In electronics, a tool called a multimeter does something very important. A multimeter, a multitester, is a tool for measuring voltage, current, resistance, and resistance (changes in electric current) in an electronic circuit.
So it makes sense that a technician needs a multimeter to build or fix an electrical circuit. If you don’t have a multimeter, it’s harder to measure things like current, voltage, and electrical resistance.
Let’s look at a multimeter’s functions, types, and how to use it to learn more about it.
Multimeter Function
In electricity or electronics, a multimeter is a well-known measuring tool. This is because the multimeter can do a lot of things, such as:
1. Measuring Electric Voltage
A multimeter’s first job is to measure the voltage in an electronic or electrical circuit. Turning the selector switch in the mains voltage (V) direction to the multimeter’s maximum measuring limit will show the electric voltage or voltage in a circuit. So, it is essential to try to guess what the voltage level of an electrical circuit will be when it is measured later.
2. Measuring Electric Current
Next, a multimeter measures the amount of electricity in a circuit. AC (Alternating Current) and DC (Direct Current) are the two types of electric current that a multimeter can measure (Direct Current). Because the two currents are different, you need to be accurate when you use a multimeter to measure them.
Pay attention not only to the type of electric current but also to the maximum limit range. So that the multimeter doesn’t get broken while it’s being used.
3. Measuring Electrical Resistance
The next thing a multimeter can do is measure the amount of electrical resistance in a circuit. Ohms are the units used to measure electrical resistance or resistance.
Resistance is needed in an electrical circuit to keep the current flow to a minimum, so it doesn’t get too high. How much resistance there is based on how strong the electric current is.
To determine electrical resistance, you start with calibration and determine where zero is on the scale. When using a multimeter, it is also essential to pay attention to the limits of the resistance measurement.
4. Measuring Transistor
A multimeter has another use, measuring transistors or electrical circuits. In this case, a multimeter is used to determine the value of the transistor’s gain factor, which is usually found in both PNP and NPN types.
5. Measuring Signal Frequency Level
The multimeter can also measure the level or frequency of a signal in an electrical circuit or electronic component.
How to Measure Capacity The last thing a multimeter does is tell you how much charge a capacitor in an electronic circuit can hold. Most of the time, only digital multimeters have this feature.
Types of Multimeters
In general, there are two different kinds of multimeters: analog multimeters and digital multimeters. Both have the same purpose; the only difference is that the results of the calculations look different.
1. Multimeter Analog
As the name suggests, an analog multimeter is a type of multimeter in which measurements are made by hand using the scale and needle pointer to show the readings.
This is the first type of multimeter, and many people have used it to check electrical circuits. One of the most important things about this multimeter is that it has an hour-hand display showing various measurements.
It makes sense that measurements with a multimeter must be accurate, especially when figuring out the voltage (voltage). Some measurement results aren’t as precise as they could be, leading to mistakes.
However, analog multimeters are less expensive and easier to fix if they break.
2. Digital Multimeter
A Digital multimeter is also called Digital Volt Ohm Meter (DVOM) or Digital Multi Meter (DMM). Like an analog multimeter, a digital multimeter can determine the electrical circuit’s current, voltage, and resistance. The only difference is that a digital multimeter’s LCD screen shows the measurements in the form of numbers.
A digital multimeter is more valuable and easy to use than an analog multimeter because it works. Even when doing math with this multimeter, the results are pretty close to what you would expect.
Still, digital multimeters can be broken if they make mistakes when figuring out what kind of electricity is being used. A digital multimeter is also very expensive and hard to fix if it breaks.
How to Use Multimeter
As we’ve already said, a multimeter is a tool that can measure voltage (volts), current (amperes), and resistance (ohms) in an electrical circuit. So, a multimeter must change depending on what you want to measure.
How to Measure AC Voltage(AC Voltage)
- Adjust the position of the multimeter selector switch on the ACV.
- Choose a scale that you think is right for the voltage you want to measure. For example, if you want to measure a circuit with a voltage of 220 Volts, you would turn the selector switch to the 300 Volt position. But if you don’t know how much voltage will be measured, choosing the scale with the highest voltage is best. (Doing this will keep the multimeter from breaking.)
- Connect the probe to the terminal of the voltage to be measured. Please note AC voltage does not have a positive (+) or negative (-) pole or polarity.
- Read and record the measurement results listed on the multimeter display.
How to Measure DC Voltage (DC Voltage)
- Set the multimeter selector switch position on DCV.
- Choose a scale that you think is right for the voltage you want to measure. For example, if you want to measure a circuit with a voltage of 9 Volts, you would turn the selector switch to the 12 Volt position. But if you don’t know how much voltage will be measured, choosing a larger scale is best to keep the multimeter from breaking.
- Connect the probe to the voltage-measuring terminal. Please pay attention to whether the DC voltage has a pole or polarity. Connect the red probe to the + terminal and the black probe to the – terminal. During the connection process, ensure the probes aren’t mixed up.
- Read and write down the results of the measurements that are shown on the multimeter’s screen.
How to Measure Electric Current (Ampere)
- Adjust the position of the selector switch on DCA.
- Then choose the scale based on how much current you think you need to measure. If the value of the current to be measured is 100 mA, set the selector switch to 300 mA. (0.3A). But if the measured current is higher than the scale shown on the switch, the multimeter’s fuse will be blown. If so, the fuse must be changed before it can be used again.
- Then disconnect the power supply line or the power supply connected to the load.
- Connect the multimeter probe to the previously disconnected line terminal. Connect the red probe to the positive (+) voltage output and the black probe to the negative (-) voltage input.
- Read and record the calculation results on the multimeter display.
How to Measure Barriers (Ohm)
- Adjust and position the selector switch on Ohms.
- Then select the scale corresponding to the estimated ohms or resistance to be measured. On analog, multimeters can be prefixed with the sign “X,” which means “times”.
- Connect the probes according to the poles. The red probe is for the positive (+) pole, and the black probe is for the negative (-) pole.
- Read and record the measurement results on the multimeter display. Especially for analog multimeters, multiplication is required with the settings in step 2).
This explains what a multimeter is. Care should be taken when using a multimeter, so it doesn’t get broken. We hope that the above information can help.