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ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS
MEASUREMENT AND INSTRUMENTATION

II
Assignment Questions
 EXPLAIN POTENTIOMETER
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF
CHARACTERISTICS OF
POTENTIOMETER
 OPERATION OF POTENTIOMETER
 PROCEDURE FOR MEASURING AN
UNKNOWN EMF
 EXAMPLE { 5.1,5.2, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6}
 APPLICATION OF POTENTIOMETER
 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
OF AC POTENTIOMETER
 APPLICATION OF AC
POTENTIOMETER
NAME : Oti Simeon Okechukwu

DEPT : Computer Engineering
COURSE CODE : CTE 235
MATRIC NO: P/ND/21/3410084
What is Potentiometer?
The term Potentiometer is a manually adjustable variable resistor with 3
terminals. Two of the terminals are connected to the opposite ends of a resistive
element,and the third terminal connects to a sliding contact,called a wiper,
moving over the resistive element.
Characteristics Of Potentiometer
All potentiometers have the same characteristics, no matter their size, shapes, etc.:
showed that this particular unit contains three terminals. So, potentiometer
connection points are three, no matter the type or the size.
1. All potentiometers have a movable part (it can be a slider, a knob, or a screw).
You can move this part easily to vary the resistance between two terminals (one
of them is the middle one.)
2. You can change the resistance between the middle terminal and one of the outer
terminals ranging from zero to the maximum resistance.
3. The maximum resistance of the potentiometer is the resistance between the two
outer terminals of a potentiometer. This number is constant and is fixed. You
can’t change this resistance by moving the slider, knob, or screw.
4. Potentiometer works as a voltage divider to help you obtain an adjustable output
voltage at the wiper.
5. They have 3 terminals that can be adjusted manually.
The operations of a potentiometer

The principle of a potentiometer is that the potential dropped across a segment
of a wire of uniform cross-section carrying a constant current is directly
proportional to its length.
The potentiometer is a simple device used to measure the electrical potentials

(or compare the e.m.f of a cell).
POTENTIOMETER CIRCUIT
A POTENTIOMETER IS CONNECTED TO A CIRCUIT VIA ITS THREE TERMINALS.
TWO OF THE TERMINALS THAT ARE FIXED ARE CONNECTED TO BOTH ENDS OF
THE RESISTIVE ELEMENTS AND THE OTHER ONE WILL BE CONNECTED TO THE
WIPER. THE DIAGRAM BELOW SHOWS THE VOLTAGE SUPPLY THAT IS
CONNECTED ACROSS THE TWO FIXED TERMINALS AND THE MIDDLE TERMINAL
CONNECTED TO THE WIPER.
Procedure for Measurement of Unknown emf

• At first, the combination of the dial switch and the slide wire is set to the standard
cell voltage. Let the standard sell voltage be 1.0175 volts, then the dial resistor is
put in 1.0 volt and the slide wire at 0.0175 volts setting.
• The switch ‘S’ is thrown to the calibrate position and the galvanometer switch
‘K’ is pressed until the rheostat is adjusted for zero deflection on the galvanometer.
The 10 kW protective resistance is kept in the circuit in the initial stages so as to
protect the galvanometer from overload.
• After the null deflection on the galvanometer is approached the protective
resistance is shorted so as to increase the sensitivity of the galvanometer. Final
adjustment is made for the zero deflection with the help of the rheostat. This
completes the standardisation process of the potentiometer.
• After completion of the standardization, the switch ‘S’ is thrown to the operate
position thereby connecting the unknown emf into the potentiometer circuit. With
the protective resistance in the circuit, the potentiometer is balanced by means of
the main dial and the slide wire adjustment.
• As soon as the balanced is approached, the protective resistance is shorted and
final adjustments are made to obtain true balance.
• After the final true balance is obtained, the value of the unknown emf is read off
directly from the setting of the dial switch and the slide wire.
• The standardisation of the potentiometer is checked again by returning the switch
‘S’ to the calibrate position. The dial setting is kept exactly the same as in the
original standardisation process. If the new reading does not agree with the old
one, a second measurement of unknown emf must be made.
The standardisation again should be made after the measurement.
Figure 5.2 General arrangement of Crompton’s dc potentiometer A basic slide-wire
potentiometer has a working battery
Example 5.1 voltage of 3.0 volts with negligible resistance.

