Virtamittari

Virtamittari is a Finnish term that translates to ammeter in English. An ammeter is an electrical instrument used to measure electric current. It is typically connected in series with the circuit element through which the current is to be measured. This means that the current flows through the ammeter itself. Ammeters are designed to have a very low internal resistance to minimize their impact on the circuit's behavior. Without a low resistance, inserting an ammeter into a circuit could significantly alter the current being measured.

The unit of measurement for electric current is the ampere, often abbreviated as "A". Therefore, ammeters are calibrated to display readings in amperes, or sub-units like milliamperes (mA) or microamperes (µA) depending on the expected current range. Ammeters can be analog, featuring a needle that moves across a calibrated scale, or digital, displaying the current value as a numerical readout. They are essential tools for troubleshooting electrical circuits, monitoring power consumption, and performing various electrical engineering tasks. Their proper use requires understanding how to connect them in series to avoid damage to the instrument or the circuit.