MEASURING INSTRUMENTS 
1.1 Definition of instruments 
An instrument is a device in which we can determine the magnitude or value of the quantity to be measured. The measuring quantity can be voltage, current, power and energy etc. 
Generally instruments are classified in to two categories. 
a.) Absolute Instrument 
b.) Secondary Instrument 
1.2 Absolute instrument 
An absolute instrument determines the magnitude of the quantity to be measured in terms of the instrument parameter. This instrument is really used, because each time the value of the measuring quantities varies. So we have to calculate the magnitude of the measuring quantity, 
analytically which is time consuming. These types of instruments are suitable for laboratory use. 
Example: Tangent galvanometer.
1.3 Secondary instrument 
This instrument determines the value of the quantity to be measured directly. Generally these instruments are calibrated by comparing with another standard secondary instrument. 
Examples of such instruments are voltmeter, ammeter and wattmeter etc. Practically secondary instruments are suitable for measurement.
Secondary instruments 
a) Indicating instruments
b) Recording Integrating c)Electromechanically 
d) Indicating instruments
1.3.1 Indicating instrument 
This instrument uses a dial and pointer to determine the value of measuring quantity. The pointer indication gives the magnitude of measuring quantity. 
1.3.2 Recording instrument 
This type of instruments records the magnitude of the quantity to be measured continuously over a specified period of time. 
1.3.3 Integrating instrument 
This type of instrument gives the total amount of the quantity to be measured over a specified period of time. 
1.3.4 Electromechanical indicating instrument 
For satisfactory operation electromechanical indicating instrument, three forces are necessary. 
They are 
(a) Deflecting force 
(b) Controlling force 
(c)Damping force 
1.4 Deflecting force 
When there is no input signal to the instrument, the pointer will be at its zero position. To deflect the pointer from its zero position, a force is necessary which is known as deflecting force. A system which produces the deflecting force is known as a deflecting system. Generally a deflecting system converts an electrical signal to a mechanical force.
1.4.1 Magnitude effect 
When a current passes through the coil it produces a imaginary bar magnet. When a soft-iron piece is brought near this coil it is magnetized. Depending upon the current direction the poles are produced in such a way that there will be a force of attraction between the coil and the soft iron piece. This principle is used in moving iron attraction type instrument. 
If two soft iron pieces are place near a current carrying coil there will be a force of repulsion between the two soft iron pieces. This principle is utilized in the moving iron repulsion type instrument. 
1.4.2 Force between a permanent magnet and a current carrying coil 
When a current carrying coil is placed under the influence of magnetic field produced by a permanent magnet and a force is produced between them. This principle is utilized in the moving 
coil type instrument. 
1.4.3 Force between two current carrying coil 
When two current carrying coils are placed closer to each other there will be a force of repulsion between them. If one coil is movable and other is fixed, the movable coil will move away from 
the fixed one. This principle is utilized in electrodynamometer type instrument.
1.5 Controlling force 
To make the measurement indicated by the pointer definite (constant) a force is necessary which will be acting in the opposite direction to the deflecting force. This force is known as controlling 
force. A system which produces this force is known as a controlled system. When the external signal to be measured by the instrument is removed, the pointer should return back to the zero position. This is possibly due to the controlling force and the pointer will be indicating a steady 
value when the deflecting torque is equal to controlling torque. 
Td = Tc
1.5.1 Spring control 
Two springs are attached on either end of spindle .The spindle is placed in jewelled 
bearing, so that the frictional force between the pivot and spindle will be minimum. Two springs are provided in opposite direction to compensate the temperature error. The spring is made of 
phosphorous bronze. When a current is supply, the pointer deflects due to rotation of the spindle. While spindle is 
rotate, the spring attached with the spindle will oppose the movements of the pointer. The torque produced by the spring is directly proportional to the pointer deflectionθ . 
TC ∝θ (1.2)
The deflecting torque produced Td proportional to ‘I’. WhenTC = Td
, the pointer will come to a 
steady position. Therefore 
θ ∝ I
Since, θ and I are directly proportional to the scale of such instrument which uses spring 
controlled is uniform. 
1.6 Damping force 
The deflection torque and controlling torque produced by systems are electro mechanical. Due to inertia produced by this system, the pointer oscillates about it final steady position before coming to rest. The time required to take the measurement is more. To damp out the oscillation is quickly, a damping force is necessary. This force is produced by different systems. 
(a) Air friction damping 
(b) Fluid friction damping 
(c) Eddy current damping 
1.6.1 Air friction damping 
The piston is mechanically connected to a spindle through the connecting rod  The 
pointer is fixed to the spindle moves over a calibrated dial. When the pointer oscillates in clockwise direction, the piston goes inside and the cylinder gets compressed. The air pushes the 
piston upwards and the pointer tends to move in anticlockwise direction.
If the pointer oscillates in anticlockwise direction the piston moves away and the pressure of the 
air inside cylinder gets reduced. The external pressure is more than that of the internal pressure. 
Therefore the piston moves down wards. The pointer tends to move in clock wise direction.
1.6.2 Eddy current damping 
An aluminum circular disc is fixed to the spindle . This disc is made to move in the 
magnetic field produced by a permanent magnet.When the disc oscillates it cuts the magnetic flux produced by damping magnet. An emf is induced in the circular disc by faradays law. Eddy currents are established in the disc since it has 
several closed paths. By Lenz’s law, the current carrying disc produced a force in a direction opposite to oscillating force. The damping force can be varied by varying the projection of the 
magnet over the circular disc.