The resistance of the slide-wire is 400 Ω and its length is 200 cm. A 200-cm scale
is placed along the slide wire.
The slide-wire has 1 mm scale divisions and it is possible to read up to 1/5 of a
division.
The instrument is standardised with 1.018 volt standard cell with
with sliding contact at the 101.8 cm mark on scale.
Calculate (a) Working current (b) Resistance of series rheostat (c) Measurement
range (d) Resolution of the instrument
Solution (a) Working current, Im Because the instrument is standardised with an
emf of 1.018 volts with sliding contact at 101.8 cm, it is obvious that a length
101.8 cm represents a voltage of 1.018 volts.
(b) Resistance of series rheostat, Rh Total resistance of battery circuit = Resistance
of rheostat (Rh ) + Resistance of slide wire. Rh = Total resistance – Resistance of
slide wire
(c) Measurement range The measurement range is the total voltage across the slide
wire. range of voltage = 0.005 ×400 = 2.0 volt.
(d) Resolution of the instrument A length of 200 cm represents 2.0 volt and
therefore 1 mm represents a voltage ofê2 ê 1 Since it is possible to read of I mV,
therefore, resolution of the instrument is × 1 = 0.2 mV
A single-range laboratory-type potentiometer has an 18- step dial switch where
each step represents 0.1 volt.
The Example 5.2 dial resistors are 10 Ω each.
The slide wire of the potentiometer is circular and has 11 turns and a resistance of
1 Ω per turn.
The slide wire has 100 divisions and interpolation can be done to one forth of a
division. The working battery has a voltage of 6.0 volt.
Calculate (a) the measuring range of the potentiometer, (b) the resolution, (c)
working current, and (d) setting of the rheostat.
Solution Dial resistor = 10 Weach Each step = 0.1 v
(a) The measuring range of the potentiometer Total resistance of measuring circuit,
Rm= Resistance of dial + resistance of slide wire or, Rm = 18 ×10 + 11 = 191
voltage range of the total instrument = Rm ×working current = 191 ×10 mA =
1.91V
(b) The resolution The slide wire has a resistance of 11 Ω and therefore voltage
drop across slide wire = 11 × 10 mA = 0.11 volt The slide wire has 11 turns, and
therefore voltage drop across each turn Each turn is divided into 100 divisions and
therefore each division represents a voltage drop of . Since each turn can be
interpolated to of a division, Resolution of instrument =×0 0001 =0 000025 volt
=25 mV
(c) Working current, Im As previously mentioned, working current = 1 mA.
(d) Setting of rheostat Total resistance across battery circuit Total resistance of
potentiometer circuit is 191 Ω resistance of series rheostat, Rh = 600 - 191 = 409
W.
Example 5.4 The emf of a standard cell used for standardisation is 1.0186 volt. If
the balanced is achieved at a length of 55 cm, determine
(a) The emf of the cell which balances at 70 cm (b) The current flowing through a
standard resistance of 2 Ω if the potential difference across it balances at 60 cm (c)
The voltage of a supply main which is reduced by a volt–ratio box to one
hundredth and balance is obtained at 85 cm (d) The percentage error in a voltmeter
reading 1.40 volt when balance is obtained at 80 cm (e) The percentage error in
ammeter reading 0.35 ampere when balance is obtained at 45 cm with the potential
difference across a 2.5 Ω resistor in the ammeter circuit Solution Emf of the
standard cell = 1.0186 volts The voltage drop per cm length of potentiometer wire,
(a) The emf of a cell balanced at 70 cm, = v · l = 0.01852 × 70 = 1.2964 volt (b)
The potential difference which is balanced at 60 cm = v · l = 0.01852 × 60 =
1.1112 volt Magnitude of the standard resistor, S =2 W Therefore, current flowing
through 2 Ω resistance V (c) The potential difference which balances at 85 cm, V=
v· l= 0.01852 × 85 = 1.5742 volt voltage of supply main = V × ratio of volt–ratio
box 1.5742 × 100 = 157.42 volt (d) The potential difference which balances at 80
cm, V= v· l= 0.01852 × 80 = 1.4816 volt Voltmeter reading = 1.40 volt percentage
error in voltmeter reading (e) The potential difference which balances at 45 cm, V=
v· l= 0.01852 × 45 = 0.8334 volt Current flowing through 2.5 Ω resistance V
0.8334 percentage error in ammeter reading
Example 5.5 The following readings were obtained during the measurement of a
low resistance using a potentiometer: Voltage drop across a 0.1 Ω standard
resistance = 1.0437 V Voltage drop across the low resistance under test = 0.4205 V
Calculate the value of unknown resistance, current and power lost in it. Solution
Given: S= 0.1 Ω; VS= 1.0437 V; VR= 0.4205 V Resistance of unknown resistor,
Power loss, PI 2 R= (10.437) 2 × 0.04 = 4.357 Wa
Example 5.6 A Crompton’s potentiometer consists of a resistance dial having 15
steps of 10 Ω each and a series connected slide wire of 10 Ω which is divided into
100 divisions. If the working current of the potentiometer is 10 mA and each
division of slide wire can be read accurately up to th of its span,
calculate the resolution of the potentiometer in volts. Solution Total resistance of
the potentiometer, R = Resistance of the dial + Resistance of the slide wire = 15 ×
10 + 10 = 160 W Working current, I = 10 mA = 0.01 A Voltage range of the
potentiometer = Working current × Total resistance of the potentiometer = 0.01 ×
160 = 1.6 Voltage drop across slide wire = Working current × Slide wire resistance
= 0.01 × 10 = 0.1 V Since slide wire has 100 divisions, therefore, each division
represents or 0.001 volt As each division of slide wire can be read accurately up to
potentiometer of its span, therefore, resolution of the potentiometer = 0.001/5 =
0.0002 volt.
Applications Of Potentiometer
1.) The potentiometer is used as a voltage divider in the electronic circuit
2.) The potentiometer is used in radio and television (TV) receiver for volume
control,tone control and linearity control.
3.) The potentiometer is used in medical equipment.
4.) It is used in wood processing machine.
5.) Potentiometers are widely used as user controls, and may control a very
wide variety of equipment functions.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF AC POTENTIOMETERS
Just like any other unit, potentiometers also have advantages and disadvantages.
Here we will list the most important ones:
ADVANTAGES
1. AN AC POTENTIOMETER IS A VERY VERSATILE INSTRUMENT. BY USING SHUNT

