BE0100081 - Digital Fabrication Workshop
EXPERIMENT NO: 03
Using a Digital Multimeter
Objective: To get familiar with the functions and working of Digital multi-meter for
measuring resistance, AC and DC voltages and currents, and testing electronic devices.
Apparatus:
Multimeter, Resistors, electrolytic capacitors, connecting wires, p-n junction diode, pnp and
npn transistors, signal generator and power supply
Introduction:
A multi-meter is a measuring instrument that we will use frequently throughout electrical
experiments. So, it is better to learn how to use a multi-meter. A Multi-meter is an electronic
instrument, every electronic technician and engineers widely used piece of test equipment. A
multi-meter is mainly used to measure the three basic electrical characteristics of voltage,
current, and resistance. It can also be used to test continuity between two points in an electrical
circuit. The multi-meter has multi functionalities like, it acts like ammeter, voltmeter, and
ohmmeter. It is a handheld device with positive and negative indicator needle over a numeric
LCD digital display. Multi-meters can be used for testing batteries, household wiring, electric
motors, and power supplies.
Applications:
The applications of ammeter mainly involve in various electrical and electronic projects for
components testing and also used in different measurement applications in the multi-meter.
1) Voltage Measurements
⚫ High and low-value DC measurement
⚫ Peak to Peak and DC average measurement
Electrical Engineering Department, Dr. S. & S. S. Ghandhy G.E.C., Surat
BE0100081 - Digital Fabrication Workshop
2) Current Measurements
⚫ DC measurement
⚫ True RMS AC
3) Resistance Measurement
⚫ Micro ohmmeter
⚫ Measuring resistance with constant voltage
⚫ Measuring resistance with constant current
4) Time and Frequency measurement
⚫ Fast frequency
⚫ Time measurement
Types of Multi-meters:
There are different types of multi-meters like Analog, Digital, and Fluke multi-meters.
Digital Multimeter: Mostly used multimeter is a digital multimeter (DMM). The DMM
performs all functions from AC to DC other than analog. It has two probes positive and
negative indicated with black and red color is shown in the Fig.1. The black probe connected
to COM JACK and red probe connected by user requirement to measure ohm, volt, or amperes.
The jack marked VΩ and the COM jack on the right of the picture are used for measuring
voltages, resistance, and for testing a diode. The two jacks are utilized when an LCD that shows
what is being measured (volts, ohms, amps, etc.). Overload protection prevents damage to the
meter and the circuit and protects the user.
The Digital Multi-meter consists of an LCD, a knob to select various ranges of the three
electrical characteristics, an internal circuitry consisting of a signal conditioning circuitry, an
analog to digital converter. The PCB consists of concentric rings which are connected or
disconnected based on the position of the knob. Thus, as the required parameter and the range
are selected, the section of the PCB is activated to perform the corresponding measurement.
To measure the resistance, current flows from a constant current source through the unknown
resistor and the voltage across the resistor are amplified and fed to an Analog to Digital
Converter and the resultant output in form of resistance is displayed on the digital display. To
measure an unknown AC voltage, the voltage is first attenuated to get the suitable range and
then rectified to DC signal and the analog DC signal is fed to A/D converter to get the display,
which indicates the RMS value of the AC signal. Similarly, to measure an AC or DC, the
unknown input is first converted to a voltage signal and then fed to an analog to digital
converter to get the desired output (with rectification in case of AC signal).
Advantages of a Digital Multi-meter are its output display which directly shows the measured
value, high accuracy, ability to read both positive and negative values.
Analog Multi-meter: The Analog Multi-meter or VOM (Volt-Ohm-Milliammeter) is
constructed using a moving coil meter and a pointer to indicate the reading on the scale. The
moving coil meter consists of a coil wound around a drum placed between two permanent
magnets. As current passes through the coil, the magnetic field is induced in the coil which
reacts with the magnetic field of the permanent magnets and the resultant force causes the
pointer attached to the drum to deflect on the scale, indicating the current reading. It also
consists of springs attached to the drum which provides an opposing force to the motion of the
drum to control the deflection of the pointer.
Electrical Engineering Department, Dr. S. & S. S. Ghandhy G.E.C., Surat
BE0100081 - Digital Fabrication Workshop
Fig. 1 Digital Multi-meter Fig. 2 Analog Multi-meter
For the measurement of DC, the D Arsonval movement described above can be directly used.
However, the current to be measured should be lesser than the full-scale deflection current of
the meter. For higher currents, the current divider rule is applied. Using different values of
shunt resistors, the meter can also be used for multi-range current measurements. For current
measurement, the instrument is to be connected in series with the unknown current source.
Advantages of an Analog Multi-meter are that it is inexpensive, doesn’t require a battery, can
measure fluctuations in the readings. The two main factors affecting the measurement are
sensitivity and accuracy. Sensitivity refers to the reciprocal of the full-scale deflection current
and is measured in ohms per volt.
Activity
⚫ Take the multi-meter available in the lab. List all the controls on the panel and write
their functions.
⚫ Find out the relevant specifications of the multimeter such as its operating
temperature, storage temperature, battery voltage and battery life from its manual.
⚫ Write down the ranges of resistance, AC/DC voltages and currents that can be
measured with this multi-meter.
Precautions:
⚫ If you do not know the source of voltage (AC or DC), then keep the meter in the AC
voltage range.
⚫ While taking any measurement, start from the maximum range corresponding to the
physical quantity being measured.
⚫ While measuring current, the multi-meter should be connected in series.
⚫ When the multi-meter is not in use, do not leave it in the resistance range.
⚫ While using the multi-meter in resistance range, first make the zero adjustment.
⚫ For measuring dc voltage, connect the +ve lead of the multi-meter to the +ve terminal
of the source and -ve lead to the -ve terminal of the source.
