Ruchi Gajjar

A.K. Sawhney - A course in Electrical and electronics measurement

and Instrumentation, Dhanpatrai & Sons
 It is necessary to have a permanent record or state of a
phenomenon being investigated
Recorders, often measure flow, force, pressure, temperature, I,
V, Power, etc
A recorder, thus records electrical and non-electrical quantities
as a function of time.
Recording requirements:
Method by which data is recorded
If sys = analog, Analog recording is to be used
If sys = digital, then digital recording is to be used
 Recorders

Analog Digital

Graphic Oscillographic Magnetic Tape

Strip Chart X-Y

Galvanometer

Null type
1. Marking with ink filled stylus
Most common

Advantage:
Ordinary paper can be used
Low cost
Operation over a wide range of recording speeds possible
Little friction between stylus tip and paper

Disadvantage:
Ink splatters at high speed
Patches at low speeds
Clogs when stylus at rest
2. Marking with heated stylus
Writes on special paper
Overcomes the difficulties encountered in ink writing system
It melts a thin, white wax like coating on a black paper base

Advantage:
Reliable
Offers high contrast trace

Disadvantage:
Cannot be used for recording certain processes which produce
heat which indirectly effects recording
3.With pressure sensitive paper
If chart made from a pressure sensitive paper, a simple recording
process is possible
A V-shaped pointer is passed under a chopper bar which presses
pen into paper once/second -> making a series of marks into the
special paper

Disadvantage:
System -> not purely continuous and hence is suitable for
recording some slowly varying quantities
4. Electric stylus marking
Paper with special coating which is sensitive to current
When current conducted from the stylus to paper -> a trace
appears on the paper

Advantage:
Wide range of marking speed
Low stylus friction
Long stylus life

Disadvantage:
Cost = high
5. Electrostatic stylus
Uses a stylus which produces a high voltage discharge thereby
producing a permanent trace on an electro-sensitive paper

6. Optical marking
Uses a beam of light to write on a photosensitive paper
This method allows higher frequency to be recorded and permits a
relatively large chart speed with good resolution

Disadvantage:
Cost = high
Paper must be developed before a record as writing process ->
photographic
Therefore, method not suitable for instantaneous monitoring
required
2 types for producing graphic
representation
1. Curvilinear System
Stylus mounted on central pivot
and moves through an arc which
allows a full-width chart marking
For full-range, lines drawn on chart
curved
Used on many records with PMMC
galvanometer actuating stylus filled
with ink

Disadvantage:
Tracing on charts is difficult to
analyse because of curved time
base line
2. Rectilinear System
Line at constant time is perpendicular to time axis
Therefore, system produce straight line across width of the chart
1. Galvanometer type
Operates on deflection principle
Deflection is produced by
galvanometer which produces a
torque on account of current passing
through the coil
Current is proportional to quantity
being measured
2. Null- type
Change in input produced by signal from sensors or transducers
upsets the balance of measuring circuit of the recorders
As a result, error signal -> generated that operates some device which
restores balance and brings system to null condition
Amount of movement of this balance restoring device is the indication
of magnitude of error signal
Direction of movement is an indication of direction of quantity being
measured
Types of null recorders:
1. Potentiometric
2. Bridge
3. LVDT
2.1 Potentiometric
Disadvantage of galvanometric recorders -> low input impedance and
limited sensitivity
Therefore to overcome the input impedance problem, we amplify
difference between input term and display or indicating instrument
Accuracy -> improved if input signal is compared with a reference
voltage by using a potential circuit
Error signal = difference between input signal and reference voltage,
is amplified and used to energise field coil of dc motor
A wiper is connected to dc motor.
This wiper moves over potentiometer in appropriate direction to
require magnitude of error signal to obtain balance
Wiper comes to rest when unknown signal voltage is balanced as
voltage of potentiometer
2.1 Potentiometric
Single point recorders:
Recording instrument can be entirely mechanical, electrical or a
combination of both
Graphic record shows variation of measured variable with time

Instrument which records only one value -> single point recorder

Multi point recorders:

Records several inputs
 Strip chart recorders measure variations of quantity wrt time

X-Y recorders gives graphic record of relationship between two

variables
e.g. emf plotted as a function of another emf
> one self-balancing potentiometer control position of paper while other
control position of pen, i.e. one moves in X-direction and the other in Y-
direction