In this tutorial, I will show you how to use a Multimeter. It doesn’t matter if you are a newbie, because I will explain in this way you will consider Multimeter the simplest and most useful tool. Thanks to DMM You don’t have to have expensive equipment like Oscilloscopes as you can test and measure different parameters of a circuit like Voltage, Current, and Resistance.
In this article, I will explain What is a Multimeter, its different parts, how to use a multimeter to measure voltage, current, resistance, and also test for continuity.
What is a Multimeter?
A Multimeter is a tool for measuring electrical quantities like resistance, voltage, and current. All these meters (ohmmeter, voltmeter, and ammeter) that measure those quantities are combined to a single meter are known as multimeters. There are two types of multimeters:
1. Analog Multimeters
Analog multimeters work on the principle of moving coil meters. These meters use the deflection of an indicator needle to indicate the level of the measurement on an analog display.
2. Digital Multimeters
In short, it is a very important tool for electrical and electronics engineers. The first thing every engineer wants to do is troubleshoot a circuit and this is not possible without DMM. These meters come in different shapes, sizes, and price points.
- Bench Multimeters
- Handheld Multimeters
- Clamp meters
The prices can vary from 5$ to 5000$ and one can buy according to budget. Besides measuring basic parameters like Voltage and Current, resistance, and continuity. you can use a multimeter to test
The multimeter is a measuring instrument that works to combine several measurement functions in one unit. A multimeter can measure volts, amps, and ohms through outlets, fixtures, and breakers.
How to use a Multimeter?
A multimeter is used to measure voltage, current, resistor, and continuity check. We will discuss them one by one.
Voltage Measurement
With Multimeter, we can measure both AC and DC voltage. The voltage sign will be marked as “V”. What you all need to have is rotate the dial to V and measure. But keep in mind that there is a difference between AC and DC measurements.
- DC Voltage
DC voltage sign will be shown by straight line adjacent to the “V”. Put the black probe in the com port and Red Probe in other. Also, select the range from Knob. There are different ranges on the meter. Select the ranges according to your requirements.
Example:
I want to measure the voltage of a 12V battery, then set the knob to 20. Because if you set the range lower than the measuring value? In this case, the LCD will display 1, indicating that the result has exceeded the range.
- AC Voltage
For AC measurement we mostly are working on high voltages so keep in mind you should have professional supervision. I do not recommend beginners to go anywhere near Main AC. The sine wave adjacent to V shows the AC voltage. With a multimeter, we can measure the AC voltage up to 600V and has only two range selection positions (200 and 600).
Example
If you want to measure the AC mains Voltage of your home, set the knob to 600 in AC Voltage Measurement (V with a Sine Wave). I have set the knob on 600V because the mains supply in-home is 240V. Always set the knob for AC Voltage measurement before inserting the probes. Now, connect the probes with supply and note the reading from LCD.
Current Measurement
Measuring current is far different from voltage measurement. For current measurement first of all you have to break the circuit and have to use a multimeter in series. In this way, the current will flow from the meter to the circuit. That’s why its necessary to select the current range higher than the circuit current.
The current sign on the Ammeter will be indicated by the symbol A. As we know Digital Multimeters can only measure DC Current. So, there will be only DC symbol on the meter.
- DC Current
For DC measurement, we have to set the Knob of the Multimeter to DC Current measurement. Multimeters can measure DC Current from a few µA to 200mA.
Example
If you want to test the LED. You have to set the range to 200mA and connected the Multimeter in series with the circuit. In this way, the Multimeter becomes a part of the circuit and if you disconnect any probe, then the circuit will not work. The measured current will be displayed on the LCD.
Resistance Measurement
Resistance is one of the most important parameters of the circuit. So it’s important to have a measurement of resistance. The resistance can be measured easily by DMM. The Ohmmeter section of the Multimeter is represented by the Ω symbol. This meter can measure resistance up to 2MΩ.
Example
If you want to measure the resistance then set the knob to the desired range in the resistance measurement. Now connect the probes to the leads of the resistor. The measured resistance will be displayed on the LCD. During resistance measurement, you can connect the probes in any way. The result will not be affected by the orientation of the probes.
Continuity Test
Checking continuity was never easy. Thanks to Multimeter, with this you can easily perform the continuity test between two points in a circuit. The continuity test function is usually represented by a “speaker” symbol.
Example
To perform the continuity test on the wire. First of all, set the knob to test for continuity and connect the probes across a wire. If the wire is in good condition without any breakage, then you will hear a buzzer sound. If there is a problem with the wire, you won’t hear any sound.
Diode Test
The diode can be easily tested on DMM. This functionality is the least used among all. The diode test feature is usually combined with the continuity test and is represented by a Diode Symbol.
Example
For diode testing, set the knob to Diode Test mode. Now connect the red probe to the Anode of the diode and the Black probe to the cathode of the diode. If the diode is working properly, the Multimeter will display the forward voltage drop across the diode.
In this article, we have tried to describe ‘How to use multimeter’. After reading this article you will be able to measure voltage, current, resistance, and continuity test as well as diode test. Do you have any questions regarding DMM?. Let us know in the comment section