A model hot-wire ammeter

Demonstration

A model showing the principle of the hot-wire ammeter. This is a chance to see models
of historic meters, produced to measure AC in the days before multimeters and other
electronic wizardry.

Apparatus and materials

• Eureka wire (1 metre, 28 SWG), bare

• Retort stands and bosses, 2
• Weight hanger with slotted weights, 10 g
• Lamp (12 V 24 W) in lamp holder
• Wooden rods fitted with 4 mm terminal, 2
• LV variable power supply
• Leads, 4 mm, 2
• Metre rule

Safety

Read our standard health & safety guidance

Procedure

a Stretch a metre of bare Eureka wire (28 SWG) between two retort stands.

b Hang the weight hanger with a single 10 g mass, making a 20 g mass, from the centre
of the wire which is pulled taut.

c Connect the wire with the lamp and the variable power supply. Pass a current of about 2
A through the wire.

d Show the experiment first with DC and then with AC.

Photo courtesy of Mike Vetterlein

Teaching notes

1 In this meter, the heating effect and consequent expansion of the wire when an electric
current is flowing, is used to measure the current itself. The energy supplied to the wire
varies as I2R.

2 If desired, a vertical rule may be placed near to the mass so that the movement is more
apparent.

3 You may prefer to hang the weight hanger from a thread and give the thread one turn
round a steel knitting needle which is free to rotate, putting a drinking straw on the needle
as an indicator. As the mass falls, the needle will rotate and the drinking straw pointer
will move.
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