Chapter -2
Megohm Bridge method
During measurement of high resistance, the leakage comes into effect over and around the
specimen being measured. Megohm Bridge utilizes Wheastone bridge circuit, modified by the
addition of guard electrodes and replacement of an ordinary galvanometer by amplifirers and
null detectors. It has a range of 0.1M ohm to 1000000Mohm.
A megohm bridge is shown in figure below. The unknown resistance R, is connected with
proper guard arrangement. When the unknown resistance is equal to the standard resistance S,
the output given to the amplifier is zero and so the voltmeter which is a null type voltmeter
would not deflect. Thus the standard resistance S value is equal to the unknown resistance.
The adjustment is done with the help if S.
AC bridges
The ac bridge is a natural outgrowth of the Wheatstone bridge. The four arms are impedance.
The battery and galvanometer are replaced by a source and a detector sensitive to small
alternating potential difference.
Detectors commonly used are:-
Head phones (250Hz to 3-4 KHz)
Vibration galvanometer (5Hz to 1000Hz)
Tunable amplifiers detector (10Hz to 100KHz)
In an ac bridge:
All four arms are considered as impedance(frequency dependent components)
The detector is an ac responding device: headphone, ac meter
Source: an ac voltage at desired frequency
Z1, Z2, Z3 and Z4 are the impedance of bridge arms
At balance point, Z1/Z4 = Z2/Z3 or, Z1Z4/ Z2Z3
For balance is ac bridge, both magnitude and phase relationship must be satisfied. This
requires that real and imaginary terms must be separated which gives two equations which
is to be satisfied for balance.
Magnitude balance: Z1Z4 = Z2Z3
Phase balance: <θ1+< θ4= < θ2+< θ3
If a bridge is balanced for fundamental frequency, it must be balanced for
any harmonics
Measurement of self inductance method
Maxwell’s inductance bridge
Maxwell’s inductance capacitance bridge
Hay bridge
Anderson’s bridge
Owen bridge
Maxwell’s inductance bridge
It measures the unknown inductance by comparing with a variable standard self inductance
L1 = unknown inductance of resistance R1
L2 = variable inductance
R2= variable resistance connected in series with inductor L2
R3,R4= known non inductive resistance
At balanced condition:
(R1 + jωL1) R4 = R3(R2 + jωL2)
or, R1R4 + + jωL1R4 = R3R2+ + jωL2R3
Comparing real parts, we get,
R1 = R3R2/R4
And comparing imaginary parts:
L1 = R3L2/R4
Q factor of choke, Q= ωL1/R1
= ωR3R4L2/R2R3R4
= ωL2/R2
Advantages
Expression for R1 and L1 are simple
Equations are simple
They do not depend on the frequency
R1 and L1 are independent
Disadvantages
Variable inductor is costly
Variable inductor is bulky
Maxwell’s inductance capacitance bridge
In this bridge, inductance is measured by comparison with a standard variable capacitance. In
this bridge, balance condition is achieved by varying ‘C4’
L1= unknown inductance
R1=effective resistance of inductor L1
R2,R3,R4= Known non-inductive resistance
C4= variable standard capacitor
Balance equation at the point of balance:
(R1 +jωL1)(R4/(1+jωC4R4) = R2R3
Or, R1R4 + jωL1R4=R2R3 + + jωR2R3R4C4
Equating real and imaginary parts,
R1R4 = R2R3
or, R1 = R2R3/R4
And, L1R4= R2R3R4C4
or, L1= R2R3C4
And Q factor = ωL1/R1 = ωR2R3C4/R1
= ωR4C4
Advantages
Balance equation are independent if C4 and R4 are variable.
Frequency does not affect the calculation of unknown variable.
Simple expressions for unknown L1 and R1 in terms of known bridge elements.
Maxwell’s inductance-capacitance bridge is very useful for measurement of wide range of
inductance power and audio frequency.
Disadvantages:
Variable capacitor is expensive and less accurate. So, fixed capacitor is sometimes used.
In that case balance adjustment are done by:
o Varying R2 and R4 which is difficult .
o Putting am additional resistance in series with inductance under measurement and varying
this resistance and R4
Limited to measurement of low Q coil (1<Q<10) also unsuitable for very low Q (Q<1)
Hay Bridge
It is modification of Maxwell’s bridge
Uses resistance in series with standard capacitor
Balance equation:
(R1 + jωL1)(R4-j/ωC4) = R2R3
or, R1R4+L1 + jωL1R4 – jR1/ωC4 =R2R3
Separating real and imaginary parts,
R1R4 + L1/C4 =R2R3…………………..(i)
And L1 = R1/ ω2 R4 C4……………..(ii)
We get,
L1= R2R3C4/(1+ ω2 R42 C42)
Q factor of coil, Q= ωL1/R1= 1/ ωC4R4
The expression for inductance and capacitance contains frequency terms. So,
frequency should be known accurately.
Advantages:
Fixed capacitor is cheaper than variable capacitor
This bridge is best suitable for measuring high value of Q-factor
Disadvantages:
Equation of L1 and R1 are complicated
Measurement of R1 and L1 require the value of frequency
This bridge cannot be used for measuring low Q-factor
Owen’s bridge
Owen’s bridge
It measures inductance in terms of capacitance,
L1= unknown self-inductance of resistance R1
R2= variable non-inductance of resistance
R3 = fixed non-inductive resistance
C2= variable standard capacitor
C4= fixed standard capacitor
Balance equation:
(R1 +jωL1)(1/ jωC4) = (R2 +1/ jωC2)R3
Or, jR1/ωC4 + L1/C4 = R2R3 – jR3/ωC2
Equating real and imaginary parts,
L1/C4 = R2R3
Or, L1 = C4R2R3
And, R1/ωC4 = R3/ωC2
Or, R1= R3C4/C2
Q-factor= ωR2C2
Advantages:
Convergence to balance condition is much easier as R2 and C2 the variable elements are
in same form.
Balance equations are simple and do not contain any frequency component
Used over a wide range of measurement of inductance
Disadvantages:
Requires a variable capacitor which is expensive
Q-factor range is restricted (when Q is high, C2 tends to become rather large)
Anderson’s bridge
