Analog and Digital Multimeters

Introduction
Alternating currents and voltages vary with time and

periodically change their direction

Sine Waves
11.2

Sine waves
by far the most important form of alternating quantity
important properties are shown below

 Instantaneous value
shape of the sine wave is defined by the sine function
y = A sin
in a voltage waveform
v = Vp sin

 Angular frequency
frequency f (in hertz) is a measure of the number of
cycles per second
each cycle consists of 2 radians
therefore there will be 2f radians per second
this is the angular frequency (units are rad/s)

= 2f

 Example

Determine the equation of the following voltage

signal.
From diagram:

Period is 50 ms = 0.05 s
Thus f = 1/T =1/0.05 = 20 Hz
Peak voltage is 10 V
Therefore
v Vp sin 2ft
10 sin 2 20t
10 sin 126 t

Moving-Coil Meter
Two Types of Multimeters
DMM
(digital)

VOM
(analog)

Moving-Coil Meter
Types of Meters
Analog meter:
Uses a moving pointer and a printed scale to indicate
values of voltage, current, or resistance.
Volt-Ohm-Milliammeter (VOM):
Allows all three kinds of measurements on a single
scale or readout.
Digital multimeter:
Uses a numerical readout to indicate the measured
value of voltage, current or resistance.

Moving-Coil Meter
Direct Current Meters
Direct current in a moving-coil meter deflects the pointer
in proportion to the amount of current.
A current meter must be connected in series with the

part of the circuit where the current is to be measured.

A dc current meter must be connected with the correct

polarity.

Moving-Coil Meter
Analog instruments use a moving coil meter movement.

Current flow in the coil

moves the pointer upscale.

Meter Shunts
Meter Shunts
Meter shunts are low-value precision resistors that are
connected in parallel with the meter movement.
Meter shunts bypass a portion of the current around the

meter movement. This process extends the range of

currents that can be read with the same meter
movement.

Voltmeters
A voltmeter is connected across two points to measure

their difference in potential.

A voltmeter uses a high-resistance multiplier in series
with the meter movement.
A dc voltmeter must be connected with the correct
polarity.

8-3: Voltmeters
A multiplier resistor is a large resistance in
series with a moving-coil meter movement
which allows the meter to measure voltages
in a circuit.

8-5: Ohmmeters
An ohmmeter consists of an internal battery in series

with the meter movement, and a current limiting

resistance.
Power in the circuit being tested is shut off.
Current from the internal battery flows through the
resistance being measured, producing a deflection that
is:
Proportional to the current flow, and
Displayed on a back-off scale, with ohm values
increasing to the left as the current backs off from
full-scale deflection.

8-6: Multimeters
Multimeters are also called multitesters.
Multimeters are used to measure voltage, current, or

resistance.
Main types of multimeters are:
Volt-ohm-milliammeter (VOM)
Digital multimeter (DMM)

8-6: Multimeters
Table 8-3

VOM Compared to DMM

VOM

DMM

Analog pointer reading

Digital readout

DC voltmeter RV changes with range

RV is 10 or 22 M, the same on all

ranges

Zero-ohms adjustment changed for

each range

No zero-ohms adjustment

Ohm ranges up to R x 10,000 , as

a multiplying factor

Ohm ranges up to 20 M; each

range is the maximum

8-6: Multimeters

Fig. 8-13: Analog VOM that

combines a function selector and
range switch.

Fig. 8-14: Portable digital

multimeter (DMM).

8-6: Multimeters
The problem of opening a circuit
to measure current can be
eliminated by using a probe with
a clamp that fits around the
current-carrying wire.
The clamp probe measures only
ac, generally for the 60-Hz ac
power line.
Fig. 8-15: DMM with amp clamp accessory.

8-7: Digital Multimeters

(DMMs)
The digital multimeter has become a very popular

test instrument.
The digital value of the measurement is displayed
automatically with decimal point, polarity, and the unit
for V, A, or .

8-7: Digital Multimeters

(DMMs)
Digital multimeters
are generally
easier to use.
They eliminate the
human error that
often occurs in
reading different
scales on an analog
meter with a pointer.
Fig. 8-16: Typical digital multimeter (DMM).

