The Wien Bridge

A Wien Bridge is a bridge circuit used for measuring an unknown capacitance by

balancing the loads of its four arms, one of which contains the unknown capacitance.
Figure 1 below shows a diagram of the Wien Bridge.

Figure 1. The Wien Bridge

As shown in Figure 1, one arm of a Wien bridge consists of a capacitor in series with a
resistor (C1 and R3) and another arm consists of a capacitor in parallel to a resistor (C2
and R4). The other two arms simply contain a resistor each (R1 and R2). The values of
R1and R2 are known, and R4 and C2 are both adjustable. The unknown values are those
of C1 and R3.

Like other bridge circuits, the measuring ability of a Wien Bridge depends on 'balancing'
the circuit. Balancing the circuit in Figure 1 means adjusting R4 and C2 until the current
through the ammeter between points A and B becomes zero. This happens when the
voltages at points A and B are equal. When the Wien Bridge is balanced, it follows that
R2/R1 = Z1/Z2 where Z1 is the impedance of the arm containing C1 and Z2 is the
impedance of the arm containing C2.

Mathematically, when the bridge is balanced,

R2/R1 = (1/ωC1 + R3) / (R4/[ωC2(R4 + 1/ωC2)]) wherein ω = 2πf; or
R2/R1 = (1/ωC1 + R3) / (R4/[ωC2R4 + 1]); or
R2/R1 = (1/ωC1 + R3) (ωC2 + 1/R4); or
R2/R1 = C2/C1 + ωC2R3 + 1/(ωC1R4) + R3/R4.

When the bridge is balanced, the capacitive reactance’s cancel each other out, so
R2/R1 = C2/C1 + R3/R4. Thus, C2/C1 = R2/R1 - R3/R4.

Note that the balancing of a Wien Bridge is frequency-dependent. The frequency f at

which the Wien Bridge in Figure 1 becomes balanced is the frequency at which ωC2R3 =
1/ (ωC1R4), or 2πfC2R3 = 1/ (2πfC1R4). Thus, the frequency f is given by the following
equation: f = (1 / 2π) x (sqrt (1/ [R3R4C1C2])).
 The Schering Bridge
A Schering Bridge is a bridge circuit used for measuring an unknown electrical
capacitance and its dissipation factor. The dissipation factor of a capacitor is the the ratio
of its resistance to its capacitive reactance. The Schering Bridge is basically a four-arm
alternating-current (AC) bridge circuit whose measurement depends on balancing the
loads on its arms. Figure 1 below shows a diagram of the Schering Bridge.

Figure 1. The Schering Bridge

In the Schering Bridge above, the resistance values of resistors R1 and R2 are known,
while the resistance value of resistor R3 is unknown. The capacitance values of C1 and
C2 are also known, while the capacitance of C3 is the value being measured. To measure
R3 and C3, the values of C2 and R2 are fixed, while the values of R1 and C1 are adjusted
until the current through the ammeter between points A and B becomes zero. This
happens when the voltages at points A and B are equal, in which case the bridge is said to
be 'balanced'.

When the bridge is balanced, Z1/C2 = R2/Z3, where Z1 is the impedance of R1 in parallel
with C1 and Z3 is the impedance of R3 in series with C3. In an AC circuit that has a
capacitor, the capacitor contributes a capacitive reactance to the impedance. The
capacitive reactance of a capacitor C is 1/2πfC.

As such, Z1 = R1/[2πfC1((1/2πfC1) + R1)] = R1/(1 + 2πfC1R1) while Z3 = 1/2πfC3 + R3.

Thus, when the bridge is balanced:
2πfC2R1/(1+2πfC1R1) = R2/(1/2πfC3 + R3); or
2πfC2(1/2πfC3 + R3) = (R2/R1)(1+2πfC1R1); or
C2/C3 + 2πfC2R3 = R2/R1 + 2πfC1R2.

When the bridge is balanced, the negative and positive reactive components are equal and
cancel out, so
2πfC2R3 = 2πfC1R2 or
R3 = C1R2 / C2.
Similarly, when the bridge is balanced, the purely resistive components are equal, so
C2/C3 = R2/R1 or
C3 = R1C2 / R2.

