 both present measurement problems. Cropico is a world leader in low resistance measurement; we produce a comprehensive range of low resistance ohmmeters and cable characteristics, temperature coefficients and various formulas to ensure you make the best possible choice when selecting your measuring instrument and measurement technique. We hope you will find this booklet a valuable addition to your toolkit.

accessories which cover most measurement applications. This handbook gives an overview of low resistance measurement techniques, explains common causes of errors and how to avoid them. We have also included useful tables of wire and

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Applications There are many reasons why the resistance of material is measured. Here are a few.

Manufacturers of components Resistors, inductors and chokes all have to verify that their product meets the specified resistance tolerance, end of production line and quality control testing. Manufacturers of switches, relays & connectors Verification that the contact resistance is below pre specified limits is required. This can be achieved at end of production line testing, ensuring quality control. Cable manufacturers Must measure the resistance of the copper wires they produce, resistance too high means that the current carrying capability of the cable is reduced; resistance too low means that the manufacturer is being too generous on the cable diameter using more copper than he needs to, which can be very expensive. Installation & maintenance of power cables, switchgear & voltage tap changers These require the cable joints and switch contacts to be of the lowest possible resistance

thus avoiding the joint or contact from becoming excessively hot, a poor cable joint or switch contact will soon fail due to this heating effect. Routine preventative maintenance with regular resistance checks ensures the best possible life performances. Electric motor & generator manufacturers There is a requirement to determine the maximum temperature reached under full load. To determine this temperature, the temperature coefficient of the copper winding is used. The resistance is first measured with the motor or generator cold i.e. at ambient temperature, the unit is then run at full load for a specified period and the resistance measured again. From the change in resistance value, the internal motor/generator temperature can be determined. Our ohmmeters are also used to measure the individual coils of a motor winding, to ensure there are no short or open circuit turns and that each coil is balanced. The automotive industry Requirement to measure the resistance of robot welding cables to ensure that the weld quality

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does not deteriorate, i.e. battery lead crimp connectors, air bag detonator resistance, resistance of wiring harness, and quality of crimp connectors on components. Fuse manufacturers For quality control, resistance bonding measurements on aircraft and military vehicles, it is necessary to ensure that all equipment installed in aircraft is electrically connected to the air frame, including galley equipment. Tanks and other military vehicles have the same requirements. Producers and users of large electrical currents all need to measure distribution of joint resistance, busbars, and connectors to electrodes for electroplating. Railway utilities Including trams and underground railways (Metro) - for the measurement of power distribution cable joints, including the resistance of rail track joints, because the rails are often used for signalling information.

RESISTANCE Ohms Law V = I x R (Volts = Current x Resistance). The Ohm () is a unit of electrical resistance equal to that of a conductor in which a current of one ampere is produced by a potential of one volt across its terminals. Ohm's law, named after its discoverer the German physicist Georg Ohm, is one of the most important, basic laws of electricity. It defines the relationship between the three fundamental electrical quantities: current, voltage and resistance. When a voltage is applied to a circuit containing only resistive elements, current flows according to Ohm's Law, which is shown below.
Current I Where: I = Electrical Current (Amperes) V = Voltage (Voltage) R = Resistance (Ohms) V R

Resistance

Volt

Amp

Resistance =

Volt Current

There exists a variety of resistance measuring instruments that will calculate and display the resistance reading without the need for calculations by the user. These measuring instruments will employ either a two wire or a four wire measurement technique. Kelvin Double Bridge The Kelvin Bridge is a variation of the Wheatstone bridge which enables low resistances to be measured. The measurement range would typically be 1m to 1k with the smallest resolution of 1. The limitations of the Kelvin bridge are:1. requires manual balancing 2. sensitive null detector or galvanometer is required to detect balance condition 3. measurement current needs to be reasonably high to achieve sufficient sensitivity The Kelvin Double Bridge has generally been replaced by digital ohmmeters. DMM - Two-wire Connection A simple digital multimeter can be used for

PRINCIPLES OF RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT Ammeter Voltmeter method This method goes right back to basics. If we use a battery as our voltage source, a voltmeter to measure the voltage and an ammeter to measure the current in the circuit, we can calculate the resistance with reasonable accuracy. Whilst this method can provide good measurement results, it is not a practical solution to everyday measurement needs. 6

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higher values of resistance. They employ the 2 wire method of measurement and are only suitable for measuring values above 100 and where high accuracy is not required.
R1

DMM Test meter Terminals

When measuring the resistance of a component (Rx) a test current is forced through the component and the test meter measures the voltage at its terminals. The meter then calculates and displays the resulting resistance and is known as a twowire measurement. It should be noted that the meter measures the voltage at its terminals and not across the component. As a result of this, the voltage drop across the connection leads is also included in the resistance calculation. Good quality test leads will have a resistance of approximately 0.02 per meter. In addition to the resistance of the leads, the resistance of the lead connection will also be included in the measurement and this can be as high as or even higher in value than the leads themselves.

Resistance of test leads 0.02 each 1 metre lead

R2

R3

Connection resistance

R4

RX DMM measures:- Rx + R1 + R2 + R3 + R4

When measuring larger resistance values this additional lead resistance error can be ignored, but as you can see from the chart below, the error becomes significantly higher as the measured value decreases, and totally inappropriate below 10.

TABLE 1 Examples of possible measurement errors

RX 1000 100 10 1 100 m 10 m 1 m 100 Test lead resistance R1 + R2 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 Connection resistance R3 + R4 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 Rx measured at DMM terminals = Rx + R1 + R2 + R3 + R4 1000.08 100.08 10.08 1.08 180 m 90 m 81 m 80.1 m Digital ohmmeters Error 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 Error % 0.008 0.08 0.8 8 80 800 8000

8000 0.08 wire connection

To measure true DC, resistance ohmmeters typically use 4 wire measurement. DC current is passed through the Rx and through the ohmmeters internal standard. The voltage across the Rx and the internal standard is then measured and the ratio of the two readings is used to calculate the resistance. With this method the current only needs to be steady for the few milliseconds required for the ohmmeter to make both readings, but it requires two measurement circuits. The voltage measured is very small and a V measurement sensitivity is usually required.

