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Wheatstone Bridge Calculator
Compute bridge output voltage, balance condition, and the resistor needed to balance the bridge.
A Wheatstone bridge measures small resistance changes (strain gauges, RTDs) as a differential voltage.
- Output:
Vout = Vin·(R2/(R1+R2) − R4/(R3+R4)) - Balance (Vout = 0):
R1/R2 = R3/R4, soR4 = R3·R2/R1
Usage: Set the excitation and the three fixed arms; the unbalanced output is the sensor signal — usually fed to an instrumentation amplifier.
When you need it: Reading a small resistance change from a strain gauge, RTD or pressure sensor as a differential voltage out of a balanced bridge.
Worked example: With one active arm, the output is Vex × (ΔR/R) / 4. A 5 V excitation and a 0.1% resistance change gives 5 × 0.001 / 4 = 1.25 mV — small enough that it needs an instrumentation amplifier.
Tips & gotchas:
- Two or four active arms multiply sensitivity and cancel common-mode temperature drift.
- Keep the excitation stable, or measure ratiometrically against it, so supply drift doesn't look like signal.
- Lead resistance matters for remote sensors — use 3- or 4-wire RTD connections.
- The signal is millivolts; a low-offset, high-CMRR in-amp is essential to see it cleanly.