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How To Use A Multimeter

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  1. How To Use A Multimeter, Testing Continuity: шаг 1, изображение 1 из 1
    • A continuity test tells us whether two things are electrically connected: if something is continuous, an electric current can flow freely from one end to the other.

    • If there's no continuity, it means there is a break somewhere in the circuit. This could indicate anything from a blown fuse or bad solder joint to an incorrectly wired circuit.

    • Continuity is one of the most useful tests for electronics repair.

  2. How To Use A Multimeter: шаг 2, изображение 1 из 3 How To Use A Multimeter: шаг 2, изображение 2 из 3 How To Use A Multimeter: шаг 2, изображение 3 из 3
    • To begin, make sure no current is running through the circuit or component you want to test. Switch it off, unplug it from the wall, and remove any batteries.

    • Plug the black probe into the COM port on your multimeter.

    • Plug the red probe into the port labeled with a V symbol (in this case, the right port).

    Why do we need to make sure that no current is running through the circuit?

    When there is another parallel branch with 24VDC power and 4-20mA output, the value of the resistance measured comes as zero. Whats the reason?

    Fraz - Ответить

    The way that a meter measures resistance is by sending a small current across the probes and then measuring the resulting voltage. So, another current will disturb your digital multimeter's (DMM) reading.

    nicO -

  3. How To Use A Multimeter: шаг 3, изображение 1 из 1
    • Switch on your multimeter, and set the dial to continuity mode (indicated by an icon that looks like a sound wave).

    • Not all multimeters have a dedicated continuity mode. If yours doesn’t, that’s okay! Skip to step 6 for an alternate way to perform a continuity test.

    I want to search the resistance of gold and see if I have some

    Joel Stegner - Ответить

    What does a sound wave look like?

    Greg Janssen - Ответить

    Gold is highly conductive near zero resistance which is why they use it in conducters. Use "specific gravity" type tests or "mass spectromatry" type tests for elements.

    Sound looks like sine waves with various amplitudes and cycles per unit of time.

    MidnightWolf - Ответить

  4. How To Use A Multimeter: шаг 4, изображение 1 из 2 How To Use A Multimeter: шаг 4, изображение 2 из 2
    • The multimeter tests continuity by sending a little current through one probe, and checking whether the other probe receives it.

    • If the probes are connected—either by a continuous circuit, or by touching each other directly—the test current flows through. The screen displays a value of zero (or near zero), and the multimeter beeps. Continuity!

    • If the test current isn't detected, it means there's no continuity. The screen will display 1 or OL (open loop).

  5. How To Use A Multimeter: шаг 5, изображение 1 из 2 How To Use A Multimeter: шаг 5, изображение 2 из 2
    • To complete your continuity test, place one probe at each end of the circuit or component you want to test.

    • As before, if your circuit is continuous, the screen displays a value of zero (or near zero), and the multimeter beeps.

    • If the screen displays 1 or OL (open loop), there's no continuity—that is, there's no path for electric current to flow from one probe to the other.

    • Continuity is non-directional, meaning it doesn't matter which probe goes where. But there are exceptions—for instance, if there's a diode in your circuit. A diode is like a one-way valve for electricity, meaning it will show continuity in one direction, but not in the other.

    • To check for this, reverse what the probes are touching and check for continuity. If the multimeter shows continuity, then it's possibly a diode.

  6. How To Use A Multimeter, Test for continuity (alternate method): шаг 6, изображение 1 из 2 How To Use A Multimeter, Test for continuity (alternate method): шаг 6, изображение 2 из 2
    • If your multimeter doesn't have a dedicated continuity test mode, you can still perform a continuity test.

    • Turn the dial to the resistance mode.

    • If your multimeter has manual ranging, set the resistance to the lowest setting.

    • Resistance is measured in ohms, indicated by the symbol Ω.

  7. How To Use A Multimeter: шаг 7, изображение 1 из 2 How To Use A Multimeter: шаг 7, изображение 2 из 2
    • In this mode, the multimeter sends a little current through one probe, and measures what (if anything) is received by the other probe.

    • If the probes are connected—either by a continuous circuit, or by touching each other directly—the test current flows through. The screen displays a value of zero (or near zero—in this case, 0.8). Very low resistance is another way of saying that we have continuity.

    • If no current is detected, it means there's no continuity. The screen will display 1 or OL (open loop).

    You mentioned that if your meter screen displays 1 or OL

    But what happen if it shows other numbers

    Like 5.5 or somewhat?

    ddplc - Ответить

    It means you have current flowing which would indicate a good path or circuit. Also means you have a power supply connected which I think was mentioned earlier in the article to disconnect all power supplied, as in a.c., d.c. Especially in a vehicle as running tests on computer module circuits with the vehicle battery connected can damage a computer module circuit..

