Moving Iron (MI) instruments

One of the most accurate instrument used for both AC and DC measurement is moving iron
instrument. There are two types of moving iron instrument.
□ Attraction type
□ Repulsion type
Attraction type M.I. instrument

Construction: The moving iron fixed to the spindle is kept near the hollow fixed coil (Fig.
1.10). The pointer and balance weight are attached to the spindle, which is supported with
jeweled bearing. Here air friction damping is used.

Principle of operation

The current to be measured is passed through the fixed coil. As the current is flow through the
fixed coil, a magnetic field is produced. By magnetic induction the moving iron gets magnetized.
The north pole of moving coil is attracted by the south pole of fixed coil. Thus the deflecting
force is produced due to force of attraction. Since the moving iron is attached with the spindle,
the spindle rotates and the pointer moves over the calibrated scale. But the force of attraction
depends on the current flowing through the coil.

Fig. 1.10
Repulsion type moving iron instrument

Construction: The repulsion type instrument has a hollow fixed iron attached to it (Fig. 1.12).
The moving iron is connected to the spindle. The pointer is also attached to the spindle in
supported with jeweled bearing.
Principle of operation: When the current flows through the coil, a magnetic field is produced by
it. So both fixed iron and moving iron are magnetized with the same polarity, since they are kept
in the same magnetic field. Similar poles of fixed and moving iron get repelled. Thus the
deflecting torque is produced due to magnetic repulsion. Since moving iron is attached to
spindle, the spindle will move. So that pointer moves over the calibrated scale.
Damping: Air friction damping is used to reduce the oscillation.
Control: Spring control is used.
 Fig. 1.12

Advantages

MI can be used in AC and DC

It is cheap
Supply is given to a fixed coil, not in moving
coil. Simple construction
Less friction error.

Disadvantages

It suffers from eddy current and hysteresis

error Scale is not uniform
It consumed more power
Calibration is different for AC and DC operation
Dynamometer (or) Electromagnetic moving coil instrument (EMMC)

Fig. 1.1
This instrument can be used for the measurement of voltage, current and power. The difference
between the PMMC and dynamometer type instrument is that the permanent magnet is replaced
by an electromagnet.

Construction: A fixed coil is divided in to two equal half. The moving coil is placed between the two half
of the fixed coil. Both the fixed and moving coils are air cored. So that the hysteresis effect will be
zero. The pointer is attached with the spindle. In a non metallic former the moving coil is wounded.
Control: Spring control is used.
Damping: Air friction damping is used.
Principle of operation:
When the current flows through the fixed coil, it produced a magnetic field, whose flux density
is proportional to the current through the fixed coil. The moving coil is kept in between the fixed
coil. When the current passes through the moving coil, a magnetic field is produced by this coil.
The magnetic poles are produced in such a way that the torque produced on the moving coil deflects
the pointer over the calibrated scale. This instrument works on AC and DC. When AC voltage is
applied, alternating current flows through the fixed coil and moving coil. When the current in the fixed
coil reverses, the current in the moving coil also reverses. Torque remains in the same direction. Since
the current i1 and i2 reverse simultaneously. This is because the fixed and moving coils are
either connected in series or parallel.
Advantages
Can be used for Ac and DC
Accuracy is high
Free from hysterisis and Eddy current loss
Disadvantages
Low torque to weigh ratio
Highly expensive
Scale is non uniform
Higher power consumption compared to pmmc
Frictional losses are high
Permanent Magnet Moving Coil (PMMC) instrument
One of the most accurate type of instrument used for D.C. measurements is PMMC instrument.
Construction:
A permanent magnet is used in this type instrument. Aluminum former is provided in the cylindrical
in between two poles of the permanent magnet (Fig. 1.7). Coils are wound on the aluminum former
which is connected with the spindle. This spindle is supported with jeweled bearing. Two springs
are attached on either end of the spindle. The terminals of the moving coils are connected to the
spring. Therefore the current flows through spring 1, moving coil and spring 2.
Damping: Eddy current damping is used. This is produced by aluminum former.
Control: Spring control is used.

