Linear Resistance Meter


Posted on Feb 6, 2014

Most analogue multimeters are capable of measuring resistance over quite a wide range of values, but are rather inconvenient in use due to the reverse reading scale which is also non-linear. This can also give poor accuracy due to cramping of the scale that occurs at the high value end of each range. This resistance meter has 5 ranges and it has a


 Linear Resistance Meter
Click here to download the full size of the above Circuit.

forward reading linear scale on each range. The full-scale values of the 5 ranges are 1K, 10K, 100K, 1M &10M respectively and the unit is therefore capable of reasonably accurate measurements from a few tens of ohms to ten Megohms. Most linear scale resistance meters including the present design, work on the principle that if a resistance is fed from a constant current source the voltage developed across that resistance is proportional to its value. For example, if a 1K resistor is fed from a 1 mA current source from OhmG ‚¬ s Law it can be calculated that 1 volt will be developed across the resistor (1000 Ohms divided by 0. 001 amps = 1 volt). Using the same current and resistance values of 100 ohms and 10K gives voltages of 0. 1volts (100 ohms / 0. 001amps = 0. 1volts) and 10 volts (10000 ohms / 0. 001amps = 10 volts). Thus the voltage developed across the resistor is indeed proportional to its value, and a voltmeter used to measure this voltage can in fact be calibrated in resistance, and will have the desired forward reading linear scale. One slight complication is that the voltmeter must not take a significant current or this will alter the current fed to the test resistor and impair linearity. It is therefore necessary to use a high impedance voltmeter circuit. The full circuit diagram of the Linear Resistance Meter is given in Figure 1. The constant current generator is based on IC1a and Q1. R1, D1 and D2 form a...




Leave Comment

characters left:

Related Circuits

  • New Circuits

    .

     


    Popular Circuits

    60W Bass Amplifier and Preamp
    Bedwetting (Enuresis) Alarm with 555 timer
    Lead Acid Battery Charger III
    100Mhz-vhf-crystal-oscillator
    Corsair and Commando TXs
    OPA606 capacitive load isolation buffer
    INA105 circuit diagram of the basic power and signal connections



    Top