Lab Manual: Electric Circuit Analysis I EEE-121

LAB # 6-Wheatstone Bridge, Delta to Wye & Wye to Delta Transformation
Electric Circuit Analysis I EEE-121
Lab Manual
Name MALIK MUHAMMAD HANZALA
Registration Number FA20-BCE-039
Class BCE-1A
Instructor’s Name DR. BABAR MANSOOR
COMSATS University Islamabad

Lab 06: Wheatstone bridge, Delta to Wye & Wye to

Delta transformation
Pre Lab
Wheatstone Bridge
The Wheatstone bridge gives a precise method to measure resistance against a known standard.
Within a Wheatstone bridge, a comparative device measures two additional relative resistances
from two separate resistors. The relative resistance equals the lengths of a divided wire wound in
a coil of a potentiometer, a device allowing the manipulation of this resistance ration. Thus, the
Wheatstone bridge utilizes repetitive comparisons of potentials to find the potential settings. In
this experiment, a voltmeter is used as the null detector and is placed as shown in Fig. 1. The
Wheatstone bridge achieves balance when the following condition is satisfied and no current
flows through the voltmeter.
𝑅1 𝑅𝑥
=
𝑅2 𝑅𝑠
𝑅𝑥 = 𝑅1 𝑅𝑠 𝑅2
Figure 1
In Lab
Objectives
➢ To find the value of unknown resistor using Wheatstone bridge.
➢ To verify experimentally the principle of delta-wye and wye-deltatransformation.
EquipmentRequired
Fixed Resistors, Variable Resistor, DMM, Breadboard, DC Power Supply, Connecting wires

Knowledge Level
Before working on this lab you should have a basic understanding of the use of DMM for
resistance meter, ammeter and voltmeter. Student should be able to use voltage divider rule.
Task (1): Measure Unknown Resistance using Wheatstone Bridge

Task 1. Connect the circuit as shown in Fig. 6.1, using a potentiometer for a known resistance𝑅𝑠.
Task 2. Balance the bridge by moving the slider of the potentiometer. The current flow (or the
voltage drop) through the voltmeter must be zero.
Task 3. When the bridge is in the balanced state, measure𝑅1,𝑅2,𝑅𝑠 and 𝑅𝑥 using a DMM.
Task 4. Use Wheatstone bridge relationship and determine𝑅𝑥.
Task 5. Find the error in the resistance value and note these readings in Table 6.2.
Task 6. Repeat this experiment twice for two different values of 𝑅𝑠 by rebalancing the bridge in
accordance with the new resistance values.
Theory: Verification of Delta-Wye and Wye-Delta Conversion

Situations open arise in circuit analysis when the resistors are neither in parallel nor in series.
Many circuits of the type can be simplified by using three terminal equivalent networks. These
networks are the Wye(Y) or Tee (T) and the Delta (∆) or Pi (π) (as shown in Fig. 6.3). These
networks occur by themselves or as part of larger network. They are used in three-phase
networks, electrical filters and matching networks.
Sometimes it is more convenient to work

with a Delta Network in place where the
circuit contains a Wye configuration and
vice-versa. In such situations it is convenient
to transform the given circuit to its
equivalent circuit. The following relations
hold for transforming resistive networks:
Figure 2: Delta to Wye conversion

Measurement Table 1:
R1(Ω) R2(Ω) R3(Ω) Rx using Rx Using
Wheatstone DMM
bridge
200 200 200 200 200
100 100 100 100 100
Table 6.1
Task (2): Verification of Equivalence of Delta-Wye and Wye-Delta Conversion

Task 1. Connect the circuit as shown in Fig. 6.4 (a) using 3kΩ resistors and identify the nodes A,
Band C containing the Delta configuration of resistors.
Task 2. Prior to converting this Delta configuration, first determine voltage across the resistors
𝑅𝐴𝐵, 𝑅𝐴𝐶, 𝑅𝐵𝐶, 𝑅4 and 𝑅5. Also determine the currents flowing through these resistors and note
these reading in Table 6.3. In Table 6.3 𝐸 is the voltage between the nodes (e.g. nodes A and
B for 𝑅𝐴𝐵) while 𝐼 is the current through resistor (e.g.𝑅𝐴𝐵) and so on.

