EXPERIMENT NO.

5
VOLTMETER AND AMMETER DESIGN USING GALVANOMETER

Objectives:
To convert a sensitive galvanometer into a voltmeter, and subsequently convert
it into an ammeter. The voltmeter would measure voltages ranging from -5 volts to +5
volts whereas the ammeter would measure currents ranging from 0-10 milli amperes.
Equipment:
Galvanometer, Variable resistor / potentiometer, Resistors, DMM, breadboard,
DC power supply, and connecting wires.
Theory:
A galvanometer is a sensitive device which can measure very small currents
accurately. A galvanometer itself may not be very useful for measuring currents in
most of the circuits where current is usually in milli amperes. However by slight
alterations a galvanometer can be converted into a voltmeter or an ammeter with a
reasonably larger range. It is basically a current measuring device but by knowing its
internal resistance and using ohms law we can use it to measure voltage across a
circuit element. However such a usage of galvanometer has two serious limitations.
First, since the internal resistance of a galvanometer is usually small it would seriously
affect the voltage reading across the element for which it is used. Second, as
galvanometers can measure only small amounts of current (300 micro amperes) so the
range of voltage which they can measure is very small as well. We can overcome both
these limitations very easily. By connecting a very large resistance in series with the
galvanometer we can make its total resistance significantly large. This would increase
the range of measurable voltage and would decrease the loading effect of the
galvanometer as well.
PART 1: VOLTMETER DESIGN
The selected galvanometer can measure currents from 0-300 micro amperes.
The internal resistance of different galvanometers is different but it ranges from 130150 ohms. We can measure it by using DMM. We will convert our galvanometer into
a voltmeter with a range of -5 to 5 volts. It should give maximum deflection when a
voltage of 5V is applied across its terminals. We know that it would give maximum
deflection only if the current through it is maximum, i.e. 300 micro amperes.

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Figure 5.1: Voltmeter design using galvanometer

If v = 5V then i = 300A. Suppose the internal resistance Rm of the galvanometer is

140 then

v = iR + iRm

R = ( v iRm ) i

(5.1)
(5.2)

R = ( 5 (300 )(140) ) (300 )

R = 16.5k
Safety Precautions

Look at each exercise carefully before connecting the circuits.

Make sure all power is off before connecting or disconnecting components.
Ask your TA to check the circuit before turning on the power.
When measuring voltage or current, make sure the DMM is correctly set for what
you need to measure.

The design of the voltmeter as explained in the theory section has two constraints:
1. The actual value of the internal resistance (Rm) of the galvanometer is
unknown.
2. If found the actual value of internal resistance (Rm) still it would be really
fortuitous if the calculated value of the resistance R is actually present in the
laboratory.

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So to overcome these two constraints a circuit as shown in figure 5.1 is build. A

variable resistance (1 M) has to be attached in series with the galvanometer. The
value of the variable resistance is slowly varied until maximum deflection of the
galvanometer is achieved, thus our voltmeter design is complete and calibrated for
-5 to +5 volt measurement.
Measurement of the internal resistance:
To calculate the actual value of the internal resistance of the galvanometer:
1. Measure the voltage across the sensitive galvanometer (vg), and record the value
in Table 5.1.
2. Measure the current flowing through the galvanometer (ig), and record the value
in Table 5.1.
3. Write down in the calculated and measured value of the internal resistance Rm.
4. Determine the calculated value of R using eq. (5.2). Use DMM to measure the
value of series resistance R and make a note in Table 5.1.

vg
(V)

ig
(A)

Rm meas.
()

Rm calc.
()

R meas.
()

R calc.
()

Table 5.1: Data collection to measure the internal resistance of galvanometer

Testing the designed voltmeter:

To test the designed voltmeter:
1. Remove the 5V supply from the designed voltmeter unit.
2. Make a circuit of series resistors, shown in Figure 5.2, on the breadboard.
3. Using the designed voltmeter, measure the voltage across each resistance and
record the value in Table 5.2. Use DMM to verify the voltage values.
Safety Precaution

Make sure that you correctly measure the voltage across each resistance. To
measure the voltage across R1 (1k), attach the designed voltmeter as shown in
Figure 5.3. Voltage across other resistances can be measured in a similar manner.

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Figure 5.2: Test circuit to validate the voltmeter design

R1
1000
500

R2

500

R3

5V

Figure 5.3: Measuring voltage across the resistor R1

Nominal value of
resistance ()

Voltage measured
by the designed
voltmeter (V)

Voltage measured
by the DMM (V)

% difference

R1 =
R2 =
R3 =
Table 5.2: Data collection for the test circuit to validate the designed voltmeter

4. Comment on the results.

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PART 2: AMMETER DESIGN

The selected galvanometer can measure currents from 0-300 micro amperes.
The internal resistance of different galvanometers is different but it ranges from 130150 ohms. Suppose we wish to convert the galvanometer into an ammeter with a
range of 0 to 10 milli amperes. Galvanometer should give maximum deflection when
a current of 10mA flow through it. We know that the galvanometer would give
maximum deflection only if the current through it is maximum, i.e. 300 micro
amperes.

1000

R1

10V
R

5.6

Ammeter
Figure 5.4: Ammeter design using galvanometer

If i = 10mA then ig = 300A and is = 9.7mA (is is the current flowing through the
shunt resistance Rs). Suppose the internal resistance Rg of the galvanometer is 140
then

is = ( Rg / ( Rg + Rs ) ) i
Rs = Rg ( i / is ) Rg

(5.3)
(5.4)

Rs = (140 )(10 / 9.7 ) 140

R = 4.33
The design of the ammeter as explained in the theory section has two constraints:
First, actual value of the internal resistance (Rg) of the galvanometer is unknown.
Second, if found the actual value of internal resistance (Rg) still it would be really
fortuitous if the calculated value of the resistance Rs is actually present in the
laboratory. So we would make a circuit as shown in figure 5.4. A variable resistance
R of 1k has to be attached in parallel with the galvanometer. The value of the
variable resistance is slowly varied until maximum deflection of the galvanometer is
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achieved, thus our ammeter design is complete and calibrated for 0 to 10 mA

measurement.
Testing the designed ammeter:
To test the designed ammeter:
1. Remove the 10V supply and the R1 (1k) resistance from the designed ammeter
unit.
2. Make a circuit of parallel resistors, shown in Figure 5.5, on the breadboard.
3. Using the designed ammeter, measure the current through each resistance and
record the value in Table 5.3. Use DMM to verify the current values.

Figure 5.5: Test circuit to validate the ammeter design

Safety Precaution

Make sure that you correctly measure the current across each resistance. To
measure the current through R1 (1k), attach the designed ammeter as shown in
Figure 5.6. Current through other resistances can be measured in a similar manner.

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Figure 5.6: Measuring current through the resistor R1

Nominal value of
resistance ()

Current measured Current measured % difference

by the designed
by the DMM (A)
ammeter (A)

R1 =
R2 =
R3 =
Table 5.3: Data collection for the test circuit to validate the designed ammeter

4. Comment on the results.

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