F.Y.B.Sc.

SemII/II/I

AC Bridge Circuits

N.Kapoor

As in DC measurement circuits, the circuit configuration known as a bridge can be a very useful
way to measure unknown values of resistance. This is true with AC as well, and we can apply the
very same principle to the accurate measurement of unknown impedances.
To review, the bridge circuit works as a pair of two-component voltage dividers connected across
the same source voltage, with a null-detector meter movement connected between them to indicate
a condition of "balance" at zero volts:
Impedance bridges work the same way, only the balance equation is with complex quantities, as
both magnitude and phase across the components of the two dividers must be equal in order for the
null detector to indicate "zero." The null detector, of course, must be a device capable of detecting
very small AC voltages. An oscilloscope is often used for this, although very sensitive
electromechanical meter movements and even headphones (small speakers) may be used if the
source frequency is within audio range.
When describing general AC bridges, where impedances and not just resistances must be in proper
ratio for balance, it is sometimes helpful to draw the respective bridge legs in the form of boxshaped components, each one with a certain impedance
For this general form of AC bridge to balance, the impedance ratios of each branch must be equal:

Again, it must be stressed that the impedance quantities in the above equation must be complex,
accounting for both magnitude and phase angle. It is insufficient that the impedance magnitudes
alone be balanced; without phase angles in balance as well, there will still be voltage across the
terminals of the null detector and the bridge will not be balanced.

Bridge circuits can be constructed to measure just about any device value desired, be it
capacitance, inductance, resistance. As always in bridge measurement circuits, the unknown
quantity is always "balanced" against a known standard, obtained from a high-quality, calibrated
component that can be adjusted in value until the null detector device indicates a condition of
balance. Depending on how the bridge is set up, the unknown component's value may be
determined directly from the setting of the calibrated standard, or derived from that standard
through a mathematical formula.
De Sautys Bridge In this bridge two capacitors whose capacitances are to be compared or
one unknown & other of
known capacitance are connected as shown.
Audio frequency oscillator is connected as source
& headphone as detector

F.Y.B.Sc. SemII/II/I

AC Bridge Circuits

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Let Cx is unknown capacitor & CS is standard capacitor.

Z1

1
jC x

Z3

1
jC S

Z2=R1

Z4 =R2

Substituting in balance condition

1 jC S
1

R1
jC x
R2
R
C x 2 CS
R1

Thus by adjusting CS & R2 bridge can be balanced & from above equation CS can be calculated.
MAXWELL BRIDGE -- Maxwell bridge is used to measure unknown inductances in terms of
calibrated resistance and capacitance.

Z1 = Rx in series with Lx=Rx+j Lx

Z2=R2 , Z3=R3
Z4= R4 in parallel with CS
Z1

1
1
1

Z4
R4 1 jC S

Z2Z3
Z4
1
1

R4 1 jC S

R x jLx R2 R3

Comparing real & imaginary terms

R R
Rx 2 3
R4
Lx R2 R3C S

F.Y.B.Sc. SemII/II/I

AC Bridge Circuits

N.Kapoor 3

Thus bridge can be balanced by changing C S & R4.

Advantage 1) Two balance conditions are independent , if we choose C S & R4 as variable
elements.

2) Balance conditions are independent of frequency.

Disadvantage-1) The variable standard capacitor is very expensive.
2)The bridge is limited to measurement of low Q coils(1 Q10)
The above all limitations are overcome by the modified bridge which is known as Hey's bridge
which does not use an electrical resistance in parallel with the capacitor.

Hays bridge for measurement of inductance :

The Hays bridge is modification of the Maxwells bridge. The connection diagram of the Hays
bridge is shown in figure below. This Hays bridge uses a resistor in series with a standard capacitor
(unlike the Maxwells bridge which uses a resistance in parallel with the capacitor).
Let L1= unknown inductor connected in series with resistance R1, if inductor has self resistance (r)
than R1 = r + series resistance.
R2, R3, R4=known non-inductive resistance,
C4=standard capacitor.

Z1 = R1 in series with L1=R1+j L1

Z2=R2 , Z3=R3
Z 4 R4

1
jC 4

At balance,

Separating real and imaginary term, we obtain:

F.Y.B.Sc. SemII/II/I

AC Bridge Circuits

Solving the above two equations we have,

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The Q factor of the coil is :

Advantages of the Hays bridge:

1) This bridge gives very simple expression for unknown inductance for high Q coils, and is
suitable for coils having Q > 10.
2) This bridge also gives the simple expression for Q factor.
3) From expression of Q factor it is clear that for high Q factor the value of resistance R4 should be
small.

Disadvantages of Hays bridge:

1) The Hays bridge is suited for measurement of high Q inductors, specially those inductors having
Q > 10. For inductors having Q values smaller than 10, the term (1/Q) 2 in the expression for
inductance L1 becomes rather important and thus cannot be neglected. Hence this bridge is not
suited for measurement of coils having Q less than 10 and for thse applications a Maxwells bridge
is more suited.

WIEN BRIDGE --It is used to measure unknown

frequency of the source. It has a series R C combination in one arm & a
parallel combination in the adjoining arm.

Z1 Rx

1
jC x

Z2=R1

Z4=R2

1
1
1

Z 3 RS 1 jC S

Z1

Z 2Z3
Z4

R
1 1
1

1
R x

j C x R S 1 jC S
R2

1 1

R2 R x j
jC S R1
C x R S

F.Y.B.Sc. SemII/II/I

AC Bridge Circuits

R2 Rx R2C S
R2

j R2 Rx C S
RS
Cx
RS C x

R1

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Comparing real & imaginary terms

R2
R2 Rx R2CS

& R2 R x C S
RS
Cx
RS C x
R1 Rx C S

-------- (1)
R 2 RS C x

R1 =

If Rx =RS =R & Cx =CS =C

And

then

1
( 2)
R x RS C x C S
1
R x RS C x C S

R1
2
R2

R1 2R2

1
2RC

Thus frequency of the source can be determined (in audio range) & since bridge is frequency
dependent the applied voltage has to be sinusoidal.
REVIEW:

AC bridge circuits work on the same basic principle as DC bridge circuits: that a balanced
ratio of impedances (rather than resistances) will result in a "balanced" condition as indicated
by the null-detector device.
Null detectors for AC bridges may be sensitive electromechanical meter movements,
oscilloscopes (CRT's), headphones (amplified or unamplified), or any other device capable of
registering very small AC voltage levels. Like DC null detectors, its only required point of
calibration accuracy is at zero.
AC bridge circuits can be of the "symmetrical" type where an unknown impedance is
balanced by a standard impedance of similar type on the same side (top or bottom) of the
bridge. Or, they can be "nonsymmetrical," using parallel impedances to balance series
impedances, or even capacitances balancing out inductances.
AC bridge circuits often have more than one adjustment, since both impedance magnitude
and phase angle must be properly matched to balance.
Some impedance bridge circuits are frequency-sensitive while others are not. The frequencysensitive types may be used as frequency measurement devices if all component values are
accurately known.
A Wagner earth or Wagner ground is a voltage divider circuit added to AC bridges to help
reduce errors due to stray capacitance coupling the null detector to ground.

SCHERINGS BRIDGE -- Schering bridge is the most accurate bridge method for the
determination
of small capacitance of a capacitor. C3 is a standard capacitor.
Cx
R2
Rx

C4

C3

R4

Vs
+

F.Y.B.Sc.
Z1 Rx

AC Bridge Circuits
1
jC x

Z2

1
jC3

Z3 =R2

Using Balance equation Z1

Rx

1
1
1

Z4
R4 1 jC4

Z2Z3
Z4

R2
1

jC x
jC3

Rx j

N.Kapoor

R2
1

C x
jC3

1
1

R4 1 jC 4
1

R2
RC
R2
RC

jC 4
2 4 j
2 4
jC3 R4
C3
C3 R4
C3
R4

R2 C 4
R4
C3
& Cx
C3
R2
Two independent balance equations are thus obtained if C 4 & R4 are chosen as variable elements.
Comparing real & imaginary terms

Rx