DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUIT

SHUNTS AND MULTIPLIER

1. SHUNTS
A shunt is a resistor is connected__________________ with the coil of a moving coil meter
to convert the meter from ________________to an __________________.
A shunt is ______________________resistor.

A shunt increases the range of a moving-coil milliammeter.

Example:
Calculate the value of the multiplier resistor used with a moving coil meter, which has an
internal resistance of 12 Ω and a fsd (full scale deflection current) of 22 mA, when measuring
24 V.

Solution:

V =IR
22 mA x 12Ω=264 mV
Rshunt = V/I = 264 mV/ 19.987 = 0.0132 Ω
1. Exercise
If the fsd of a moving coil meter is 50 mA and the coil resistance is 4.0 Ω, find the value of a
shunt resistor which can convert this meter to a meter having a fsd of 3.0 A.
Diagram 15.36

Solution

2. A moving-coil instrument has a coil resistance of 100 Ω and gives a full-scale deflection (fsd)
current of 500 µA. Determine the shunt resistance required if the instrument is to be used as
an ammeter with a fsd of 5 A.
Diagram 15.37

Solution.

3. Figure below show a multi-range ammeter which can measure up to 3.0 A and 5.0 A. The
meter has a resistance of 12 Ω and a fsd of 50 mA. Find the shunt resistance R 1 and R2.
Diagram 15.38

Solution
 MULTIPLIER

A multiplier is a _______________________ which is connected in __________with

the coil of a moving-coil meter to adapt the meter for measuring a ______________
________________.
A multiplier converts a _____________________ to a _____________________.

A multiplier ( ________________ resistor) enables a milliammeter to be used as a

voltmeter.
1. Find the resistance of a multiplier that is needed to convert a miliammater with a fsd
of 2.0 mA and coil resistance of 8 Ω, to a voltmeter with a fsd of 10 V.
Diagram 15.4

Solution

2. A moving-coil meter with a coil resistance of 100 Ω and fsd current of 10 mA is to be

used in the voltmeter circuit as shown below. The voltmeter ranger are to be (a) 50 V
(b) 100 V and (c) 150 V. Determine the required resistance for each range.
Diagram 15.42.

Solution