8-8: Meter Applications

Table 8-4 (next slide) summarizes the main points to

remember when using a voltmeter, ohmmeter, or

milliammeter.

8-8: Meter Applications

Table 8-4
Voltmeter

Milliammeter or
Ammeter

Ohmmeter

Power on in circuit

Power on in circuit

Power off in circuit

Connect in parallel

Connect in series

Connect in parallel

High internal R

Low internal R

Has internal battery

Has internal series

multipliers; higher R for
higher ranges

Has internal shunts;

lower resistance for
higher current ratings

Higher battery voltage

and more sensitive
meter for higher ohms
ranges

8-9: Checking Continuity

with the Ohmmeter
The ohmmeter is a great tool for checking the

continuity between two points.

When checking for continuity, make sure the
ohmmeter is set on the lowest ohms range.
If continuity exists between two points, the ohmmeter
will read a very low resistance such as zero ohms.
If there is no continuity between two points, the
ohmmeter will read infinite ohms.

8-9: Checking Continuity

with the Ohmmeter

Fig. 8-20: Continuity testing from point A to wire 3 shows this wire is connected.

8-9: Checking Continuity

with the Ohmmeter

Fig. 8-21: Temporary short circuit at one end of a long two-wire line to check continuity from the
opposite end.

Measuring Voltages and

Currents
Measuring voltage and current in a circuit
when measuring voltage we connect across the component
when measuring current we connect in series with the component

Measuring Voltages and

Currents
Loading effects voltage

measurement
our measuring instrument will

have an effective resistance (RM)

when measuring voltage we

connect a resistance in parallel

with the component concerned
which changes the resistance in
the circuit and therefore changes
the voltage we are trying to
measure
this effect is known as loading

11.4

Measuring Voltages and

Currents
Loading effects current

measurement
our measuring instrument will have an

effective resistance (RM)

when measuring current we connect a

resistance in series with the component

concerned which again changes the
resistance in the circuit and therefore
changes the current we are trying to
measure
this is again a loading effect

11.4

Analogue Ammeters and

Voltmeters

11.5

Most modern analogue

ammeters are based on

moving-coil meters

Meters are characterized by their full-scale deflection (f.s.d.)

and their effective resistance (RM)

typical meters produce a f.s.d. for a current of 50 A 1 mA
typical meters have an RM between a few ohms and a few kilohms

 Measuring direct

currents using a
moving coil meter
use a shunt resistor

to adjust sensitivity

 Measuring direct

voltages using a
moving coil meter
use a series resistor

to adjust sensitivity

 Measuring alternating quantities

moving coil meters respond to both positive and negative voltages,

each producing deflections in opposite directions

a symmetrical alternating waveform will produce zero deflection (the
mean value of the waveform)
therefore we use a rectifier to produce a unidirectional signal
meter then displays the average value of the waveform
meters are often calibrated to directly display r.m.s. of sine waves
all readings are multiplied by 1.11 the form factor for a sine wave

as a result waveforms of other forms will give incorrect readings

for example when measuring a square wave (for which the form factor is

1.0, the meter will read 11% too high)

 Analogue multimeters
general purpose instruments use a

combination of switches and resistors

to give a number of voltage and
current ranges
a rectifier allows the measurement of
AC voltage and currents
additional circuitry permits resistance
measurement
very versatile but relatively low input
resistance on voltage ranges produces
considerable loading in some
situations
A typical analogue multimeter

Digital Multimeters
11.6

Digital multimeters (DMMs) are often

(inaccurately) referred to as digital voltmeters or

DVMs
at their heart is an analogue-to-digital converter

(ADC)

A simplified block diagram

 Measurement of voltage, current and

resistance is achieved using appropriate

circuits to produce a voltage proportional
to the quantity to be measured
in simple DMMs alternating signals are

rectified as in analogue multimeters to give

its average value which is multiplied by
1.11 to directly display the r.m.s. value of
sine waves
more sophisticated devices use a true
r.m.s. converter which accurately
produced a voltage proportional to the
r.m.s. value of an input waveform
A typical digital multimeter