MODULE 5 β€” High Resistance Measurement & AC Bridge Theory

⚑ 5.1 Measurement of High Resistance: Overview

R > 100 kΞ© Β· Insulation Β· Leakage

Methods for High R (>100 kΞ©)

$$ \text{1. Loss of charge method} $$
$$ \text{2. Megger (Insulation tester)} $$
$$ \text{3. Direct deflection method} $$
$$ \text{4. Mega ohm bridge} $$

Applications

$$ \text{Insulation resistance of cables} $$
$$ \text{Bushing insulation} $$
$$ \text{Leakage resistance of capacitors} $$
$$ \text{Surface resistance of insulators} $$

πŸ“‰ 5.2 Loss of Charge Method

Exponential Decay Β· Ο„ = RC Β· Capacitor Discharge

Discharge Equation

$$ \boxed{V_c(t) = Ve^{-t/\tau}} \quad \tau = RC $$
$$ \boxed{R = \frac{t}{C\ln\!\left(\dfrac{V}{V_c}\right)}} $$

Using log₁₀

$$ \boxed{R = \frac{0.4343\,t}{C\,\log_{10}\!\left(\dfrac{V}{V_c}\right)}} $$

Leakage Correction

$$ \frac{1}{R_{meas}} = \frac{1}{R_x} + \frac{1}{R_C} $$
$$ R_x = \frac{R_{meas} \cdot R_C}{R_C - R_{meas}} $$

Error Sources

Leakage of capacitor itself
Meter loading during measurement
Temperature effects on C
V SW C R V Vc Charging...
100 MΞ©
10 ΞΌF

πŸ“‰ Loss of Charge Calculator

R = β€”

πŸ”§ 5.3 Megger (Insulation Resistance Tester)

Electrodynamometer · θ ∝ 1/Rx · Guard Terminal

Deflection Principle

$$ \theta \propto \frac{1}{R_x} $$
$$ \theta = f\!\left(\frac{V}{R_x}\right) $$
No spring β€” no restoring torque

At Extremes

$$ R_x \to \infty: \; I_{CC} \to 0,\; \theta \to 0\;\;(\infty\text{ mark}) $$
$$ R_x = 0: \; I_{CC} \to \text{max},\; \theta \to \theta_{max}\;\;(0\text{ mark}) $$

Test Voltages

500V β€” General wiring
1000V β€” Motors, transformers
2500V, 5000V β€” Cables, switchgear

Insulation Standards

R β‰₯ 1 MΞ©/kV (general rule)
>100 MΞ© = Excellent
1–10 MΞ© = Warning
<1 MΞ© = FAIL
MEGGER ↻ 0 ∞ MΞ© CC PC L G E Rx (Unknown insulation) Guard eliminates surface leakage
50 MΞ©

πŸ”§ Megger Insulation Grader

Grade: β€”

πŸ”Œ 5.4 Direct Deflection & Carry Foster Bridge

Cable Insulation Β· Guard Ring Β· Slide Wire

Direct Deflection

$$ R_x = \frac{V}{I_{galv}} $$
$$ R_{insulation} = \frac{V}{I_{volume}} $$
Guard ring removes $I_{surface}$

Current Components

$$ I_{total} = I_{volume} + I_{surface} $$
$$ I_{measured} = I_{volume} \text{ only} $$

Carry Foster Bridge

$$ \boxed{R = S + s(\ell_2 - \ell_1)} $$
$s$ = resistance per unit length
Cable Cross-Section (3-Terminal) Metallic Sheath Insulation Guard Core I_vol I_sur High V applied
Carry Foster Slide Bridge P Q R S ℓ₁ β„“β‚‚ G R = S + s(β„“β‚‚ βˆ’ ℓ₁)
30
60

πŸ”Œ Direct Deflection & Carry Foster

Rx = V/Ig = β€”

R = S + s(β„“β‚‚βˆ’β„“β‚) = β€”

πŸŒ‰ 5.5 AC Bridges: General Theory

Z₁Z₃ = Zβ‚‚Zβ‚„ Β· Magnitude Β· Angle Β· Detectors

Balance Condition

$$ \boxed{\bar{Z}_1 \bar{Z}_3 = \bar{Z}_2 \bar{Z}_4} $$
$$ \text{Magnitude: } |Z_1||Z_3| = |Z_2||Z_4| $$
$$ \text{Angle: } \theta_1 + \theta_3 = \theta_2 + \theta_4 $$

Phase Angles

$R$ only β†’ $\theta = 0Β°$
$L$ only β†’ $\theta = +90Β°$
$C$ only β†’ $\theta = -90Β°$
$R,L$ series β†’ $0Β° < \theta < 90Β°$
$R,C$ series β†’ $-90Β° < \theta < 0Β°$

Detectors

Vibrant Galvanometer: 5 Hz – 1 kHz
Head Phone: 250 Hz – 4 kHz
Tuned Amplifier: 10 Hz – 100 kHz
Most sensitive at null: HEAD PHONE
General AC Bridge A B C D Z₁ Zβ‚‚ Zβ‚„ Z₃ ~ D At balance: V_BD = 0

πŸŒ‰ AC Bridge Angle Condition Checker

θ₁+θ₃ vs ΞΈβ‚‚+ΞΈβ‚„ β†’ β€”

πŸ“ 5.6 Bridge Balance: Worked Examples

Angle Condition Β· Maxwell Β· Hay Β· Schering

Maxwell L-C

$$ \theta_1 = +\phi_x \;(RL) $$
$$ \theta_4 = -\phi_4 \;(RC\!\parallel) $$
$$ \phi_x = \phi_4 \;\checkmark $$

Hay's Bridge

$$ \theta_1 = +\phi_x \;(RL) $$
$$ \theta_4 = -\phi_4 \;(RC\text{ series}) $$
$$ \phi_x = \phi_4 \;\checkmark $$

Schering

$$ \theta_1 = -\phi_1 \;(RC\text{ series}) $$
$$ \theta_2 = -90Β° \;(C) $$
$$ \phi_4 = 90Β° - \phi_1 \;\checkmark $$

Impedance Reference

$Z=R:\;\theta=0Β°$
$Z=j\omega L:\;\theta=+90Β°$
$Z=\frac{1}{j\omega C}:\;\theta=-90Β°$
$Z=R+j\omega L:\;\theta=\arctan\frac{\omega L}{R}$
$Z=R-\frac{j}{\omega C}:\;\theta=-\arctan\frac{1}{\omega CR}$

πŸ“Š 5.7 Self Inductance Measurement: Bridge Selector

Q Factor Β· Maxwell Β· Hay Β· Anderson Β· Owen

Q Factor

$$ Q = \frac{\omega L}{R} $$

Bridge Selection

$Q < 1$: Anderson's Bridge
$1 \le Q \le 10$: Maxwell L-C
$Q > 10$: Hay's Bridge
Any Q: Owen's Bridge
Bridge $L_x$ Formula $Q$ Formula Q Range
Maxwell L-C $R_2 R_3 C_4$ $\omega C_4 R_4$ 1 – 10
Hay's $\frac{R_2 R_3 C_4}{1+1/Q^2}$ $\frac{1}{\omega R_4 C_4}$ > 10
Anderson's $C[r(R_3\!+\!R_0)+R_2 R_3]$ β€” < 1
Owen's $R_2 R_4 C_3$ $\omega R_2 C_2$ All
100 ΞΌH
10 Ξ©
10 kHz

🎯 Coil Q Estimator & Bridge Selector

Q = Ο‰L/R = β€” β†’ Bridge: β€”