    Henry DeVito - Ответить

    I'm very pleased to have discovered these directions. Interestingly, I tried the two probes on different sections of a screwdriver – resistance showed very high. Is that possibly because of chrome coating on the screwdriver?

    James O'Neil - Ответить

    May not be a chrome coating at all even if it looks like it. The screw drivers "resistence" is the result of what alloys are used in the shank of the screw driver ... ie ... tin, zinc, carbon, etc.

    MidnightWolf - Ответить

  8. How To Use A Multimeter: шаг 8, изображение 1 из 2 How To Use A Multimeter: шаг 8, изображение 2 из 2
    • To complete your continuity test, place one probe at each end of the circuit or component you want to test.

    • It doesn't matter which probe goes where; continuity is non-directional.

    • As before, if your circuit is continuous, the screen displays a value of zero (or near zero).

    • If the screen displays 1 or OL (open loop), there's no continuity—that is, there's no path for electric current to flow from one probe to the other.

    What does it mean when I first get 1 then the meter jumps to all kinds of numbers and there is no beeping?

    Choymae Huie - Ответить

    Most likely you have bad contact with whatever you are measuring.

    MidnightWolf - Ответить

  9. How To Use A Multimeter, Measuring voltage: шаг 9, изображение 1 из 3 How To Use A Multimeter, Measuring voltage: шаг 9, изображение 2 из 3 How To Use A Multimeter, Measuring voltage: шаг 9, изображение 3 из 3
    • The next four steps will show you how to measure voltage.

    • Plug the black probe into the COM port on your multimeter.

    • Plug the red probe into the port labeled with a V symbol (in this case, the right port).

  10. How To Use A Multimeter: шаг 10, изображение 1 из 2 How To Use A Multimeter: шаг 10, изображение 2 из 2
    • Switch on your multimeter, and set the dial to DC voltage mode (indicated by a V with a straight line, or the symbol ⎓).

    • Virtually all consumer electronic devices run on DC voltage. AC voltage—the kind that runs through the lines to your house—is considerably more dangerous, and beyond the scope of this guide.

    • Your multimeter may be auto-ranging or manual ranging. An auto-ranging multimeter (such as the iFixit multimeter) will automatically determine the best measuring range. All you have to do is set what kind of measurement you want to take.

    • If your multimeter is manual ranging, you'll also need to set the correct range for the voltage you expect to measure.

    • Each setting on the dial lists the maximum voltage it can measure. So for example, if you expect to measure more than 2 volts but less than 20, use the 20 volt setting.

    • If you're not sure, start with the highest setting.

  11. How To Use A Multimeter, Auto-ranging voltage measurement: шаг 11, изображение 1 из 2 How To Use A Multimeter, Auto-ranging voltage measurement: шаг 11, изображение 2 из 2
    • If your multimeter is manual ranging, skip to the next step.

    • Place the red probe on the positive terminal, and the black probe on the negative terminal. The multimeter will display the measured voltage.

    • Reversing the probes won't do any harm; it just gives a negative reading.

    • Skip the next step, which describes how to measure voltage using manual ranging multimeters.

  12. How To Use A Multimeter, Manual ranging voltage measurement: шаг 12, изображение 1 из 3 How To Use A Multimeter, Manual ranging voltage measurement: шаг 12, изображение 2 из 3 How To Use A Multimeter, Manual ranging voltage measurement: шаг 12, изображение 3 из 3
    • Follow this step to measure voltage with a manual ranging multimeter.

    • Place the red probe on the positive terminal, and the black probe on the negative terminal.

    • If your range was set too high, you may not get a very precise reading. Here the multimeter reads 9 volts. That's fine, but we can turn the dial to a lower range to get a more precise.

    • If you set the range too low, the multimeter simply reads 1 or OL, indicating that it is overloaded or out of range. This won't hurt the multimeter, but we need to set the dial to a higher range.

    • With the range set correctly, we get a reading of 9.42 volts.

    • Reversing the probes won't do any harm; it just gives us a negative reading.

  13. How To Use A Multimeter, Measuring resistance: шаг 13, изображение 1 из 3 How To Use A Multimeter, Measuring resistance: шаг 13, изображение 2 из 3 How To Use A Multimeter, Measuring resistance: шаг 13, изображение 3 из 3
    • The next three steps will show you how to measure resistance with your multimeter.

    • To begin, make sure no current is running through the circuit or component you want to measure. Switch it off, unplug it from the wall, and remove any batteries.

