DC and AC Current

The NI 4071 allows you to measure currents ranging from a few picoamps to three amperes. DC Current mode has eight ranges that go from 1 µA to 3 A in decades, and AC Current mode has six ranges that go from 100 µA_rms to 3 A_rms in decades. The AC Current mode uses the same fast measurement technique as the AC Volts DC Coupled mode.

Note  AC current measurements are always DC coupled and therefore always offer low settling time. Keep in mind that the range chosen needs to include both the signal range and its offset, otherwise the input can get overloaded. For a list of the available ranges, refer to Related Documentation for the NI 4071 specifications document.

Shunt Resistors

The NI 4071 uses internal shunt resistors with temperature coefficient and power ratings selected to reduce resistor self-heating errors. For the effect of temperature changes on the accuracy of the measurements, refer to Related Documentation for the NI 4071 specifications document and the temperature coefficient. Refer to the following table for the shunt resistor values.

Range	Shunt Resistor Value
3 A	0.05 Ω
1 A	0.05 Ω
100 mA	0.5 Ω
10 mA	5 Ω
1 mA	50 Ω
100 µA	500 Ω
10 µA	55 kΩ
1 µA	55 kΩ

Tip  The current measurement path within the NI 4071 utilizes an electromechanical relay that provides very low resistance to assure a low burden voltage. While this relay has an exceptionally long life, you can take special precautions to ensure reliable operation. Whenever possible, switch the NI 4071 into the current measurement function before applying the current. Switching inductive current sources generally creates flyback voltages that stress the relay and, if done frequently, can shorten the reliability of the relay. Also, avoid interrupting the current by switching out of the current measurement function when currents are flowing through the circuit.