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This section provides an overview for dc ammeters as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 17 dc ammeter manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked dc ammeter companies as of December, 2024: 1.Selec Controls, 2.Laurel Electronics, Inc., 3.Diseños y Tecnología.
Table of Contents
A DC ammeter is an instrument used to measure the DC current flowing in an electric circuit.
A DC ammeter can be roughly divided into two types, which differ in both display form and measurement principle.
The advantage of the analog type is that the swing of the needle provides an overview of the current value at a glance. However, the measurement accuracy is approximately 2.5% for general measurements and around 0.2% for high-accuracy measurements.
The advantage of the digital type is that the current value is displayed numerically, making it difficult to make a reading error. In addition, the measurement accuracy is about 0.2% even for general types, and some claim to have an error of 0.02% for high-precision types.
DC ammeters are used to accurately monitor the power supply status and operating conditions of DC equipment in various facilities and factories. For example, in equipment that uses a DC motor, the current consumption value increases as the load increases. Therefore, if an abnormality occurs, the current value indicated by the ammeter will rise or fall, making it possible to quickly detect it.
Ammeters are also used to verify the operation of electronic circuits to ensure that the current is flowing as designed.
The main types of analog DC ammeters used are the movable coil type and the movable iron strip type.
Movable coil type
A coil placed in a uniform magnetic field generates a rotating torque proportional to the current flowing in the coil. A moving-coil type ammeter has a spring and pointer attached to this coil, the position indicated by the pointer indicates the current value. This is the principle of the moving coil type, which is the most common DC ammeter.
Movable iron strip type
Two iron pieces, one fixed and the other rotatable, are placed in the magnetic field generated by the coil through which the measuring current flows, and the torque generated by their repulsion or attraction is utilized. Since it indicates the effective value, it is mainly used for AC ammeters. However, it can also measure DC current with an AC component. Nevertheless, due to the uneven scale, reading the numerical value can be challenging.
Thermoelectric type
This type of ammeter uses a thermocouple to convert the heat generated when the current under test is applied to a hot wire into thermal electromotive force, which is used to move a movable coil. Although it is possible to measure any current from AC to DC, including high frequencies, it has the disadvantages of taking time to measure and being vulnerable to overloads since it is necessary to wait until the temperature rises.
In analog ammeters, a current divider with a resistance smaller than the internal resistance of the ammeter is connected in parallel to measure large currents that exceed the current range specific to the meter. It is possible to widen the measurement range by setting the resistance value so that most of the current flows through the shunt and part of the current flows through the ammeter.
The digital type is mainly used for the current measurement range of digital multimeters. A low-resistance resistor is inserted between the power supply unit and the device. The voltage at both ends of the resistor is then measured and converted to a current value.
Since a digital voltmeter is used to measure the voltage, the current value is the result of the calculation (measured voltage ÷ resistance of the resistor), which is displayed numerically. By changing the resistance value of the resistor, it is possible to expand the current measurement range.
While voltage measurement is done by placing a probe between the two points to be measured, current measurement using an ammeter requires an ammeter to be inserted into the circuit. In other words, it is necessary to cut the part of the circuit to be measured once and insert the ammeter there. In addition, it takes time and effort to disconnect the ammeter and reconnect the circuit after measurement.
The electrode terminals of DC ammeters have polarity markings, with the high-voltage side connected to the positive electrode and the low-voltage side to the negative electrode. If this is reversed, the ammeter will try to swing in the opposite direction and will break in the worst case.
Also, do not apply a current to the ammeter that exceeds the measuring range. An overcurrent will cause the ammeter to heat up and may burn out the meter's coils. When measuring current when the magnitude of the current flowing through a circuit is unknown, the preferred procedure is to start with a large current measurement range to get a rough idea of the current value, then re-set the meter to the optimum measurement range and measure again.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Headquartered in Everett, Washington, Fluke is an American-born company operating since 1948. Fluke offers a variety of testing equipment including digital multimeters, thermal cameras, solar PV testing equipment, thermometers, oscilloscopes, leak detection devices, as well as testing-equipment related accessories. Fluke offers direct online sales.
Selco Products was founded in 1958 and is headquartered in Reno, Nevada. The ISO 9001:2008-certified company is a global manufacturer of customized electronic components. The company serves several markets including medical, HVAC, electronics, and aerospace OEMs and end-user companies, leveraging JIT delivery, Kansan, and engineering support. Electronics offerings include thermistors, temperature controls, panel instruments, and signal converters. Non-electronics include buttons, knobs, and other accessories used in digital and analog electronics controls.
Electroswitch, Unit of Electro Switch Corp. is a manufacturer of switches and relays founded in 1946 and headquartered in Weymouth, Massachusetts. The company's product lineup includes utility, industrial, and military switches such as cam-action rotary switches, detent-action rotary switches, and multipole selector rotary switches. They also offer lock-out relays, power meters, and battery monitors. These primarily supply clients in the defense, power utility, and industrial sectors. Electroswitch’s facilities are ISO 9001:2015 certified, and offer clients various engineering services such as design, machining, and finishing.
Laurel Electronics, Inc., founded in 1990 and based in Costa Mesa, California, is an American manufacturer producing programmable instruments for industrial measurement, control, and networking. The company offers a range of programmable digital panel meters for solving industrial measurement and control problems. Digital counters and timers are offered with a selection of products, including flow rate, frequency, and rate meter indicators, totalizers and process totalizers, as well as digital stopwatches. The company also provides various industrial process timers, such as duty cycle meters, interval meters, and stopwatch meters, as well as large digit displays for viewing distances of up to 100 meters.
