Experiment 1b: D.C.

Measurements (Voltage)
Iole Gail C. Vengco, Leiko Armand L. Ravelo, Lloyd Nadimar S. Sagun
Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute, University of the Philippines Diliman
P. Velasquez St, Diliman, Quezon City, 1101 Metro Manila
AbstractThe experiment aims to teach the students the
different methods of making analog DC measurements and to
them when each method is applicable. It also teaches the student
how to deal with the internal resistance and how to identify the
percentage of error in order to calculate the degree of accuracy.

B. The DC Voltmeter using 1mA Movement

Rs

I. INTRODUCTION
Voltage measurement can be done through the use of a
multimeter or a DC ammeter by applying Ohms Law. Like
the previous experiments, we have to deal with the
inconsistencies given by the internal resistance of meters.
The experiment shows different ways of measuring
voltage within a given situation. It also introduces the concept
of potentiometer bridge method, which is more accurate.
II. EXPERIMENT, RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A. Determining the Internal Resistance of the 1mA
Movement
200

15k

R2

R1

Fig 1. Circuit representation for identifying DC ammeters internal resistance

A circuit like in Figure 1 was set up, with R2

disconnected. The voltage VS when the 1mA movement
indicates full-scale was measured. The voltage we measured
was 15V. Then, R2 (we used a potentiometer) was connected
and adjusted until the 1mA movement indicated half-scale. R2
was then disconnected and its resistance was measured using
an ohmmeter. The value measured, which is approximately
equal to the internal resistance of the ammeter, Rm is equal to
65.

Ifs
Rm

Fig 2. Circuit representation for a DC ammeter as a voltage meter

A DC ammeter can be used to measure voltage by simply

connecting a resistor in series with it, as shown in Figure 2.
Using Ohms Law, we computed for Rs that will enable the
1mA movement to measure up to 10V.
V = IR
10V = 1mA 65 + Rs
Rs = 9935
A potentiometer was then used to obtain the resistance
equal to Rs and was connected to the circuit. Its operation was
checked using three calibration values as shown in Table 1.
TABLE 1
VOLTMETER CALIBRATION VALUES AND READING

Calibration
Voltage (V)
2
5
8

1mA Movement
Reading (Deflection)
0.22
0.55
0.89

Corresponding
Reading of Vu (V)
2.2
5.5
8.9

It is noticeable in Table 1 that the corresponding reading

is higher than the calibration voltage. This may be because the
potentiometers resistance is not exactly equal to the
computed Rs. The equivalent resistance in the circuit is lower,
thus, the current passing is higher and the voltage measured is
higher.

C. Errors in Voltage Measurements Due to Loading Effects

D. The Potentiometer Bridge Method of Measuring Voltage

TABLE 2
THEORETICAL AND MEASURED VX

10V

Vx

R ()
1k
10k
100k

b
Fig. 3. Circuit representation for measuring Vx according to the
Resistance R given

A circuit like in Figure 3 was set up. For each value of R

given in Table 2, the theoretical Vx was computed using
voltage division. Since the two resistances are always equal,
we know that the voltage will divide equally between the two
resistors. Therefore the Theoretical Vx for each resistor is 5V.
The voltmeter constructed in Part II was then connected to the
circuit. The measured values are shown in Table 2.
TABLE 2
THEORETICAL AND MEASURED VX

R
()

Theore
tical,
VX (V)

Compu
ted, Vx
(V)

1k
10k
100k

5
5
5

4.8
3.3
0.83

Meas
ured,
VX
(V)
5.4
3.7
0.9

Error,
Computed
(%)

Error,
Measur
ed (%)

4
34
83.4

8
26
82

In the table, Computed VX is the computed voltage across

the resistor considering the total resistance of the constructed
voltmeter paralleled to it.
We can see that the measured VX decreases as R
increases, deviating further away from the theoretical value.
This is because as the value of the resistance being measured
gets very large, its resistance is no longer negligible when
compared to the constructed voltmeter. An ideal voltmeter
should have an infinite resistance, so that it would not draw
current from the circuit to accurately measure the voltage.
Since the resistance values are very high, the voltmeter would
draw current from the circuit. As the resistance value in
parallel with the voltmeter gets larger, more current will flow
through the voltmeter giving less accurate measurements. This
is called the loading effect.
The values in Error, Computed are obtained using the formula
Ecomputed =

!,!"#$%&'(!!,!"#$%#!&'()
!,!"#$%#!&'()

x 100

Similarly, the values in Error, Measured are obtained using

the formula
Emeasured =

!,!"#$%&"'!!,!"#$%#!&'()
!,!"#$%#!&'()

x 100

10k
a

Vu

Theoretical, VX (V)
5
5
5

Measured, Vx (V)
4.85
5.2
5.0

10k

Vfs = 10v

Fig. 4.Circuit representation for the potentiometer bridge

A circuit like in Figure 3 was set up. The voltage in

terminals a and b is calculated by adjusting the potentiometer
until the DC ammeter reads zero, then finally measuring the
open circuit voltage through XY. As seen on table 2, the
measured voltages are accurate in comparison to the 1mA
voltmeter.
This type of measuring voltage works and is very
accurate because it does not draw any current from the circuit.
It basically uses the principle of voltage division and KVL.
Voltage from the 10v power source is divided across
resistances WX and XY. If the voltage across XY is less then
the voltage across ab, then by KVL there should be voltage
across the 10k resistor and 1mA movement, causing a flow
of current. As resistance value of XY is increased, the voltage
across it also increases until VXY=Vab. In that case, since the
voltage across ab and XY are equal, then by KVL the voltage
across the 10k resistor and 1mA movement should be zero,
so there will be no current flowing. In this scenario, the
voltmeter does not draw any current from the system giving
it an ideal behavior and yielding very accurate results.
Deviations from the theoretical value are caused by error in
reading the ammeter or in adjusting XY.
Although this method of measuring voltage is accurate,
its advantage falls short on its complex setup. This type of
voltmeter requires a power source and more materials than the
1mA movement voltmeter. While the 1 mA movement is
simpler, its inaccuracy in measuring voltage becomes more
apparent as the resistance of the circuit being measured gets
higher.

III. CONCLUSION
In this experiment, we explored two types of voltmeters:
the DC voltmeter using 1mA movement, and the
potentiometer bridge voltmeter. It can be seen through the
1mA voltmeter that the accuracy of a voltmeter becomes less
as the impedance across the voltage being measured becomes
higher. Since a nonideal voltmeter has limited resistance, it
would draw more current from the circuit as the resistance
gets higher, giving more inaccurate results. This is called the
loading effect. This can be solved through the use of a
potentiometer bridge which uses the principle of Voltage
division and KVL, although it needs a power source.
REFERENCES
[1] Nilsson, J. and Riedel, S., Electric Circuits, 9th ed., Pearson, 2011