Electric Circuits I

Module One: Multimeters

Materials: Analog and Digital multimeter, Decade resistance box or individual

resistors, regulated power supply

In almost every area of electricity and electronics multimeters are used to

measure electrical quantities as current, voltage or resistance. Two common types,
differing in their display, are ANALOG (moving pointer and numerical scale) and
DIGITAL (direct display of numbers).

There are many different models of digital and analog multimeters on the market
today, but the models shown above are typical. Both meters have a multi-position
rotary switch to select function and range. Function specifies the type of
measurement you wish to make, e.g., direct current milliamperes (DCmA), AC voltage
(ACV) or resistance (). Range indicates the maximum numerical value of the quantity
to be measured; e.g., DCV 250 says that the largest voltage for this range is 250
volts. If the voltage you wish to measure is somewhere near 300 volts, move to the
higher DCV 1000 range.
The digital display shows directly the algebraic sign, numerical value, including the
decimal point, and the units of measurement; 3.999 milliAmperes, direct current, for the
display shown. Interpreting the analog display takes a bit of practice. Along the scale
there are sets of three numbers, e.g., 6, 30 and 150 at the same scale position, So
which do we read? Notice there are seven DCV range values: for the 0.1, 10, and 1000
1: Multimeter

range use the top set of numbers; for the 0.5 and 50 range, use the middle set; for the
2.5 and 250 range use the bottom set. However, it is still up to you to determine the
position of the decimal point. For example, if the needle points to the 8 / 40/ 200
mark what is the proper value? If the range switch is set to 2.5, use the bottom set of
numerals and place the decimal point to give the answer of 2.0 . Recall that the correct
reading is never greater than the range value, so 20.0 or 200.0 are not correct, since
these are greater that the range value of 2.5. For the same pointer position, if the
range switch were set at 0.1, we use the top numeral, 8, and place the decimal point to
give an answer of 0.08, less than the range value of 0.1 .

Differences:
While both the analog and digital meters have a similar rotating Function /
Range switch, there are also a number of differences between the two meters.

A: Input Polarity
The two input terminals of the analog meter, labeled + and
-COM have their polarity clearly marked. If you interchange the input, the needle
moves backwards, with possible damage to the meter. For the digital, there are no +
or markings shown; if the V input is less that the COM, a minus sign, -, appears
in the display area.

B: Current Input

For the analog, current, voltage and resistance are all

measured using the same pair of input terminals, + and -COM. For the digital,
voltage and resistance measurements use the V and COM terminals. For currents
less than 400 milliamperes use the mAA and COM terminals (if you enter more
than 400 milliamperes here, youll blow the fuse inside and will have to pay big money!)
The 10A and COM pair are used for currents up to 10 amperes.

C: Overloads

If you accidentally place too large an input for a given range, the
analog needle moves off the right end of the scale with possible damage. The digital
displays the letters OL, for overload.

D: AC-DC functions

For the analog, to change the function from alternating

voltage to direct, you must rotate the Function / Range switch to a new area; for the
digital you move the slide switch between the AC and DC positions.

E: Different functions

Unlike the digital, the analog has no AC current

function. The digital has additional functions for measuring capacitance, inductance
and frequency.
Note #1: The terminal on the analog marked OUTPUT is really an input terminal, used
for measuring alternating voltages in terms of decibels (on the small red scale marked
dB) .
Note #2: To save battery power the digital meter automatically shuts off after a certain
number of minutes of non-usage. To restore, rotate the Function / Range dial to any
new position, or slide the POWER switch off and then back to ON.

Procedure:

1: Multimeter

1: Voltage measurement:
Set the analog meter to DCV 10 and the digital to DC and V 40 and connect
both meters to an adjustable power supply. The box at left shows a picture display and
a schematic diagram of the connection. Notice that all + terminals are connected
together (parallel connection). Vary the voltage source, in one-volt steps, so that the
analog meter reads exactly 1.0 , 2.0, 3.0,,10.0 , and for each value record the digital
reading. Display your results in a neat table.
2: Current measurement:
Set the analog meter to DCmA 25 and the digital to DC and A 40m . Connect
as shown in the diagram. Notice that the same current flows through each circuit
element (series connection), and the + terminal of the power supply is connected to the
+ terminal of the meter. Vary the power source so that the analog meter reads exactly
1.0, 2.0, 3.0,, 10.0 milliamperes, and record the corresponding reading of the digital
meter.
3: Resistance Measurement:
Before each resistance measurement with the analog meter, connect the input
terminals together and adjust the Zero Ohms knob, so that the needle points to 0 on
the top -scale.
The decade resistance box has six dials, marked 100K, 10K, 1K, 100, 10, and 1.
These values are multipliers, so that the contribution of each dial to the total resistance
is the dial reading times the multiplier. The accuracy of each dial is approximately 1%.
Set the dials to read, in succession, values of 862000, 33500, 2670, 334, 72, and 8 .
For each setting, measure the resistance first with the analog, then with the digital
meter and record measurements in a neat table; select the range value which gives the
most precision. Do not connect both meters at the same time to the decade resistance
box.

NOTE: If a decade resistance box is not available, use a set of six resistors, one each
with resistance somewhere within the ranges of the individual decade dials.

Data Sheet: Electric Circuits I

Experiment # 1

Multimeters
Name:__________________________ Date:______
Voltage measurements:
Analog

1.00
1: Multimeter

Digital

Analog

Digital

6.00
3

2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00

7.00
8.00
9.00
10.00

Current Measurements:
Analog

Digital

Analog

1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00

Digital

6.00
7.00
8.00
9.00
10.00

Resistance measurement:
Pre-set

Analog

Digital

862000
33500
2670
334
72
8

1: Multimeter