Fig. 1.7

Principle of operation
When D.C. supply is given to the moving coil, D.C. current flows through it. When the current carrying
coil is kept in the magnetic field, it experiences a force. This force produces a torque and the
former rotates. The pointer is attached with the spindle. When the former rotates, the pointer moves
over the calibrated scale. When the polarity is reversed a torque is produced in the opposite
direction. The mechanical stopper does not allow the deflection in the opposite direction. Therefor
the polarity should be maintained with PMMC instrument.If A.C. is supplied, a reversing torqu is
produced. This cannot produce a continuous deflection. Therefore this instrument cannot be used in A.C.

Torque developed by PMMC

Let Td =deflecting torque
TC = controlling torque
θ = angle of deflection
K=spring constant
b=width of the coil
 l=height of the coil or length of coil
N=No. of turns
I=current
B=Flux density
A=area of the coil
The force produced in the coil is given by
F = BIL sin θ (1.4)

When θ = 90
For N turns, F = NBIL (1.5)

Torque produced Td = F× ⊥r distance (1.6)

Td = NBIL × b = BINA (1.7)

Td = BANI (1.8)

Td ∝ I (1.9)

Advantages
Torque/weight is high
Power consumption is less
Scale is uniform
Damping is very effective
Since operating field is very strong, the effect of stray field is negligible
Range of instrument can be extended
Disadvantages
Use only for D.C.
Cost is highly
Error is produced due to ageing effect of PMMC
Friction and temperature error is present
Extension of range of PMMC instrument
Case-I: Shunt
A low shunt resistance connected in parrel with the ammeter to extent the range of current. Large current
can be measured using low current rated ammeter by using a shunt.

Fig. 1.8

Let Rm =Resistance of meter

Rsh =Resistance of shunt
Im = Current through meter
Ish =current through shunt
I= current to be measure

∴Vm = Vsh (1)

ImRm=IshRsh
Im/Ish=Rsh/Rm (2)
Apply KCL at P, I = Im + I sh (3)
Divide (3) by Im
I/Im=1+Ish/Im (4)
From Eqn (2), Ish/Im = Rm/Rsh (5)
Put Eqn (5) into (4)
I/Im = 1+Rm/Rsh
I = Im(1+Rm/Rsh)
1+Rm/Rsh is called multiplication Factor
Shunt resistance is made of manganin. This has least thermoelectric emf. The change is resistance, due to change in
temperature is negligible.

Case (II): Multiplier

A large resistance is connected in series with voltmeter is called multiplier (Fig. 1.9). A large voltage can be
measured using a voltmeter of small rating with a multiplier.

Let Rm =resistance of meter

Rse =resistance of multiplier
Vm =Voltage across meter
Vse = Voltage across series resistance
V= voltage to be measured
Im =I se (1)

Vm/Rm = Vse/Rse

Vse/Vm = Rse/Rm (2)

Apply kvl, V= Vm+Vse (3)

Eqn (3)÷ Vm
V/Vm= 1+ Vse/Vm (4)

put Eqn (2) into (4)

V/Vm= 1+ Rse/Rm

V = Vm( 1 + Rse/Rm)
1 + Rse/Rm is called multiplication Factor

Example: 1
A PMMC ammeter has the following specification

Coil dimension are 1cm × 1cm. Spring constant is 0.15 × 10−6 N − m / rad , Flux density is 1.5 × 10 −3 wb

/ m 2 .Determine the no. of turns required to produce a deflection of 900 when a current 2mA
flows through the coil.

Solution:

At steady state condition Td = TC

BANI  Kθ

⇒ N = Kθ
BAI
−4 2
A=1×10 m

−6 N − m
K= 0.15 ×10
rad
−3 2
B=1.5 ×10 wb / m
−3

I= 2 ×10 A
° Π
θ = 90 = rad
2
N=785 ans.
Example: 2

The pointer of a moving coil instrument gives full scale deflection of 20mA. The potential
difference across the meter when carrying 20mA is 400mV.The instrument to is to be used as
ammeter for 200A full scale deflection. Find the shunt resistance required to achieve this, if the
instrument to be used as a voltmeter for full scale reading with 1000V. Find the series resistance
to be connected it?
Solution:
Case-1

Vm =400mV

I m = 20mA
I=200A

R = Vm = 400 = 20Ω
m

Im 20
R
+ m

I= Im 1

R
sh
−3
200 = 20 ×10 + 20
1
R
sh
−3
Rsh = 2 ×10 Ω

Case-II
V=1000V

R
se

V = Vm 1 +
R
m
−3 R
4000 = 400 ×10 1 +
se

20

Rse = 49.98kΩ