Principles in Operating Multimeters

Objectives:

Upon completion of this learning element, you should be able to:

 Describe multimerers;
 Identify the parts of multimeter;
 Enumerate the advantages of digital multimeter;
 Read or interpret meter scales;
 Identify functions and ranges employed in measuring voltage, current and resistance;
 Identify precautions in handling multimeters.

Theories/ Principles

A general indication of a person’s effectiveness in the electronic field is the ability to use a
variety of test instruments correctly, some for general purposes; others for highly specialized uses.

All instruments used for industrial and laboratory testing have some methods of indicating the
results of the test they are designed to perform. The most common indicating device is the scale. The
scale can be graduated to indicate volts, ohms, amperes, watts, decibels, gallons, miles, or desired
quantity, Multifunction test instruments may have several scales measure different properties.

The instrument usually has switches for changing functions and range. The general term for this
instrument is multimeter.

A multimeter is simply the most common and most useful tool of the electronics trade. This instrument
allows to make measurement of dc voltage, ac voltage, dc current and resistance values. The multimeter
can be particularly useful for the following tests:

1. Measurement of in-circuit resistance, like checking dry joints, taking resistance readings of transistors
and diodes.
2. Measurement of dc voltages of defective transistors, to determine whether the transistor is
conducting or non-conducting.
3. Measurement of supply voltages on all ICs.

It may be appreciated that for all measurements, a very high degree of accuracy is required. A
common available analog multimeter has an accuracy of ±1% or ±2% which is adequate for majority of
requirements in which merely the presence of a value near one specified is required rather than a
measured value that is exactly expected. Such requirements are conveniently met by an analog
multimeter in preference to a digital type instrument since an analog indication of approximate voltage
level can be more quickly observe on this instrument.

A digital multimeter is preferred when a high accuracy is required especially when very small
changes in a level need to be detected. The digital multimeter has high input impedance, typically 10 M
ohms, so that its loading effect is negligible in the circuit. A digital multimeter with 0 to 500 V range and
ohmmeter, 0 to 2 M ohms and an accuracy of ±1% is adequate for most of the work. Test probes must
be insulated to prevent accidental shorting.
Analog Multimeter

The multimeter is usually a moving coil meter. A coil fine wire wound on a rectangular aluminum
frame is mounted in the air space between the poles of a permanent-shoe magnet. Hardened-steel
pivots attached to the coil frame fix into the jeweled bearings so that the coil rotates with a minimum of
friction. An indicating pointer is attached to the coil assembly, and springs attached to the frame return
the needle (coil) to a fixed reference point.

When electric current flows through the coil, a magnetic field is developed that interacts
with the magnetic field of the permanent magnet to force the coil to rotate as an electric motor. The
direction of rotation depends on the direction of electron flow in the coil. The magnitude of the pointer
deflection is proportional to the current.

Using the Multimeter

Measurement of Voltage

The moving coil meter has a constant resistance, so that the current though the meter is
proportional to the voltage across it. In this sense, the current meter can be used to measure voltage.
The full scale deflection sensitivity in volts is the full scale deflection current times the resistance of the
meter. To extend the voltage range of the meter, it is necessary only to add resistance in series with the
meter circuit.

Measurement of Current

The moving coil meter, basically, is sensitive to current and is, therefore, an ammeter.

For direct current measurement, the meter is placed in series in the circuit of interest.
Therefore, the circuit must be broken to connect the ammeter. The ammeter, thus become a part of the
circuit. Since the ammeter has some internal resistance, its insertion into the circuit may decrease the
current in the measured branch. Usually, this resistance is small and can be ignored.

The moving coil meter depends only on the unidirectional current through its coils.
 For alternating current measurement, rectifier-type meters are used which respond to the
average value of the rectified alternating current.

Measurement of Resistance

The moving coil meter can be used to measure unknown resistance. The resistance of devices
that might be damaged by the moderate currents cannot be measured with an ordinary ohmmeter;
such devices include meter movement and some fuses, lights, relays, tube filament, some diodes, etc.
When the danger of damage exists, some other means must be devised to make the measurement.

An ohmmeter is never used while the circuit is in operation and thus there is no circuit distortion
introduced by measurement. For resistances that depend on circuit conditions, the only solution is to
establish normal operating conditions, measure the voltage across the resistance, measure the current
through the resistance and calculate.

Precautions in the Use of Multimeters

1. The precautions, limitation and errors mentioned for each measurement apply to the multimeter as
well.
2. The batteries in the multimeter should be checked frequently to correct operation in the resistance
ranges.
3. The instrument should be stored away from the damped atmosphere to avoid corrosion of the switch
contacts.
4. The function switch of the multimeter should always be kept on high dc voltage scale to avoid
draining by accidental short-circuiting of leads during storage and burning out the rectifier by
accidentally connecting to the dc voltage when on the ac scale.