Keysight Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1939 and headquartered in Santa Rosa, California. Keysight is a global developer and manufacturer of electronic design and test solutions to communications, networking, aerospace, defense, and government, automotive, energy, semiconductor, electronic, and education industries. Keysight’s communications solutions group solutions include electronic design automation software; radio frequency and microwave test solutions, hardware and virtual network test platforms and software applications, as well as optical laser source solutions. Keysight’s electronic industrial solutions group offers various design tools and verification tools. Keysight offers product support, technical support, and training and consulting services. It sells its products through direct sales force, distributors, resellers, and manufacturer's representatives.
Watanabe Electric Industry Co. Ltd. are manufacturers of measurement and control instruments since 1940 in Japan. The company deals in signal converters, digital panel meters, non-contact meter relays, and electric current recorders. The signal converters are used to isolate and convert signals to prevent current ground loops, protect from external noise, signal boosting, and more. Digital panel meters also have various applications such as filter clogging monitors, weight measurement, conveyor rotation speed management, and many other uses. The equipment is known for its accuracy and stability while being in use.
DITEL has been a manufacturer and supplier of Led Visualization Solutions since 1984 having its offices in Spain. The company deals in Digital Panel Instrumentation for monitoring and control of industrial processes from any sensor like dashboard indicators, PID regulators, cam switches, level sensors, large alphanumeric, graphic, and number format displays, and many other devices to facilitate communication in large service corporations such as Logistics, Hospitals, Public Administrations, Parking, Financial services, etc.
Founded in 1940, Kyoritsu has an 80 year history as a customer-focused organization specializing in multimeters. Kyoritsu provides analog multimeters as well as digital multimeters with and without clamps offering many varieties of measurement.
Yokogawa Test & Measurement Corporation was founded in Japan in 1954. Yokogawa currently serves a wide array of industries including the aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, semiconductor and telecommunications industries with both hardware and software solutions. Among Yokogawa’s suite of products are oscilloscopes, voltage probes, power analyzers and meters, data acquisition tools, optical test equipment, a wide variety of handled meters, calibrators, and testers; analog instruments, and manometers.
KOHSHIN ELECTRIC CORPORATION, founded on 1966, and headquartered in Okayama, Japan, is a manufacturer specializing in electrical and electronic components. Its product portfolio includes current sensors, electrical indicating meters, electronic parts, inverters for power plants, and power supplies. These products play a crucial role in measuring and controlling electrical currents across various applications such as power plants, power supplies, UPS systems, NC machine tools, welding equipment, in-vehicle technology, and lifts. The company maintains quality with its ISO 9001-certified Quality System.
Omron Corporation, started in 1933 and headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer of automation components, equipment, and systems, and it developed the first contactless proximity switch in 1960. It has four domains, including industrial automation, electronic components, healthcare, and social systems, and it provides products and services in around 120 countries and regions. Some of its products include microsensing devices, access control systems, industrial robots, surveillance cameras, and blood pressure monitors. In 1971, it developed the first online cash machine, and in 1972, it established Japan’s first welfare factory.
Kaise Corporation, established in 1955 and headquartered in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan, is a manufacturer and supplier of electronic measuring instruments. Its product lineup includes battery checkers, jump starters, code readers, as well as oscilloscopes, and circuit testers, primarily used in automotive maintenance. Additionally, the company offers digital multimeters, clamp meters, and insulation resistance meters. Its SK-8550 Battery Checker received the 2016 Maintenance Support Award at the Automotive Newspaper Accessories Awards.
Multi Measuring Instruments Co., Ltd. was founded in Chiba, Japan in 1986 and is headquartered in Tokyo. As per its namesake, Multi offers a vast array of measuring and testing equipment used across a number of industries. Some of their offerings include voltage meters, network testers, lux meters, cable locators, sound meters, various thermometers, gas analyzers, and water quality meters. Multi Measuring Instruments has a mission for its products to improve the global environment by detecting inefficiencies and leaks, developing products that will be useful for solar and wind power generation.
Selec Controls, founded in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, in 2000 is a manufacturer of Electrical Measurements and Protection, Meters, and, Automatic Power factor controllers. The company's product portfolio includes Indicators and Controllers, Digital Timers, Temperature Controllers, Speed Monitoring Relays and Humidity and Temperature Controllers. The company serves industries such as Oil and Gas, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Construction, and Power Generation. The company has 200+ distributor network and global sales offices.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Selec Controls |
20.0%
|
| 2 | Laurel Electronics, Inc. |
20.0%
|
| 3 | Electronic Controls Corp. (ECC), Div. of Selco Products |
13.3%
|
| 4 | Diseños y Tecnología |
13.3%
|
| 5 | Electroswitch, Unit of Electro Switch Corp. |
13.3%
|
| 6 | Keysight Technologies |
6.7%
|
| 7 | FLUKE Corporation |
6.7%
|
| 8 | Yokogawa Test & Measurement Corporation |
6.7%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the dc ammeter page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
Japan
|
8 | 53.3% |
|
United States of America
|
5 | 33.3% |
|
Spain
|
1 | 6.7% |
|
India
|
1 | 6.7% |
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