Note that the balancing of a Schering Bridge is independent of frequency.

 The Hay Bridge
A Hay Bridge is an AC bridge circuit used for measuring an unknown inductance by
balancing the loads of its four arms, one of which contains the unknown inductance. One
of the arms of a Hay Bridge has a capacitor of known characteristics, which is the principal
component used for determining the unknown inductance value. Figure 1 below shows a
diagram of the Hay Bridge.

Figure 1. The Hay Bridge

As shown in Figure 1, one arm of the Hay bridge consists of a capacitor in series with a
resistor (C1 and R2) and another arm consists of an inductor L1 in series with a resistor
(L1 and R4). The other two arms simply contain a resistor each (R1 and R3). The values
of R1and R3 are known, and R2 and C1 are both adjustable. The unknown values are
those of L1 and R4.

Like other bridge circuits, the measuring ability of a Hay Bridge depends on 'balancing' the
circuit. Balancing the circuit in Figure 1 means adjusting R2 and C1 until the current
through the ammeter between points A and B becomes zero. This happens when the
voltages at points A and B are equal. When the Hay Bridge is balanced, it follows that
Z1/R1 = R3/Z2 wherein Z1 is the impedance of the arm containing C1 and R2 while Z2 is
the impedance of the arm containing L1 and R4. Thus, Z1 = R2 + 1/(2πfC) while Z2 = R4
+ 2πfL1.

Mathematically, when the bridge is balanced,

[R2 + 1/(2πfC1)] / R1 = R3 / [R4 + 2πfL1]; or
[R4 + 2πfL1] = R3R1 / [R2 + 1/(2πfC1)]; or
R3R1 = R2R4 + 2πfL1R2 + R4/2πfC1 + L1/C1.

When the bridge is balanced, the reactive components are equal, so

2πfL1R2 = R4/2πfC1, or R4 = (2πf)2L1R2C1.

Substituting R4, one comes up with the following equation:

R3R1 = (R2+1/2πfC1)((2πf)2L1R2C1) + 2πfL1R2 + L1/C1; or
L1 = R3R1C1 / (2πf)2R22C12 + 4πfC1R2 + 1); or
L1 = R3R1C1 / [1 + (2πfR2C1)2] after dropping the reactive components of the equation
since the bridge is balanced.

Thus, the equations for L1 and R4 for the Hay Bridge in Figure 1 when it is balanced are:
L1 = R3R1C1 / [1 + (2πfR2C1)2]; and
R4 = (2πfC1)2R2R3R1 / [1 + (2πfR2C1)2]
Note that the balancing of a Hay Bridge is frequency-dependent.

The Owen Bridge

An Owen Bridge is an AC bridge circuit used for measuring an unknown inductance by

balancing the loads of its four arms, one of which contains the unknown inductance.
Figure 1 below shows a diagram of the Owen Bridge.

Figure 1. The Owen Bridge

As shown in Figure 1, one arm of the Owen bridge consists of a capacitor in series with a
resistor (C1 and R1) and another arm consists of an inductor L1 in series with a resistor
(L1 and R4). One arm contains just a capacitor (C2) while the fourth arm just contains a
resistor (R3). The values of C2 and R3 are known, and R1 and C1 are both adjustable.
The unknown values are those of L1 and R4.

Like other bridge circuits, the measuring ability of an Owen Bridge depends on 'balancing'
the circuit. Balancing the circuit in Figure 1 means adjusting R1 and C1 until the current
through the bridge between points A and B becomes zero. This happens when the
voltages at points A and B are equal. When the Owen Bridge is balanced, it follows that
Z2/Z1 = R3/Z4 wherein Z2 is the impedance of C2, Z1 is the impedance of the arm
containing C1 and R1, and Z4 is the impedance of the arm containing L1 and R4.
Mathematically, Z2 = 1/(2πfC2); Z1 = R1 + 1/(2πfC1) while Z4 = R4 + 2πfL1.

