How to Measure Current and

Voltage from a Multimeter

By: David Lank
 Glossary:
Multimeter: a device that when hooked up to two sets of nodes can
measure resistance, current, and voltage.
Node: is any point on a given circuit
Probe: is the wires we use to connect a circuit to a multimeter
AC voltage: a voltage that can vary, generally used to travel far distances.
You can find this sort of voltage in wall outlets.
DC voltage: a voltage that does not change over time, used to charge
electronics like your phone.
Function generator: A device that creates AC voltage in the waveforms.

Materials Needed:
A multimeter
A black and red probe
A circuit
A voltage source (AC or DC)
Testing Current:
1) Power on multimeter to the nob labeled A. If you believe the current is
smaller you can use mA or µA. You can predict the current using the
following equation:
V oltage a point/resistance at point = Current
2) Move the red probe to the plug labeled A or mA/ μ A depended on your
predicted current.
Warning: ​if you do not put the red probe in the right spot you have a good
chance of frying the multimeter.
Make sure the black probe is set to COM
3) Disconnect the wire you wish to test current from. The reason you do
this is because you are pretending the multimeter is the wire. That way all
the current that was originally going through that wire now can go through
the multimeter, letting you measure it.

4) Connect the red probe to one side of the now open circuit and connect
the black probe to the other side of the open circuit
5) You will be able to read current up on the screen, as seen below
Testing Voltage
Now voltage has a similar process to current, with a few minor tweaks.

Steps
1) Power on multimeter to the nob labeled V. Adjust between V, mV, or V
AC (which is noted by a sine line above it). If you are using a DC voltage
source (like a battery) use V or mV, depended on size. If you are using AC
voltage like a
frequency
generator then use
V AC.
2) Connect the red probe to the side you wish to determine voltage on and
connect the black probe to where there is no voltage (known as ground).
Note: ​ there is not need to remove any wire in this part. There will be equal
voltage going through the wire as well as the multimeter.
3) You should be able to read the voltage from the multimeter.
Note: ​if the voltage is negative this means that the voltage is greater at
where you put the black probe over the white.