A multimeter is an electronic device that is used for measuring electrical current, voltage and the resistance of an electrical charge in an electrical component or circuitry. These measurements are normally taken by individual instruments however; the multimeter does all or most and a multimeter can be either calculated in digital or analogue. Use this article as your guide to using a multimeter.
Things you will need
- A multimeter
- An electronic component or circuitry of your choice
Instructions
- In this article we will utilize a digital multimeter for calculating. Turn on the meter and connect the probes from the multimeter into the desired connection, this may differ with each device and circuitry you wish to test.
- Find the switch and set it to the correct measurement type and range that you want to be calculated. When selecting the range, use the maximum anticipated range, this prevents the multimeter from overloading. The range on the DMM can also be adjusted and reduced accordingly.
- Most likely you will need to adjust the range to acquire a précis reading and also enable all the leading digits to not read zero. Then now the greatest number of significant digits can be calculated. After this put the probes from the meter into the voltage measurement sockets and adjust the range to the maximum voltage. This method is used to check that if the meter was accidentally connected without using the range figure, then there is little chance of putting damage to the meter.
- If you would like to check the DC voltage of a device set the dial to the required number, connect the red probe onto the red voltage and the black probe onto the com jack. Hold the red probe on the positive side of the DC voltage source and hold the black probe on the negative side. Then calculate the figure
- Test AC minivolts set the dial to the required number, plug in the red probe into the red voltage, ohm, diode jack and the black probe into the com jack. Then hold the red probe on the positive side of the DC minivoltage source and hold the black probe to the negative side.
- To test the continuity of a circuit with the multimeter set the dial to the required number, plug the red probe to the red voltage and the black probe to the com jack. Hold one lead to one end of a wire and the other lead to the other side of the wire and if the multimeter beeps then the wire is good.
- To test a diode set the dial to the required number, connect the red probe to the red voltage and the black probe to the com jack. Hold the red probe to the rear side of the forward bias and the black probe on the forward side. If there is a reading then this is an indication that the diode is good and is working, on the other hand if it beeps then this is an indication that the diode is not working.
- If you want to test AC or DC current (Amps) plug the red probe into the red A jacks (Amps) and plug the black probe into the com jack. Hold the red probe on the positive side of the circuitry and hold the probe to the negative side to measure the in-circuit current. Don’t test a current over the maximum amount shown on the jack or on the multimeter manual, if your current is low, then switch to the smaller setting but you should measure the setting first.
Do’s and Don’ts
- Do not use the multimeter to test electrical devices or circuitries that are above 60VDC or 30 VAC.
- Do not touch the probes to a voltage source and put the multimeter on the resistor setting at the same time.
- When testing capacitors or any voltage that has a AC or DC voltage source be extremely careful.
- Never touch the probes when the probes are connected to a voltage source that has in A and mA probe jacks.
