Multimeter Measurements on Different Circuit Components

Anthony Paul N. Fox1 and Jenny Lou B. Sagisi2*

National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines, Diliman Quezon City
2
Jenny Lou Sagisi: jlsagisi@nip.upd.edu.ph

Abstract
The theory and application of the multimeter in different electrical circuits
shows its importance in electronics in checking for anomalies and defects of
several circuit components. It is also shown to be useful in efficiently creating a
desired output of a circuit by choosing a specific component for a circuit. The
results of the experiment show that the multimeter can measure different
parameters in a circuit.

1. Introduction
A basic electrical circuit consists of a source of electric potential difference or voltage, a conductive path
that allows movement of electric charges or a current of charges, and an electrical resistance or resistor. The unit
representations of the said components are V for voltage, A for current and for resistance.
The multimeter is a device commonly used to measure the resistance, current, and voltage of an electrical
circuit. The voltmeter measures the potential difference between two points. In order to properly measure the voltage
of a circuit, the multimeter is switched to the voltmeter function and its probes should be in parallel with the load
or resistance of the circuit as seen in Figure 1. Because currents tend to flow to components with lower resistance,
voltmeters should have a large resistance to assure that only a minimal current or no current at all can pass through
it, hence it wont affect the current distribution in the circuit.

Figure 1. Placement of a voltmeter in an electrical circuit

The ammeter function of the multimeter is used to measure the current of a point of interest in a circuit. In
order to do this, the ammeter should be in series with the load as seen in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Placement of multimeter in an electrical circuit

The ammeter has very low resistance values so the current will pass through the ammeter easily and thus
measures the current. In the case for parallel resistors in a circuit, the theoretical calculation of the current passing
through a parallel connection of resistors differs from a series connection of resistors because of the Effective
Resistance (

Reff ) value derived from Ohms Law given by:

i

Reff

Rn
n

(1)

For a series connection and,

i

-1
eff

(R n)

(2)

for a parallel connection.

The value of the current in a junction that is only applicable for a parallel resistor connection is given by:
i

Inet

I n
n

(3)
where n is the number of resistors present in the connection.
The ohmmeter function of the multimeter measures the resistance of a resistor. An ohmmeter has an
internal battery that would supply a current when connected to a resistor. Because of this, the ohmmeter will
measure how hard it is for the current to pass through.
The multimeter device can be used to locate defects or check anomalies in an electrical circuit. It can also
be used creating a desired output of a circuit by choosing a specific component for a circuit. In this experiment,
several circuit components and equipments were assessed using the multimeter.

2. Methodology

A multimeter has several functions. This includes measuring the resistance, voltage, or current that flows
through circuit component/s. Several circuit components were tested for some defects by comparing the
theoretical/calculated values to the measured value by the multimeter.
I. Measuring resistance
In this part of the experiment, the multimeter functions as an ohmmeter which measures resistance of a
circuit component. Three different components were tested for resistance namely a resistor, a capacitor and a wire.
A resistor with color code of violet-green-orange-gold (which corresponds to a resistance value of R = 75 x
103 ) were connected in series with the multimeter, now functions as an ohmmeter. Three trials were made and the
measured values were recorded. The measured values were then compared to the designed resistance value.
A capacitor with a capacitance value of C = 1F was discharged by connecting both terminals with a
resistor. The resistance was then measured with a multimeter and observations were made.
The resistance of the wire was also measured. There were a total of five trials and the values were recorded.
The wire was then broken into two and the resistance was also measured.
The multimeter can also test for continuity across electronic circuits and thus identify which components
have open connections and are thus no longer usable. A BNC cable plug was tested for continuity. The ground line
was connected to the ground and the signal line was connected to the ____ part of the probe.
II. Measuring voltage
In this part of the experiment, the multimeter functions as a voltmeter which measures voltage across two
points in a circuit. The voltage given by a power supply was tested. This was done by connecting a resistor to the
power supply. The multimeter was then connected in parallel with the resistor. This is to ensure that the voltage
reading in the resistor is the same as the output voltage of the source. The voltage across the resistor was then
measured and compared to the voltage output of the power supply. A total of three trials were made.
The voltage output of a function generator was also tested by the same procedure with the generator set at
100 Hz frequency and at maximum amplitude (A=1). Two different resistors with color bands violet-green-red-gold
(R=7200 ohm) and orange-orange-red-gold (R=3300 ohm) were used as a load with three trials each. Voltage output
for the sine wave, triangle wave, and square wave were measured.
III. Measuring current
In this part of the experiment, the multimeter functions as an ammeter which measures the current flowing through a
circuit component.
Three resistors with color codes 2 brown-gray-brown-gold and green-blue-black-gold, were connected in
parallel to each other. A power supply set to 5V was connected to the constructed circuit. The current across each
resistor and across the whole current was measured by connecting the multimeter in series with the component in
question. This is because current in a series connection is the same all throughout, making the reading the same as
the component. This was compared with the designed resistance and calculated resistance values respectively.

