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How to Measure an Inductive Load

Electricity is due to the flow of charged particles known as electrons and it has been important in the generation of a technological society. Electrical circuits consist of a number components and the most simple of these are resistors, capacitors and inductors. An inductor is a set of coiled wires that are able to store magnetic energy. Inductance is not an easy quantity to measure since it can not be read using a simple digital multimeter. Instead a method can be used utilizing a function generator and an oscilloscope.

Things You'll Need

Electrical function generator
100 Ohm resistor
Oscilloscope

Instructions

- 1
  Put the inductor in series with the 100 ohm resistor. Connect the function generator to the circuit, set it to output a square wave.
- 2
  Connect a lead between the resistor-inductor junction and the oscilloscope's first input. Connect a second lead between the function generator input and the second input of the oscilloscope. Adjust the volts/division on the oscilloscope until both signals are visible.
- 3
  Change the function generator output frequency while monitoring the oscilloscope traces. Tune the function generator output frequency until the junction voltage is half of the input voltage.
- 4
  Calculate the inductance using the following formula:
  
  L= R*sqrt(3)/(2*pi*f)
  
  Where R is the value of the resistance and f is the frequency at which the junction voltage is half of the input voltage.

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