What is a “universal bridge”?

The name of the pictureThe name of the pictureThe name of the pictureClash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP





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I recently came across this intriguing instrument from the 1970s(?):



Wayne Kerr Universal Bridge B224



It's a "Universal Bridge" made by Wayne Kerr.



It's not a type of device I've come across before and I'm curious what these are (were?) used for.










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  • 1




    That's an R-L-C measuring bridge with integrated tube amplifier.
    – Janka
    2 days ago










  • @Janka: Not heard of a measuring bridge either I'm afraid. I guess more googling is in order. :)
    – NPE
    2 days ago










  • vintage-radio.net/forum/…
    – Janka
    2 days ago










  • Manual for the older B221 (which had magic eye tubes!)
    – Spehro Pefhany
    2 days ago










  • @SpehroPefhany: Thank you for the link.
    – NPE
    yesterday
















up vote
14
down vote

favorite
2












I recently came across this intriguing instrument from the 1970s(?):



Wayne Kerr Universal Bridge B224



It's a "Universal Bridge" made by Wayne Kerr.



It's not a type of device I've come across before and I'm curious what these are (were?) used for.










share|improve this question



















  • 1




    That's an R-L-C measuring bridge with integrated tube amplifier.
    – Janka
    2 days ago










  • @Janka: Not heard of a measuring bridge either I'm afraid. I guess more googling is in order. :)
    – NPE
    2 days ago










  • vintage-radio.net/forum/…
    – Janka
    2 days ago










  • Manual for the older B221 (which had magic eye tubes!)
    – Spehro Pefhany
    2 days ago










  • @SpehroPefhany: Thank you for the link.
    – NPE
    yesterday












up vote
14
down vote

favorite
2









up vote
14
down vote

favorite
2






2





I recently came across this intriguing instrument from the 1970s(?):



Wayne Kerr Universal Bridge B224



It's a "Universal Bridge" made by Wayne Kerr.



It's not a type of device I've come across before and I'm curious what these are (were?) used for.










share|improve this question















I recently came across this intriguing instrument from the 1970s(?):



Wayne Kerr Universal Bridge B224



It's a "Universal Bridge" made by Wayne Kerr.



It's not a type of device I've come across before and I'm curious what these are (were?) used for.







test-equipment bridge vintage






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




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edited yesterday

























asked 2 days ago









NPE

3411416




3411416







  • 1




    That's an R-L-C measuring bridge with integrated tube amplifier.
    – Janka
    2 days ago










  • @Janka: Not heard of a measuring bridge either I'm afraid. I guess more googling is in order. :)
    – NPE
    2 days ago










  • vintage-radio.net/forum/…
    – Janka
    2 days ago










  • Manual for the older B221 (which had magic eye tubes!)
    – Spehro Pefhany
    2 days ago










  • @SpehroPefhany: Thank you for the link.
    – NPE
    yesterday












  • 1




    That's an R-L-C measuring bridge with integrated tube amplifier.
    – Janka
    2 days ago










  • @Janka: Not heard of a measuring bridge either I'm afraid. I guess more googling is in order. :)
    – NPE
    2 days ago










  • vintage-radio.net/forum/…
    – Janka
    2 days ago










  • Manual for the older B221 (which had magic eye tubes!)
    – Spehro Pefhany
    2 days ago










  • @SpehroPefhany: Thank you for the link.
    – NPE
    yesterday







1




1




That's an R-L-C measuring bridge with integrated tube amplifier.
– Janka
2 days ago




That's an R-L-C measuring bridge with integrated tube amplifier.
– Janka
2 days ago












@Janka: Not heard of a measuring bridge either I'm afraid. I guess more googling is in order. :)
– NPE
2 days ago




@Janka: Not heard of a measuring bridge either I'm afraid. I guess more googling is in order. :)
– NPE
2 days ago












vintage-radio.net/forum/…
– Janka
2 days ago




vintage-radio.net/forum/…
– Janka
2 days ago












Manual for the older B221 (which had magic eye tubes!)
– Spehro Pefhany
2 days ago




Manual for the older B221 (which had magic eye tubes!)
– Spehro Pefhany
2 days ago












@SpehroPefhany: Thank you for the link.
– NPE
yesterday




@SpehroPefhany: Thank you for the link.
– NPE
yesterday










1 Answer
1






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up vote
15
down vote



accepted










User Janka actually has told the essentials in a short form. Computerized measuring equipment weren't generally available in 1970, they started to appear after the microprocessors were common. Precision RLC and voltage measurements have been needed at least 150 years.