    • Remember that you'll be measuring the resistance of the entire circuit. If you want to measure an individual component such as a resistor, measure it by itself—not with it soldered in place!

    • Plug the black probe into the COM port on your multimeter.

    • Plug the red probe into the port labeled with an Ω symbol (in this case, the right port).

    Be careful when testing ohms on the circuit board, the best test is to remove the part so you are only testing the part not the circuit around the part. Transistors, resistors, caps need to be removed or at best one leg of the part. One time I had a burn open resistor, then I tested the resistor with my Ohms test I got some resistor reading. This was caused by back feed in the circuit.

    John E Reese - Ответить

  14. How To Use A Multimeter: шаг 14, изображение 1 из 2 How To Use A Multimeter: шаг 14, изображение 2 из 2
    • Switch on your multimeter, and set the dial to resistance mode.

    • Resistance is measured in ohms, indicated by the Ω symbol.

    • The iFixit multimeter is auto-ranging, meaning it will automatically determine the best measuring range.

    • If your multimeter is manual ranging, you will need to set the correct range for the resistance you expect to measure. If you're not sure, start with the highest setting.

  15. How To Use A Multimeter: шаг 15, изображение 1 из 2 How To Use A Multimeter: шаг 15, изображение 2 из 2
    • Place one probe at each end of the circuit or component you want to measure.

    • It doesn't matter which probe goes where; resistance is non-directional.

    • If your multimeter is manual ranging:

    • If your multimeter reads close to zero, the range is set too high for a good measurement. Turn the dial to a lower resistance range.

    • If you set the range too low, the multimeter simply reads 1 or OL, indicating that it is overloaded or out of range. This won't hurt the multimeter, but we need to set the dial to a higher range.

    • The other possibility is that the circuit or component you are measuring doesn't have continuity—that is, it has infinite resistance. A non continuous circuit will always read 1 or OL on a resistance test.

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Jeff Suovanen

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132 Комментариев

Thank you! Never find instructions so easy to follow.

kuruvar - Ответить

Iwant to know hw to test caperstas

kapambwe sikazwe -

Great stuff!! Thank you.

warwick - Ответить

Super guide, many thanks for posting!

Alan - Ответить

Thank you. Very easy and good training

Badar Omar - Ответить

Very helpful for beginners, thanks for these clear instructions!

AndyBlaser - Ответить

thank you !!! for this info!!!

Sufian Hamouda - Ответить

i did not know i can do this.

jeez - Ответить

Thanks a lot this is very clear and helpful!

dillinger0893 - Ответить

Thanks Jeff. I just purchased a cheap mm. All instructions were in Chinese. Your help made sense of it all, so easy.

David Bennet - Ответить

Iwant to knw hw to test power suply

kapambwe sikazwe - Ответить

great, thank you for good description.

hzaim2001 - Ответить

It takes an intelligent person to write simple instructions. BRAVO !

dave - Ответить

so nice Bro...Thanks a lot...

akramul haque apollo - Ответить

Love the resources on the Pro site.

Shane Blanchett - Ответить

Nice guide.pl add some additional examples to have better understanding for beginners.Thank you

sugashankar - Ответить

Nice guide. Pl add some additional practical examples. Thank you.

sugashankar - Ответить

I'm doing exactly this and mine won't read any voltages, but it will read resistance. I've tested it with multiple batteries that I know work, but I only get a read of 0. What might be the problem?

Juan Partida - Ответить

Very good lesson, helped a lot. Thankyou

mark cole - Ответить

This is the best and easiest lesson on using multimeter. Thanks a lot!

Seong Lee - Ответить

Thank you, Haven't used one of these is ages; this was a great refresher!

GON Compactor - Ответить

thanks for a very easy tutorial, it is very helpful!

bonjie montaflor - Ответить

The basics. Soooo important. Well done, short and concise.

chris teter - Ответить

Nice and straightforward guide - thanks buddy.

Mel Gavin - Ответить

Had multimeter for a couple years, never knew how to make it beep!

Mike Weatherl - Ответить

Thank you for these great instructions. The instructions that came with the multimeter were not helpful for a beginner, and these really helped us diagnose our problem.

Roger Lemaster - Ответить

Thank you for the great instructions. My question and the reason for my looking online for info on using a multimeter was to find out what the various resistance readings mean on a digital tester. I am checking out a defrosting element in my refrigerator and got a reading of 12 or 15 ohms. The information I was reading said a 15-100 ohms meant the element was OK, another book said if medium resistance was found it was OK.

By going online I was looking for the answer as to what is low, medium and/or high resistance ranges are.

I did enjoy your instructions, they were easy to understand.

