Encyclopedia >  Science and Technology  >  Computers and Electrical Engineering  >  Electrical Engineering

ammeter

ammeter (ămˈmēˌtər) [key], instrument used to measure the magnitude of an electric current of several amperes or more. An ammeter is usually combined with a voltmeter and an ohmmeter in a multipurpose instrument. Most ammeters are based on the d'Arsonval galvanometer and are of the analog type, i.e., they give current values that can vary over a continuous range as indicated by a scale and pointer or digital readout.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

More on ammeter from Fact Monster:

  • ampere - ampere ampere , abbr. amp or A, basic unit of electric current. It is the fundamental electrical ...
  • ohmmeter - ohmmeter ohmmeter , instrument used to measure the electrical resistance of a conductor. It is ...
  • voltmeter - voltmeter voltmeter, instrument used to measure differences of electric potential, commonly called ...
  • galvanometer - galvanometer galvanometer , instrument used to determine the presence, direction, and strength of ...
  • Encyclopedia: Electrical Engineering - Encyclopeadia articles concerning Electrical Engineering.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: Electrical Engineering