To minimise the errors due to lead and contact resistances, low resis...
To minimise the errors due to lead and contact resistance, low resistances used in electrical measurement work are provided with guard rings.
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To minimise the errors due to lead and contact resistances, low resis...
Guard rings
Guard rings are used to minimize errors due to lead and contact resistances in electrical measurement work. They are commonly used in low resistance measurements where the resistance values are very small. Guard rings help to maintain the accuracy of the measurement by reducing the effects of unwanted resistance.
How guard rings work
Guard rings work by creating a protective shield around the measurement circuit. They are typically made of a conductive material like copper or aluminum and are placed around the low resistance element or the contact points. The guard ring is connected to a potential that is equal to the voltage at the measurement point. This ensures that any leakage currents or stray voltages are diverted away from the measurement circuit, preventing them from affecting the accuracy of the measurement.
Benefits of using guard rings
1. Minimizing lead resistance: Lead resistance is the resistance introduced by the electrical leads that connect the measurement device to the circuit being measured. By using guard rings, the current flowing through the leads is minimized, reducing the lead resistance and its impact on the measurement accuracy.
2. Reducing contact resistance: Contact resistance refers to the resistance at the point of contact between the measurement device and the circuit being measured. Guard rings help to reduce the effects of contact resistance by providing a low resistance path for the current to flow through. This ensures that the measurement is not affected by variations in the contact resistance.
3. Preventing leakage currents: Guard rings create a barrier between the measurement circuit and any external sources of leakage currents. By diverting these leakage currents away from the measurement circuit, guard rings help to maintain the accuracy of the measurement.
4. Eliminating stray voltages: Stray voltages can be caused by electromagnetic interference or other external factors. Guard rings help to shield the measurement circuit from these stray voltages, preventing them from affecting the measurement accuracy.
Conclusion
Guard rings are an effective solution for minimizing errors due to lead and contact resistances in electrical measurement work. By creating a protective shield around the measurement circuit, guard rings help to maintain the accuracy of the measurement by reducing the effects of unwanted resistance.