A Novel Method of Measurement of L and C

A novel method of measurement of component values of inductors and capacitors is described. The technique is independent of the voltage across or current through the unknown inductor or capacitor, as it involves only a set of phase measurements. The unknown capacitor/inductor is connected in series with a known standard resistance and this series circuit is excited by a source of required voltage and frequency. The resistive and reactive parts of the unknown component are measured by measuring the phase displacement between the three voltages, namely, voltage applied, voltage across the inductor/capacitor and the voltage across standard resistance. The proposed scheme is verified both by simulation as well as by building a prototype. The relationship between the range of the measurement and obtainable accuracy level is established. For the prototype built, with a one decade span in the measurement range, a commercially acceptable accuracy of ±2.0% was achieved. However, this accuracy can be further improved by suitable circuit modifications. © 1995 IEEE