How to Compute for Amperage and Wattage through the use of a Meter

When we study electricity and magnetism, we will encounter the formula in computing for the electric current. This formula is known as the Ohm’s law. This law states that there is a direct proportion between the electric current and the electrical pressure. It also states that there is an indirect proportion with regards to the electric current and the circuit resistance. The simplified explanation for this formula is that amperage is equal to volts divided by ohms.

Though the ohm’s law, we have a formula that we can use to compute for the amperage and wattage of a device by using a meter. The meter that we will use for our computation is the multimeter.

The fist thing that we need to do is to turn off the power supply of the appliance’s circuit. After wards, you will now use your auto ranging multimeter. Before using it, you have to set its knob to the resistance setting which is symbolized by the Greek letter omega.

Now you will place the tip of the multimeters negative probe to one of the device’s terminal and put the positive probe of the multimeter to the opposite terminal. The multimeter will then have some readout. This readout is the value of the resistance expressed in ohms.

You will now measure the voltage of the equipment. You need to set the multimeter to the voltage setting. Before you start measuring the voltage, you must first determine how is the device being powered. If this device uses battery, dynamo, solar cell, solar panel, or transformer, then you have to put the multimeter’s voltage to direct current or DC. If the device uses an outlet or generator, set the multimeter voltage to alternating current or AC.

After figuring out what is the device’s power source, you must now turn on the appliance’s circuit. You have to put the multimeter’s positive probe to the power supply’s positive terminal and the negative probe to the power supply’s negative terminal. The read out on the multimeter is the value of the electrical pressure expressed in volts.

We will now apply ohm’s formula on the data we have measured. We will divide the value of the voltage by the value of the resistance and we will get the amperage. The amperage is the value of the energy consumed by the device.

To compute for the value of the wattage, we will just multiply the amount of the amperage to the value of the voltage. The resulting product of these values is the wattage which is the energy requirement of the device. That is how we compute for the values of amperage and wattage by using a meter. You can now use this information for future reference.

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