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Products => Test Equipment => Topic started by: cdev on June 25, 2017, 08:47:52 pm

Title: When and why are 4 wire cables useful for measurement, apart from power supplies
Post by: cdev on June 25, 2017, 08:47:52 pm
Can anybody explain this in a few words or point me to a resource that lays it out? I'm particularly curious about what the scenarios where the four wire measurement would make a significant difference in the measurement, that isnt accounted for by something like a "relative" zeroing function.. . I'm familiar with how voltage drop in a cable can and does make a big difference.. I guess thats the situation I am most familiar with, especially when cables are undersized for the load.

lets say with tuned circuits.. would the ability to do four wire measurement help me learn what makes a coil or capacitor appropriate for a specific application (to have high Q?)

(getting rid of losses in a tuned circuit to increase its Q) - I already have a multimeter with a adequate amount of resolution for 95% of what I do but its not so great for measuring really low resistance.

I can see now how different surfaces behave a lot differently in terms of resistance measurement repeatability, Would four wire measurement help there? Why? This is just one of those dumb things that I find myself wondering about a fair amount that I haven't found a really good explanation for anywhere.

Thank you!
Title: Re: When and why are 4 wire cables useful for measurement, apart from power supplies
Post by: MosherIV on June 25, 2017, 09:46:53 pm
Hi

Just like 4 wire for psu, for meaurement it reduces or removes the effects of the measurement leads.

It makes a huge difference when meauring very low or very high value resistors.

It also makes a difference for L or C, cancels out lead impeadance.

Hope that is simple enough for you and helps.
Title: Re: When and why are 4 wire cables useful for measurement, apart from power supplies
Post by: TimFox on June 25, 2017, 10:04:31 pm
Yes, 4-wire connection is best for low resistance values, but of little value for very high resistance.
Title: Re: When and why are 4 wire cables useful for measurement, apart from power supplies
Post by: ruairi on June 26, 2017, 01:45:12 am
It bears repeating that if you are thinking of buying a set of 4 wire leads that Franky's kit is excellent and great value, mine has been in almost daily use since i built it 3 months ago.
Title: Re: When and why are 4 wire cables useful for measurement, apart from power supplies
Post by: w2aew on June 26, 2017, 02:01:12 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqkluABmJhQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqkluABmJhQ)