Improving the accuracy of measurement in component meters

Discusses the development of instruments for establishing the values of practical inductors, capacitors and resistors. The equivalent circuit of a component arrived at from physical considerations can be reduced to one resistive and one reactive component that together produce the same magnitude and phase relationships between current and voltage in a circuit as would the component itself. The equivalent resistive and reactive elements which are measured at the terminals of a complex impedance/admittance measuring system, such as a modern electronic component meter, are discussed. Measurement strategies are proposed that lead to improved accuracy of measurement, particularly of the minor component that often limits the accuracy of measurement of `loss angle´ for example