DMS APPLICATION NOTE

Direct Current Ammeters

Introduction
There is a trend to replace older, analog-style readouts with The easiest-to-use shunts have an output that is directly
modern digital displays. As one might expect, the conversion is not proportional to the current being measured, i.e., the shunt develops
always a trivial task. This is especially true when the conversion 100mV with 100 Amperes through it. This type of shunt requires no
involves older, moving-vane ("pointer" style) analog ammeters. The additional scaling or amplification. A 3 digit meter with a 200mV
typical analog ammeter has only two wires to contend with, and the input range will display "100.0", while a similar 2V-input meter, used
required shunt resistor is sometimes built-in to the meter itself. By with the same shunt, will display "100".
comparison, its digital replacement may have as many as five or six In Figure 1, the 0.1 shunt, with 1.0 Amperes through it, will
input terminals. The project gets even more complicated when you develop 0.100Vdc or 100mV across it. The voltage developed across
include the required external current shunt. Hopefully, after reading a shunt is calculated using Ohm's law as follows: the shunt voltage
this application note, you will have the necessary information to is equal to the current through the shunt (in Amperes) multiplied by
avoid the most common pitfalls associated with digital ammeter the shunt's resistance (in Ohms) or V(shunt) = I(shunt) x R(shunt).
installations.
Practical Ammeter Examples
Ammeter Theory The circuit shown in Figure 1, unfortunately, does not depict the
A digital ammeter is basically a very sensitive voltmeter with a typical real-world ammeter connection scheme which has the
typical input range of 200mV (a DMS-30PC-0-RS for example). In current shunt located in the high side (positive terminal) of the
order to convert the current to a voltage, the current must first pass system power supply. In Figure 1, the voltage across the shunt is
through a device called a current shunt. A current shunt is a low- only 0.1Vdc above pin 3 (5V RETURN). This is well below the 2V
value resistor, usually one Ohm or less, that bypasses (or "shunts") common mode voltage limitation of the meter. Recall that all
the majority of the current flow around the meter. voltages at the meter's input terminals are measured with respect
Most current shunts have two pairs of terminals: one physically to pin 3.
large pair to carry the load current and another smaller pair to carry
the low-level signal voltage to the meters input terminals (pins 11
and 12). The low-level signal connections do not require heavy- DMS-30PC-0-GS
1
gauge wire. 22-26 AWG wire is sufficient since the current flow into +5V
8
the meter's input is extremely small. However, the load wires must + 3
REF OUT
5V RET
be carefully chosen so as not to cause excessive heating and/or +5V

voltage drops. In most applications, the load wires also have to meet 6
DP1
7
REF IN
strict, electrical-code requirements. Questions on this type of 12 11
installation must be referred to qualified personnel only. () IN LO 0.1V (+) IN HI

1.0 Ampere
Basic Ammeter Example
0.1
The circuit shown in Figure 1 illustrates a typical digital ammeter Current
Shunt
consisting of a +5Vdc power supply, a 0.1 current shunt, and a Load

200mV-input DMS-30PC. The application is to measure the current

supplied to a heater element which consumes one Amperein normal
Figure 1. Basic Ammeter Circuit
operation. This configuration poses no common mode voltage (Shunt in low side)
problems more on this topic later in this application note
because the shunt is located in the power supply's ground terminal.

DATEL, Inc., Mansfield, MA 02048 (USA) Tel: (508)339-3000, (800)233-2765 Fax: (508)339-6356 E-mail: sales@datel.com Internet: www.datel.com
www.murata-ps.com Technical enquiries email: sales@murata-ps.com, tel: +1 508 339 3000
 Figure 2 differs from Figure 1 in one very important respect: the Figure 3 shows the correct connections for a typical two-meter
current shunt is located in the high side of the system power supply. application. The DC/DC converter is required because the 0.1
As previously stated, this is the most popular and the most current shunt is connected to the positive terminal of the 12V battery.
troublesome ammeter configuration in use. This type of hookup If the shunt was connected in the negative side of the battery (low
requires the use of a DC/DC converter to provide the necessary side), both meters could be powered from the LM7805CT regulator.
isolation between the meter's 5V power source and the system The DC/DC converter would not be required. Please note that while
power supply. If the DC/DC converter is not used, the meters inputs the LM7805CT can power as many as 10 DMS-30PC-X-RL (low-
(()INPUT LO and (+)INPUT HI) will be at, or very close to, +5V. This power red LED) meters, it can only supply power to one standard-
condition violates the common-mode voltage limit of 2V and will intensity DMS-30PC meter.
overrange the meter. DMS-EB-DC/DC Application Board
12V-Powered Ammeters DATEL's DMS-EB-DC/DC application board, with its built-in
As a general rule, all ammeters using high-side current shunts DC/DC converter, greatly simplifies the connections required for
must use an isolating DC/DC converter. Ignoring this rule could ammeters with high-side current shunts. As shipped, the DMS-EB-
result in serious damage to the meter, particularly if power system DC/DC board will provide an isolated 5V output from a
voltages greater than +6Vdc are used. Systems that use two meters, 4.5-5.5V input. If only 12V power is available, the user can easily
one for Amperes, the other for Volts, even if a DC/DC converter is install an LM7805CT voltage regulator. See the DMS-EB-DC/DC
used, can still be troublesome. data sheet for more information.

DMS-30PC-0-GS
1
8
+5V REF OUT
+ + +
+5V VIN VOUT
3
5V RET
7
REF IN
DC/DC
Converter 6 12 11
DP1 () IN LO (+) IN HI

0.1V

1.0 Ampere
Load +5V
0.1
+4.9V Current
Shunt

Figure 2. Basic Ammeter Circuit

(Shunt in high side)
DMS-30PC-0-RL
1
(Ammeter)
+5V

3
5V RET
5
DP2
DMS-30PC-2-RL
LM7805CT (Voltmeter) +
1
+5V VOUT 12 11 7 8
IN OUT () IN LO (+) IN HI REF IN REF OUT
GND 3
5V RET
+ 5 DC/DC 0.1V
DP2 Converter
+12V VIN

12 11 7 8 + +11.9V
() IN LO (+) IN HI REF IN REF OUT

Load +12V
0.1
1.0 Ampere Current Shunt

Figure 3. Measuring Amperes and Volts

Murata Power Solutions, Inc.

Murata Power Solutions, Inc. makes no representation that the use of its products in the circuits described herein, or the use of other
11 Cabot Boulevard, Manseld, MA 02048-1151 U.S.A. technical information contained herein, will not infringe upon existing or future patent rights. The descriptions contained herein do not imply
the granting of licenses to make, use, or sell equipment constructed in accordance therewith. Specications are subject to change without
ISODATEL,
9001 and Inc.
1400111
REGISTERED
Cabot Boulevard, Mansfield, MA 02048-1151 notice. 2009 Murata Power Solutions, Inc.

Tel: (508) 339-3000 (800) 233-2765 Fax: (508) 339-6356

Internet: www.datel.com Email: sales@datel.com
www.murata-ps.com/locations email: sales@murata-ps.com
Data sheet fax back: (508) 261-2857