Core Skills Training

How to use a Digital Multimeter

Course Prerequisites
This course has no prerequisites, but may be used as aprerequisite for other courses. This course assumes the learner has basic knowledge ofelectricity. Due to the number of graphics in this course, you areencouraged to print the study material to view offline. Click on Print Doc at the top of this page to view thePDF. You may save the document to your computerand print it.

Course Introduction
A Digital Multimeter (DMM) is a piece of test equipmentused for measuring voltage, current, continuity, resistanceand other electrical quantities. In this course, you will learn:
Basic safety precautions when using a multimeter, Important terms and symbols used when working withelectricity, Basic multimeter functions, Voltage measurement, Continuity measurement, Resistance measurement.

Safety Precautions
Never ground yourself when taking electrical measurements.
Do not touch exposed metal pipes, outlets, etc. which might be at groundpotential; keep your body isolated from ground with rubber shoes, rubbermats or any approved insulating material. It is recommended you wear gloves, protective eyewear and flame-retardant clothing.

Never use a multimeter to measure voltage beyond its rating.

Always set the function switch correctly to measure AC or DC voltage. Never measure Resistance or Continuity with the power on. Follow all Safety instructions and precautions for your brand of multimeter.

When connecting the probes to a power source, handle theinsulated part. NEVER touch the metal part with your bare hand.

Safety Precautions
Failure to operate a multimeter properly can result indamage to the meter, personal injury or death.

Terms and Symbols

When working with electricity or a multimeter, you shouldbe able to recognize the industrys standard symbols. Some of these symbols are used for safety while othersgive information on electrical measurements. The following three pages list the most common symbolsand their meanings or functions.

Terms and Symbols

V~ (AC Voltage)
This multimeter function measures the Voltage for alternating current(AC). Wall outlets use AC voltage.

(DC Voltage)

This multimeter function measures the Voltage for direct current (DC).Printers and computers use DC Voltage for most of their components.

(Ohms) Resistance
This multimeter function measures how easily current flows through anobject.

(Ohms) Continuity
This multimeter function verifies whether a circuit is open or closed. Anopen circuit cannot conduct electricity a closed circuit can.

A (Amps)
This multimeter function measures current (flow of electricity). Thismeasurement is rarely used in our printers.

V (Voltage/Ohms
This is jack on a multimeter. When measuring Voltage, Continuity andResistance, the Red test probe is always connected to this jack. The V symbols are always present next to this jack, however, othersymbols may appear depending on the meter ex. VmA.

COM (Common)
This is jack on a multimeter. The Black probe is always connected to thisport for taking measurements

Basic Multimeter Functions

On the next page is a picture of a generic multimeter wherethe functions and connections and are labeled.

The less commonly used areas are illustrated in gray these will not be
covered in this course. Do you recognize some of the symbols from the previouspages? Use the BACK button at the top right of your computerscreen to go back in the study material if you want toreview the symbols. All multimeters have the same basic functions, however, some arecapable of performing advanced measurements and will look slightlydifferent. Despite this, there are two basic types of multimeters: Switched Range you have to set the appropriate range for the desiredmeasurement. Auto-ranging the meter automatically adjusts itself to the appropriaterange for the desired measurement. An example of each of these is shown on the next page. The auto-ranging multimeter is the easiest to use. If you have a switched range multimeter, however, follow theseguidelines to set the appropriate range:
The best range is the smallest working range in which a reading isobtained. If you dont know the approximate voltage to read, start with the highestrange first and work your way down to the smallest possible range. When measuring voltage, an OL on the display means the reading isOpen Loop and your range is too low. If you know the voltage range to read, select the appropriate range withthe function switch.

The next page shows examples. Suppose you are are reading DC Voltage in a printer. You are not surewhat the voltage is, so you start with the highest setting first (1000V). Try each range until you get an accurate reading. For our example, the Third Setting results in the most accurate reading.

If you already knew the voltage would read 20V or less, you couldselect 20V on the function switch and take the reading. When you are ready to use the multimeter, connect the Red and Blackprobes (test probes) to the meter.

The Black probe always connects to the COM jack. The Red probe connects to the V jack to read Voltage, Continuityand Resistance. Next, set the function switch to the measurement you want to read(and the correct range if using a switched range meter). The following pages will explain how to take various measurementsusing the multimeter.

Voltage Measurement
How to read AC Voltage:
Plug the Black test probe into the COM jack and plug the Red test probeinto the V jack. Set the function/range switch to V~ (AC Volts) set the correct range! Insert the free ends of the red and black probes in the wall outlet. With ACVoltage, it does not matter which probe is placed in the hot and neutral slot. Power must be ON to take this reading.

Real life Example: US Wall Outlet Voltage

Below we connected our Red and Black probes to the multimeter and setthe function switch to read V~ (AC Voltage). The multimeter is auto-ranging, so we didnt have to set the range. Next, we inserted the probes into the wall outlet (with the power ON) andrecorded the reading.