Voltage measured across Rx RX Constant current source

Current I

RX

Rstd

Alternatively a constant current source is used to pass a current through the Rx. The volt drop across the Rx is then measured and the resistance calculated. This method requires only one measurement circuit but the current generator has to be stable under all measurement conditions.

Current flow Sample Cable to be measured

Current I

Voltage measured across Rx

Voltage measured across ohmmeter internal standard

Four wire connection The four wire (Kelvin) method of measurement is preferred for resistance values below 100, and all Cropico milliohmmeters and microhmmeters use this method. These measurements are made using 4 separate wires. 2 wires carry the current, known as the source or current leads and pass current through the Rx. The other 2 wires known as the sense or potential leads, are used to sense the voltage drop across Rx. Whilst some small current will flow in the sense leads, it is negligible and can be ignored. The volt drop across the ohmmeters sense terminals is therefore virtually the same as the volt drop across Rx. This method of measurement will produce accurate and consistent results when measuring resistances below 100.

P1

C1

Test lead C current lead position is not critical but must be outside P

Test lead P potential lead position is critical must be inside C and exactly at the point where the measurement is to be made

Test lead P1 potential lead position is critical and must be inside C1 and exactly at the point where the measurement is to be made

Test lead C1 current lead position is not critical but must be outside P1

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From a measurement point of view this is the best type of connection with 4 separate wires; 2 current (C and C1) and 2 potential (P and P1). The current wires must always be placed outside the potential although the exact placement is not critical. The potential wires must be connected exactly at the points you want to measure between. The measured value will be between the potential points. Whilst this gives the best measurement results it is often not practical. We live in a non perfect world and sometimes small compromises have to be made, Cropico can offer a number of practical measurement solutions. METHODS OF 4 TERMINAL CONNECTIONS Kelvin clips Kelvin clips are similar to crocodile (Alligator) clips but with each jaw insulated from the other. The current lead is connected to one jaw and the potential lead to the other. Kelvin clips offer a very practical solution to making a four terminal connection to wires, busbars, plates etc.
C Position of connection when using Kelvin clips P1 C P Current Connection Potential Connection C1 Duplex handspikes being used to measure busbar joint resistance P

Duplex Handspikes Handspikes offer another very practical connection solution particularly for sheet material, busbars and where access can be a problem. The handspike consists of two sprung spikes enclosed in a handle. One spike is the current connection and the other is the potential or sense connection.

Current spikes Potential spikes P1 C1

Stacked Lead connection Sometimes the only practical solution to making a connection to the Rx is to use stacking leads. The current lead is pushed into the back of the potential lead. This method will give small errors 9

because the measurement point will be where the potential lead connects to the current lead. For measurement of awkward-to-reach samples, this can be the best compromise solution.
Potential lead P C P Position of connections when using stacked leads measurement between C1 P2

Potential lead C

Measurement point

Jigs and fixtures When measuring other components such as resistors, fuses, switch contacts, rivets etc. the importance of using a test jig to hold the component cannot be emphasised enough. This will ensure that the measurement conditions, i.e. position of measurement leads, are the same for each component which will result in consistent, reliable and meaningful measurements. Jigs often have to be specially designed to suit the application.

Cable clamps

POSSIBLE MEASUREMENT ERRORS There are several possible sources of measurement error associated with low resistance measurements. The most common ones are described below. Dirty connections As with all measurements, it is important to ensure that the device you are connecting is clean and free from oxides and dirt. High resistance connections will cause reading errors and may prevent measurements. It should also be noted that some coatings and oxides on materials are good insulators. Anodising has a very high resistance and is a classic example. Be sure to clean off the coating at the connection points. Cropico ohmmeters incorporate a lead error warning which will indicate if the connections are too high in resistance. Resistance of leads too high Whilst in theory the four terminal method of measurement is unaffected by lead length, care must be taken to ensure that the leads are not too high in resistance. The potential leads are not critical

When measuring cables during manufacture, and for quality control purposes, it is necessary to maintain consistent measuring conditions. The length of the cable sample is normally 1 metre and to ensure that accurate 1 metre lengths are measured, a cable clamp should be used. Cropico offer a variety of cable clamps which will accommodate most cable sizes. The cable to be measured is placed in the clamp and the ends of the cable are clamped in the current terminals. The potential connection points are normally in the form of knife edge contacts which are exactly 1 metre apart.
Current clamp connections distance not critical Potential knife edge connections 1 metre apart

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and can usually be up to 1k without affecting the measurement accuracy, but the current leads are critical. If the current leads are too high in resistance then the voltage drop across them will result in insufficient voltage across the DUT (Device Under Test) to make a sensible reading. Cropico ohmmeters check this compliance voltage across the DUT and prevent a measurement from being made if it falls too low. A warning display is also provided; preventing the reading, ensuring that false measurements are not carried out. If you need to use long measuring leads, then increase the diameter of the cables to reduce their resistance. Measurement Noise As with any type of low voltage measurement, noise can be a problem. Noise is created within test leads when they are in the influence of a magnetic field which is changing or the leads are moving within that field. To minimise this effect, leads should be kept as short as is practical, kept still and ideally shielded. Cropico realises that there are many practical constraints on achieving this ideal, and have therefore designed the circuits within their ohmmeters to minimise and eliminate these effects. Thermal emf Thermal emf in the DUT is probably the biggest cause of errors in low resistance measurements. We must first understand what we mean by thermal emf, and how it is generated. Thermal emfs are small voltages which are generated when two dissimilar metals are joined together, forming what is known as a thermocouple junction. A thermocouple will generate an emf depending upon the materials used at the junction and the temperature difference between the hot and the reference, or cold, junction.