AND VOLT–RATIO BOX, IT CAN MEASURE WIDE RANGE OF VOLTAGE, CURRENT
AND RESISTANCES .
2. AS IT IS ABLE TO MEASURE PHASE AS WELL AS MAGNITUDE OF TWO SIGNALS,
IT IS USED TO MEASURE POWER, INDUCTANCE AND PHASE ANGLE OF A COIL,
ETC. 3. T HE PRINCIPLE OF AC POTENTIOMETER
IS ALSO INCORPORATED IN CERTAIN SPECIAL APPLICATION LIKE ARNOLD
CIRCUIT FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF CT (CURRENT TRANSFORMER ) ERRORS.
DISADVANTAGES
1. A small difference in reading of the dynamometer instrument either in dc or ac

calibration brings on error in the alternating current to be set at standard value.
2. The normal value of the mutual inductance M is affected due to the introduction
of mutual inductances of various potentiometer parts and so a slight difference is
observed in the magnitude of the current of quadrature wire with compared to that
in the in–phase potentiometer wire.
3. Inaccuracy in the measured value of frequency will also result in the quadrature
potentiometer wire current to differ from that of in–phase potentiometer wire.
4. The presence of mutual inductances in the various parts of the potentiometer and
the inter capacitance, the potential gradient of the wires is affected.
5. Since the standardisation is done on the basis of rms value and balance is
obtained dependent upon the fundamental frequency only, therefore, the presence
of harmonics in the input signal introduces operating problem and the vibration
galvanometer tuned to the fundamental frequency may not show full null position
at all.
APPLICATIONS OF AC
POTENTIOMETER
The following are the applications of an Ac potentiometer.
1.) Measurement of voltage

2.) Callibration of voltmeters
3.) Callibration of ammeters
4.) Callibration wattmeters
5.) Measurement of self reactance or inductanceof a coil
6.) Testing of magnetic materials (i.e , ac magnetic testing) at low flux densities

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ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS

MEASUREMENT AND INSTRUMENTATION

NAME : Oti Simeon Okechukwu

The operations of a potentiometer

The potentiometer is a simple device used to measure the electrical potentials

Procedure for Measurement of Unknown emf

Example 5.1 voltage of 3.0 volts with negligible resistance.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF AC POTENTIOMETERS

1. AN AC POTENTIOMETER IS A VERY VERSATILE INSTRUMENT. BY USING SHUNT

1. A small difference in reading of the dynamometer instrument either in dc or ac

The following are the applications of an Ac potentiometer.

1.) Measurement of voltage

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