Applications for AC Voltage measurements: (others not listed mayapply)

Check the voltage at an outlet, Check the voltage through a power cord, Check certain voltages in the Printers Low Voltage Power Supply.

Before reading printer DC Voltage, you must gather the followinginformation from the service manual, training material or otherdocuments:
The voltage measurement you should expect, Any change in the voltage that you should observe (depending onhow/what is being tested), The connector name/number to test on the circuit board, The specific connector PIN number(s) to measure.

Typically, you are measuring DC Voltage across two specific PINs ona cable while it is connected to a circuit board. To find the correct PINs to test, look on the circuit board above andbelow where the connector is located. You should see a 1 or a small triangle () pointing to a specific PIN. This will indicate PIN 1.
Once you know the location of PIN 1, count over to the PIN numbersspecified in the documentation to perform the test.

When measuring DC voltage, it does matter which probe is plugged inthe Positive and Negative. Red always plugged into positive. Black always plugged into negative. If the probes are positioned backwards, the polarity of the reading willbe the opposite of what it should be. With most voltage measurements on our printers, however, you willconnect the Red probe to one PIN with voltage and connect the Blackprobe to Ground. How to read DC Voltage:
Plug the Black test probe into the COM jack and plug the Red test probeinto the V jack. Set the function/range switch to V (DC Volts) set the correct range! Insert the free ends of the Red and Black probes in the correct cable PINsto be measured.

Power must be ON to take this reading.

Real life Example: Lexmark C750 Bin Full Sensor

To check the voltage of the Bin Full Sensor in the printer, we need thefollowing information from the service manual:
The voltage measurement expected: +5V dc Any change in the voltage we should observe (depending on how/what isbeing tested): none mentioned The connector name/number to test on the circuit board: J11 on the EngineBoard The specific connector PIN number(s) to measure: PIN 1 +5V dc and PIN 3ground

Applications for DC Voltage measurements: (others not listed mayapply)

Check the voltage on circuit board connectors, Check the change in voltage from sensors. Below, we connected our Red and Black probes to the multimeter and setthe function switch to read V (DC Voltage). The multimeter is auto-ranging, so we didnt have to set the range. Next, we located PIN 1 (+5V dc) and PIN 3 (ground) on the Engine Board. We inserted the probes into the cable at PIN 1 (+5V dc Red probe) andPIN 3 (ground Black probe) and recorded the measurement with thepower ON

Continuity Measurement
Before checking Continuity, be aware of the following:
For your safety, power must be OFF when checking for Continuity. The multimeter sends a small amount of voltage through the test probesduring the measurement, so be careful what they touch. For the test, the cable can either be removed from the printer or unpluggedat both ends. This will reduce the chance of feedback from the othercircuits. If at all possible, it is recommended to remove the cable. A reading of OL indicates an open circuit. A reading of zero or any numerical value indicates that the circuit isclosed. A closed circuit can conduct electricity. An open circuit cannot.

How to read Continuity:

Plug the Black test probe into the COM jack and the Red test probe intothe V jack. Set the function/range switch to (Ohms). Connect one probe (Red or Black) to one wire and the other probe to theopposite end of the same wire. Check the measurement to see if it reads OL or a numerical value.

Real life Example: Printer Cable check

Below, we connected our Red and Black probes to the multimeter and setthe function switch to read (Ohms). The multimeter is auto-ranging, so we didnt have to set the range. We removed the cable from the printer and inserted one probe into eachend of the cable making sure we had the probes touching the same wire. We repeated this until we checked all of the wires for continuity. Thereading indicates that this wire has a closed circuit.

Applications for Continuity measurements: (others not listed mayapply)

Check printer cables for breaks in the wires, Check for continuity between printer options, Check fuses.

Resistance Measurement

Before checking Resistance, be aware of the following:

For your safety, power must be OFF when checking for Resistance. The multimeter sends a small amount of voltage through the test probesduring the measurement, so be careful what they touch. A reading of OL indicates infinite resistance. A reading of zero or any numerical value indicates the resistance value inOhms.

How to read Resistance:

Plug the Black test probe into the COM jack and the Red test probe intothe V jack. Set the function/range switch to (Ohms). Touch the probes to different sections of the object to be tested. If a numerical reading displays, this is the resistance in Ohms. If the LCD displays "OL", the resistance is beyond the selected range. Trya larger range (if using a switched range meter). If you continue to get anOL reading, the resistance is infinite and current cannot flow.

Real life Example: C750 BOR Motor Cable short

Below, we connected our Red and Black probes to the multimeter and setthe function switch to read (Ohms). The multimeter is auto-ranging, so we didnt have to set the range. We powered the printer OFF and unplugged the BOR cable from theEngine Board and inserted one probe into the cable opening and the otherto the printer chassis. The reading should be about 100kOhms on each wire.

Applications for Resistance measurements: (others not listed mayapply)

Check for high/low resistance in cables, Check for high/low resistance on surfaces.

This concludes the module on How to use a Digital Multimeter You may review the study material again or continue to thetest questions in the next phase of this course.