Copper

Cold junction = 20 C

Emf generated

Hot junction = 30 C

Nickel

Copper

Cold junction = 20 C

No Emf generated

Hot junction = 30 C

Copper

This thermocouple effect will introduce errors into the measurement if steps are not taken to compensate and eliminate these thermal emfs. Cropico microhmmeters and milliohmmeters eliminate this effect by offering an automatic average mode for the measurement, sometimes called the switched DC or average method. A measurement is made with the current flowing in the forward direction then a second measurement is made with the current in the reverse direction. The value displayed is the average of these two measurements. Any thermal emf in the measuring system will add to the first measurement and be subtracted from the second; the resulting average value displayed eliminates or cancels the thermal 11

emf from the measurement. This method gives the best results for resistive loads but is not suitable for inductive samples such as motor or transformer windings. In these cases the ohmmeter is likely to switch current direction before the inductance is fully saturated and the correct measured value will not be achieved.

example, can produce high emfs when forming junctions with copper. Crocodile clips are often made from nickel plated brass and can produce very high emfs when forming junctions with copper connecting wires. Inappropriate connection to sample When making four wire connections it is important to place each wire in the appropriate place. The current and potential leads should always be used in pairs and the current connection outside the potential as shown below.

V1 Vemf

V2 Vx = (V1 + Vemf)2 + (V2- Vemf) Where

C Vx = Voltage across DUT without influence of thermal emf V1 = Voltage across DUT with + current V2 = Voltage across DUT with - current Vemf = Thermal emf

P1

C1

The second method sometimes employed is to connect the current terminals of the ohmmeter together, and with the potential leads connected to the DUT, measure any thermal emf that may be present. This measured value is then stored and deducted from the next measurement with current and potential leads connected to the DUT in the normal way. This is all done automatically when using Cropico Ohmmeters in the auto zero mode. Thermal emfs can be relatively high (100mV) and it is therefore important to carefully select the materials used for making connections. Nickel plated brass, for

C1

P1

Measurement of joint resistance of 2 busbars Wrong Test Current Consideration should always be given to the effect the measurement current will have on the DUT. Devices with a small mass or

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constructed with materials that have a high temperature coefficient, such as thin strands of copper wire, will need to be measured with the minimum current available to avoid heating. In these cases a single pulse of current may be appropriate to cause the very minimum of heating. Should the DUT be subject to the influences of thermal emf then the switched current method described earlier is appropriate. The Cropico DO5000 series of ohmmeters have selectable currents from 10% to 100% in 1% steps, plus a single pulse mode and consequently may be configured to suit most applications. Temperature influences It is important to be aware that the resistance of most materials will be affected by their temperature. It may be necessary, depending upon the accuracy of measurement required, to control the environment in which the measurement is made, thus keeping the ambient temperature constant. This would be the case when measuring resistance reference standards which are measured in a o o controlled laboratory at either 20 C or 23 C. For measurements where controlling the ambient temperature is not possible, the ATC (automatic temperature compensation) facility can be used. A temperature probe, connected to the ohmmeter, senses the ambient temperature and the resistance reading is corrected to a reference o temperature of 20 C. Two of the most common materials measured are copper and aluminium and their temperature coefficients are illustrated opposite.

The Temperature Coefficient of Copper (near o room temperature) is +0.393 % per C. This o means if the temperature increases 1 C the resistance will increase 0.393%. Aluminium o is +0.4100 % per C.

Resistance

105

Aluminium = 4100 ppm/ C Copper = 3930 ppm/ C 0.1 20 C

Temperature

30 C

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CHOOSING THE RIGHT INSTRUMENT TABLE 2 Typical Instrument specification chart

Range 60 6 600 m 60 m 6 m 600 Resolution 10 m 1 m 100 10 1 0.1 Measurement Current 1 mA 10 mA 100 mA 1A 10 A 10 A Accuracy @ 20 oC

C, 1 year

Temperature Coefficient / oC 40 ppm Rdg + 30 ppm FS 40 ppm Rdg + 30 ppm FS 40 ppm Rdg + 30 ppm FS 40 ppm Rdg + 30 ppm FS 40 ppm Rdg + 30 ppm FS 40 ppm Rdg + 250 ppm FS

(0.15% Rdg + 0.05% FS) (0.15% Rdg + 0.05% FS) (0.15% Rdg + 0.05% FS) (0.15% Rdg + 0.05% FS) (0.2% Rdg + 0.01% FS) (0.2% Rdg + 0.02% FS)

Range: The maximum reading possible at that setting Resolution: The smallest number (digit) displayed for that range Measurement Current: The nominal current used by that range Accuracy: Uncertainty of the measurement over the o ambient temperature range 15 to 25 C Temperature Coefficient: The additional possible error below ambient o o temperature of 15 C and above 25 C When selecting the best instrument for your application the following should be taken into consideration:Accuracy can be better described as the uncertainty of measurement, which is the

closeness of the agreement between the result of a measured value and the true value. It is normally expressed in two parts i.e. a percentage of reading plus a percentage full scale. The accuracy statement should include the temperature range applicable, plus the length of time the accuracy will remain within the indicated limits. Warning: some manufacturers give a very high accuracy statement but this is valid only for a short period of 30 or 90 Days. All Cropico ohmmeters specify accuracy for a full 1 year. Resolution is the smallest increment that the measuring instrument will display. It should be noted that to achieve high measurement accuracy a suitably high resolution is needed, but a high resolution in itself does not indicate that the measurement has a high accuracy. Example: To measure 1 with an accuracy of 0.01% ( 0.0001) requires the measurement to be displayed with a minimum resolution of 100 (1.0001ohms).

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Accuracy =

0.0001 digits ( 100

Resolution =

0.00001 digits ( 10

A measured value can also be displayed with a very high resolution but low accuracy i.e. 1 measured to an accuracy of 1% but a resolution of 100 would be displayed as 1.0001. The only meaningful digits would be 1.0100, the last two digits only showing the fluctuations in the measured values. These fluctuations can be misleading and emphasising any instability of the DUT. A suitable resolution should be selected to ensure a comfortable reading of the display. Measurement Scale length Digital measuring instruments display the measured value with displays that have a maximum count, often 1999 (sometimes referred to as 3 digit). This means that the maximum value that can be displayed is 1999 and the smallest resolution is 1 digit in 1999. For a measurement of 1 the display will read 1.000, a resolution of 0.001m. If we wish to measure 2 we will need to select a higher range 19.99 full scale and
Scale Length 1.999 19.99 2.000

the value will be displayed as 2.00, a resolution of 0.01. You can therefore see that it is desirable to have a longer scale length than the traditional 1999. The Cropico ohmmeters offer scale lengths up to 6000 count, which would give a displayed value of 2.000, with a resolution of 0.001. Range Selection Range selection can be either manual or automatic. Whilst automatic range selection can be very useful when the value of Rx is unknown, the measurement takes longer as the instrument needs to find the correct range. For measurements on a number of similar samples, it is better to manually select the range. In addition to this, the various instrument ranges will measure with different currents which may not be suitable for the device being tested. When measuring inductive samples, such as motors or transformers, the measured value rises as the inductance is saturated until the final value is reached. Automatic range selection should not be used in these applications, as by changing ranges the measuring current is interrupted and its magnitude may also be changed and a final steady reading is unlikely to be achieved.
20.00 3.000 30.00 4.000 40.000