JM - Ответить

I have used a meter for a long time. Never had instructions so clear and easy to follow. Thank you very much.

The pictures are also very clear and helpful.

Rick Lewis - Ответить

Beautifully put. I truly appreciate the lesson. I've learned something of impirtance. Thank you.

rickeybenn - Ответить

it really useful for begginer

erwin torres - Ответить

Thanks you for the lesson :)

Mark Diamond - Ответить

Hi,

das ist wirklich sehr anschaulich aufgebaut und benutzerfreundlich, vielen Dank dafür!

Wer jetzt noch genau wissen möchte wie Multimeter funktionieren und worauf Sie beim Kauf achten sollte der kann gerne noch auf https://multimeter-tester.de schauen und weiter lesen.

Ich wünsche euch noch einen schönen Abend und einen bestmöglichen Start ins neue Jahr.

LG

multimeter_tester - Ответить

Thanks you for the lesson :)

mrmannan05 - Ответить

A great introduction for a beginner like me.

Joe - Ответить

Hello . and thank you good read.

conrad - Ответить

Easy to understand...thank you

chip - Ответить

Thanks and had help me a lot

sinoncesar - Ответить

Had help me a lot. Many Thanks

sinoncesar - Ответить

Thanks, I think I've got it.

rama jama - Ответить

Simple and precise. A life saver as I couldn't find the "manual" - one page sheet. Greatful!

rudy2828 - Ответить

Wow I love this I can now read a resistor thanks keep on the good work

Adeyefa - Ответить

Great stuff this was helpful.

joel7269 - Ответить

Thanks , sometimes need too refresh with the basics.

Kurt Webster - Ответить

It is very nice demostration

Lokesha - Ответить

Sir can i get a book about basics of auto electrical and electronics or soft copy.

Lokesha - Ответить

Very informative! Easy to understand.

David Flatt - Ответить

I have been searching a tutorial on getting started with trouble shooting an automotive parasitic draw. I have no background in different types of functions of a mmeter such as continuity, voltage, and resistance, your tutorial was a must have. It gave me an understanding of just the basic terminology of the more advanced tutorials. I give it a major thumbs up, excellent tutorial thanks a million !!!!!!

camotrucker87 - Ответить

Easy to follow description. However, I am having trouble diagnosing a microwave diode. Seems I can't do that directly with a multimeter. Is that correct?

Rose - May 9, 2017

rakile - Ответить

Thank you, the instructions that came with my multi meter were clear as mud. Your mini course was very clear and concise.

t_wellman - Ответить

Thank you. This was very helpful to me. Very clear and easy to understand....

John Cascella - Ответить

Thank you so much, it is so easy to understand the way you explain.

nodzgreat - Ответить

thankyou very much.

keith - Ответить

Thanks for supportive/useful post

Suman Ponmathan - Ответить

Excellent please give us more of the same, primarily to help with understanding of the subject matter at a basic level.

mike payne - Ответить

Excellent and elegantly simple guide.

Stewart Shackleton - Ответить

Thanks you so much for this.For me as a beginner,I didn't find difficulties in reading this but its fruitful one.

Jhed Saldavia - Ответить

It was just awsome.Before your tutorial it just was looked like some alien device to me and now I think it's having very simple working principle. I am now pretty confident to work with it. A very big thanks.

Biswarup Majumdar - Ответить

Indeed awesome. Lots of thanks for such a generous sharing of knowledge. Be blessed

prince - Ответить

very simple and accurate

daniel - Ответить

Awesome thanks.. I knew you could use this for a lot of things but not this much.

Lynn Comstock - Ответить

I have a problem with my multimeter (Mastech MY74), the first thing I did was stupid, haven't read the user manual and tried it on a live socket and now it doesn't want to work. I have changed the fuses (600V, 0,4A and 10A), but it still doesn't work. Does anyone have an idea what else could have went wrong and how to test it?

Best regards

Rebius Noir - Ответить

Very useful. I liked the statements like ‘this will not harm the multimeter but will show negative reading ‘. For non science folks like me, these questions crop up often so this guide takes away the anxieties.

Ninad Kajale - Ответить

Nice article with great illustrations.

Apart from measuring DC voltage, resistance and continuity, they can also measure AC voltage, DC current, transistor and Diode checking, which I learnt from here https://circuitdigest.com/article/how-to...

merchan - Ответить

Following the KISS method of instruction!

Very well done!

JD Stewart - Ответить

marvellous explanation for a layman good luck& thanks

Ajmeet kaur - Ответить

Excellent guide. Very well explained and easy to use.

Simon Watts - Ответить

Dead easy. Very impressed.

