Meters

5 February 2004

Analog and Digital Meters

Devices and Measurements

Objective
At the conclusion of this presentation the student will describe
and identify:
Safety precautions when using test equipment
Analog Multimeters
Digital Multimeters
How to connect a voltmeter to a circuit to measure voltage
How to connect an ammeter to a circuit to measure current
How to connect an ohmmeter to measure resistance
The student will be able to:
Read voltage from an analog voltmeter
Read current from an analog ammeter
Read resistance from an analog ohmmeter
5 February 2004

Professor Andrew H. Andersen

Meters

Meters

5 February 2004

Basic Circuit Measurements

A voltmeter measures voltage across (in parallel) a
resistance or load
An ammeter is inserted in the current path (in series) to
measure current
Resistance is measured across a resistor, out-of-circuit,
with an ohmmeter
Digital Multimeters (DMMs) measure voltage, current
and resistance

5 February 2004

Meters

Electrical Test Equipment - The Multimeter

A multimeter is used to measure voltage, current or
resistance, depending upon the function selected
A voltmeter is used to measure voltage across a
component or circuit
An ammeter is used to measure current through a
circuit
An ohmmeter is used to measure resistance

5 February 2004

Professor Andrew H. Andersen

Meters

Meters

5 February 2004

Typical dArsonval Meter Movement

5 February 2004

Meters

Meter Deflection is Proportional to Current

5 February 2004

Professor Andrew H. Andersen

Meters

Meters

5 February 2004

A Typical Seven Segment Display

5 February 2004

Meters

Examples of Meter Displays and Symbols

Each of the above may be used to represent either an

ammeter (A), a voltmeter (V), or an ohmmeter ()

5 February 2004

Professor Andrew H. Andersen

Meters

Meters

5 February 2004

Typical Portable Multimeters

5 February 2004

Meters

Example of a Digital and Analog Multimeter

5 February 2004

Professor Andrew H. Andersen

Meters

10

Meters

5 February 2004

Typical Digital Multimeters (DMM)

5 February 2004

Meters

11

A Typical Analog Multimeter

5 February 2004

Professor Andrew H. Andersen

Meters

12

Meters

5 February 2004

Selecting the Proper Range on an Analog Meter

Select a range for maximum deflection of the pointer

5 February 2004

Meters

13

Measuring a Resistor

Remove power if
necessary and isolate
the component from
the circuit under test

5 February 2004

Professor Andrew H. Andersen

Meters

14

Meters

5 February 2004

Schematic Symbols for Meters

The analog voltmeter and ammeter must be connected to the

circuit with proper polarity to avoid damaging the meter
movement
The ohmmeter may only be used on unenergized components

5 February 2004

Meters

15

Voltage Measurements
To measure voltage, the voltmeter is placed in parallel across
the component; that is, one lead is place on each side of the
component
Set an analog ammeter to the highest range when measuring an
unknown voltage
Then switch to the next lowest rage until maximum deflection
of the pointer is obtained while remaining on the scale

5 February 2004

Professor Andrew H. Andersen

Meters

16

Meters

5 February 2004

A Voltmeter Connected to Measure Voltage

5 February 2004

Meters

17

Current Measurements
To measure current, the ammeter must be placed in series with
the component; that is, it must be in line with the current path
Usually, power is removed from the circuit before connecting
or removing the ammeter
Set an analog ammeter to the highest range when measuring an
unknown current
Then switch to the next lowest rage until maximum deflection
of the pointer is obtained while remaining on the scale

5 February 2004

Professor Andrew H. Andersen

Meters

18

Meters

5 February 2004

An Ammeter Connected to Measure Current

5 February 2004

Meters

19

Resistance Measurements
To measure resistance
If necessary circuit power must be removed
Usually at least one lead of the component must be
removed from the circuit
the ohmmeter is connected across a component

5 February 2004

Professor Andrew H. Andersen

Meters

20

10

Meters

5 February 2004

Ohmmeter Connection to Measure Resistance

5 February 2004

Meters

21

Reading the Analog Meter

Professor Andrew H. Andersen

11

Meters

5 February 2004

Example 1
Assume that the VOM shown is on the AC/DC 6 V scale. What is
the reading?

5 February 2004

Meters

23

Example 1 Solution
Assume that the VOM shown is on the AC/DC 6 V scale. What is
the reading?
Note that the reading is made on the 60
V scale and the user places the decimal.

4.5 V

MS
OH
50

50
10

A
DC C
AM A C
PS 0
dB
0
m 0

20

10

1
4

1
25
50 0
10

25
10
5

10

11 d
B

0 C
30 0 A C
6 D
12 AC PS
M
30 A
12
6

20
8
4

10
4
2

OH
M

200
40
8

1k

150
30
6

100
20
4

20

10

ANALOG MULTIMETER

5 February 2004

Professor Andrew H. Andersen

Meters

24

12

Meters

5 February 2004

Example 2
Assume that the VOM shown is on the AC AMPS 3 A scale. What
is the reading?

5 February 2004

Meters

25

Example 2 Solution
Assume that the VOM shown is on the AC AMPS 3 A scale. What
is the reading?
Note that the reading is made on the 30 A AC

1.25 A

scale and the user places the decimal place.

MS
OH
50

50
10

20

10

20
8
4

10
4
2

2
5

A
DC C
AM A C
PS 0
dB
0
m 0

1
4

OH
M

200
40
8
25
10
5

10

25
50 0
10

11 d
B

0 C
30 0 A C
6 D
12 AC PS
M
30 A
12
6

150
30
6

100
20
4

1k

10

20

ANALOG MULTIMETER

5 February 2004

Professor Andrew H. Andersen

Meters

26

13

Meters

5 February 2004

Example 3
When you change resistance scales on a VOM, what must first be
done before measuring a resistor?

5 February 2004

Meters

27

Example 3 Solution
When you change resistance scales on a VOM, what must first be
done before measuring a resistor?
Zero the meter by shorting the leads together and adjusting the
Zero Adjust control.

5 February 2004

Professor Andrew H. Andersen

Meters

28

14

Meters

5 February 2004

Example 4
Assume that the VOM shown is on the x100 scale. What is the
reading?

5 February 2004

Meters

29

Problem 4 Solution
Assume that the VOM shown is on the x100 scale. What is the
reading?

5 February 2004

Professor Andrew H. Andersen

340

Note that the reading is made on the scale

and the user multiplies the reading by 100.

Meters

30

15