Electrical Engineering Department, Dr. S. & S. S. Ghandhy G.E.C., Surat
BE0100081 - Digital Fabrication Workshop
Resistance Measurement Procedure:
1. Set the range selector switch in the Ω scale in the highest range.
2. Insert black lead in ‘COM’ input terminal and red lead in VΩ input terminal.
3. Make the zero adjustment. (Make them touch each other and rotate the knob marked ‘zero
adj’ or ‘ohms zero’ to adjust zero on the scale.
4. Turn power on.
5. Now connect the unknown resistance to the leads and note the value of the resistance on the
meter. If the value falls in a lower range, then select that range for greater accuracy.
Resistor Measured Value Actual Value Difference
Resistor 1
Resistor 2
Resistor 3
Checking the continuity of a wire
1. Take a continuous wire and connect its ends to the black and red leads of the multimeter.
You should get a small finite reading.
2. Join two pieces of wire using an electric tape such a way that their ends do not touch.
Connect the ends of the joined wire to the red and black leads of the multimeter. Note down
the reading.
Wire Measured Value Is wire OK?
Wire 1
Wire 2
Testing a Electrolytic Capacitor
1. Connect the -ve end of the capacitor to COM and the +ve end to VΩ. If the connection are
done properly, the battery inside the multi-meter charges the capacitor.
2. The value comes close to zero. Once the capacitor is fully charged, it starts discharging
through the multi-meter and the resistance increases.
3. If the capacitor is broken internally, it acts as an open circuit and it shows infinite value of
resistance on multi-meter.
4. If the capacitor is short circuited, the value of resistance remains zero at all times.
5. If the capacitor is leaking, the resistance does not go to ∞, and it cannot be used again.
Capacitor Measured Value Is capacitor OK?
Capacitor 1
Capacitor 2
Electrical Engineering Department, Dr. S. & S. S. Ghandhy G.E.C., Surat
BE0100081 - Digital Fabrication Workshop
Direct Current Measurements
1. Connect red test terminal to A input terminal and black test lead to COM input terminal.
2. Set range selector knob to the highest current range for DC.
3. Open the circuit in which the current is to be measured and connect test leads in series with
the load through which current is to be measured.
4. Turn on the circuit and read current value on the meter.
Measured Theoretical Value of
Sr. No. Voltage (Volts)
Current (mA) Current
Alternating current measurement
1. Connect red test lead to the A input and the black test lead to COM input.
2. Set range selector knob to highest range for AC.
3. Open the circuit in which the current us to be measured and connect test leads in series with
the load through which current is to be measured.
4. Turn on the circuit and read current value on the meter.
Measured Theoretical Value of
Sr. No. Voltage (Volts)
Current (mA) Current
Direct Voltage Measurement
1. Connect red test lead to VΩ input terminal and the black test lead to COM input terminal.
2. Set range selector knob to desired DC V position. If the voltage to be measured is not known,
set range selector at the highest DC V range and reduce range, if necessary, for a satisfactory
reading.
3. Connect the multi-meter in parallel with the load across which the voltage is to be measured
with appropriate polarity.
Measured Actual Voltage
Sr. No.
Voltage (Volts) (Volts)
Electrical Engineering Department, Dr. S. & S. S. Ghandhy G.E.C., Surat
BE0100081 - Digital Fabrication Workshop
Alternating Voltage Measurement
1. Connect red test lead to VΩ input terminal and the black test lead to COM input terminal.
2. Set range selector knob to desired AC V position. If the voltage to be measured is not known,
set range selector at the highest AC V range and reduce range, if necessary, for a satisfactory
reading.
3. Connect the multi-meter in parallel with the load across which the voltage is to be measured
with appropriate polarity.
Measured Actual Voltage
Sr. No.
Voltage (Volts) (Volts)
Testing a p-n junction diode
1. Set the function/range switch to the resistance measurement position in the range of 10 kΩ.
2. Make zero adjustment.
3. Connect the red lead to the p-side and black lead to the n-side. If the diode is in working
condition, you should get a low resistance reading.
4. Reverse the connection. You should get a very high resistance reading.
5. If the multimeter shows zero or low resistance reading for forward bias and does not change
even on reversing the connection then the diode is defective. It is short.
6. If the diode shows a high resistance under both forward and reverse biased conditions, it is
defective. It is open.
7. Suppose the diode is unmarked and you have to identify its p- and n-sides. The end of the
diode that show low resistance when connected to the negative lead of the multimeter is its n-
side.
Testing of bipolar junction transistors. (pnp transistor)
1. Turn the transistor upside down. The three terminals lie within a semi-circle. The emitter (E)
and collector (C) terminals are diametrically opposite. The collector is neat the notch (N). The
third junction is obviously the base (B).
2. Set the function/range switch to the resistance measurement mode in the range of 10kΩ.
3. Make zero adjustment.
4. Forward bias emitter junction. Connect red lead of the multimeter to emitter terminal and
black lead to base terminal. Note the reading. The reading should be low. Reverse the
connections. You should get a high reading. The E-B junction is working.
5. If the multimeter shows low reading in both cases, the E-B junction is short. If it shows high
reading in both cases, the E-B junction is open.
Electrical Engineering Department, Dr. S. & S. S. Ghandhy G.E.C., Surat
BE0100081 - Digital Fabrication Workshop
6. Reverse bias collector-base junction (red lead to base and black lead to collector terminal).
You should get high resistance. Reverse the connections and if you get a low resistance then
the junction is working.
7. If the multimeter shows low reading in both cases, the C-B junction is short. If it shows high
reading in both cases, the C-B junction is open.
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Electrical Engineering Department, Dr. S. & S. S. Ghandhy G.E.C., Surat