Mark Sanders - Ответить

What to say except that you are the best !!!

Samir - Ответить

Good information. Thank

Masthan S - Ответить

Thanks a lot. :) My fear with multimeter is gone now. I am able to measure with confidence.

Jaya Saxena - Ответить

Can multimeters be used to measure salinity in water?

Ella Post - Ответить

Jeff, thanks for your step by step multimeter guide. I have also written https://bestmultimeterreviews.org/ similar article in my blog. But, your article is much better than me.

Ciffakla Notam - Ответить

Simple, easy to understand, well presented. Very helpful thanks.

Nicholas Topley - Ответить

Literally helped me passed my physics test; thank you!

KATE HUT - Ответить

Thank you very much !! Nicely explained and very easy to read with the pictures provided

larykir - Ответить

Tanks very much….Its really

Austine Taiwo - Ответить

you put a lot of effort in making this tutorial. I appreciate it.

hurshell - Ответить

Thank you. Very clear and thorough.

Choymae Huie - Ответить

Thank you for the helpful information, simple for novice to understand.

mark long - Ответить

Very helpful :) Thank you.

john schulz - Ответить

Very helpful… Thank you

Rhon - Ответить

Very helpful, thanks.

Daniel - Ответить

Cool keep up the good work and thanks

Pete Garcia - Ответить

Great for beginners, thanks

Mark - Ответить

thanks for a very easy tutorial, it is very helpful! pl add some additional examples to have better understanding for beginners.Thank you

sateesh

Challa. Sateesh - Ответить

Thank u for the precise description,very very useful for beginners.

A MAZUMDER

Arunava Mazumder - Ответить

I studied multimeter in my 11th grade and since then, haven’t been around these things for a long time! I was glad to go through the above instructions and as my nephew has been studying physics as well, I was able to guide him through some subjects which really gave me a good day and made my nephew happy. Thanks a lot.

Charles Brown - Ответить

Very good explained well. Thank you.

Colm Gibson - Ответить

Exceptional directions and explanations for each step. Even an inexperienced user (such as myself) can understand and follow the instructions. So hard to find such detailed instructions for those that “want to be in the know”!! Kudos! You deserve 4+ Stars :)

Elaine Shapiro - Ответить

We thank you for the information

zenyao masilela - Ответить

I was always confused about electricity and how to test it but your instructions have given me a better understanding of it. I now have a place to go to for future reference. Thanks.

davidleithead - Ответить

thanks for the lucid description of the three phases of testing an electronic item; good job!

Jayaraman Raju - Ответить

An excellent guide. Thank you.

Kevin Dyck - Ответить

Thanks, that's helpful to me

Congrats for showing us the best way use it

Abdul Ndove - Ответить

Excellent guide Thank you!!!!

Hubulaoo kunafufafaaa - Ответить

Easy and simple to understand!! Thank you

John - Ответить

Show us the hard stuff like MX10 android box main board how to test thank u

alf - Ответить

Well. .. thank you, this is awesome

protyp Kariba - Ответить

Well done. You've explained it in detail and was completely understandable. Tm

Todd Martens - Ответить

When testing a Tweeter the multimeter reads OL on the resistance scale. What does this mean?

walkad@internode.on.net - Ответить

Very simple and easy to understand. Thank you very much for your help, now I can use a multimeter now.

Lala Hetman - Ответить

Very informative ; Thank you ?

Abdus van harte - Ответить

Thank you so much for making it so simple to follow. Because before I new what I was doing I got the all wires mixed up on my car battery. And I nearly melted my fingers to the wires. So thanks again c foley… craigfol659@gmail.com

Craig Foley - Ответить

Very good explained! Thanks.

Ove Aarstad - Ответить

Thank you so much easy and healpful

Goodluck Minja - Ответить

Thank you! Great how to advice for a beginner!

bobtruck7140 - Ответить

Knowing how to test continuity safely and quickly will both increase confidence near electronics — is that circuit LIVE? — and significantly decrease repair time.

nicO - Ответить

Thanks for the very detailed guide, good content and quality pictures.

AC is not dangerous, even V's aren't. Everyone must get worried about A's.

Sadly, you didn't include how to measure A (amperage or current), which always causes troubles to measure, to learn and understand.

Nicolas Pascual - Ответить

Hi how can I test a signal transmission through an ffc or fpc cable using a multimeter

silasbiwott74@gmail.com - Ответить

That was a really clear and concise tutorial. Thanks.

Just one request. Could you do ones on other capabilities of a DMM, please? For example, measuring ampage, testing doids and LEDs.

Cheers Wal

William Robertson - Ответить

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