(a) (b)
Figure 3
Task 3. Next convert the Delta to its equivalent Wye circuit. For conversion to hold true the
voltage difference between the nodes in the converted circuit must be same as that of the
difference between the nodes of the original delta circuit.
Task 4. Converted circuit as shown in Fig. 6.4 (b) contains a Wye instead of a Delta. Values of
the resistances determined using the relationships mentioned above should be equal to 1kΩ.
Task 5. Determine the voltage across all the resistors and current through them and note the
values in Table 6.4.
Task 6. The voltage difference between nodes in the Wye circuit and corresponding nodes in
delta circuit should be same. Do keep in mind the positive/negative signs while taking the
voltage difference.
Measurement Table 2: (Delta Circuit)

Voltage/Current RAB(Ω) RBC(Ω) RAC(Ω) RBD(Ω) RCD(Ω)
3 3 3 3 3
E(V) 5 0 5 5 5
I(mA) 1.67 0 1.67 1.67 1.67
Table 6.2 Delta Circuit

Measurement Table 2: (Wye Circuit)

Voltage/Current RAB(Ω) RBC(Ω) RAC(Ω) RBD(Ω) RCD(Ω)
1 1 1 3 3
E(V) 4 2 2 6 6
I(mA) 4 2 2 2 2
Table 6.3 Wye Circuit
Post Lab
Questions?
1. How is the operation of Wheatstone bridge affected by changes in the input

power supply voltage? Would there be an advantage in using a higher
voltage?
Answer:
By using Wheatstone bridge, we can see small voltage variation which is on top
of a larger voltage. That’s why it’s a balanced bridge. the bridge basically takes
out the large voltage so only the small change is seen. It is completely immune
to power supply variation so higher or lower power supplies makes no
difference.
2. Wheatstone bridge can be used to determine resistance of resistors made of

a variety of materials. Is it possible to adapt Wheatstone bridge for
determining hot resistance of an electric lamp? Explain your response.
Answer:
No, As to “measure” such a resistance we need to grant that the voltage on the
lamp is the “nominal voltage” the lamp is designed to work with, otherwise we
measure the resistance at a different temperature, that’s not the one the lamp
will work with. The problem is that the bridge method does not control such
voltage. Another problem is that the current for meter that detects the balance
point has to come through resistor being measured. So we might be trying to

measure value when meter value is zero instead of some slight value of current.
Thus, basic Wheatstone bridge would have these difficulties.
3. How much voltage needs to be dropped across resistor R 1 in order to make

voltage VAB equal to zero (as shown in Fig. 6.2)?How much resistance must
R1 possess in order to drop that amount of voltage?
Figure 4
Answer:
It is clear from the simulation that 20k ohm resistor is required for the voltage V AB
equal to zero.
4. Is it possible to find the current through a branch or to find a voltage
across the branch using Wye-Delta/ Delta-Wye conversions only? If so,
justify your Answer:

Current cannot be measured through a branch because it flows throw the

resistor and it is our reference. Yes, voltage can be measured through a branch
but for different cases for both series and parallel and neither one of them.
5. Find the value of 𝑅𝑒𝑞for the circuit given below when the switch is open and
when the switch is closed?
Figure 5

Critical Analysis / Conclusion

Basic work of Wheatstone bridge is to measure unknown resistance and as means
of calibrating measuring instruments voltmeter, ammeter etc. but now digital
multimeters provide the simplest to find the resistance. In the task-1, main thing is
the construction of the bridge and balancing the voltmeter, however, providing high
power to the false construction design of circuit will either burn the resistors or
other components such as potentiometer in the circuit. Moreover, to solve a complex
design circuits to either find voltage, current or equivalent resistance in a circuit
wye-delta conversion provides a easiest way to simplify the circuit diagram. Also,
the calculated value and observed value of unknown resistance will make some
difference due to changed physical values of resistors than the accepted one.
Lab Assessment
Pre Lab /5
Performance /5
Results /5 /25
Viva /5
Critical Analysis /5
Instructor Signature and Comments

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LAB # 6-Wheatstone Bridge, Delta to Wye & Wye to Delta Transformation

Electric Circuit Analysis I EEE-121

Name MALIK MUHAMMAD HANZALA

Registration Number FA20-BCE-039

Instructor’s Name DR. BABAR MANSOOR

COMSATS University Islamabad

Lab 06: Wheatstone bridge, Delta to Wye & Wye to

COMSATS University Islamabad

Task (1): Measure Unknown Resistance using Wheatstone Bridge

Theory: Verification of Delta-Wye and Wye-Delta Conversion

Sometimes it is more convenient to work

Figure 2: Delta to Wye conversion

COMSATS University Islamabad

Task (2): Verification of Equivalence of Delta-Wye and Wye-Delta Conversion

COMSATS University Islamabad

Measurement Table 2: (Delta Circuit)

COMSATS University Islamabad

Measurement Table 2: (Wye Circuit)

Table 6.3 Wye Circuit

1. How is the operation of Wheatstone bridge affected by changes in the input

2. Wheatstone bridge can be used to determine resistance of resistors made of

COMSATS University Islamabad

3. How much voltage needs to be dropped across resistor R 1 in order to make

COMSATS University Islamabad

Current cannot be measured through a branch because it flows throw the

COMSATS University Islamabad

Critical Analysis / Conclusion

Instructor Signature and Comments

COMSATS University Islamabad

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