Measured Values

1.000 2.000 3.000 4.000

1.000 Range up Range up Range up

2.00 3.00 4.00

Display reading 1.000 2.000 Range up 3.00 Range up 4.00

1.000 2.000 3.000 Range up

4.00

1.000 2.000 3.000 4.000

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Temperature coefficient The temperature coefficient of a measuring instrument is important as it can significantly affect the accuracy of the measurement. Measuring instruments are normally calibrated in an ambient temperature of 20 or 23 OC. The temperature coefficient states how the measured accuracy is affected due to variations in ambient temperature. Current Magnitude and Mode Selecting an instrument with the appropriate measuring current for the application is important. For example, if thin wires are to be measured, then a high measuring current would heat the wire and change its resistance value. Copper wire has a temperature coefficient of 4% per OC at ambient temperatures, so for a wire with a 1 resistance, raising the temperature by 10 OC will increase its value to 10 x 0.004 = 0.04. Some applications, however, benefit from higher currents. The measurement current mode can also be important. Again, when measuring thin wires, a short measurement pulse of current rather than using a continuous current, will minimise any heating effect. A switched DC measuring mode may also be appropriate to eliminate thermal emf errors, but for measuring motor windings or transformers, a current pulse or switched DC would be inappropriate. Continuous current is required to saturate inductance giving the correct measured value. Automatic Temperature Compensation When measuring materials with a high

temperature coefficient, such as copper, the resistance value will increase with temperature. Measurements taken at an o ambient temperature of 20 C will be 0.4% o lower than measurements at 30 C. This can be misleading when trying to compare the values for quality control purposes. To overcome this, some ohmmeters are provided with automatic temperature compensation (ATC). The ambient temperature is measured with a temperature sensor, and the resistance value displayed is corrected for temperature o changes referencing the readings to 20 C. Measurement speed The speed of measurement is not normally too important and most ohmmeters will measure at approximately 1 reading per second, but in automated processes such as component selection and production line testing, fast measuring speeds, up to 50 measurements per second, can be desirable. Of course when measuring at these speeds the ohmmeter needs to be remotely controlled using a computer or PLC interfaces. Remote connections For remote connection IEEE-488, RS232 or PLC interface may be appropriate. The IEEE-488 interface is a parallel port for the transmission of 8 bits (1byte) of information at a time over 8 wires. It has a transmission speed greater than RS232 but is limited in connection cable distance to 20 metres. The RS232 interface is a serial port for transmission of data in serial bit format. RS232

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has a slower transmission speed than IEEE-488 and requires only 3 lines to transmit data, receive data and signal ground. The PLC interface allows basic remote control of the microhmmeter by a Programmable Logic Controller or similar device. Environmental Consideration should be given to the type of environment in which the ohmmeter is to be used. Is a portable unit needed? Does the construction need to be rugged enough to withstand building site conditions? What temperature and humidity range does it need to operate in?

Verification and calibration Accuracy verification is the confirmation that the instrument is within its published specification and no adjustment is made. This is accomplished by connecting resistance standards to the ohmmeter and confirming that the instrument measured and displayed values are the same as the standards certified value. Calibration is the adjustment of the instrument so that the measured and displayed value is the same as the certified standards value. The Cropico range of ohmmeters stores the calibration data and applies corrections automatically to each displayed value. The advantage of this digital calibration is that there are no mechanical trimmers to adjust,

TABLE Ohmmeter selection chart

Ohmmeter Automotive Aerospace Cable Calibration Labs Drivers and electrical machines Distribution Catalogues Military Manufacturing Utilities electrical Gas and Water
Army, Navy, Air force, bonding resistance of vehicles and equipment. Calibration of equipment Resistance measurement of components, switches, connectors, crimp joints, fuses etc Measurement of power cable joints, underground and pylon. Measurement of earthing resistance and contactor resistance in substations Manufacturers of vehicles and components - motors, alternators, connectors, cable harnesses, switches Bonding resistance (metallization) of aircraft frames and all equipment Measurement of cable resistance Calibration standards

DO4000 DO4A DO5000 DO6 Series Series

DO7 DO7e DO7 Plus DO7010 DO8000

Measurement of motor, generator and transformer resistance

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and no need to open the instrument as all adjustments are made from the front panel. The calibration data is protected by a password to avoid unauthorised adjustment. For each measurement range the zero and near full scale values are adjusted. The Cropico MTS range of milliohmmeter calibration standards have all the values, including a true 4 terminal zero, housed in one convenient unit. It is important to keep good records of verification and adjustment data so that any long term drifts or problems can be identified.

Potential terminals P and P1

P C Rstd

P1 C1

Resistance element

Current terminals C and C1

APPLICATION EXAMPLES The applications for resistance measuring instruments are very wide ranging. Described below are a few of the more common ones. Measuring four terminal resistors and standards

When measuring four terminal resistors and standards it is important that a true four terminal measurement is made. The current and potential measuring leads must be connected to the corresponding terminals on the resistor. Crossing over the current and potential leads will result in an incorrect measurement. Measurements made using the two terminal method, either by connecting to a single pair of terminals or by connecting the source and sense terminals together, will also produce incorrect results.

101.00 m

DMM 2 terminal measurement Using a two terminal DMM measurement on a four terminal standard will give large errors C1

P C Rstd

P1

A four terminal resistance standard is constructed with 2 current terminals connected to the ends of the resistance element and 2 potential points connected at the adjusted value of the standard. This method of construction ensures repeatable values to be achieved when connecting to the standards terminals.

