Unit 3

Using a Multimeter Practice

Experiments
 Introduction

• Electrical measuring tools to diagnose and

repair electrical faults:
– Digital volt-ohmmeters
– Test lights
– Fused jumper leads
– Inductive amperage clamp
 Voltage Exercises

• Designed to explain use of DVOM in taking DC

voltage measurements
– Use of different ranges on the meter display
– Voltage drops in series circuits across equal and
unequal loads
– Kirchoff’s voltage law—sum of series voltage drops
equals the supply voltage
 Voltage Exercises—
Voltage Drop
• Measured with a voltmeter
• Potential difference between two points in
a circuit
• Sum of all voltage drops in a series circuit
equals the supply voltage.
 Voltage Exercises—
Voltage Drop
• To measure voltage drop:
– Set DVOM on the voltage range.
– Set function switch to “auto range volts DC.”
– Connect black lead to COM.
– Connect red lead to V/Ω.
 Voltage Exercises—
Voltage Drop
• Can be measured across:
– Components
– Connectors
– Cables

• Probing lead normally connected to circuit point

where voltage needs to be checked
 Current Exercises—
Measuring Current
• To measure current:
– Select “auto range amps DC.”
– Connect red lead to A socket.
– Connect black lead to COM socket.
– Select appropriate range if using manual.
 Measuring Resistance

• DVOM is used to
measure resistance.
– The measurement
to be expected from
the circuit
 Series Circuit Exercises (1 of 2)

• Examples:
– Demonstrate use of measuring voltage and current
– Describe how current flows
– Describe how voltage drop and current are affected
by resistance
 Series Circuit Exercises (2 of 2)

• Current flow is the same in all parts of a good

series circuit.
• Sum of voltage drops across individual resistors
is equal to supply voltage.
• Resistor additions affect current flow and
voltage drops.
 Series Circuit Exercise 1 (1 of 2)

• Measure voltage from series circuit.

– To measure voltage drop:
• Set DVOM on voltage range.
• Connect black lead to COM.
• Connect red lead to V/Ω.
 Series Circuit Exercise 1 (2 of 2)

• Can measure voltage drop across components,

connectors, and cables
• Current flow for accurate measurements
• Can place leads in either direction
 Series Circuit Exercise 2

• Measure voltage from series circuit.

– To measure voltage drop:
• Select “auto range volts DC.”
• Connect black lead to COM.
• Connect red lead to V/Ω.
• Current must be flowing for measurement.
 Series Circuit Exercise 3

• Measure voltage from series circuit.

– To measure voltage drop:
• Select “auto range volts DC.”
• Connect black lead to COM.
• Connect red lead to V/Ω.
• Allow current flow for voltage drop measurement.
 Series Circuit Exercise 4

• Measure voltage from series circuit.

– Select “auto range volts DC.”
– Connect black lead to COM.
– Connect red lead to V/Ω.
– Allow current flow for voltage drop measurement.
 Series Circuit Exercise 5

• To measure voltage drop:

– Set DVOM on voltage range.
– Select “auto range volts DC.”
– Connect black lead to COM.
– Connect red lead to V/Ω.
– Allow current flow for measurement.
 Series Circuit Exercise 6

• To measure voltage drop:

– Set DVOM to “DC amps.”
– Connect red lead to A socket.
– Connect black lead to COM.
 Parallel Circuit Exercises (1 of 3)

• Exercises explain DVOM use in measuring volts,

amps, and ohms in a parallel circuit.
– Commonly used in electrical systems
– Understanding relationship between voltage,
amperage, and resistance helps diagnose
electrical faults.
 Parallel Circuit Exercises (2 of 3)

• Examples demonstrate:
– How to measure volts, amps, and ohms
– How current flows and voltage drops in a
parallel circuit
 Parallel Circuit Exercises (3 of 3)

• Laws for parallel circuits

– Resistance goes down when more parallel paths
are added.
– Current flow from individual legs add up in parallel.
– Voltage stays the same at all common inputs.
 Parallel Circuit Exercise 1 (1 of 2)

• Measure voltage from parallel circuits.

– Set DVOM to measure voltage.
– Select “auto range volts DC.”
– Connect black lead to COM.
– Connect red lead to V/Ω.
– Allow current flow for voltage drop measurement.
 Parallel Circuit Exercise 1 (2 of 2)

• Three resistors
connected in parallel
across a 12-volt
supply
 Parallel Circuit Exercise 2 (1 of 2)

• To conduct this exercise:

– Set DVOM to “DC amps.”
– Connect red lead to A socket.
– Connect black lead to COM socket.
 Parallel Circuits Exercise 2 (2 of 2)

• Circuit with a single

resistor and a 12-volt
DC supply
– DVOM can be
connected in various
circuit parts to
measure flow.
 Parallel Circuits Exercise 3 (1 of 2)

• To conduct this exercise:

– Set DVOM to “DC amps.”
– Connect red lead to A socket.
– Connect black lead to COM socket.
 Parallel Circuits Exercise 3 (2 of 2)

