Current measurements are used in a variety of equipment for control or safety functions. Measuring the voltage drop across a low-value resistor is the most common method of measuring the current flowing in a circuit. The current flow through the load also flows through the RSENSE resistor, also known as a shunt resistor, which creates a voltage drop, VM, across the resistor.
Figure 1 depicts two current-measurement approaches. Ammeters were developed in the early history of electronics, and they're still used today. Typically, the meter itself may read full-scale when the current through it is 100 µA or 1 µA. So to read larger currents, it is connected in parallel with a resistor that shunts most of the current around the meter. That way, the meter can be scaled to measure any magnitude of current.
Good article. PDF cut the last page in half which made it difficult to read.
Anonymous -September 14, 2006 (Article Rating: )
informational
Anonymous -August 13, 2005 (Article Rating: )
Your PDF is missing. So is your "submit" button image and there is no alternate text.
Valerie Kramer -April 01, 2005 (Article Rating: )
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