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When measuring current, an ammeter is used. An ammeter is a device designed to measure the flow of electric current through a circuit. To obtain an accurate current reading, the ammeter must be placed in series with the component whose current you want to measure.

This means that the electrical path is temporarily disrupted, requiring a break in the circuit to connect the ammeter. Because current remains constant in components connected in series, all current flowing through the circuit also flows through the ammeter, enabling it to measure the current accurately.

However, this method is less feasible for printed circuit boards (PCBs) because they have fixed and often delicate pathways.

Voltage measurement, in contrast, is much simpler and less intrusive. For this, a voltmeter is used. Voltmeter devices are connected in parallel with the component whose voltage you want to measure. Placing a voltmeter in parallel is possible without altering the circuit, as it merely taps into the circuit without breaking the path.

The reason for this setup is that voltage across each parallel path remains unchanged, allowing the voltmeter to provide an accurate voltage reading for that particular part of the circuit. This non-intrusive nature of voltage measurement is what makes it preferable, especially when dealing with the embedded paths of a printed circuit board.

Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) are fundamental components in modern electronics. These boards support and connect various electronic components using conductive tracks, pads, and other features etched from copper sheets laminated on a non-conductive substrate.

The critical feature of PCBs is their integration. The conductive paths are not easily modified, making intrusive techniques like breaking the circuit complex and sometimes impossible. Measuring methods that align with this embedded framework, such as voltage measurement, are thus more suitable for PCBs. They can often include test points designed specifically for easy measurement without disrupting the circuit.

Ammeter and voltmeter are essential tools for any electronic work, each serving a distinct purpose. The ammeter is used to measure the current flowing through a circuit, while the voltmeter measures the potential difference, or voltage, between two points within a circuit.

To handle these devices appropriately means understanding their connection methods: ammeters are connected in series, and voltmeters are connected in parallel. Their usages are determined by fundamental electrical principles, ensuring that they do not alter the circuit conditions they are measuring themselves.

Electrical components can be configured in series or parallel within a circuit, each with unique characteristics.

In a series circuit, components are connected end-to-end in a single path for current flow. The current is the same through every component, making it necessary to insert an ammeter in series to measure current. Because any break in the circuit stops the current, alterations can be cumbersome, especially in fixed systems like PCBs.

Parallel circuits, on the other hand, involve components connected alongside each other on separate paths. Voltage remains consistent across each component, which makes measuring with a voltmeter straightforward. This attribute of parallel circuits along with their non-invasive measurement method provided by voltmeters is especially advantageous for testing without disturbing the electronic paths.