Sensitivity of Voltmeters

The sensitivity of voltmeters is expressed in ohms per volt (ohms/V). It is the resistance of the voltmeter at the full-scale reading in volts. Since the voltmeter’s resistance does not change with the position of the pointer, the total resistance of the meter is the sensitivity multiplied by the full-scale voltage reading. The higher the sensitivity of a voltmeter, the higher the voltmeter’s resistance. Since high resistance voltmeters have less loading effect on circuits, a high-sensitivity meter will provide a more accurate voltage measurement.

To determine the sensitivity of a meter movement, you need only to divide 1 by the amount of current needed to cause full-scale deflection of the meter movement. The manufacturer usually marks meter movements with the amount of current needed for full-scale deflection and the resistance of the meter. With these figures, you can calculate the sensitivity

and the full-scale voltage reading full-scale current (full-scale current x resistance).

For example, if a meter has a full scale reading of 50uA and a resistance of 960 ohms, the sensitivity can be calculated as:

The full-scale voltage reading would be calculated as:

Full-scale voltage reading = full-scale current x resistance

Full scale voltage reading = 50uA x 960 ohms

Full scale voltage reading = 48mV

RANGES

The table below shows the figures for most meter movements in use today.

Meter movement characteristics.

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Notice that the meter movements shown in the table will indicate .029 volts to .I volt at full scale, and the sensitivity ranges from 1000 ohms per volt to 200,000 ohms per volt. The higher sensitivity meters indicate smaller amounts of voltage. Since most voltage measurements involve voltage larger than .1 volt, a method must be used to extend the voltage reading.

The figure below illustrates the method of increasing the voltage range of a voltmeter.

A voltmeter and a range resistor.

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In the figure above view (A), a voltmeter with a range of 10 volts and a resistance of 1 kilohm (R2) is connected in parallel to resistor R1. The meter has .01 ampere of current (full-scale deflection) and indicates 10 volts. In the figure above view(B), the voltage has been increased to 100 volts. This is more than the meter can measure. A 9 kilohm resistor (R3) is connected in series with the meter (R2). The meter (R 2) now has .01 ampere of current (full-scale deflection). But since R3 has increased the voltage capability of the meter, the meter indicates 100 volts. R3 has changed the range of the meter.

Voltmeters can be constructed with several ranges by the use of a switch and internal resistors. The figure below shows a voltmeter with a meter movement of 100 ohms and 1 milliampere full-scale deflection with 5 ranges of voltage through the use of a switch. In this way a voltmeter can be used to measure several different ranges of voltage.

A voltmeter with internal range resistors.

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The current through the meter movement is determined by the voltage being measured. If the voltage measured is higher than the range of the voltmeter, excess current will flow through the meter movement and the meter will be damaged. Therefore, you should always start with the highest range of a voltmeter and switch the ranges until a reading is obtained near the center of the scale. The figure below illustrates these points.

Reading a voltmeter at various ranges.

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In figure above view (A) the meter is in the 1000-volt range. The pointer is barely above the 0 position. It is not possible to accurately read this voltage. In figure above view (B) the meter is switched to the 250 volt range. From the pointer position it is possible to approximate the voltage as 20 volts. Since this is well below the next range, the meter is switched, as in figure above view (C). With the meter in the 50-volt range, it is possible to read the voltage as 22 volts. Since this is more than the next range of the meter (10 volts), the meter would not be switched to the next (lower) scale.

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