WE3B-4
USE OF PRECISE DIGITAL VOLTMETERS FOR
AC VOLTAGE MEASUREMENTS
D. Ilid, J. Butorac, and M. KreSid
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (FER), University of Zagreb
10000 ZAGREB, Unska 3, Republic of Croatia
Abstract
The possibility of using high-resolution digital
voltmeters for ac voltage measurements at a frequency of
about 16 Hz is presented. The method for the determination
of correction factors in phase difference measurements with
two synchronised voltmeters is described, and a level of
uncertainty of 0,l p a d is achieved.
‘1. Introduction
In the Primary Electromagnetic Laboratory ETF at
FER, the method for the calibration of standard resistor
Rx=lOO MS2 by means of standard capacitor C,=lOO pF at
frequencyf<2nC$J’=l5,9 15 Hz has been developed [ 13.
In this method. digital voltmeters (DVs) with 8% digit
resolution are used in their dc operation modes to measure
both dc and ac voltages (section 2 and [2]).
With the expected uncertainty of O,lxlOd, the deter-
mination of R, depends, besides other factors, on parasitic
capacitances in voltage dividers in ac measurement. Their
values can be obtained by measuring the phase diference
between the voltage on the lower element of the divider and
the main voltage. This was the reason to use the same DVs
[3] for the phase difference measurement of ac voltages of
the same frequency as for the CN-+Rxcomparison. To
detennine the phase angle of voltages with the amplitude
ratio from 1:l to 1000:1, the first step is to determine the
correction values of phase ‘differences (CVPDs) between
two voltmeters, which depends on the chosen DCV range
and the delay in triggering chain. The used measurement
method is presented. It is based on cascade measurements
of the same voltage with two DVs.
2. AC voltage measurement
Precise measurement of low-frequency ac voltage, or
voltage ratios, is possible using the method in which only
one sample per period is taken during several periods. The
ratio between integration time T, and period T has been
chosen to %, and the beginning of integration is shifted for
the same interval to=T/p (p is an integer) for every
subsequent period. If the measured voltage is
y(t)=Y,,,sin(mt+ql), generated from the ac source with
harmonic components <0,05%, then the measured value ui
of the i-th sample of the “derived” sine will be:
Y,T ~ i n ( l c ~T), /
ui = (1)
IrT,
0-7803-5744-2/00/$10.0002000 IEEE 494
A small difference behyeen the sampling rate and the main
frequency yields to a non-integer number of samples per
period of the “derived” sine. Thus, the RMS value of the
samples is calculated by the expression:
where An is the correction for numeric synchronisation.
Since the s u m of squares needs to be calculated for u , , ~ + ~ ,
an approximation with a 5’ order polynomial is used
around the samples close to zero value at the end of the
period of the “derived” sine. The phase angle of the discrete
function can be calculated as Fourier coefficient [4-61. But,
from equation (1) follows that, with the phase angle
between two adjacent samples A y ~ 2 n t d Tand the phase
angle of the first sample cyo=nTJT+pl, the angle is a linear
function of the sample index:
io
+ A c y i = arcsin(u,/U,); i =0,1,. .. ,n (3)
where U,,, can be calculated from the RMS value in (2).
Unknowns cyo and Acy are determined as regression line
coefficients,for which the weights, equal to the quadrate of
the reciprocal value of the function derivation, are added.
Based on the described procedure, computer con-
trolled measurements were done with reference values
Tm=21ms, to=0,9ms, and frequencyp1/63 ms=15,873 Hz,
which is very close to the value (2nC$J’. For one
measurement n=2381 samples were taken during the time
of approx. 2,5 min, and that was repeated ten times. To
ensure the accurate measurement of the phase difference,
the DVs were set for synchronised triggering [7], where a
“master” voltmeter generates a trigger impulse at the begin-
ning of integration, and sends it to a “slave” voltmeter.
3. Measurement of correction value of phase difference
The CVPDs between two DVs can be determined
using only one source, directly connected to both DVs. The
method of cascade measurement is used, starting from the
100 mV range to that of 1000 V; the input voltages (Y) and
the chosen ranges for DVs are noted in Table I.
Table I. Procedure of CVPDs measurement for two DVs.
I DV, I 1 I 1 I 10 I 10 I 100 I 100 I1000 I
Thus, for instance the CVPD for 100 mV ...1000 V range Table III. CVPDs; all values are in microradians
combination, can be calculated as follows:
0,1+100 v ~0,1+1000v I 1+100 v I 1+1000 v I
~ ~ o l o o o = ~ ~ l l + ~ v l ~ + ~ ~ l o l ~ (4)
+ ~ ~ l ~ l ~ ~ ~ ~ - ~ ~ l o - ~ ~ l ~