Digital Multimeter

Digital multimeters are gradually replacing analog multimeters. They cost approximately like the
analog meters with comparable scales but are available in more precise (and more expensive) versions.
They are mechanically sturdier because they do not contain the delicate analog meter movement.

Digital multimeters are characterized by high input impedance, better accuracy and resolution.
They usually have autoranging, autopolarity, and autozero facilities, which means the user need only set
the function switch and get the reading.
Advantages of Digital Multimeter/ tester

Digital multimeter has a far greater advantage over the analog multimeter mainly due to the ease of
operation. These can be summarized as follows:

1. Direct reading and hence no errors due to possible wrong interpretation committed in analog type
multimeter.
2. Automatic polarity indication whenever the probes are connected improperly to a circuit with respect
to polarity. A negative (-) sign will be indicated in the multimeter read out.
3. Automatic decimal point positioning, automatic ranging and zeroing.
4. Over or under range indication.

Keypoints
Reading a Meter
[photo scale analog]

The range of a meter is the maximum reading possible. This is indicated at the end of the meter
scale, usually at the right-hand side of the scale. This point is known as the full-scale deflection (FSD).
The scale is divided into major divisions, which may be numbered and minor divisions.

Voltmeter Scale
The voltmeter scale has a FSD of 12 V. There are 6 major divisions
Thus each major division= 12 Volts/ 6 div. = 2 Volts
There are 10 divisions in each major division.
Thus each minor division= 2 Volts/ 10 div. = 0.2 Volts

Example
The pointer indicates:
3 Major divisions at 2 V =6V
1 Minor division at 0.2 V = 0.2 V
Total indicated value =6.2 V

Read and Interpret Linear Meter Scales Used for Measuring Voltage

It is not very difficult to read and interpret meter scales, but sometimes the use of multiple
scales, functions and ranges make it seem difficult. However this difficulty is soon overcome with
practice and experience.

[photo]

The highest voltage that can be read from the scale should be 1.5 V.
If the indicator pointer points at the first shortmark/ picket to the right of .9 should be zero point ninety
two volts (0.92V).
Increasing the full scale value of a single scale by the use of range switches increase the usefulness of
the meter.

Reminder: Before using any meter, you must always make sure the indicator rest over the zero at the
left of the scales.

Identify and Adjust Ohmmeter Function and Ranges

1. Zero correction of indicator.

Zero corrector is adjusted to place the pointer on zero (0) of the scale left. It need not be
repeated at each measurement, but the position of the pointer on zero must be confirmed before
starting measurement.

2. Test lead connections.

The test lead attached are inserted well down, the red lead going to the + jack and the black
lead to the – COM jack.

3. Selection of range.
When selecting a range, the white mark on the knob is correctly positioned at the prescribed
range.
3-1 DC Voltage (DCV)
DC voltages of batteries, amplifier circuits, power source of communication equipment,
tube and transistor circuit biases, etc. are measured. Each of the 7 range notations (0.1 ~ 1000) indicates
the maximum voltage reading for that range.
3-2 AC voltage (ACV)
Voltages of commercial AC supply, AC powered circuits, AF signal level, etc. are
measured. Each of the 4 range notations (10 ~ 1000) indicates the maximum voltage reading for that
range.
3-3 DC current (DCA)
Current consumption of DC power operated equipment, bias current of tube and
transistor circuits, etc. are measured. Each of the 4 range notations (50uA- 0.25A) indicates the
maximum current reading for that range (uA=10-3mA and A-103mA)
3-4 Resistance (Ω)
 Resistance is measured, line and circuit continuity (or Ω) tested. Each of the 4 range
notations indicates the multiplication of the reading for that range, where K stands for 1000.

4. Measurement ranges and scale reading.

Definition of Terms
Analog to digital converter- any circuit or device which performs analog quantity (smoothly varying)
into digital (abrupt) conversion.

Autoranging- a feature of digital multimeters that can shift its ranges automatically without having to
change ranges like in ranges of resistance

Autozero- a feature of digital multimeters that automatically sets the registered display with zero value
prior to measurement without having it manually adjusted.

Digital multimeter (DMM)- a multimeter in which the measured value being measured is indicated by
pointer over a calibrated scale.

Volt-ohm-milliameter (VOM)- a test instrument that has a number of different ranges for measuring
voltage, current and resistance

Scale- a series of marking used for reading the value of a quantity or setting.

Reference:
Electronics Technology, Learning Element
By the Curriculum Development Division, BTVE

Activity:

Perform Project Plan no. 2