Voltmeter, Cardew

A voltmeter in which the current pa ing through its conductor heats such conductor, causing it to expand. Its expansion is caused to move an index needle. By calibration the movements of the needle are made to correspond to the potential differences producing the actuating currents through it. The magnetic action of the current plays no part in its operation. It is the invention of Capt. Cardew, R. E. The construction of the instrument in one of its most recent forms is shown in the cut. On each side of the drum-like case of the instrument are the binding screws. These connect with the blocks m and n. To these the fine wire conductor is connected and is carried down and up over the two pulleys seen at the lowest extremity, its centre being attached to c. From c a wire is carried to the drum p, shown on an enlarged scale on the left of the cut. A second wire from the same drum or pulley connects to the spring S. The winding of the two wires is shown in the separate figure of c, where it is seen that they are screwed fast to the periphery of the little drum, and are virtually continuations of each other. By the screw A the tension of the spring S is adjusted. On the shaft of the little drum p is a pinion, which works into the teeth of the cog-wheel r. The shaft of r is extended through the dial of the instrument, and carries an index. The dial is marked off for volts; g g and h h are standards for carrying the pulleys. 570   STANDARD ELECTRICAL DICTIONARY. The action of the instrument is as follows. The current pa ing through the wire heats it. This current by Ohm's law is proportional to the electro-motive force between the terminals. As it is heated it expands and as it cools contracts, definite expanding and contracting corresponding to definite potential differences. As the wire expands and contracts the block or pin c moves back and forth, thus turning the drum p and cogwheel r one way or permitting it to turn the other way under the pull of the spring S. IMG:8956969607833025625_570F345.JPG: Fig. 345. CARDEW VOLTMETER. In this construction for a given expansion of the wire the piece c only moves one half as much. The advantage of using a wire twice as long as would be required for the same degree of movement were the full expansion utilized is that a very thin wire can be employed. Such a wire heats and cools more readily, and hence the instrument reaches its reading more quickly or is more deadbeat, if we borrow a phraseology properly applicable only to instruments with oscillating indexes. In the most recent instruments about thirteen feet of wire.0025 inch in diameter, and made of platinum-silver alloy is used. 571   STANDARD ELECTRICAL DICTIONARY. If the potential difference to be measured lies between 30 and 120 volts the wire as described suffices. But to extend the range of the instrument a resistance in series is required. If such resistance is double that of the instrument wire, and remains double whether the latter is hot or cold the readings on the scale will correspond to exactly twice the number of volts. This is brought about in some instruments by the introduction in series of a duplicate wire, precisely similar to the other wire, and like it, carried around pulleys and kept stretched by a spring. [Transcriber's note: If the series resistance is twice that of the voltmeter, the indicated voltage will be ONE THIRD of the total voltage.] Thus whatever ratio of resistance exists between the two wires cold, it is always the same at any temperature, as they both increase in temperature at exactly the same rate. Tubes are provided to enclose the stretched wires and pulleys, which tubes are blackened. The voltmeter is unaffected by magnetic fields, and, as its self-induction is very slight, it is much used for alternating currents. The tubes containing the wire may be three feet long. Its disadvantages are thus summarized by Ayrton. It absorbs a good deal of energy; it cannot be constructed for small potential differences, as the wire cannot be made thicker, as it would make it more sluggish; there is vaguene in the readings near the zero point and sometimes inaccuracy in the upper part of the scale.