What is an Ammeter and How Does it Work?

Ammeter is a measuring instrument used to measure the current flowing through a circuit. It is essentially a device that measures the amount of electric charge flowing through a conductor in a given time period. The unit of measurement for an ammeter is typically in amperes (A), and it is commonly used in electrical circuits to monitor the current flowing through different components such as resistors, capacitors, and motors.

There are several types of ammeters available, including:

1. Shunt ammeter: This type of ammeter has a low resistance value and is used to measure very small currents. It is typically connected in parallel with the circuit being measured.
2. Current transformer ammeter: This type of ammeter uses a current transformer to step down the high voltage and current of the circuit being measured to a lower voltage and current that can be safely measured by the ammeter.
3. Hall effect ammeter: This type of ammeter uses the Hall effect to measure the current flowing through a conductor. It is commonly used in automotive applications.
4. Rogowski coil ammeter: This type of ammeter uses a flexible, toroidal-shaped current sensor to measure the current flowing through a conductor. It is commonly used in high-current applications such as electrical power distribution systems.

In addition to measuring current, some ammeters also have other features such as voltage measurement, power measurement, and data logging capabilities. They are commonly used in a variety of industries, including electrical engineering, electronics, and automotive.