The grandgrandfather of this is Wheatstone's resistance bridge. The idea in bridges isn't to measure directly, but by comparing to a reference and finding the ratio between the reference and the unknown value.



When the object to be measured is far from ideal, for ex. a lossy inductor, quite complex solutions are needed. You have one. It finds at the same time the inductance and the loss resistance (or conductance) at certain operating frequency (audio range only to keep the stray capacitance and inductance out of the results). Or actually you find it. You turn the knobs until the meter is at zero position. You have "balanced the bridge".



In the 1980's instrument's like this were computerized. The user only connected the part to be measured, listened a moment how the relays clicked instead of turning the manual switches and red the results from the display (R and L)






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    1 Answer
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    active

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    1 Answer
    1






    active

    oldest

    votes









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    oldest

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    active

    oldest

    votes








    up vote
    15
    down vote



    accepted










    User Janka actually has told the essentials in a short form. Computerized measuring equipment weren't generally available in 1970, they started to appear after the microprocessors were common. Precision RLC and voltage measurements have been needed at least 150 years.



    The grandgrandfather of this is Wheatstone's resistance bridge. The idea in bridges isn't to measure directly, but by comparing to a reference and finding the ratio between the reference and the unknown value.



    When the object to be measured is far from ideal, for ex. a lossy inductor, quite complex solutions are needed. You have one. It finds at the same time the inductance and the loss resistance (or conductance) at certain operating frequency (audio range only to keep the stray capacitance and inductance out of the results). Or actually you find it. You turn the knobs until the meter is at zero position. You have "balanced the bridge".



    In the 1980's instrument's like this were computerized. The user only connected the part to be measured, listened a moment how the relays clicked instead of turning the manual switches and red the results from the display (R and L)






    share|improve this answer


























      up vote
      15
      down vote



      accepted










      User Janka actually has told the essentials in a short form. Computerized measuring equipment weren't generally available in 1970, they started to appear after the microprocessors were common. Precision RLC and voltage measurements have been needed at least 150 years.



      The grandgrandfather of this is Wheatstone's resistance bridge. The idea in bridges isn't to measure directly, but by comparing to a reference and finding the ratio between the reference and the unknown value.



      When the object to be measured is far from ideal, for ex. a lossy inductor, quite complex solutions are needed. You have one. It finds at the same time the inductance and the loss resistance (or conductance) at certain operating frequency (audio range only to keep the stray capacitance and inductance out of the results). Or actually you find it. You turn the knobs until the meter is at zero position. You have "balanced the bridge".



      In the 1980's instrument's like this were computerized. The user only connected the part to be measured, listened a moment how the relays clicked instead of turning the manual switches and red the results from the display (R and L)






      share|improve this answer
























        up vote
        15
        down vote



        accepted







        up vote
        15
        down vote



        accepted






        User Janka actually has told the essentials in a short form. Computerized measuring equipment weren't generally available in 1970, they started to appear after the microprocessors were common. Precision RLC and voltage measurements have been needed at least 150 years.



        The grandgrandfather of this is Wheatstone's resistance bridge. The idea in bridges isn't to measure directly, but by comparing to a reference and finding the ratio between the reference and the unknown value.



        When the object to be measured is far from ideal, for ex. a lossy inductor, quite complex solutions are needed. You have one. It finds at the same time the inductance and the loss resistance (or conductance) at certain operating frequency (audio range only to keep the stray capacitance and inductance out of the results). Or actually you find it. You turn the knobs until the meter is at zero position. You have "balanced the bridge".



        In the 1980's instrument's like this were computerized. The user only connected the part to be measured, listened a moment how the relays clicked instead of turning the manual switches and red the results from the display (R and L)






        share|improve this answer














        User Janka actually has told the essentials in a short form. Computerized measuring equipment weren't generally available in 1970, they started to appear after the microprocessors were common. Precision RLC and voltage measurements have been needed at least 150 years.



        The grandgrandfather of this is Wheatstone's resistance bridge. The idea in bridges isn't to measure directly, but by comparing to a reference and finding the ratio between the reference and the unknown value.



        When the object to be measured is far from ideal, for ex. a lossy inductor, quite complex solutions are needed. You have one. It finds at the same time the inductance and the loss resistance (or conductance) at certain operating frequency (audio range only to keep the stray capacitance and inductance out of the results). Or actually you find it. You turn the knobs until the meter is at zero position. You have "balanced the bridge".



        In the 1980's instrument's like this were computerized. The user only connected the part to be measured, listened a moment how the relays clicked instead of turning the manual switches and red the results from the display (R and L)







        share|improve this answer














        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited 2 days ago

























        answered 2 days ago









        user287001

        7,9151415




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