Permanent Magnet Moving Coil

or PMMC Instrument

Presented by
Bijoy Sorker
Lecturer, Department of EEE, DIU
Reference
❖ Analog Ammeters, Voltmeters and Ohmmeters (Chapter 8)
A Course in Electrical and Electronic Measurement and
Instrumentation- A. K. Sawhney
Introduction

The essential requirements of a measuring instrument are:

• That its introduction into the circuit where, the measurements

are to be made, does not alter the circuit conditions.

• The power consumed by them for their operation is small.

Types of Instruments

➢ Permanent magnet moving coil (PMMC) ➢ Thermocouple

➢ Moving iron ➢ Induction

➢ Electro-dynamometer
➢ Electrostatic
➢ Hotwire
➢ Rectifier
What is PMMC?
▪ The instruments which use the permanent
magnet for creating the stationary magnetic field between
which the coil moves is known as the permanent magnet
moving coil or PMMC instrument.
Construction

• Moving Coil
• Magnet System
• Control
• Damping
• Pointer & Scale
Construction (cnt’d)
Moving Coil
▪ The coil is the current carrying part of the instruments which is freely moved
between the stationary field of the permanent magnet. The current passes through
the coil deflects it due to which the magnitude of the current or voltage is
determined. The coil is mounted on the rectangular former which is made up of
aluminium. The former increases the radial and uniform magnetic field between
the air gap of the poles. The coil is wound with the silk cover copper wire between
the poles of a magnet.
▪ The coil is mounted on the rectangular former which is made up of aluminium.
The former increases the radial and uniform magnetic field between the air gap of
the poles. The coil is wound with the silk cover copper wire between the poles of a
magnet.
Construction (cnt’d)
Magnet System
▪ The PMMC instrument using the permanent magnet for creating the stationary
magnets. The Alcomax and Alnico material are used for creating the permanent
magnet because this magnet has the high coercive force (The coercive force
changes the magnetisation property of the magnet). Also, the magnet has high
field intensities.
Construction (cnt’d)
Control
▪ In PMMC instrument the controlling torque is because of the springs. The springs
are made up of phosphorous bronze and placed between the two jewel bearings.
The spring also provides the path to the lead current to flow in and out of the
moving coil. The controlling torque is mainly because of the suspension of the
ribbon.
Construction (cnt’d)
Damping
▪ The damping torque is used for keeping the movement of the coil in rest. This
damping torque is induced because of the movement of the aluminium core which
is moving between the poles of the permanent magnet.
Construction (cnt’d)
Pointer & Scale
▪ The pointer is linked with the moving coil. The pointer notices the deflection of
the coil, and the magnitude of their deviation is shown on the scale. The pointer is
made of the lightweight material, and hence it is easily deflected with the
movement of the coil. Sometimes the parallax error occurs in the instrument which
is easily reduced by correctly aligning the blade of the pointer.
Working Principle
▪ A PMMC type instruments works on the principle which is the current carrying
conductor is placed in a magnetic field, it is acted upon by a force which tends to
move it to one side and out of the field. It works on the electromagnetic effect ,as
the coil carries the current and magnet is used to produce the flux ,a pointer is also
connected to coil which gets deflected according to proportion of the current in
that coil . The force in the field generates the deflection force, a damping force
generates which maintains the pointer stable and thus equilibrium attained by
controlling and deflection torque in order to provide the accuracy in the
environment.
Working Principle (cnt’d)
▪ The magnetic field interaction with permanent magnet results in producing torque
to the conductor (coil). The amount of torque produced is directly proportional to
current passing the conductor (coil). The coil is attached to a pointer that points to
the scale. The rotational force (torque) moves the pointer along a scale to get the
reading of measurement it represents.
Torque Equation
Torque Equation (cnt’d)
Applications

▪ Detect small currents in DC galvanometers

▪ Ammeter

▪ Voltmeter

▪ Ohmmeter

▪ Galvanometer

▪ Measure the change in magnetic flux linkage in galvanometer

Self Study

Example 8.1

Example 8.3
Q&A

• Why PMMC does not use for AC instruments ?

• Differentiate between PMMC and d’Arsonval galvanometer.

Thank You
Analog Ammeter
Presented by
Bijoy Sorker
Lecturer, Department of EEE, DIU
Reference
❖ Analog Ammeters, Voltmeters and Ohmmeters (Chapter 8)
A Course in Electrical and Electronic Measurement and
Instrumentation- A. K. Sawhney
Ammeter Shunt
• The basic movement of a DC Ammeter is a
PMMC galvanometer.
• The ammeter shunt is the device which provides
the low resistance path to the flow of
current. It connects in parallel with the ammeter.
• The ammeter designs for measuring the low
current. For measuring the heavy current, the
shunt is connected in parallel to the ammeter.
• The shunt connects in parallel to the ammeter
because of which the voltage drops across the
meter and shunt remain the same. Thus, the
movement of the pointer is not affected by the
shunt.
Ammeter Shunt (cnt’d)

Where,
Im= Full scale deflection current of movement
Rm= Internal resistance of movement (i.e. the coil)
I= Current to be measured
Rsh= Resistance of the shunt
Ish = Shunt current
Ammeter Shunt (cnt’d)
Multi-range Ammeter
• The current range of the DC ammeter may be
further extended by a number of shunts,
selected by a range switch. Such a meter is
called a multi-range ammeter.
• This DC ammeter can be used to measure
a particular range of Direct Currents.
• For measuring the Direct Currents of multiple
ranges, then multiple parallel resistors are
used instead of single resistor and this entire
combination of resistors is in parallel to the
PMMC galvanometer.
• The desired range of currents is chosen by
connecting the switch, s to the respective
shunt resistor.
Multi-range Ammeter (cnt’d)
• Switch S is a multi position switch, (having low contact resistance and
high current carrying capacity, since its contacts are in series with low
resistance shunts). Make before break type switch is used for range
changing. This switch protects the meter movement from being
damaged without a shunt during range changing.

• If we use an ordinary switch for range changing, the meter does not
have any shunt in parallel while the range is being changed, and hence
full current passes through the meter movement, damaging the
movement. Hence a make before break type switch is used. The switch
is so designed that when the switch position is changed, it makes contact
with the next terminal (range) before breaking contact with the previous
terminal. Therefore, the meter movement is never left unprotected.
Multi-range Ammeter (cnt’d)
Multi-range Ammeter (cnt’d)
Aryton or Universal Shunt
• The Aryton shunt eliminates the possibility of
having the meter in the circuit without a shunt
• The selector switch S, selects the appropriate
shunt required to change the range of the meter.
• When the position of the switch is '1' then the
resistance R1 is in parallel with the series
combination of R2 , R3 and Rm. Hence current
through the shunt is more than the current
through the meter, thus protecting the basic
meter. Ammeter with universal shunt
Aryton or Universal Shunt (cnt’d)
• When the switch is in the position '2', then the series
resistance of R1 and R2 is in parallel with the series
combination of R3 and Rm. The current through the
meter is more than through the shunt in this position
• In the position '3', the
resistances R1 , R2 and R3 are in series and acts as
the shunt. In this position, the maximum current
flows through the meter. This increases the
sensitivity of the meter.
Ammeter with universal shunt
 Aryton or Universal Shunt (cnt’d)
Consider that the meter ranges have to be extended to I1, I2, and I3. For switch at position 1,
Self Study
Example 8.4
Example 8.5
Example 8.9
Example 8.10
Thank You
Analog Voltmeter
Presented by
Bijoy Sorker
Lecturer, Department of EEE, DIU
Reference
❖ Analog Ammeters, Voltmeters and Ohmmeters (Chapter 8)
A Course in Electrical and Electronic Measurement and
Instrumentation- A. K. Sawhney
Voltmeter Multiplier
• A PMMC instrument can be used as voltmeter by
just connecting a series resistance with the moving
coil. This series resistance is called Voltmeter
Multiplier. This combination of moving coil and
multiplier is connected across the circuit whose
voltage is to be measured.

• The multiplier limits the current through the meter

so that it does not exceed the value for full scale
deflection and thus prevents the movement from
being damaged.
Voltmeter Multiplier (cnt’d)
Multi-range Voltmeter

In a multi-range voltmeter, different full scale voltage ranges may be

obtained by following methods:
❖ Individual Multiplier
❖ Potential Divider Arrangement
Individual Multiplier
Potential Divider Arrangement
Potential Divider Arrangement (cnt’d)
Self Study

Example 8.11

Example 8.13
Thank You