RE: Ammeter Configurations

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Lau, Gary" <gary.lau-at-hp-dot-com> 

I would recommend the use of an analog meter over a digital multimeter
for a couple of reasons.

I have not tried it to measure current, but I have seen my multimeter
wink out to never-never land when I monitored my mains voltage, due to
the transient spikes present.  Happily it came back after power cycling
the meter (I GOTTA get some MOV's!).  I can't say whether the same will
happen when measuring current, but I personally wouldn't risk my DMM.

DMM's are good for measuring stable readings, but the load current to a
Tesla coil will vary widely, rapidly, and randomly, and the display will
be an utterly useless jumble of numbers.  An analog meter will
time-average the fluctuations and provide a far more useful reading, as
well as being more tolerant of transient spikes.

Regards, Gary Lau
MA, USA

 > Original poster: "Mike" <induction-at-comcast-dot-net>
 >
 > Hi Tristan,
 >                   About your amp meter, first I will assume you also
own a
 > digital multimeter as they are not expensive and most technical people
have
 > one.

<snip>

 > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
 > To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
 > Sent: Monday, October 04, 2004 9:45 AM
 > Subject: Ammeter Configurations
 >
 >
 > >Original poster: "Tristan Steele" <ozonejunkie-at-westnet-dot-com.au>
 > >G'day All,
 > >
 > >I am in the process of trying to work out a way to measure AC voltage
and
 > >current flowing into my coil, and have run into a few problems in the
 > >availability (and price) of AC meters.  I have worked out a method to
use
 > >the much cheaper DC versions that I can easily get.  Can someone
please
 > >offer some advice on if this setup will work, or if I have missed
some vital
 > >point. (Wouldn't surprise me!).
 > >
 > >The schematic can be found at:
 > >http://members.westnet-dot-com.au/gemabrown/meterschem.png
 > >(Only ~9.73kB)
 > >
 > >Any guidance would be appreciated,
 > >
 > >Thanks
 > >Tristan
 > >
 >
 >