On an A-base meter, a parallel connection would put ____________ across the low-resistance current coil and result in an explosive dead short.

On an A-base meter, a parallel connection would put ____________ across the low-resistance current coil and result in an explosive dead short.

• A. farads
• B. voltage
• C. Vars
• D. current

Answer: (D)

When you connect something in parallel with a low-resistance current coil, the same voltage drives the coil. Because the coil’s resistance is very small, that voltage push produces a very large current through the coil (I = V/R). That enormous current is what creates the dangerous short-circuit condition—the “explosive dead short” described. So the factor at play here is the current that would flow; the other items (capacitance, the voltage itself as the cause, or reactive power) don’t capture the immediate hazard in this parallel short scenario.

When you connect something in parallel with a low-resistance current coil, the same voltage drives the coil. Because the coil’s resistance is very small, that voltage push produces a very large current through the coil (I = V/R). That enormous current is what creates the dangerous short-circuit condition—the “explosive dead short” described. So the factor at play here is the current that would flow; the other items (capacitance, the voltage itself as the cause, or reactive power) don’t capture the immediate hazard in this parallel short scenario.