Bridge methods

ABE425 Engineering Measurement Systems

Agenda
Null methods (calibration and highly accurate
measurements)
DC bridges (Resistance measurement)
Wheatstone

Capacitor and inductance (coil) models

AC bridges (Inductance / capacitance measurement)
Null-type Parallel-Resistance-Capacitance bridge for capacitance
and dissipation factor measurement
Maxwell bridge for inductance (coil) and quality factor
measurement
Wien bridge

Approximate measurement of Inductance and

Capacitance
Deflection methods (control systems)
Deflection-type Wheatstone bridge and non-linearity

Null-type DC Wheatstone bridges are used for

accurate resistance measurement
The bridge is balanced when the voltage Vd is adjusted to zero
by tuning R1 while R2 and R3 are known and kept constant.
The null-detector is usually some type of galvanometer
The unknown resistance value can then be computed using
the values of the other resistances
Since there are no inductances (coils) or capacitances, a DC
source is sufficient
This type of bridge is used for strain gage measurements

Measurement procedure using Galvanometer and

decade resistor box
Unknown resistor

Decade Box

Galvanometer
Vd

R3
R2
Vi
Vi
Rx R2
R1 R3

R3
R2
Vd Vi

R
R1 R3
2
x

At balance:

R
Vd 0 Rx R1 2
R3

Known, constant

Galvanometers are VERY SENSITIVE instruments to

detect zero current

D'Arsonval galvanometer

Thompson mirror type galvanometer (1880). Note the

antenna to compensate for electric/magnetic fields

Null-type AC Wheatstone bridge for impedance

measurement
The bridge is balanced when the voltage Vd is adjusted
to zero byZtuning
, Z or Z
1

Z1
Zx
Z2
Z3

x 1 3 2
Z x Z 3 Z1Z 2

Capacitor and Inductance (coil) models

Capacitor model with Capacitance and dissipation
resistance

Inductor (coil) model with Inductance and series

resistance
Inductances have a quality factor
Q

Lu
Ru

Null-type Parallel-Resistance-Capacitance bridge for

capacitance and dissipation factor measurement
1
jC x
Rx
Zx

1
1 j RxC x
Rx
jC x
Rx

Z 3 R3 Known, fixed

1
jC1
R1
Z1

1
1 j R1C1
R1
jC1
R1

Z x Z 3 Z1Z 2

Z 2 R2 Known, fixed

R
Re : Rx R1 2
R3

Rx
R
R1
2

1 j Rx Cx R3 1 j R1C1

R
Im : C x C1 3
R2

Rx R3 1 j R1C1 R1R2 1 j RxC x

Independent of

Maxwell bridge to measure inductance, resistance

and quality factor of low quality coils (Q<10)
Z u Ru j Lu
1
jC1
R1
Z1

1
1 j R1C1
R1
jC1
R1

Z 2 R2

Known, fixed

Z 3 R3

R1
R2 R3
1 j R1C1

Ru j Lu
Z1Z u Z 3 Z 2
R2 R3

R1 Independent of
Im : Lu R2 R3C1
Re : Ru

Lu
R1C1
Ru

R1 Ru j Lu R2 R3 1 j R1C1

Hay bridge to measure inductance, resistance and

quality factor of high quality coils (Q>10)
Z x Rx j Lx
Z 3 R3

1 j R3C3
1

jC3
jC3

Z1 R1
Known, fixed
Z 2 R2
1 j R3C3
R1R2
j

C
3

Rx j Lx

Rx j Lx 1 j R3C3
Z x Z 3 Z1Z 2

R1 R2C3
Lx
1 2 R32C32
Q

j R1R2C3

2 R1 R2 R3C32
Rx
1 2 R32C32

Lx
1

Rx
R3C3

Wien bridge for frequency measurement

Z 2 R2 Known, fixed
1
jC x
Rx
Zx

1
1 j RxC x
Rx
jC x
Rx

Z 3 R3 Known, fixed
Z1 R1

Z 2 Z x Z 3 Z1

1 j R1C1
1

jC1
jC1

1
R1C1 Rx C x

1 2 R12C12
Rx R3
2
2

R
R
C
1 2 1

Cx

R2C1
R3 1 2 R12C12

The coil characteristics inductance and series resistance can be

measured by equalizing the voltage across a variable resistor
and the coil itself

Z L RL j L
ZR R
V i RL j L iR
V i

2
RL 2 L iR

RL 2 L R 2
2

1
R 2 RL 2

Series resistance of the

coil RL measured with a DVM

Approximate method of measuring capacitance

Measure the AC Voltages for a known input
frequency across resistor R and capacitor C
1
jC
ZR R
ZC

1
C
VR iR
VC i

VC
VR

1
RC

1 VR
R VC

Resistance measured with a DVM

Deflection type DC Wheatstone bridge

Vd

R3
R2
Vi
Vi
Rx R2
R1 R3

R3
R2
Vd Vi

R
R1 R3
2
x

Output (deflection) for R2, R3 = 1,000 Ohm showing significant

non-linearity
Output for R1 =2000, R2 =1000, R3=1000

1.5

Vd

Bridge balance

0.5

-0.5

-1
1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000
Rx

2200

2400

2600

2800

3000

Output (deflection) for R2, R3 = 10,000 Ohm showing reduced

non-linearity
Output for R1 =2000, R2 =10000, R3=10000

1.5

Vd

Bridge balance

0.5

-0.5

-1
1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000
Rx

2200

2400

2600

2800

3000

Measuring the drag coefficient of a sphere using a

compensation method
Electric current returns
sphere to original position

Air flow
pushes
sphere to the right

Drag coefficient ~ Electric current

Links
Schneider, N. 1904. Electrical instruments and testing.
Spon and Chamberlain, New York.

The End