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Ohmmeter 4 terminal measurements 101.00 m P C P1 C1 Four terminal measurements with Ohmmeter current and potential leads crossed will give errors

P C Rstd

P1 C1

International standards that may apply. It is, however, very important to the manufacturer that the maximum permitted resistance is achieved. From the manufacturers point of view the lower the resistance value per metre, the larger the diameter of the cable, and hence the greater amount of copper is used. Copper is expensive and is the main contributor to the cable cost, the less copper used the higher the manufacturers profit. Accurate and reliable resistance measurement enables the cable manufacturer to achieve the minimum cable diameter, whilst remaining within the declared specification. This is a very powerful argument for good resistance measurements in the cable industry. The accepted method of measuring metre lengths is to use a 1 metre cable clamp. Method To ensure meaningful measurements it is necessary to define the measurement conditions. The length of the cable to be measured, the current used to measure the cable and the temperature at which the cable will be measured, all need to be defined. Cable Length It is normal practice to measure a metre length of cable and special cable clamps are available for holding the wire. The clamp should include connections for both the current and potential points. The use of a cable clamp eliminates inconsistent readings due to small changes in the length of cable measured. Care should be taken not to stretch the wire when placing it in the clamp, as this will increase the resistance. The clamp should have provision for shielding the wire against draughts which can cause temperature variations. An additional desirable feature of the clamp is the 19

Ohmmeter 4 terminal measurements 101.00 m P C P1 C1 Current and potential leads correctly connected for accurate four terminal measurements

P C Rstd

P1 C1

Wires and cables During the production process it is necessary to measure the resistance of all electrical wires and cables that are used to distribute power e.g. cable used to wire a house. The resistance needs to be low enough to ensure that the cables will not heat up too much when the maximum rated current is flowing. The higher the resistance, the hotter the cable will become with a set current flowing through it. Cable manufacturers must ensure that the resistance per metre of the cable conforms to the published specification and to any National or

provision for mounting a temperature sensor adjacent to the cable being measured. The diagram below shows the connections to the wire being measured. Note the current connections are placed on the ends of the cable and the potential connections are inside the current and exactly 1 metre apart.

128.50 m

Current

P Potential

Potential P1 1 Meter

C1

Current

Influence of Temperature All wires and cables have a temperature coefficient; their resistance value will vary according to the temperature. Some materials have a relatively high temperature coefficient (e.g. o copper = 3930ppm/ C) and the measured resistance value will depend upon the temperature. This temperature is influenced by the ambient temperature changes and the heating effect caused by the measurement current. The effect of ambient temperature changes can be compensated for using the ATC

(Automatic Temperature Compensation). This temperature compensation operates by measuring the ambient temperature and automatically correcting the measurement using the materials temperature coefficient to calculate and display the resistance reading referenced to o 20 C. By using this method all measured values are relative to the same ambient temperature. To minimise the heating effect of the measuring current is not quite so easy. Ideally the cable should be immersed in a tank of water which is kept at a constant temperature. The water will then dissipate any heat in the cable and keep it at a constant temperature. However this method is expensive, messy, and time consuming and is normally only used for the larger cable diameters. Another solution is to limit the measuring current and the time it is applied, thus keeping the heating effect to a minimum. The Cropico DO5000 microhmmeter is ideally suited to this application as it has the ability to vary the measurement current and reduce the measurement time to a single shot measurement of approx. 0.5 seconds or in FAST MODE to 0.02 seconds.

TABLE 3 Change in resistance with temperature

MATERIAL Copper Aluminium TEMP. COEFFICIENT 3930 ppm / oC 4100 ppm / oC Resistance @ 20 oC 0.001 0.001 Resistance @ 23 oC 0.01279 0.0133

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Possible Causes of Error 1. Inconsistent measurement conditions. Proper cable clamp not used. Position of potential measurement connections vary. 2. Ambient temperature variations not compensated for, measurement varying due to changes in temperature. 3. Draughts blowing across cable sample causing small changes to cable temperature. 4. Cable being heated by the measuring current causing a continual drift in measurement. 5. Poorly made connections, oxides or dirt on cable producing high resistance at connection points. 6. Plastic coating on cable retains heat in cable. Measurement solutions

complete with temperature controlled water bath. Cable clamps are available for all cable sizes, and when used with the DO5000 microhmmeter, make the perfect measurement solution.

The Cropico DO5000 microhmmeter is the ideal instrument for cable testing; it has the automatic temperature compensation required with the flexibility to set both the cable materials exact temperature coefficient and the temperature which the measurements are referenced to. In addition the DO5000 can operate with a continuous measurement current or a single current pulse. Switched DC measurement mode can also be set. To ensure that the measurement reference conditions are consistent, Cropico offer a variety of 1 metre cable clamps including one model

Temperature rise of motors and transformers All machines produce heat when operating due to internal power losses. It is generally impractical to measure this heat rise with thermocouples or other temperature sensors. The winding construction is normally of copper, which has a known temperature coefficient. By measuring the change in resistance of the winding, the temperature rise can be calculated. Method The winding is first measured with the machine at the ambient temperature and the resistance value Rcold noted. The machine is then run at full load for a specified period to allow the temperature to stabilise. The unit is switched off, and in the case of motors and generators, 21

brought to rest and the winding resistance is again noted. It is important to take the first resistance reading as quickly as possible. This is followed by readings at set time intervals with the values being recorded. The measure hold key of the DO5000 is very useful here. Readings can be held on the display and read before triggering the next reading without interrupting the measuring current. From the series of readings taken, it will be possible to draw a cooling curve and extrapolate back to the maximum resistance Rhot of the motor under full load. In this application, the temperature coefficient of the copper winding is used to measure the temperature changes.

Temperature rise

T=

Rhot - Rcold Rcold (TC)

Example: A motor field winding has a cold resistance of 1.3245. After running at full load for 8 hours the winding resistance is measured at 1.7654. The temperature coefficient of the o o copper winding is 3930ppm/ C (0.3930%/ C)

T=

1.7654 - 1.3245 1.3245 (0.003930)

= 84.702 C

The above does not take into account any changes in ambient temperature which can have a significant effect on the resistance readings.