In the similar way the CVPDs for another combination of

ranges can be determined. This is correct if the phase angle
I I
I I I

of one DV remains the same when measuring any voltage I

-125.48 1 -125.51 I -125.48 I -125.51
I I I

on the same range. So, the voltage dependence on the range

of 1 V, 10 V and 100 V was measured, with input voltages The CVPDs are measured for all possible connections
from 10 % to 80 % of the range. The results are presented of DVs in voltage dividers and combinations of triggering,
in Fig. 1, as deviations fiom the mean value of the phase and their uncertainties are of the order of 0,l prad. They are
difference measured with eight input voltages. used in all measurements where phase angle is measured,
and during six months they were stable within 3 prad.

4. Conclusion

Phase difference measurements with two DVs at a

frequency close to 16 Hz were performed. The meas-
urements also included the determination of the CVPDs to
enable complex voltage ratio measurements from 1:l to
1OOO:l. The method can be used for a higher frequency
range, and the same level of uncertainty may be expected.

Acknowledpemenf
10% 20% 30?? 40% SO?? 6Ooh 70% 80% The authors wish to thank the colleagues in the PTB
voltagdrange (Abteilung 2) for their support and help in the development
Fig. 1. Voltage dependence of phase difference of the described methods.

The results of typical measurements of phase References

differences by the described method are listed in Table 11 V. Bego, J. Butorac, and D.Hrsan, “Calibration of the
(for the case DV, “master”, DV, “slave”). Indexes refer to standard resistors by means of the standard capacitors
the measurement step according to the AV,in Table I; s~,,,is and precise digital voltmeters”, CPEM ’96 Digest, pp.
392-393,1996.
standard deviation for A V in (3), A p is measured value of
V. Bego, K. PoljanCid, and D. Hrsan, “Precise meas-
phase difference, sap, is deviation of Ap and sd is deviation urement of power and RMS values of AC voltages
of the R M S voltage ratio, calculated as d~~UllU,-l)x106. and currents with digital multimeters”, Proc. of the 7”
IMEKO TC-4 Symposium, pp. 639-644,1995.
Table 11. Examples of phase difference measurements
HP 3458A Multimeter: Operating, Programming,
and Configuration Manual, Hewlett-Packard
Company, Palo Alto, California, May 1988.
K. PoljanCid, ‘‘Fourier analysis of discrete function by
means of sliding polynomial”, Internal work FER
(former ETF), 35 pages, Zagreb, 1992.
U. Pogliano, G.C. BOSCO,and G. La Paglia, “A
system for the measurement of complex voltage ratios
at industrial frequencies”, CPEM ’98 Digest, pp. 201-
202,1998.
G. Ramm, H. Moser, and A. Braun, “A new scheme
Using expression (4) for the 100 mV ...1000 V range for generating and measuring active, reactive and
combination and similar expressions for other ranges, the apparent power at power frequencies with uncertain-
CVPDs were calculated and are presented in the fmt row of ties of 5 ppm”, CPEM ’98 Digest, pp. 283-284, 1998.
Table 111. The CVPDs, measured and calculated for reverse U. Pogliano, “High precision measurement of
triggering (DV, “slave”, DV, “master”), are noted in the electrical power by means of synchronisation of
second row, while in the last row the difference between integrative analog to digital converters, Proc. of the
the values in two previous rows is given. It serves as almost 8” IMEKO TC-4 Symposium, pp. 33-36,1996.
fixed delay in triggering circuits in both cases.

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