Series Capacitance Comparison Bridge

R1

Most common Capacitance bridge

circuit. Usually R3 and R1 are variable
so that bridge reads capacitance and D

R2
D

C3

Rx
R3

R1

R2
D

L3

Lx
R3

Scherring Bridge

Maxwell-Wien Bridge
Most common inductance bridge.

R2
R1
D
Cx

C3

Rx = R3

R2
R1

Lx = L3

R2
R1

Q=

L3
R3

Rx = R2

C1
C3

Cx = R3

R1
R2

D = R1C1

R2 R3
R1

Lx = R2 R3C1

Q = R1C1
Lx

R3

Rx

R1

Rx 2C12 R1 R2 R3

R2

C1

Lx R2 R3C1
for Q > 10

D
Lx
R3

Wien Bridge
Useful for determine frequency of a
voltage source

D = R3C3

Rx =

R2
C1

Useful for parallel inductance

measurements or high-Q measurements
where R3 of Maxwell bridge would have
to be impractically high. Also used for
measurements with dc current bias
because all current applied across
bridge flows in Lx

R1
R2

Rx

R1

Hay Bridge

Cx = C3

Rx

C1

Used in high-voltage bridges with a

high voltage capacitor as C3. Used in
high-frequency bridges because variable
capacitors can be used for both
adjustments. Use in dielectric
measurements because C1 gives highresolution loss measurement.

R2
R1

Cx

Series Inductance Comparison Bridge

Basic inductance comparison bridge .
Additional resistance added to inductor
with lower Q to get resistance balance.

Rx = R3

Rx

R1
R2

C1

f =

D
R3
C3

R2 R1 C3
=
+
R4 R3 C1

Rx

1
2 C1C3 R1 R3