Effects of Lead Construction and Materials on AC Voltage Measurements

Abstract

A study into the effects of lead material, length and construction on measured AC Voltage. Most metrologists are familiar with the effects of lead construction and material on DC Voltage (for example EMF caused by low-quality metals) and resistance (insulation resistance causing errors on high-value resistance measurements) however much fewer are familiar with the effects that leads have upon measurements of precision AC Voltage at frequencies from 10Hz to 1MHz. This paper focusses on precision AC Voltage measurements (uncertainties of less than 100ppm) at both low and high frequencies and studies the effects of lead length, construction and materials on the resulting measurements to better evaluate the uncertainty contribution caused by leads on these measurements.