Thus, when the bridge is balanced,

1/(2πfC2)/[R1 + 1/(2πfC1)] = R3 / [R4 + 2πfL1]; or
[R4 + 2πfL1]= (2πfC2R3) [R1 + 1/(2πfC1)]; or
R4 + 2πfL1 = 2πfC2R3R1 + C2R3/C1

When the bridge is balanced, the negative and positive reactive components are equal
and cancel out, so
2πfL1 = 2πfC2R3R1 or
L1 = C2R3R1.
Similarly, when the bridge is balanced, the purely resistive components are equal, so
R4 = C2R3/C1.

Note that the balancing of an Owen Bridge is independent of frequency.

 The Maxwell Bridge
A Maxwell Bridge , also known as the Maxwell-Wien Bridge, is an AC bridge circuit used
for measuring an unknown inductance by balancing the loads of its four arms, one of
which contains the unknown inductance. Figure 1 below shows a diagram of the Maxwell
Bridge.

Figure 1. The Maxwell Bridge

As shown in Figure 1, one arm of the Maxwell bridge consists of a capacitor in parallel
with a resistor (C1 and R2) and another arm consists of an inductor L1 in series with a
resistor (L1 and R4). The other two arms just consist of a resistor each (R1 and R3). The
values of R1 and R3 are known, and R2 and C1 are both adjustable. The unknown values
are those of L1 and R4.

Like other bridge circuits, the measuring ability of a Maxwell Bridge depends on
'balancing' the circuit. Balancing the circuit in Figure 1 means adjusting C1 and R2 until
the current through the bridge between points A and B becomes zero. This happens
when the voltages at points A and B are equal. When the Maxwell Bridge is balanced, it
follows that Z1/R1 = R3/Z2 wherein Z1 is the impedance of C2 in parallel with R2, and Z2
is the impedance of L1 in series with R4. Mathematically, Z1 = R2 + 1/(2πfC1); while Z2
= R4 + 2πfL1.

Thus, when the bridge is balanced,

(R2 + 1/(2πfC1)) / R1 = R3 / [R4 + 2πfL1]; or
R1R3 = [R2 + 1/(2πfC1)] [R4 + 2πfL1];

When the bridge is balanced, the negative and positive reactive components cancel out,
so R1R3 = R2R4, or
R4 = R1R3/R2.

Note that the balancing of a Maxwell Bridge is independent of the source frequency.
 The Resonance Bridge
A Resonance Bridge is an AC bridge circuit used for measuring an unknown inductance,
an unknown capacitance, or an unknown frequency, by balancing the loads of its four
arms. Figure 1 below shows a diagram of the Resonance Bridge.

Figure 1. The Resonance Bridge

As shown in Figure 1, three arms of the resonance bridge has a resistor each (R1, R2, and
R3), while the fourth arm has a series RLC circuit (R4, C1, L1). The values of R1, R2, R3,
and R4 are all known. If L1 is the unknown variable, then C1 must be adjustable. If C1 is
the unknown variable, then L1 must be adjustable.

Like other bridge circuits, the measuring ability of a resonance bridge depends on
'balancing' its circuit. Balancing the circuit in Figure 1 means adjusting C1 (if L1 is the
unknown) or L1 (if C1 is the unknown) until the current through the bridge between points
A and B becomes zero. This happens when the voltages at points A and B are equal.
When the resonance bridge is balanced, it follows that R2/R1 = R3/Z wherein Z is the total
impedance of the RLC circuit of the fourth arm. Thus, Z = R4 + 1/(2πfC1) + 2πfL1.

The resonance bridge got its name from the fact that it becomes balanced when L1 and
C1 are in resonance with each other. A series LC circuit that is in resonance, i.e., excited
by a signal at its resonant frequency, exhibits zero reactance. The frequency at which
resonance in a tuned LC circuit occurs is given by the following formula:
fr = 1 / [2π(sqrt(LC))] where
fr = resonant frequency (Hz);
L = the inductance (H); and
C = the capacitance (F).

Thus, when a resonance bridge is balanced, the combined reactance of L1 and C1

becomes zero, and Z simply becomes equal to R4. The equation for a balanced
resonance bridge therefore simplifies to R2/R1 = R3/R4, or R4 = R3R1/R2. The frequency
f at which the resonance bridge becomes balanced is given by: f = 1 / [2π(sqrt(L1C1))].
The source frequency must therefore be known in order to measure L1 (or C1) in terms of
C1 (or L1).