Measure triangle wave with DC ammeter

[kenw232]

If I measure a positive only triangle/sawtooth wave with an analog DC ammeter will it give me a relatively accurate current measurement?

 

[BradtheRad]

An everyday analog (D'Arsonval) movement automatically averages a waveform.

Suppose the triangle peaks are 1 A, troughs at zero. The average is 1/2 A. This is what your meter will read. (It can be derived geometrically based on the formula for the area of a triangle.)

When measuring current, the meter inserts a certain amount of resistance. A different resistor for each range. The highest ranges insert lesser ohms.

You must select the highest ampere range which gives a usable reading

 

[kenw232]

Thanks for your response. This applies to extreme waveforms too then correct? Such as a 1200V sawtooth like the one measured here on my scope? This is being discharged from a .33uF capacitor, I'm trying to get a general measurement of the current.

I don't seem to have a way to adjust anything on my cheap DC analog ammeter.

 

[BradtheRad]

Yes, it should give you a general measurement.

Here is a simulation, comparing the sawtooth waveform with unchanging DC.

The first circuit has an averaging circuit which resembles a meter movement.

By stopping the scope trace at the halfway point on the sawtooth, it confirms that current is the same as through the DC circuit.