TABLE Cooling resistance measurement plotted agianst time

First measurement point

Resistance

Curve extra polated back to time = max resistance = max temperature Time

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Tried. Tested. Trusted.

The Cropico ohmmeters have automatic temperature compensation, and by sensing the ambient temperature with an external sensor automatically correct the resistance readings o referencing to an ambient temperature of 20 C, thus eliminating any effects ambient temperature changes may have had. Possible causes of error 1. It is important to make the first measurement as quickly as possible after the machine is disconnected from its power source, and after all current ceases to flow, motors and generators should be brought to a stop condition. WARNING damage is likely to occur to the ohmmeter if connected to the machine whilst current is still flowing. 2. Measurements should be made with a stable and continuous measurement current. DO NOT use auto ranging, switched DC current or pulse currents as this will give large measuring errors. 3. DO NOT switch off the measurement current to take each reading. The Cropico ohmmeters have the ability to freeze the display reading whilst maintaining the measurement current. 4. Make sure connections to the machine are clean and free from oxides. Use copper wire throughout and avoid using connection clips of different materials. The machine will get hot and any thermocouples created within the connections will generate large emfs. 5. WARNING Large distribution and power transformers should only be measured with transformer testing ohmmeters such as the Cropico model DO8000 which is designed

specifically for this application. These ohmmeters incorporate safety circuits and measuring techniques designed for this application. Measurement solution

The Cropico Ohmmeter type DO5000 has all the facilities required to measure the temperature rise of machines. Features include: 1. Automatic temperature compensation 2. Continuous measurement current mode can be selected 3. 2 display hold modes, Mode 1: freezes display reading and does not interrupt the measurement current, Mode 2: freezes the display and disconnects the measurement current. 4. High accuracy 0.03% and long scale length 30000 count 5. Programmable measurement current up to 10Amps to ensure fast saturation of the inductance. The Cropico Ohmmeter type DO7 Plus also has the ability to calculate and plot the cooling curve,

23

displaying the temperature rise results in numerical and graphical format, also on screen and via data downloads. Dry circuit testing - Switch and connector contact resistance The measurement of switch and connector contact resistance in accordance with DIN IEC 512 and ASTM B539 requires that the open circuit voltage of the measuring device should not exceed 20mV DC. This low voltage avoids the breakdown of any oxides that may be present on the contacts. Ohmmeters in the Cropico range have the facility for limiting this open circuit voltage. Bonding and earthing resistance (metallisation resistance) Bonding should not be confused with earthing and is the electrical connection for components to ensure that they have an equal potential. Earthing is the connection of a circuit to the ground earth. Both bonding and earthing connections need to be measured to ensure that a suitably good low resistance joint is achieved and maintained. Typical applications for earthing can be found in electricity distribution substations which have earthing systems for all the equipment, usually in copper. Being made of copper the earthing is often stolen, making regular checks essential. The Cropico range of portable ohmmeters is ideal for these measurements, being rugged in design and unaffected by the high magnetic fields found in these substations.

Aircraft bonding All metal parts installed in an aircraft must be electrically connected together (Bonded). This includes all parts of the airframe. This electrical bonding of the airframe ensures that the Faraday cage protection is complete. In the case of lightning strikes on the aircraft, it will ensure that all the current from the lightning strike will flow through the aircraft outer skin only. This safeguards the aircraft from the lightning current flowing haphazardly though the aircraft and damaging avionic systems essential to the aircraft safety. Aircraft manufacturers have strict procedures for measuring the bonding resistance, both in production and maintenance. Ohmmeters used to measure this bonding resistance must be accurate, reliable, and able to measure with long leads. Ohmmeters in the Cropico range fulfill these criteria and are used by major aircraft manufacturers and operators.

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Tried. Tested. Trusted.

USEFUL FORMULAS AND CHARTS TABLE A SI Unit Prefixes

Factor 1015 1012 109 106 103 102 101 Name peta tera Giga Mega Kilo Hector deka Symbol P T G M k h da Factor 10-1 10-2 10-3 10-6 10-9 10-12 10-15 Name deci centi millo micro nano pico femto Symbol d c m n p f

TABLE B Temperature
Known Temperature Celsius Celsius Fahrenheit Fahrenheit Kelvin Kelvin
o o

Required Temperature C C o F o F K K to to to to to to F K o C K o C o F
o

Formulae F=(1.8 X oC)+32 K=oC+273.15 o C=(oF-32)/1.8 K=(oF+459.67)/1.8 o C=K-273.15 o F=(1.8xK)-459.67

o

Fahrenheit Kelvin Celsius Kelvin Celsius Fahrenheit

Celsius C Boiling point of water 100 C

Fahrenheit F 212 F

Kelvin K 373.15 K

Room temperature Freezing point of water Absolute zero

20 C 0 C -273.15 C

68 F 32 F -459.67 F

293.15 K 273.15 K 0K

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TABLE C Temperature coefficients conductivity and resistivity of resistance, at 20 oC

Material Nickel Iron Tungsten Aluminium Copper Silver Platinum Gold Zinc Steel Manganin Constantan Symbol Ni Fe W Al Cu Ag Pt Au Zn FeC CuMnNi CuNi Element Element Element Element Element Element Element Element Element Alloy Alloy Alloy Temperature ocoefficient per C 0.005866 0.005671 0.004403 0.004100 0.003930 0.003819 0.003729 0.003715 0.003847 0.003 +/- 0.000015 -0.000074 Conductivity per -m 1.43 x 107 1.03 x 107 1.89 x 107 3.77 x 107 5.95 x 107 6.29 x 107 0.96 x 107 4.55 x 107 1.69 x 107 0.502 x 107 0.207 x 107 0.20 x 107 Resistivity -cm 6.93 9.66 5.28 2.65 1.67 1.59 10.5 2.21 5.92 16.62 48.21 48.20

NOTE: Chart information is taken from multiple sources.

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.htm lhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_resistivity http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/CommunityCollege/Materials/Physical_Chemical/Electrical.htm

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Tried. Tested. Trusted.

