[sdiy] Measuring current use of a module?

[Bret Truchan]

Hello!

Sorry for yet another trivial electronics question.  I'm such the eternal 
newbie!!  How would one measure the total current used by a module?  My 
module uses +12 volts and -12 volts for an op-amp, and feeds the +12 volts 
into a 5 volt regulator to power a microcontroller.  I would like to know 
what the total current requirements for the module is.  Is there an easy way 
to measure it?  Or, would a better approach be to sum up the current 
requirements of the individual chips?  Do the inputs and outputs have any 
effect on the current consumption?  I have a volt meter, but not an ammeter.

It's obviously for a dual-spiraling neural waveform multiplier module. 
(kidding, of course)

Thanks a ton.
- Bret

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