Chapter 4 Electrical Instruments and Measurements
Chapter 4 Electrical Instruments and Measurements
Chapter 4 Electrical Instruments and Measurements
TOPICS
Ammeter
Voltmeter
Ohmmeter
Electrical
Multitester (VOM)
Kilowatt-hour Meter
Instruments
Instrument Transformer
Clamp meter
and
Megger Measurements
Power Factor Meter
Tachometer
Phase Sequence
Indicator
The electrical instrument is used to calculate electrical quantities such as current, voltage,
power, etc. Electrical instruments are categorized according to the electrical quantity or the
characteristics measured. It is also categorized according to the type of test function, according to
Ammeter
Ampere (A)
Connection of an ammeter
Types of Ammeter
current
current
of the current you will measure, always set the ammeter to its highest range before using it. If the
pointer deflects to less than ¼ of its scale, then the ammeter can be set to the next lower range. An
Voltmeter
Volt (V)
Connection of Voltmeter
Types of Voltmeter
current voltage.
2. AC Voltmeter – measures
alternating voltage.
The proper type of voltmeter should be selected for the purpose. If you are uncertain of the
range of the voltage you are about to measure, always set the voltmeter to its highest range. During
measurement, if the pointer deflects to less than ¼ of its full scale, the voltmeter may be set to the
An ohmmeter is an instrument that measures resistance. It is also used for checking the
continuity of electric circuits, coils of wires, heaters, and electrical devices among others.
Connection for continuity testing and resistance measurement in shown in the figures below.
Calibrating an Ohmmeter
Before one can make resistance measurements of an electric device with an ohmmeter, the
test prod of the ohmmeter should be first shorted. Then, the zero adjust knob should be adjusted
so that its pointer deflects to zero. An attempt to measure resistance without first observing this
procedure might give erroneous measurements. However, when testing the continuity of an electric
device, there is no need to calibrate the ohmmeter to zero reading prior to the testing.
When measuring the continuity of an electric device with an ohmmeter, make sure that the device
to be tested is free from any sources. That is, there should be no existing voltage across the device
to be tested.
Fuses
Resistors
Relay contacts
Switches
The above are just a few of the hundreds of devices that can be tested with an ohmmeter.
Multi-tester (VOM)
A multi-tester is an instrument that can measure current, voltage and resistance. The
method of changing the mode of measurements is through a selector switch. Multi-tester usually
Set the selector switch to the right parameter to be measured (i.e. voltage, current or
resistance) and observe carefully the precaution discussed for ammeter, voltmeter and ohmmeter
respectively.
Wattmeter
Watts
Kilowatts
The internal circuit of a wattmeter consists of two coils. The first coil, called potential coil,
is to be connected in parallel with the load in which the wattage is to be measured. This coil works
like a voltmeter. The second coil, called the current coil, is to be connected in series with the load.
This second coil works like an ammeter. The product of the current in the current coil and the
Types of Wattmeter
combined. The figure below shows the method of connecting an ammeter and a voltmeter in
determining the power of the load (lamp). To determine the power, multiply the reading of the
ammeter to the reading of the voltmeter. Thus, if the ammeter reads 1.5 amperes and the voltmeter
𝑃 = 1.5 𝐴 × 110 𝑉
𝑷 = 𝟏𝟔𝟓 𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒔
Kilo-Watt-Hour Meter
equipment. A kilo-watt-hour meter is equipped with coils that cause a disk to rotate. The rotating
disk is attached to an analog indicator that integrates and records the quantity of electrical energy
residential, commercial and industrial customers. Consumers pay the utility company based on the
being measured by a low range ammeter. It is used in measuring current of high voltage wires. Its
ICT Ratio
The ratio of the primary current over the secondary current is the ICT ratio. It is also the
ratio of how much the current in the primary can be reduced in the secondary. Thus, if the reading
of ammeter is 2 amperes and the ICT ratio is 50/5 or 10, then the current in the primary line or in
𝐼 = 2 × 10
𝑰 = 𝟐𝟎 𝑨𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔
High current can be measured with low range ammeters equipped with ICT. The ICT
consists of only one secondary coil looped with round hole. The primary is actually the high
voltage and high current cable wire inserted through the hole of the ICT. Figure shows the
connection of ICT and ammeter to measure the high current of the cable wire.
Application of an ICT
An IPT is a transformer used primarily for isolating voltmeter and ammeter from measuring
high voltage. Figure shows the connection of IPT and voltmeter to a high voltage cable.
