Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

Basic Electronics
Series

Panel Meter Range Extension

Analog Meters
 Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

Introduction
 From time to time, it may be necessary or
desirable to have a panel meter read and
display values that are beyond the native
capability of the meter movement.
 This can be accomplished by extending the
meter’s effective range.
 This modification can be made for both
current meters (ammeters) and voltage
meters (voltmeters).
12/14/2022 Basic Electronics Series - Introduction to Oscilloscopes 2
 Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

 The range extension is accomplished by

adding a resistance of a calculated value to
the meter circuit…
 For voltmeters, the resistance is added in series
with the meter.
 Voltmeters are connected in parallel to the circuit
under test, and we therefore need to increase the
circuit resistance to raise the effective meter circuit
resistance and reduce circuit loading by the meter.
 For ammeters, the resistance is added in
parallel to the meter circuit.
 Ammeters are connected in series with the circuit
under test, and we therefore need to reduce the circuit
resistance to reduce the voltage dropped by the meter.
12/14/2022 Basic Electronics Series - Introduction to Oscilloscopes 3
 Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

Sample Circuits

Voltmeter – Series Resistance Ammeter – Parallel Resistance

Under the skin, a voltmeter is an ammeter calibrated to read voltage…

12/14/2022 Basic Electronics Series - Introduction to Oscilloscopes 4

 Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

Values of Interest
 There are several values in which we are
interested when working with this topic…
 the through-resistance of the basic meter
movement
 the current through the meter movement
 the voltage across the meter movement
 the multiplication factor desired
 the series resistance needed for the range
extension desired
 the parallel resistance needed for the range
extension desired
12/14/2022 Basic Electronics Series - Introduction to Oscilloscopes 5
 Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

 One value is determined by the range

extension desired:

 Some of the values are calculated using
basic Ohm’s Law equations:
 and
 Some of the values have specific equations
outside of Ohm’s Law:
 and
 One value must be determined through
testing:

12/14/2022 Basic Electronics Series - Introduction to Oscilloscopes 6
 Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

Determining the Values

 The first value to be determined is , or the
resistance through the meter movement…
 NOTE: This value cannot be determined via a
simple measurement of the meter with an
ohmmeter, as the ohmmeter output current
may well be greater than the maximum
current that can safely be handled by the
meter movement!
 The value must be determined via bench
testing as follows…
12/14/2022 Basic Electronics Series - Introduction to Oscilloscopes 7
 Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

Meter Through-Resistance
 This value can be
determined using
the test circuit
shown at right.
 The value of R1 is
selected to produce
as close to full-scale
deflection as is  Using Ohm’s Law,
possible, and is we can determine
that the value of R1
based upon the should be right
supply voltage used. around 6kΩ…
12/14/2022 Basic Electronics Series - Introduction to Oscilloscopes 8
 Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

 That value is calculated as follows:


 This equation uses the full-scale current value
of the meter movement, which is 1mA (0.001A)
and the source voltage shown in the diagram of
6.00V to derive the resistance needed.
 While 6kΩ is not a standard resistor value,
6.2kΩ is a standard value, which will give us a
meter deflection that is slightly under full-scale:

 The value of 6209Ω was used as that was the actual
measured value of the 6.2kΩ 1% resistor used.
12/14/2022 Basic Electronics Series - Introduction to Oscilloscopes 9
 Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

 It is acceptable that a resistor value greater

than the initial 6kΩ is used, as it is better to
end up with a meter deflection that is less
than full scale instead of one that is more
than full scale, which a lower-value resistor
would have produced.
 Of course, if the specific calculated value of
resistance is available, it should be used.
 Insert the resistor into a series connection
with the meter and apply the specified test
voltage via a suitable power supply.
 Note the exact meter reading.
12/14/2022 Basic Electronics Series - Introduction to Oscilloscopes 10
 Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

 Once the meter reading

has been obtained and
noted, connect a decade
resistance box, or other
suitable resistance that
is both variable and  Adjust the variable
measurable, in shunt resistance until the
across the meter. meter deflection is
 This is indicated by the right at 50% of its
variable resistor R2 in original deflection.
the schematic diagram
at right.
 Remove the power
from the circuit.
12/14/2022 Basic Electronics Series - Introduction to Oscilloscopes 11
 Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

 Without changing the resistance adjustment at

all, remove it from the circuit and measure that
resistance value.
 With the meter at 50% of its original deflection, the
current flow through R2 and the meter will be
balanced, meaning that the adjusted value of R2 is
the same as the resistance through the meter
movement.
 Record that resistance reading for later use.
 In most cases, ammeter resistances are less
than 100Ω, though that is not an absolute rule or
limit. Meters may vary considerably.
 In my test case, the meter through-resistance or
came in at 79.1Ω. Note this for later use.
12/14/2022 Basic Electronics Series - Introduction to Oscilloscopes 12
 Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

Multiplication Factor
 The value of M, or the Multiplication Factor, is
based purely on the ratio of change desired
from the original meter movement full-scale
current level.
 It is determined using the following equation:

 If we want to make a 0-1mA meter able to
display values from 0-50mA, the equation is:


12/14/2022 Basic Electronics Series - Introduction to Oscilloscopes 13

 Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

Meter Current and Voltage

 The equation for determining the current
through the meter is…


 That takes us to the equation for determining

the voltage across the meter …

 Note that here, only the meter resistance used
as opposed the full circuit resistance as above.
12/14/2022 Basic Electronics Series - Introduction to Oscilloscopes 14
 Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

 Those equations were simple variations of the

basic Ohm’s Law equation set.
 The through-resistance is based upon the
form
 In this case, the full test circuit voltage is used,
which is made up of the series limiting resistance
(6209Ω) and the meter resistance (79.1Ω) for a
total of 6288.1Ω, applied against the test voltage of
6.00V.
 The voltage across the meter is based upon
the form , but because we are
interested only in the voltage across the
meter, we use only the meter resistance of
79.1 and the calculated meter current of
0.954mA.
12/14/2022 Basic Electronics Series - Introduction to Oscilloscopes 15
 Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

Those Other Equations

 The remaining equations are those for the
series resistance for voltage range
extension and the parallel resistance
for current range extension
 and
 .
 There is one other equation of interest…
 .