• Two resistors
in parallel
– Additional resistor in
parallel causes an
increase in circuit
current flow, decrease
in total circuit
resistance.
 Parallel Circuits Exercise 4 (1 of 2)

• To conduct this exercise:

– Set DVOM to “DC amps.”
– Connect red lead to A socket.
– Connect black lead to COM socket.
 Parallel Circuits Exercise 4 (2 of 2)

• Three resistors
in parallel
– The additional resistors
in parallel cause an
increase in total circuit
current flow, decrease
in total circuit
resistance.
 Parallel Circuits Exercise 5 (1 of 2)

• To conduct this exercise:

– Set DVOM to “DC amps.”
– Connect red lead to A socket.
– Connect black lead to COM socket.
 Parallel Circuits Exercise 5 (2 of 2)

• Four resistors in
parallel
– Additional resistors in
parallel cause an
increase in circuit
current flow, even more
decrease in total circuit
resistance.
 Series-Parallel Circuit Exercise (1 of 6)

• Exercises explain DVOM in measuring current

and voltage in series-parallel circuits.
– Found in dash light dimmer and similar circuits
– Used when unwanted resistance shows up in
parallel circuits
 Series-Parallel Circuit Exercise (2 of 6)

• Example demonstrates:
– Measuring voltage and current
– How current flow and voltage drop are affected by
resistance

• To analyze and calculate current flow and

voltage drop, consider total resistance.
 Series-Parallel Circuit Exercise (3 of 6)

• Voltage drop across parallel branch is the same

for all resistances in the branch.
• Sum of current flow in each branch equals total
parallel circuit current flow.
• Exercises examine how resistor additions affect
the circuit current and resistance.
 Series-Parallel Circuit Exercise (4 of 6)

• Voltage and current measurements taken from

circuit formed by resistors:
– R1
– R2
– R3
– R4
 Series-Parallel Circuit Exercise (5 of 6)

• To measure voltage drop:

– Set DVOM on voltage range.
– Select “auto range volts DC.”
– Connect black lead to COM.
– Connect red lead to V/Ω.
– Allow current flow for measurement.
 Series-Parallel Circuit Exercise (6 of 6)

• To measure current:
– Set DVOM to read DC amps.
– Connect red lead to A socket.
– Connect black lead to COM socket.
 Variable Resistors (1 of 2)

• Exercises explain how DVOM measures voltage

and amperage with a variable resistor and a
potentiometer.
• Understand relationship between voltage,
resistance, and current as variable resistor
is adjusted.
 Variable Resistors (2 of 2)

• Example demonstrates:
– Measuring voltage and current
– How current flows
– How voltage drop and current are affected by
potentiometer wiper
 Variable Resistors Exercise (1 of 3)

• Variable resistor used as a potentiometer

– To measure voltage:
• Select “auto range volts DC.”
• Connect red lead to V/Ω.
• Connect black lead to COM.
 Variable Resistors Exercise (2 of 3)

• For current measurements:

– Select “auto range milliamps DC.”
– Connect red lead to A socket.
– Connect black lead to COM socket.
– If manual, select appropriate range.
 Variable Resistors Exercise (3 of 3)

• Example:
– Circuits with a 250-Ω variable resistor as a voltage
divider with a 12-volt DC supply
• Variable resistor continuously variable
• Voltage V1 a divider output from variable
resistor VR1
 Capacitors (1 of 2)

• Exercises:
– Explain DVOM use in current and voltage in circuit
with a capacitor connected in a series with a lamp
– Show how voltage and current change as the
capacitor charges
 Capacitors (2 of 2)

• Examples demonstrate:
– Measuring voltage and current
– How current flow and voltage drop change as a
capacitor charges

• As capacitor charges, voltage drop increases

and current flow decreases.
 Capacitors Exercise (1 of 3)

• Capacitor connected in a series with a lamp

– For voltage measurement:
• Select “auto range volts DC.”
• Connect red lead to V/Ω.
• Connect black lead to COM.
 Capacitors Exercise (2 of 3)

• For current measurements:

– Select “auto range milliamps DC.”
– Connect red lead to A socket.
– Connect black lead to COM socket.
 Capacitors Exercise (3 of 3)

• Capacitor connected
in series with a lamp
with 12-volt DC supply
– DVOM measures
voltage across
capacitor and lamp
when switched on.
 Summary

• The digital volt-ohmmeter (DVOM) or digital

multimeter (DMM) is an electrical measurement
tool used to diagnose and repair electrical faults.
• To properly use a DVOM requires time and effort
to learn the parts and how it works.
• The DVOM can measure volts, ohms, and amps
in a circuit.
 Summary

• An advanced DVOM measures frequency and

temperature, and has a dedicated diode test
capability.
• A DVOM is the first tool used to take electrical
measurements.
 Credits

• Unless otherwise indicated, all photographs and

illustrations are under copyright of Jones &
Bartlett Learning.