IPT Ratio
The ratio of the voltage in primary over the secondary is the IPT ratio. Thus, if the voltmeter
reading is 120 V, and the IPT ratio is 115, the voltage between the high voltage cable can be
computed as follows:
𝐸 = 120 × 115
𝑬 = 𝟏𝟑, 𝟖𝟎𝟎 𝑽
Applications of an IPT
Since it is quiet dangerous to take voltage and current readings of equipment with high
voltages, it is necessary to isolate the meters. To acquire isolation, IPT and ICT are utilized. Figure
below shows the basic meter connection for high voltage equipment.
Clamp Meter
A clamp meter is a handy ammeter that can measure AC current without actually making
any connection to the circuit. It actually works using the principle of ICT. A clamp meter cannot
measure DC current. Figure below shows how to measure current in a conductor using a clamp
meter.
compartment.
Mega-ohmmeter (Megger)
A megger is actually an ohmmeter that can measure very high insulation resistance strength
between two conductors. When the megger is cranked within one minute it can charge two separate
conductors, with a voltage up to 1,000 volts. While cranking the megger, it will register the
insulation resistance strength between two conductors in ohms. The acceptable insulation strength
between two conductors should not fall below 50 MΩ. If the megger indicates less than 50 MΩ,
Test and measures the insulation resistance strength of wires and cables. (The acceptable
Measures the insulation resistance between wires and between wire to ground.
Figure (a) shows how to test and measure the insulation resistance strength between
winding and body of monitor. Figure (b) shows how to test and measure the insulation resistance
Two pieces of equipment might operate or deliver the same power but may draws different
current from the source. The one that draws more current has a lower power factor. The lower
factor equipment will draw and return electrical energy from the source more than the one with
higher power factor. This is especially true when the equipment has high reactance. The drawback
with low power factor is that the equipment would require larger sized cable wires. Furthermore,
utility companies like Meralco charge penalties against industrial establishments operating at low
power factor because the extra unproductive current they draw is wasted in the form of heat in the
lines and prevent the diversion of that current to other industrial establishments. Large industrial
companies operating at low power factor may pay a large amount of money for penalties.
A power factor meter is installed in the lines of industrial establishments to monitor the
power factor of their equipment. Such monitoring will enable the establishment to make
adjustments for improving the power factor. The figure shows the connection of a power factor
machine. A portable type of tachometer has a shaft that is to be held in contact with the end of the
rotating shaft of a machine whose revolution is to be measured. The figure shows how to use the
Two-Lamp Method
transferred from the main supply line to emergency supply line, both line should be tested first
with a phase sequence indicator. A phase sequence indicator will determine if the phasing of a 3-
phase line is A-B-C sequence or C-B-A sequence. The connection is shown in the figure below.
Application
In a 3-phase system, where the main supply from a utility company is interrupted, the
transfer of load from the main supply to the existing emergency generator cannot commence unless
the three lines are tested first for correct sequencing. If the load consisting of rotating machines
running at a clockwise revolution from the main supply is transferred to the emergency generator
without observing first the proper phase sequence in the lines, then the motor load might operate
in counter clockwise revolution which can bring about detrimental effects to the operation.
To avoid such effects during the transfer, the emergency generator must be tested first with
a phase sequence indicator to see if it is in conformity with the sequence of the phase sequence of
the main supply. The connection is shown in the figure below. Normally, M1 contacts are closed
while M2 contacts are open. If in this condition the motor loads are running clockwise, then it
should also run clockwise when the emergency generator is the one supplying the power through
Prior to connecting the loads, the lines AU, BU and CU of the main supply lines and the
lines AE, BE, and CE of the emergency generator supply should be tested with a phase sequence
indicator as shown in the figure. If in both connections the B1 bulb is bright and B2 is dim, then
both main supply lines and emergency lines are operating in the same phase sequence and their
However, if B1 is bright in the main supply line while in the emergency line supply it is
dim, then the lines of the emergency supply and the lines of the generator are not in the same phase
sequence. This means that if the motor loads are connected to the main supply line rotate
clockwise, then they will rotate counter clockwise when they are transferred to the lines of the
emergency generator. This condition can be easily corrected by interchanging any two of the three
1. To measure the power taken by a DC electric motor with only a single instrument you should
use _____.
a. Voltmeter c. Wattmeter
a. Pyrometer c. Tachometer
b. Gyrometer d. Synchroscope
3. The instrument used to indicate phase relation between current and voltage is the ______.
a. Megger c. Voltmeter
a. Shorted c. Disconnected
b. Open d. Grounded
5. An electrician in the industry would first check the ______ to correct a low power factor.
b. Hysteresis d. Reluctance
b. Hot to neutral
7. An AC ammeter or voltmeter is calibrated to read RMS values; this means the meter is
a. Maximum c. Average
b. Peak d. Effective
I. Real power
9. To increase the range of an AC ammeter which one of the following is most commonly used?
10. A tester using an ordinary light bulb is commonly used to test _____.