ANDERSON BRIDGE

(Model No : VAB - 04)

User Manual

Version 1.0

Technical Clarification /Suggestion :

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ANDERSON BRIDGE VAB - 04

INTRODUCTION

This is one of the types of AC bridges. The AC bridges are mainly designed to measure the
electrical quantities such as inductance & capacitance. These AC bridges are improved versions
of the wheatstone bridge. These bridges consists of four arms for maintaining balance, connecting
the unknown value and an AC power source and detector circuit. The anderson bridge is one such
type of bridge normally used measurement of self inductances.

ANDERSON BRIDGE

The Anderson Bridge is most commonly used for the measurement of self inductances. The self-
inductance is measured in terms of a standard capacitor. This method is applicable for presice
measurement of self - inductance over a very wide range of values. The connection diagram and
the phasor diagram of the bridge circuit are as shown below.

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ANDERSON BRIDGE VAB - 04

Now for finding the value of unknown inductance,

Let L1 = Self inductance to be measured

R1 = Resistance of self inductance
r1 = Resistance connected in series with self - inductor
r, R2, R3, R4 = Known non - inductive resistances,
C = Fixed standard capacitor

At balance
I1 = I3 and I2 = IC + I4

The other balance equation are

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ANDERSON BRIDGE VAB - 04

Substituting the value of the IC in the above equation, we have

(1)

(2)

From 1 and 2 we get,

Equating real and imaginary parts, we get

From the above equations, one can easily conclude that to obtain easy convergence of balance,
r1 and r should be balanced alternately as they appear in only one of the two balance equations.
In case adjustments are carried out by manipulating control over r1 and r, they become
independent of each other. A study of convergence conditions would reveal that it is much easier
to obtain balance in the case of Anderson's bridge than in maxwell's bridge for low Q - coils. The
bridge may be used for accurate determination of inductance in terms of capacitance.

The difficulty that a person faces when using this type of bridge is that it is more complex than
its counter part i.e., maxwell's bridge. Even the balance equations are more tedious than others.
And one more difficulty is that an additional junction point increases the difficulty of shielding the
bridge.

The unit VAB - 04 has a inbuilt 1KHz oscillator circuit for giving input to the bridge and an audio
amplifier with a speaker to detect the output. The speaker produces either no sound or least sound
possible at the point of balance.

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ANDERSON BRIDGE VAB - 04

FRONT PANEL DIAGRAM

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ANDERSON BRIDGE VAB - 04

CONNECTION DIAGRAM

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ANDERSON BRIDGE VAB - 04

EXPERIMENT

AIM

To find the value of unknown inductance using an Anderson bridge

APPARATUS REQUIRED

1. VAB - 04 Trainer Kit

2. Decade inductance box or Unknown inductance.
3. Multimeter.
4. CRO.
5. Patch chords.

FORMULA USED

PROCEDURE - I

1. Connections are made as per the connection diagram shown above.

2. Connect the unknown inductance at the Lx ( unknown ) point.

3. Keep r1 and r potentiometers in minimum position.

4. Connect the CRO across P and Q.

5. Switch ON the unit.

6. Vary the potentiometer r such that the amplitude of sine wave will decreases and at one
point it will obtain a minimum amplitude and then it will start increasing at that point stop
the tuning and now vary the potentiometer r1 such that the amplitude of sine wave is
decreases and at one point it will obtain a minimum amplitude and then it will start
increasing at that point stop the tuning.

7. Repeat the above procedure for some extent whenever the output is zero amplitude or
minimum amplitude.

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ANDERSON BRIDGE VAB - 04

8. Remove the patching at r and r1 and find the resistance using multimeter and note down
the reading according to the table given below and calculate the value of unknown
inductance.

9. One can verify the balancing condition by connecting the bridge output (P & Q) to the
input (P & Q) of audio power amplifier and you can hear a minimum noise or no noise.
If you vary the potentiometer r & r1 you can hear a maximum noise.

TABULATION

C = 0.1uF

R3, R2, R4 = 470?

S. No r r1 Lx Lx
(Ohms) (Ohms) (Theoretical) (Practical)

PROCEDURE - II

1. Connections are made as per the connection diagram shown above.

2. Connect the unknown inductance at the Lx ( unknown ) point.

3. Connect a multimeter in mV range (AC) across P & Q.

4. Switch ON the unit.

5. Keep the potentiometer r & r1 in minimum position

6. Vary the potentiometer r such that the output voltage will decrease and at one point it
will obtain a minimum voltage and then start increase at this point stop the tuning and then
vary r1. Here also the output voltage will decrease and at one point it will obtain a
minimum voltage and then start increase at the time stop the tuning.

7. Repeat the above step such that you will obtain minimum voltage or zero voltage.

8. Remove the patching at r and r1 and find the resistance using multimeter and note down
the reading according to the table given below and calculate the value of unknown
inductance.

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ANDERSON BRIDGE VAB - 04

9. One can verify the balancing condition by connecting the bridge output (P & Q) to the
input (P & Q) of audio power amplifier and you can hear a minimum noise or no noise.
If you vary the potentiometer r and r1 you can hear a maximum noise.

TABULATION

C = 0.1uF

R3, R2, R4 = 470?

S. No r r1 Lx Lx
(Ohms) (Ohms) (Theoretical) (Practical)

RESULT

Thus the value of unknown inductance was measured using Anderson Bridge.

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ANDERSON BRIDGE VAB - 04

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:

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ANDERSON BRIDGE VAB - 04

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ANDERSON BRIDGE VAB - 04

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