3. Results and Discussion

Comparison between the measured values and the designed values are summarized in the following tables below.
The resistor that was tested in the experiment has Gold as the last color band. This band indicates the
tolerance resistance value of a resistor. The tolerance value suggests the range of all acceptable resistance value of a
resistor.
Table 1. Comparison between the designed resistance value of resistors and the measured value
Trial

Designed value ()

Measured value ()

Relative deviation

75x103 5%

75.3x103

0.4 %

75x103 5%

75.3x103

0.4 %

75x103 5%

75.3x103

0.4 %

It can be seen from Table 1 that the deviation of the measured value from the designed resistance value is less than
the tolerance value of the resistor, which in this case is 5%. The resistor is thus known to be properly working if it
falls under the range of 78 750 - 71 250 .
The measured resistance value by the multimeter as shown in Table 1, falls within the acceptable resistance
value of the resistor. Assuming that the resistor is properly working, the multimeter is shown to function normally as
an ohmmeter.
The resistance value of the capacitor was then tested and was observed to increase after discharging it with
a resistor. This was expected because the multimeter itself sends a current through the capacitor in order to measure
its resistance, and while doing so, the capacitor charges up according to
Q = CV
I dt = CV
I=C

dV
dt

(4)
From equation (4), it can be seen that the current is not simply proportional to the voltage (as in Ohms law)
but rather to the rate of change of voltage (the art of electronics). If that were the case, then we cannot expect the
resistance of the capacitor to be constant at any time, t. Thus the capacitor that was tested is concluded to be working
properly.
Table 2. Measured resistance of a wire
Trial

Measured value ()

0.200

0.300

0.300

0.300

0.300

The resistance of a wire is expected to be very small compared to the component of interest in a circuit.
This is because the wires are just bridges which connects a circuit component to another component, it must not
affect the flow of charges/electrons in the electrical circuit. But as seen in Table 2, the measured resistance of the
wire is relatively high so the wire that was measured is not ideal for electrical circuits. The wires internal structure
can be accounted for the deviation.
The wire was then broken and the multimeter (ohmmeter) reading increases. This means a higher resistance
value is measured for broken wires. Because higher resistance means a lower current, it is expected for the broken
wires to register a higher resistance value because the current cannot pass through the wires now being broken.
As a voltmeter, the multimeter was tested for its ability to measure voltages using a functional power supply.
Table 3. Comparison between the designed voltage output of power supply and the
measured value

Trial

Designed value (V)

Measured value (V)

Relative deviation

5.005

0.1 %

5.005

0.1 %

5.005

0.1 %

From Table 2, it can be seen that the error of the measured voltage from the output voltage of the power supply is
relatively low which has a value of 0.1%. Therefore the multimeter is shown to function normally as a voltmeter.

Table 3. Comparison between the measured RMS voltage and the expected value for
sine wave, triangle wave and square wave.
Trial

Sine Wave (mV)

Triangle Wave (mV)

Square Wave (mV)

R1

R2

Expected

R1

R2

Expected

R1

R2

Expec
ted

0.066

0.05
6

0.707

0.05
7

0.049

0.577

0.10
1

0.08
7

1.00

0.065

0.05
7

0.707

0.05
7

0.049

0.577

0.10
1

0.08
7

1.00

0.065

0.05
7

0.707

0.05
7

0.049

0.577

0.10
1

0.08
7

1.00

A function generator was then tested for its voltage output. Three functions were tested and the expected
root-mean-square (RMS) voltage is listed in Table x along with the measured RMS voltage (expected values were
taken from [1]). It can be noticed that a relatively high deviation arise from the experiment (~90% in all trials) and
this can be accounted by concluding that the function generator is not working properly.

Table 4. Comparison between the calculated current value of resistors and the measured value
Trial

Calculated value (A)

Measured value (A)

Relative deviation

R1 (56 )

0.089

0.088

1.12%

R2 (180 )

0.028

0.027

3.57%

R3 (180 )

0.028

0.027

3.57%

whole circuit

0.145

0.144

0.69%

It can be seen from Table 4 that the relative deviation achieved in the experiment is less than 5%. Also, as
the table suggests, the relative deviation decreases as the resistance value of the resistors are increased, and a
relatively low deviation was achieved in measuring the current for the whole circuit (being connected in parallel to
each other, the effective current is larger compared to the individual resistors). Thus, the accuracy of the ammeter
reading is higher at higher currents.

The deviation in the experiment is mainly due to the multimeter being not an ideal component. An ideal
voltmeter has to have an infinite resistance and an ideal resistance has to have a zero resistance. This is not achieved
by the multimeter and so deviations may arise. Another thing is the circuit components itself are not ideal.

4. Conclusion
The experiment successfully demonstrates the different functions of the multimeter and how it can be used
to measure the resistance, voltage, or current of any circuit component. Also, the multimeter is shown to
successfully track any defective component or faults in the circuit by testing the continuity of the circuit or simply
measuring any of the above mentioned parameter.

References:
[1] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_mean_square
[2] Horowitz, P., & Hill, W. (1990). The art of electronics - 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press.