Nate Electrical Practice Exam

If a conductor is wrapped around the jaws of a clamp-on ammeter four times and the meter indicates 16 amps, what is the actual amperage?

1. 16 amps

2. 8 amps

3. 4 amps

4. 2 amps

The correct answer is: 4 amps

When a conductor is wrapped around the jaws of a clamp-on ammeter multiple times, the reading that the ammeter provides is essentially a cumulative reading based on the number of wraps. Each wrap of the conductor increases the measured current proportionally. In this scenario, if the ammeter shows a reading of 16 amps with the conductor wrapped around the jaws four times, the actual current can be calculated by dividing the indicated current by the number of wraps. So, the formula to determine the actual amperage is: Actual Amperage = Indicated Amperage / Number of Wraps Substituting the given values: Actual Amperage = 16 amps / 4 wraps = 4 amps. Therefore, the actual current flowing through the conductor is 4 amps. This understanding is essential, as it illustrates how the configuration of the conductor around the ammeter can affect the measurements and helps in interpreting the data correctly.