AC BRIDGE

An ac bridge consist of four arms of impedances, a

source of excitation and a balance detector.
Used for measurement of unknown impedances like
inductance, capacitance, for storage factor,
dissipation factor, phase shifting etc.
All the ac bridges are based on the Wheatstone bridge.

MAXWELLS INDUCTANCE CAPACITANCE
BRIDGE
In this bridge, an inductance is measured by comparison
with a standard variable capacitance.
Balance equation
(R
3
+ j
3
)

1
1+
1
=R
2
R
4
Separating real and imaginary-

R
3

=
R
2
R
4
R
1

and
L
3
=R
2
R
4
C
Q factor -

Q=
3
/R
1
=C
4
R
4

ADVANTAGES
The two balance equation are independent if we
choose R
4
and C
4
as variable element.
The frequency does no appear in any of the two
equations.
It very useful in measurement of wide range of
inductance at power and audio frequency.


DISADVANTAGES
This bridge requires a variable standard capacitor
which may be expensive if calibrated to high
degree of accuracy.
The bridge is limited to measurement of low Q
coils. (Q>10)

DE SAUTYS BRIDGE
The De Sautys bridge is an A.C Bridge works on the
principle of Wheat stones bridge .
This bridge is used to determine the capacity of an
unknown capacitor C1 in terms of a standard known
capacitor C2.
R1 and R2 are non - inductive resistors . R1, R2 ,C1 and C2
are connected in a Wheat stones bridge.
Headphone is used as a detector.



When the bridge is balanced, the ratios of impedances
are equal as given below-


Z
1
Z
2
=
Z
3
Z
4


1
1

1
=
1
2

2


C
2
C
1
=
R
1
R
2


C
2

=
R
1
R
2
C
1

ADVANTAGES
The advantage of this bridge is its simplicity to
obtain a perfect balance.

DISADVANTAGES
A perfect balance can be obtained, only if both
the capacitors are free from dielectric losses i.e.
when air capacitors are used .
WEINS BRIDGE
Wien bridge is primarily known as a frequency determining
bridge and find its application as harmonic distortion
analyzer, audio and HF oscillators etc.
At balance-

2
1+
2

2
R
3
=
1

1
R
4

Equating real and imaginary parts-

3
=

2
+

4
, =
1
2
1

2

When R
1
=R
2
=R and C
1
=C
2
=C

3
=2
and
=1/2RC


ADVANTAGES
This may be used for measurement of
capacitance also

DISADVANTAGES
Because of frequency sensitivity, the Wien's
bridge may be difficult to balance unless the
waveform of the applied voltage is sinosuidal.
THANK YOU