About This Project

In this tutorial, we will be learning about how to use a multimeter and various test methods.

Project Info

  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Estimated Time: 2 Hrs
  • Category: Breadboard
  • Tags: Multimeter, Battery, Resistors, LED.

Watch the video here.

Introduction

In this project, we will learn about multimeters and how to use a multimeter for measuring Voltage, Current, and Resistance. The multimeter is a measuring device that can measure the electrical quantity and the value of electrical components. It is the combination of Voltmeter and Ammeter. Apart from these, two major quantities, resistance, capacitance, transistors, and continuity can also be tested and measured using a multimeter.

How To Use A Multimeter?

Two leads when connected to different parts of an electrical system helps in detecting levels of voltage and resistance or changes in electrical currents. The advanced digital multimeters in the market are capable of measuring extremely tiny differences or fluctuations. Multimeters are used for many practical applications in IT like hardware troubleshooting and much more.

How Multimeter can help measure the values of electrical components?

A multimeter has two wires viz. black which is the negative side and red wire is the positive side. These wires are inserted in the terminals on the millimeter. The knob is used to indicate the values (voltage calculation and resistance values, current flowing in the circuit). We need to rotate the knob to check the values like the continuity of wires, voltage of the battery, voltage in the circuit, value of resistors. The pictorial representation and sign indication is given below:

Project: How to use a multimeter to measure voltage, current and resistance

use-a-multimeter

Components Required

IMAGE COMPONENT QUANTITY

Breadboard

Breadboard

1

LED’s

1

Multimeter

Multimeter

1

battery

Battery

1

Resistor

Resistor

1

Building Guide

  • First of all, collect all the required components to start the measurement.

Continuity Test Using Multimeter:

  • Step 1: Set the knob of the multimeter on the continuity section to see if the continuity is working, continuity sign is shown below:

continuity-test-using-multimeter

  • Step 2: Connect both the ends of the lead and see if it is beeping. If the multimeter is not beeping, connect the leads properly and try again. However, even if the leads are connected properly and beeping sound can not be heard then there must be a fault in the multimeter.

connect-both-the-ends-of-the-lead-to-multimeter

How To Use A Multimeter To Measure Voltage

  • To measure the voltage of any battery or cell, set the knob of the multimeter on the DC Voltage section. Follow the procedure, the symbol is shown below:

voltage-measurement-using-multimeter

Here, we can see various voltage levels on the Multimeter. Therefore, set the knob according to the requirements of the battery voltage levels. For example, if we want to measure a battery of 4V, then we have to set the knob on the multimeter to 20V. However, if we set the knob to 2000mV or 200mV to measure 4V or setting the knob to 20V to measure 40V or setting the knob 200V to measure 240V battery then the multimeter will display either 1 or 0, this is due to the greater voltage being applied on the multimeter. Therefore, we should set the knob according to the battery voltage level.

Note: How To Use A Multimeter For Voltage measurement is in parallel connection.

  • The same processes apply for the AC voltages as well. AC voltage symbol is shown below:

ac-voltage-symbol

How To Use A Multimeter To Measure Resistance

  • To measure the resistance of a resistor, connect the two terminals of a resistor. Picture is shown below:

  • Set the knob on the multimeter to measure the resistance. Symbol is shown below:

knob-on-the-multimeter-to-measure-the-resistance

When we measure a resistance, the value will display on the multimeter. For example, if we see 1 or 0 constantly on the display, this means that the resistance being applied on the multimeter is greater than the value set on the multimeter. Therefore, change the knob of the multimeter to a different resistance level, then we can see the accurate value of the resistance.

measure-a-resistance-with-multimeter

How To Use A Multimeter To Measure Current

To measure the current of any DC battery, connect the multimeter in a series connection between the load(LED, etc.) and the battery being applied on the multimeter. If we connect in a parallel connection we can only see the voltage and not the current.

Voltage Across LED:

  • To measure a LED voltage, connect to a power supply. Then, set the knob of the multimeter to an appropriate DC voltage level on the multimeter.
  • Connect both the leads of the multimeter to the positive and negative terminals of the LED. Now, we can see the voltage across the LED. Picture is shown below:

connect-positive-and-negative-terminals-of-the-led-with-breadboard

But, we can see that the voltage displayed on the multimeter is in negative sign, this is due to the opposite polarity. Therefore, if we change the polarity, the sign will also be changed.

In this tutorial, we learn how to use a multimeter to measure voltage, current, and resistance in simple steps.