When testing magnetic pickups, which parameter should not be tested?

• A. Inductance
• B. Voltage
• C. Amperage
• D. Resistance

Answer: (C)

When a magnetic pickup operates, it behaves like a small transformer coil: it generates a voltage when the magnet moves, and the useful checks are about the coil’s ability to pass signal and maintain integrity. You test resistance to confirm the coil isn’t open or shorted, inductance to gauge how it responds to changing magnetic flux, and the voltage it can produce under movement to verify that the signal will be detectable by the rest of the system. Amperage, on the other hand, isn’t a fixed property of the coil itself and isn’t independently meaningful to assess. The current that flows depends on the connected circuit’s load and supply, so measuring or rating current doesn’t tell you much about the pickup’s health. That’s why amperage should not be tested for magnetic pickups.