What is the current probe?
The current probe is a device that can measure amperage without interrupting the circuit. Current probes can be separately closed devices or can be designed to work in conjunction with a multimeter. Most of the current probes consist of a set of jaws that can be opened to pass through the wire and then closed. When the jaws are closed, the current probe can use one of several different methods to indirectly measure any current passing through the wire. Most of the current probes use either a transformer, a Hall effect sensor or an iron shoulder blade to measure Amperage.
As the electrical circuits work, the current may be more complex to measure than voltage or resistance. Both voltage and resistance can be measured by probing the end of the components, as the voltage remains the same in parallel circuits and the resistance is measured directly. The current is uniform in serial circuits, so direct current measurement must include breaking the circuit. This is not alway desirable or even possible, so current clamps can UMOVail current measurement in an indirect way.
The magnetic field can be generated when electricity flows through the wire, and electricity can be induced when the magnetic field passes through the wire. These principles are used in transformers and some current probes actually act as a transformer. This type of jet probe contains internal wires that act as a secondary winding, and the measured wire acts as primary. Ampartment can then use a current that is induced on the secondary winding to determine the amperage in the wire that is probed. This type of current probe is only useful when measuring the AC current (AC).
Another type of current probes with clamp design uses a Hall effect sensor instead of a transformer. These Effect Effect probes also use magnetic fields generated by the test circuit to Indirectly to measure amperage. This is achieved by measuring the voltage difference in the circuit caused by Magnan ethical field. These current probes are usually very sensitive and able to measure either direct current (DC) or AC.
Iron blades can also measure either AC or DC and come in several different configurations. Some of the Iron shoulder blades have integrated meter and jaws. Other types of iron blade probes also have integrated meters, but lack jaws. These probes are usually held in parallel with the wire tested, so its magnetic field can move with an iron shoulder blade, which in turn moves the needle on the meter.