Question T7D03
From subelement T7 - T7D
When configured to measure current, how is a multimeter connected to a component?
Why is this correct?
To measure current, a multimeter must be connected in series with the component because current is the flow of electrons through a circuit. The ammeter function needs to measure all current passing through the circuit path. Connecting in parallel would create a short circuit path that bypasses the component and could damage the meter. In quadrature and in phase refer to AC signal relationships, not measurement connections.
Memory tip
Remember the measurement connection pattern: voltage measurements go in parallel (across components), while current measurements go in series (through the circuit path). This mirrors how electricity behaves - voltage exists across points, current flows through paths.
Learn more
When measuring current with an ammeter, you must break the circuit and insert the meter into the current path, creating a series connection. This is fundamentally different from voltage measurements where you connect across components without breaking the circuit. In practical amateur radio circuits, current measurements help verify proper circuit operation and can reveal issues like excessive current draw that might damage components or indicate improper impedance matching in antenna systems.
Think about it
Why do you think connecting an ammeter in parallel with a component would create a dangerous short circuit rather than measure the current flowing through that component?