How To Use A Multimeter

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How To Use A Multimeter
How To Use A Multimeter

Video: How To Use A Multimeter

Video: How To Use A Multimeter
Video: How to Use a Multimeter for Beginners - How to Measure Voltage, Resistance, Continuity and Amps 2024, March
Anonim

Occasionally, any householder needs to take a multimeter from the far shelf or from a neighbor and, quivering in the knees, put its probes into the electrical panel. If you get confused in the positions of the switch or in the contact sockets of the device, a small “boom!” May occur, the light will go out, the wife will scream and your hands will shake for a long, long time.

Multimeters
Multimeters

The main rule of the home electrician: "During measurements, do not stand barefoot, do not touch the heating pipes and the water tap!"

Turning on the multimeter

Two options are common:

Option 1. "on-off" button on the front.

Option 2. By turning the thumbwheel from the “off” position to the measuring position of your choice.

I Voltage measurement

a) Connect the test leads to the multimeter in the following order:

- black probe - into the COM socket;

- red - into the socket, in the designation of which, in addition to other letters, V. is indicated.

b) Determine the type of voltage being measured and the corresponding designation:

- alternating current voltage V ~ or ACV (electrical panel, sockets, switches and bulbs);

- DC voltage V --- or DCV (batteries, accumulators and chargers).

c) Step 1. Set the switch to the sector corresponding to the type of measured voltage to the maximum value. Touch the probes to the contacts of the electrical element. After taking readings, move the switch to the position closest to this value. The multimeter will show the exact value.

Step 2. If you already know the level of the measured voltage, skip the first step.

Question:

What if I set the switch to a lower value?

Answer:

Nothing bad will happen! The multimeter will simply refuse you readings. In the most extreme case, there is a fuse inside the multimeter that will not give offense to the device.

II Current measurement

a) Determine the type of measured current and the corresponding designation:

- alternating current A ~ or ACA --- (not all multimeters can measure alternating current!);

- direct current A --- or DCA

b) Connect the test leads to the multimeter in the following order:

- black probe - into the COM socket;

- red - into the socket, in the designation of which there are letters "mA" or "A".

c) Set the switch to the maximum value in the sector corresponding to point a). Unlike voltage measurement, when measuring current, the current probes must be connected in series with the load!

d) Step 1. Having taken an approximate reading, turn the switch to the position closest to this value. The multimeter will show the exact value.

Step 2. If you already know the level of the measured current, skip the first step.

Question:

What happens if you connect a multimeter directly to the power supply terminals?

Answer:

Nothing bad will happen. In the best case, you will measure the current flowing through the multimeter, and its value will appear on the screen. In the worst case, there is a fuse.

III Checking the continuity of the electrical circuit

a) De-energize the circuit: check the continuity ("continuity") of the electrical circuit with the power supply off!

b) Connect the test leads to the multimeter in the following order:

- black probe - into the COM socket;

- red - into the socket with the letter “Ω” in its designation.

d) Turn the switch to the minimum value (first clockwise) in the “Ω” sector. The multimeter will show “1” on the screen. To check, touch one probe to the other. A working multimeter will show the value "0".

e) Connect the test leads to the circuit under test. If the electrical circuit is faulty (broken), the meter reading will remain at "1". If the readings of the device change sharply down to zero, your electrical circuit is working properly.

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