FACULTY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF LUCKNOW
Lecture Notes
Subject Code: EE–302
Electrical Measurement & Measuring Instruments
(A.C. Bridges)
By:
Dr. Gaurav Gupta
Assistant Professor
Deptt. Of EE
Dr. Gaurav Gupta
Difference Between AC & DC Bridge
• One of the significant difference between the AC and DC
bridge is that the AC bridge is used for measuring the
unknown impedance of the circuit whereas the DC bridge
is used for measuring the unknown resistance of the
circuit.
Dr. Gaurav Gupta
Comparison
Basis for
AC Bridge DC Bridge
Comparison
Definition The bridge which is used The DC bridge measures
for measuring the value of the unknown resistance of
unknown impedance is the circuit.
known as the AC bridge.
Supply AC supply is used DC supply is used
Current Detector AC Detector DC Detector
Components Resistive and Reactive Resistive
Wagner’s Earthing Device Required Not required
Types Two Seven
Balancing Time Relatively Less High
Dr. Gaurav Gupta
Definition & Construction of AC Bridge
•The ac bridge consists source, balanced detector, and the
four arms. The arms of the bridge consist the impedance.
The AC bridge is constructed by replacing the battery with
the ac source. The bridges are formed by replacing the DC
battery with the AC source and galvanometer with
the Wheatstone bridge. The bridge is used for detecting
the inductance, capacitance, storage factor, dissipation
factor etc.
•The construction of the bridges is very simple. The bridge
has four arms, one AC supply source and the balance
detector. It works on the principle that the balance ratio of
the impedances will give the balance condition to the
circuit which is determined by the null detector.
Dr. Gaurav Gupta
•When the four resistive arms of the basic Wheatstone bridge are replaced
by impedances and the bridge is excited by an AC source, the result is an
AC Bridge.
•To balance the bridge, two conditions must be satisfied, the resistive (R)
and the reactive components (XC or XL). Once balanced, the AC Bridge
indicates a null.
•AC bridge circuits are also used for shifting phase, providing feedback
paths for oscillators and amplifiers, filtering out undesired signals, and
measuring the frequency of audio and radio frequency (RF) signals.
Dr. Gaurav Gupta
General Equation for an AC Bridge
Bridge balance condition
In admittance form
Polar form of impedance
Sub. The polar values in balance condition
Dr. Gaurav Gupta
Detector Used in AC Bridges
Dr. Gaurav Gupta
Maxwell’s Bridge
•The bridge used for the measurement of self-inductance of the circuit
is known as the Maxwell bridge. It is the advanced form of the
Wheatstone bridge. The Maxwell bridge works on the principle of the
comparison, i.e., the value of unknown inductance is determined by
comparing it with the known value or standard value.
Types of Maxwell’s Bridge
Two methods are used for determining the self-inductance of the
circuit. They are
•Maxwell’s Inductance Bridge
•Maxwell’s inductance Capacitance Bridge
Dr. Gaurav Gupta
Maxwell’s Inductance Bridge
In such type of bridges, the value of unknown inducance is
determined by comparing it with the known value of the standard
self-inductance. The connection diagram for the balance Maxwell
bridge is shown in the figure below.
Dr. Gaurav Gupta
Maxwell’s Inductance Bridge
Dr. Gaurav Gupta
Maxwell’s Inductance Capacitance Bridge
In this type of bridges, the unknown resistance is measured with the
help of the standard variable capacitance. The connection diagram of
the Maxwell Bridge is shown in the figure below.
Dr. Gaurav Gupta
Dr. Gaurav Gupta
Quality Factor
Dr. Gaurav Gupta
Advantage and Disadvantage of Maxwell’s Bridge
Disadvantage:
Maxwell bridge is that, they are unsuitable of measuring the low and high
quality factor coils.
Dr. Gaurav Gupta
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References:
Text Books:
1. A.K. Sawhney, “Electrical& Electronic Measurement & Instrument”, Dhanpat Rai &
Sons , India
2. J.B. Gupta, “Electrical Measurements and Measuring Instruments”, S.K. Kataria &
Sons.
Reference Books:
1. W.D. Cooper, “Electronic Instrument and Measurement Technique”, Prentice
Hall International, India.
2. Forest K. Harries, “Electrical Measurement”, Wiley Eastern Pvt. Ltd. India.
3. Prithiviraj Pulkit, “Electrical& Electronic Measurement & Instrumentation”,
McGraw Hill Publication (India) Private Limited.
4. M.B. Stout, “Basic Electrical Measurement” Prentice hall of India, India.
5. [Link] & [Link], “ Electrical Measurement & Measuring
Instruments”,A W Wheeler & Company Dr. Gaurav Pvt.
Gupta Ltd. India.
