Practical Significance
The conductors are generally made from copper & aluminum. They are having low resistance. It is essential to measure its resistance precisely to calculate the voltage drop per kilometer when these conductors are used in transmission and distribution circuits.
Practical Outcome
1. Measure conductor resistance of cables using Kelvin’s double bridge.
Minimum Theoretical Background
Kelvin double bridge is a measuring instrument used to measure unknown electrical resistors below 1 ohm.
Use of Kelvin’s Bridge eliminates the errors due to contact resistance and lead resistance. It also improves sensitivity. On the Kelvin’s Bridge terminals are provided to connect current input, galvanometer and unknown resistance. A knob is provided for adjustment of the ratio of “P/Q’. For balancing the bridge a variable standard resistance is used, which consists of a tapped resistance for coarse adjustment and slide wire resistance for fine adjustment.
Standard low resistance is constructed with four terminals. One pair of terminals is marked C, C called current terminals. The other pair is marked as P, P and is called as pressure terminals. The use of pressure terminals for measuring voltage across low resistance with four terminals eliminates error due to contact resistance and lead resistance.
Practical set-up / Circuit diagram / Work Situation
Resources Required
Precautions to be followed
1 Read manufactures instruction before using kit.
2 Follow instructions mentioned in the instruction sheet.
3 There should not be any loose connections.
Procedure
1. Set the Galvanometer switch to “INT” position. (This connects the built-in galvanometer to the circuit. If an external more sensitive galvanometer is available, connect it to the terminals marked “EXTGALV” and put the galvanometer switch in “EXT” position).
2. Connect +C and +P terminals using test probs. Also connect -P and —C with test probs.
3. Connect Test wire/ cable to +C and —C terminals.
4. Now, press the push button on the panel and obtain the balance by varying the dials.
5. Note down the readings in observation Table.
6. Repeat the experiment for 2/3 samples.
7. Calculate the value of unknown resistance R.