What are thermocouple meters?

Thermocouple meters convert applied current (a-c or d-c) by thermoelectric effects into deflection currents which register on a PM moving-coil couple actuated by heat generated at the junction formed by two strips of dissimilar metal. One strip carries the heat-generating input currents, the other carries heat-produced currents to the meter movement.

Thermocouple meters are used to measure a wide range of either a-c or d-c currents and give an accurate picture of the effective, or heats producting, value of a current no matter what its nature. The meters are relatively expensive and the thermal delay in converting input electricity to heat makes them sluggish.