BAEM1013

Electronic Instrumentation
and Measurements
Course outlines

1. Introduction & Definition

2. Bridge Measurement
3. Digital Instrument
4. Digital Storage Oscilloscope
5. Function Generator and Analyzer
6. Display Devices
7. Data Acquisition Systems and Transducer
Chapter 1 Introduction &
Definition
Introduction

 The International System of Units (SI) was established in 1960.

 Three important organizations were created to take care the metric standards:
1. International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM)
2. General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM)
3. International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM)
 Units – Base Units

Length meter (m)

Mass kilogram (kg)
Time second (s)
Electric Current ampere (A)
Temperature kelvin (K)
Luminous Intensity candela (Cd)
Amount of substance mole (mol)
 Units – Derivative Units

Electric Charge coulomb (C)

Electric Potential difference volt (V)
Electric Resistance ohm (Ω)
Electric Capacitance farad (F)
Electric Inductance henry (H)
Energy joule (J)
Force newton (N)
Magnetic Flux weber (wb)
Power watt (W)
Why measure ?
 The 3 basic function of instrumentation :
1. Indicating – visualize the process/operation
2. Recording – observe and save the measurement reading
3. Controlling – to control measurement and process

 Advantages of electronic measurement

1. Results high sensitivity rating – the use of amplifier
2. Increase the input impedance – thus lower loading effects
3. Ability to monitor remote signal
Performance characteristics

 Performance characteristics – characteristics that show the performance of an

instrument.
 Eg: accuracy, precision, resolution, sensitivity.
 Allows users to select the most suitable instrument for a specific measuring jobs.

Two basic characteristics :

Static – measuring a constant process condition.
Dynamic – measuring a varying process condition.
Error in measurement

 Measurements always introduce error.

 Error may be expressed as absolute or percentage error

Where, is the expected value; is the measured value.

 = A x 100%

Where, is the value of the nth measurement,

is the average of the set of measurement.
 The precision of a measurement is a quantitative or numerical indication of the closeness with
which a repeated set of measurement of the same variable agree with the average set of
measurements.
Limiting error

 The accuracy of a measuring instrument is guarantee within a certain percentage

(%) of full scale reading

 E.g manufacturer may specify the instrument to be accurate at 2% with full scale
deflection

 For reading less that full scale, the limiting error increases
Type of static error

 Gross error/ Human error

 Systematic error
 Random error
Gross error

 Caused by human mistakes in reading/using instruments

 May also occur due to incorrect adjustment of the instrument and computational
mistakes
 Cannot be treated mathematically
 Cannot be eliminated but can minimize Eg: improper use of an instrument.
 This error can be minimized by taking proper care in reading and recording
measurement parameter
 In general, indicating instruments changes ambient conditions to some extent
when connected into a complete circuit
 Therefore, several readings (at three readings) must be taken to minimize the
effect of changes in ambient conditions.
Systematic error

 Due to shortcomings of the instrument

 Limitation of instrument
 Defective or worn parts
 Aging or effects of the environment on the instrument
 In general, systematic errors can be subdivided into static and dynamic errors.
 Static – caused by limitations of the measuring device or the physical laws governing
its behavior.
 Dynamic – caused by the instrument not responding very fast enough to follow the
changes in a measured variable.
 3 types of systematic error:

 Instrumental error

 Environmental error

 Observational error
 Instrumental error
 Inherent while measuring instrument because of their mechanical structure (eg: in a D’Arsonvalmeter,
friction in the bearings of various moving component, irregular spring tension, stretching of spring, etc)

 Error can be avoid by:

 Selecting a suitable instrument for the particular measurement
application
 Apply correction factory by determining instrumental error
 Calibrate the instrument against standard
 Environmental error
 Due to external conditions effecting the measurement
 Such as change in temperature, humidity, barometer pressure, etc

 To avoid the error:

 Use air conditioner
 Sealing certain component in the instruments
 Use magnetic shields
 Observational error
 Introduced by the observer
 Most common: parallax error and estimation error (while reading the scale)
 Random error
 Due to unknown causes – occurs when all systematic error has been accounted for
 Accumulation of small effect, required at high degree of accuracy

 Can be avoided by
 Increase number of reading
 Use statistical means to obtain best approximation of true value