TABLE D Wire gauges and resistivity

AWG
0000(4/0 000(3/0) 00(2/0) 0(1/0) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Diameter
(inch) 0.46 0.4096 0.3648 0.3249 0.2893 0.2576 0.2294 0.2043 0.1819 0.162 0.1443 0.1285 0.1144 0.1019 0.0907 0.0808 0.072 0.0641 0.0571 0.0508 0.0453 (mm) 11.68 10.4 9.266 8.251 7.348 6.544 5.827 5.189 4.621 4.115 3.665 3.264 2.906 2.588 2.305 2.053 1.828 1.628 1.45 1.291 1.15

Area
(kcmil) 211.6 167.8 133.1 105.5 83.69 66.37 52.63 41.74 33.1 26.25 20.72 16.52 13.08 10.38 8.23 6.53 5.17 4.10 3.26 2.59 2.05 1.62 107 85 67.4 53.5 42.4 33.6 26.7 21.2 16.8 13.3 10.5 8.37 6.63 5.26 4.17 3.31 2.62 2.08 1.65 1.31 1.04 0.823

Copper Resistance
(/1000 ft) 0.049* 0.062* 0.077* ~0.1 0.12* 0.15* 0.16* 0.2* 0.25* ~0.3281 0.4* 0.5* 0.8* 1.5* 2.2* 3.2772 4.1339 5.21 6.572 8.284 10.45 13.18 16.614 20.948

Approximate stranded metric equivalents

AWG
19 20 21 22 23 24

Diameter
(inch) 0.032 (mm) 0.8128 0.0359 0.9116 0.0285 0.7229 0.0253 0.6438 0.0226 0.5733 0.0201 0.5106 0.0179 0.4547 0.0159 0.4049 0.0142 0.3606 0.0126 0.3211 0.0113 0.2859 0.01 0.008 0.2546 0.2019 0.0089 0.2268 0.0071 0.1798 0.0063 0.1601 0.0056 0.1426 0.005 0.004 0.127 0.1007 0.0045 0.1131 0.0035 0.08969 0.0031 0.07987

Area
(kcmil) 1.29 1.02 0.81 0.64 0.51 0.40 0.32 0.255 0.201 0.160 0.127 0.100 0.080 0.063 0.050 0.040 0.032 0.025 0.020 (mm2) 0.653 0.518 0.41 0.326 0.258 0.205 0.162 0.129 0.102 0.081 0.0642 0.0509 0.0404 0.032 0.0254 0.0201 0.016 0.0127 0.01

Copper Resistance
(/1 km) (/1000 ft) 26.414 33.301 41.995 52.953 66.798 84.219 106.201 133.891 168.865 212.927 268.471 338.583 426.837 538.386 678.806 833 1085.958 1360.892 1680.118 2127.953 2781.496 3543.307 8.051 10.15 12.8 16.14 20.36 25.67 32.37 40.81 51.47 64.9 81.83 103.2 130.1 164.1 206.9 260.9 331 414.8 512.1 648.6 847.8 1080

Approximate stranded metric equivalents

<24/0.2 16/0.2 7/0.25 1/0.5, 7/0.2,30/0.1 30/0.1 7/0.15

(mm2) (/1 km)

196/0.4 0.24* 126/0.4 0.47* 80/0.4 0.67* >84/0.3 0.9989 1.26 1.588 2.003 2.525 3.184 4.016 5.064 6.385 >30/0.25 <30/0.25 32/0.2 >24/0.2 50/0.25 <84/0.3 56/0.3

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

1/0.25, 7/0.1 1/0.2, 7/0.08

0.016 0.00797 0.012 0.00632 0.010 0.00501

0.0403 1.02362

The North American wire gauges (AWG gauges) refer to sizes of copper wire. This table corresponds to a resistivity of = 1.724 x 10-8 ohm m for copper at 20oC *the AWG system states areas of round copper wires in circular mils, which is the square of the diameter in mils. 1 mil = 0.001. Conductors larger than 4/0 AWG are generally identified by the area in thousands of circular mils (kcmil), where 1 kcmil = 0.5067 mm2 NOTE: Chart information is taken from http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Tables/wirega.html Resistivity equation Where P = RA L P = electical resistivity R = resistance of conductor A = cross sectional area of conductor L = length of conductor

ohm metre ohm metre2 metre

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TABLE E Wire gauge equivalent SWG/AWG

Number gauge 0000000 (7/0) 000000 (6/0) 00000 (5/0) 0000 (4/0) 000 (3/0) 00 (2/0) 0 (1/0) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Imperial Standard Wire Gauge SWG inch. dia. 0.5000 0.4640 0.4320 0.4000 0.3720 0.3480 0.3240 0.3000 0.2760 0.2520 0.2320 0.2120 0.1920 0.1760 0.1600 0.1440 0.1280 0.1160 0.1040 0.0920 0.0800 0.0720 0.0640 0.0560 0.0480 0.0400 0.0360 0.0320 0.0280 0.0240 0.0220 0.0200 American Wire Gauge AWG inch. dia. 0.580000 0.516500 0.460000 0.409642 0.364796 0.324861 0.289297 0.257627 0.229423 0.2043 0.1819 0.1620 0.1443 0.1285 0.1144 0.1019 0.0907 0.0808 0.0720 0.0641 0.0571 0.0508 0.0453 0.0403 0.0359 0.0320 0.0285 0.0253 0.0226 0.0201 0.0179 Number gauge 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 Imperial Standard Wire Gauge SWG inch. dia. 0.0200 0.0180 0.0164 0.0148 0.0136 0.0124 0.0116 0.0108 0.0100 0.0092 0.0084 0.0076 0.0068 0.0060 0.0052 0.0048 0.0044 0.0040 0.0036 0.0032 0.0028 0.0024 0.0020 0.0016 0.0012 0.0010 American Wire Gauge AWG inch. dia. 0.0179 0.0159 0.0142 0.0126 0.0113 0.0100 0.0089 0.0080 0.0071 0.0063 0.0056 0.0050 0.0045 0.0040 0.0035 0.0031 0.0028 0.0025 0.0022 0.0020 0.0018 0.0016 0.0014 0.0012 0.0011 0.0010 0.00088 0.00078 0.00070 0.00062 0.00055 0.00049

NOTE: Chart information is taken from http://www.simetric.co.uk/siwire.htm

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Tried. Tested. Trusted.