12/14/2022 Basic Electronics Series - Introduction to Oscilloscopes 16

 Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

 Let’s explore the first equation, that for …


 The closest standard value to that calculated
resistance will be 3.9kΩ, which will be suitable for
this use. Thus, for an 50X voltage rage increase
with a meter having a 1mA full-scale current, the
value would be 3.9kΩ.
 Now let’s look at the next one, that for …

 The best option here would be a 1% precision
resistor at that value.
 However, the power rating of the resistor becomes
important, as it will flow enough current to kick the
power value up.
12/14/2022 Basic Electronics Series - Introduction to Oscilloscopes 17
 Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

 In this situation, if we consider the highest

voltage that will be impressed upon the
circuit, we will find that we need more than
the usual ¼-watt resistor here…
 In the circuit for which this change is meant to
be applied, the maximum voltage present will
be 9VDC, and the maximum current will be the
full-scale current value of the modified meter
circuit, or 50mA.
 Thus, meaning that at
least a 500mW resistor is called for.
 Because I like to build in some power
headroom, I will opt for a 1W resistor here.
12/14/2022 Basic Electronics Series - Introduction to Oscilloscopes 18
 Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

 All of this is being done to extend the current

range of the built-in ammeter on a Radio
Shack model 28-280 Electronics Trainer that I
am giving to one of my grandsons.
 This unit has several red LED’s installed, as
well as some other goodies, and I want him to
be able to accurately measure the current flow
in the various circuits that he will build.
 However, the 0-1mA range of the ammeter is
not sufficient – e.g., the current draw of a
typical red LED is somewhere between 20mA
and 30mA – well beyond the meter’s 0-1mA
range limit.
 The fix is to extend the meter’s current range.
12/14/2022 Basic Electronics Series - Introduction to Oscilloscopes 19
 Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

 This got me thinking about it, and I next

wondered if the 50mA range increase is
really enough.
 I decided that I wanted to add two new
current ranges to this meter installation.
 I decided on the my original 0-50mA range
extension, and I added a 0-100mA range
extension as well.
 As shown on the next slide, adding these
two ranges, and making them selectable,
meant that I would need to install two
parallel resistances and a selector switch
to make the range changes possible.
12/14/2022 Basic Electronics Series - Introduction to Oscilloscopes 20
 Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

Dual Ranges Added to Meter

 The schematic at right
shows how the two
range extenders can
be added to the
original circuit.
 Note that the switch
chosen has a center-
off position, which  The next slide will
reverts the meter to its discuss the second
base 0-1mA range. range extension.
12/14/2022 Basic Electronics Series - Introduction to Oscilloscopes 21
 Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

 In this case, the second range extension is

to a level of 0-100mA, which changes the
equation as follows:


 This was almost predictable, as the range

extension is twice what we sought
originally, so the resistance required would
have to be half of the original resistance
needed, and it worked out exactly like that.
 The power, however, is a different story.

12/14/2022 Basic Electronics Series - Introduction to Oscilloscopes 22

 Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

 With this change, the power handling

capability requirement is now increased to
a level of 900mW as can be calculated…

 This means that a 1W resistor is the
minimum, and if I want my headroom, a
2W capability is called for.
 As luck would have it, I can achieve the
required 0.80Ω by using two of the 1.6Ω
resistors in parallel.
 This gives me the power capability of both
of those resistors, for a total of 2W of
power rating for the parallel pair.
12/14/2022 Basic Electronics Series - Introduction to Oscilloscopes 23
 Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

Radio Shack 28-280

12/14/2022 Basic Electronics Series - Introduction to Oscilloscopes 24

 Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

Meter Modifications
 I created a new face
plate label for the
panel meter on the
unit, and installed it to
the meter.
 I then installed a SPDT  I finished by installing
center-off switch to the a new tag to the meter
panel under the meter. bezel with its new
ranges listed there.
12/14/2022 Basic Electronics Series - Introduction to Oscilloscopes 25
 Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

 This is the result of

the modifications
made to the meter
installed on the
Radio Shack 28-280
Electronics Trainer.
 Note the modified
meter scale, the
meter bezel label,
and the switch with
its positions marked
below the meter.
12/14/2022 Basic Electronics Series - Introduction to Oscilloscopes 26
 Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

Conventional Uses
 As a final note, it should be understood that
almost all commercially-produced multimeters
use this methodology to control voltage and
current ranges offered by the instrument.
 The front panel Range or Function switch switches
in the correct resistances in the correct circuit
configuration for modifying the meter’s ranges.
 Series resistances switched in vary the voltage
range, while parallel resistances switched in vary
the current range.
12/14/2022 Basic Electronics Series - Introduction to Oscilloscopes 27
 Copyright © 2024 by CMS Pitman, NJ USA

Questions?

Please direct any questions or comments to me at

[email protected].

12/14/2022 Basic Electronics Series - Introduction to Oscilloscopes 28