Maxwell Bridges

Hamzeh AlRashdan
Joseph Twall
 Types of Maxwell bridges

Maxwell bridges consist of two types

1. Maxwells inductance bridge

2. Maxwells inductance-capacitance
bridge (Maxwell-Wien Bridge)
 Types of Maxwell bridges
Maxwells inductance bridge Maxwell-Wien inductance
capacitance bridge
 Why is there more than one type?

For a balancing condition

When measuring an
inductance, its 90 phase
shift can be compensated by
two methods
 How to compensate the 90phase
shift?
1. A known impedance with an equal
positive phase angle (i.e. inductance) in
either of the adjacent arms as in
Maxwells inductance bridge
2. A Known impedance with an equal
negative phase angle(i.e. Capacitance)
in opposite arm as in Maxwell-Wien
bridge
Maxwells inductance bridge
 Maxwells inductance bridge

In this figure

is unknown
R,R,Z are known
 Maxwells inductance bridge

L is a variable
inductance
The Bridge is
balanced by
varying L and one
of the resistances
R,R
 Maxwells inductance bridge

The balance condition is

that
Z Z =Z Z
 Maxwells inductance bridge

Equating the real and

imaginary parts on
both sides , we have
1. R R = R R
2. L R = L R
 Maxwells inductance bridge

By rearranging:

1.
2.
 Maxwells inductance bridge
limitations
It is important to note the Maxwells inductance

bridge cannot be used with high quality inductors.

The quality of an inductor is given by the Q-Factor

For High quality inductors we use Hays Bridge

Example.
The Arms of an a.c Maxwell bridge
are arranged as follows: AB and BC
are resistors of 100 each, DA is a
standard variable reactor of
resistance 32.7 , and CD comprises a
standard variable resistor R in series
of
a coil of unknown impedance.
Balance was obtained with
= 47.8 mH
R=1.36
Find the resistance and indcuctance
of the coil.
Since the products of
resistances of opposite
arms are equal:

Since the products of

resistances of opposite
arms are equal:

Maxwell-Wien Bridge
 L3= unknown inductance
R3=effective resistance of
inductor L3
R1, R2, R4=known non
inductive resistances
C=variable standard
capacitor.
the positive phase angle
of an inductive
impedance may be
compensated by the
negative phase angle of a
capacitive impedance put
in the opposite arm. The
unknown inductance then
becomes known in terms
of this capacitance.
 The balance condition
is
Z Z =Z Z
 separating and
rearranging the real
and imaginary
terms,
we get
 Thus we have two
variables R1 and C which
appear in one of the two
balance equations and
hence
the two equations
are independent.
The expression for Q
factor
 Advantages of Maxwells
inductance capacitance bridge:

The two balance equations are independent if we

choose R1 and C as variable elements.
The frequency does not appear in any of the two
equations.
This bridge yields simple expressions for L3 and
R3 in terms of known bridge elements.
 Disadvantages of Maxwells
inductance capacitance bridge:

This bridge requires a variable standard capacitor which

may be very expensive if calibrated to the high degree of
accuracy.
The bridge is limited to the measurement of low Q coils
(1<Q<10). it is clear from the Q factor equation that the
measurement of high Q coils demands a large value of
resistance R1, perhaps 10^5 or 10^6. The resistance
boxes of such high values are very expensive. thus for
values of Q>10, the Maxwells bridge is unsuitable.
EXAMPLE:
The arms of an a.c. Maxwell
bridge are arranged as follows:
AB is a non-inductive resistance
of 1,000 in parallel with a
capacitor of capacitance 0.5 F,
BC is a non-inductive resistance
of 600 CD is an inductive
impedance (unknown) and DA is
a non-inductive resistance of 400
. If balance is obtained under
these conditions, find the value
of the resistance and the
inductance of the branch CD.
Since R1R3=R2R4
R3=R2R4/R1
R3= 600*400/1000= 240

Also

L3=CR2R4
L3=
=0.12 H