Outside North America wire sizes for electrical purposes are usually given as the cross sectional in square millimeters. International standard manufacturing sizes for conductors in electrical cables are defined in IEC 60028. IEC 60288 is the International Electrotechnical Commissions international standard on Conductors and insulated cables. Among other things it defines a set of standard wire cross-sections:
International standard wire sizes (IEC 60228) 0.5 mm2 6 mm2 70 mm2 300 mm2 0.75 mm2 10 mm2 95 mm2 400 mm2 1 mm2 16 mm2 120 mm2 500 mm2 1.5 mm2 25 mm2 150 mm2 630 mm2 2.5 mm2 35 mm2 185 mm2 800 mm2 4 mm2 50 mm2 240 mm2 1000 mm2

NOTE: Chart information is taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEC_60228

Switch DC Mode (Current reversal mode)

Vx = (V1 + Vemf) + (V2- Vemf) V1 Vemf Where Vx = Voltage across DUT without influence of thermal emf V1 = Voltage across DUT with + current V2 = Voltage across DUT with - current Vemf = Thermal emf 2

V2

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Auto Zero Mode

No Current flow C

Current flow C

P DUT OFF
V

P ON
V

P1

P1

C1

C1

Measurement cycle

Measurement 1: V1 = Vemf Measurement 2: V2 = VDUT + Vemf V auto Zero = V2 - V1 RDUT + V auto zero

Thermal emf

emf across DUT + thermal emf

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DUT

Tried. Tested. Trusted.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS Accuracy The uncertainty of a measurement which is the closeness of the agreement with the actual value. The nominal temperature that surrounds a device or system. Automatic temperature compensation. American wire gauge, also known as the "Brown and Sharpe" wire gauge, is used in the United States and other countries as a standard method of denoting wire diameter, especially for nonferrous, electrically conducting wire.

Ambient temperature ATC AWG

Bonding resistance Cable Cable Clamp A general term usually used to describe conductors of large diameter. A device for holding 1 metre lengths of cable and providing connections to the cable for current and potential connections. The reciprocal of electrical resistance. A graph plotting resistance values against time. Usually used when testing motor or transformer to determine the maximum temperature achieved under full load conditions. Digital Multimeter. Consists of two sprung spikes mounted in a handle. One spike is the current connection and the other spike is the potential. Device under test.

Conductivity Cooling Curve

DMM Duplex Handspikes

DUT Earth resistance Emf

Electromotive force is the rate at which energy is drawn from a source that produces a flow of electricity in a circuit; expressed in volts. The rate of charge flow past a given point in an electric circuit, measured in coulombs/second. The unit is the ampere.

Electric current

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Faraday cage IEC

A conducting cage used to shield electronic equipment. The International Electrotechnical Commission is the international standards and conformity assessment body for all fields of electrotechnology. Is a short range digital communications bus. Originally created for use with automated test equipment . Also known as GPIB (general purpose interface bus.) Unit of measure is the Henry (H) and is best described as the behaviour of a coil of wire in resisting any change of electric current through it. The base unit of temperature in the International System of Units. A 4 wire method of connection which avoids errors due to wire resistance. Similar to crocodile clips but with each jaw electrically isolated. Permits both current and potential leads to be connected with a single clip. A resistance measuring instrument capable of measuring resistance with 1 microhm resolution. A resistance measuring instrument capable of measuring resistance with 1 milliohm resolution. Defined as the electrical resistance between two points on a conductor when a constant potential difference of 1 volt applied to these points produces in the conductor a current of 1 ampere. A generic name for all 4 terminal resistance measuring instruments. The potential leads of a 4 terminal measuring instrument which measure the voltage across the RX. Designated P and P1 or +U and U depending upon manufacturer. Programmable Logic Controller. Parts per million. The reproducibility and reliability of a measurement. The maximum reading possible at the selected setting.

IEEE488

Inductance

Kelvin Kelvin connection Kelvin clips

Microhmmeter

Milliohmmeter

Ohm

Ohmmeter Potential Leads

PLC ppm Precision Range 32

Tried. Tested. Trusted.

Resistance Resistivity

The degree to which a conductor opposes an electrical current. The electrical resistance of a uniform rod of unit length and unit crosssectional area : the reciprocal of conductivity. The smallest increment that a meter will display. The RS232 interface is a serial port for transmission of data in serial bit format. Resistance of unknown value. The largest value a measuring instrument can display for the range selected. The International System of units is a scientific method of expressing magnitude and quantity. The current leads of a 4 terminal measuring instrument. Designated C and C1 or +I and - I depending on manufacturer. A measuring lead with 4mm banana plugs and 4 mm socket allowing one lead to plug into the other. Standard Wire gauge. The open circuit voltage caused by the difference in temperature between the hot and cold junctions of a circuit made from two dissimilar metals. The junction of two dissimilar metals which has a voltage output proportional to the difference in temperature between the hot and cold junctions. The change increase in conductor resistance per OC rise in temperature. A general term used to describe single drawn cylindrical metal and interchangeable with conductor or cable.

Resolution RS232

Rx Scale length

SI units

Source Leads

Stacking lead

SWG Thermal emf

Thermocouple

Temperature coefficient Wire

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Want to know more? Then contact us.

Cropico Bracken Hill, South West Industrial Estate, Peterlee, Co. Durham. SR8 2SW, England Tel: +44 (0) 191 587 8748 Fax: +44 (0) 191 586 0227 Email: sales@cropico.com Web: www.cropico.com

Other products available from Cropico:

Resistance standards

Temperature measurement

Resistance decade boxes

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Tried. Tested. Trusted.

This material is for information purposes only and is subject to change without notice. Cropico and its associated companies accept no responsibility for any errors or consequential loss or damage which may arise from misinterpretation of the information or procedures.

Seaward Electronic Ltd. 2007

Cropico, Bracken Hill, South West Industrial Estate, Peterlee, County Durham, SR8 2SW United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 191 587 8748 Email: sales@cropico.com Fax: +44 (0) 191 586 0227 Web: www.cropico.com
Seaward, Clare, Rigel Medical, Cropico, Seaward Group USA are all part of the Seaward Group

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