USING METERS

Learning Outcome 9
Use digital and analogue instruments to measure voltage, current & resistance.

Content
9. Using measuring instruments
• handling measuring instruments
• selecting an instrument
• setting-up and connecting into circuits
• reading scales and read-outs

Assessment criteria
9.1 Apply safe working procedures when working with instruments.
9.2 Handle and store instruments to ensure they are protected from damage.
9.3 Select and set-up an instrument to measure voltage, current or resistance.
9.4 Connect instruments into a circuit to measure voltage, current & resistance.
9.5 Read analogue scales & digital readouts in measuring voltage, current & resistance.
9.6 Set-up a Cathode Ray Oscilloscope to measure d.c. and a.c. voltages.

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 BASIC METERS
(Hampson Page 40)
The measuring instruments you are likely to use most frequently in an
electrical workshop are:
– Ammeters – to measure electric current
– Voltmeters – to measure voltage
– Multimeters – to measure voltage, current & resistance

An analog instrument has a moving pointer and a graduated scale.

All types of digital instruments and resistance meters require a battery.

Most analogue ammeters and voltmeters do not require a battery.

You should switch all battery-operated instruments off when you are not
using them to avoid premature battery failure.

2
 BASIC METERS
(Hampson Page 40)

• Some instruments are designed to work on AC only, DC only or AC

and DC. You must examine the markings on an instrument before
you use it.

• A straight line under the function marking indicates a DC instrument.

or

• A small sine wave under the function marking indicates an AC

instrument.

• If an instrument is designed for DC, the connecting terminals are

usually colour-coded Red (positive) and Black (negative).
3
ANALOG METER BASICS
(Hampson Page 40)

Analogue meters must be

connected the correct way
round to prevent them being
damaged when the pointer
tries to move in the wrong
direction.
They are useful for monitoring
continuously changing values and they
can be good for quick rough readings
because the movement of the pointer
can be seen without looking away from
the circuit under test.

4
 GALVANOMETER
(Hampson Page 40 & 41)

Galvanometers are very sensitive meters which are used to measure tiny
currents, usually 1mA or less. They are used to make all types of analogue meters
by adding suitable resistors as shown in the diagrams below:

Making a Voltmeter
A galvanometer with a high Making an Ammeter
resistance multiplier in series to A galvanometer with a low resistance
make a voltmeter. shunt in parallel to make an ammeter.

5
D’ARSONVAL METER MOVEMENT
(Hampson Page 40)
PERMANENT-MAGNET MOVING-COIL meter movement (d'Arsonval movement)
uses the interaction of magnetic fields to produce movement.

6
METER CONNECTION
(Hampson Page 40)

7
 AMMETER
(Hampson Page 41)
An ammeter is connected in SERIES with the load in which the current is
being measured. An ammeter has a very low internal resistance.
An explosion can result if it is incorrectly connected in parallel with the
supply.

8
 VOLTMETER
(Hampson Page 41)
A voltmeter is used to measure the electrical pressure between two points
in a circuit. You have to connect it in PARALLEL with the component across
which the pressure is being measured.
A voltmeter has a relatively high internal resistance.

9
 MULTIMETER SENSITIVITY
(Hampson Page 40 & 41)

Voltmeter Loading Effect

When you connect a voltmeter to measure the voltage in a circuit, it becomes part
of the circuit and current flows through it. Although it has high resistance, the effect
is to place additional load on the circuit in parallel with the component – this
voltmeter loading effect can result in false readings.

The loading effect of a voltmeter is called its ‘SENSITIVITY’ and its units are
ohms/volt.

Multimeters must have a high sensitivity of at least 20k/V otherwise their resistance
on DC voltage ranges may be too low to avoid upsetting the circuit under test and
giving an incorrect reading.

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 ANALOG MULTIMETER
SENSITIVITY (Hampson Page 40 & 41)

To obtain valid readings the meter resistance should be at least 10 times

the circuit resistance (take this to be the highest resistor value near where
the meter is connected). You can increase the meter resistance by selecting
a higher voltage range, but this may give a reading which is too small to
read accurately!
On any DC voltage range:
Analogue Meter Resistance = Sensitivity × Max. reading of range
e.g. a meter with 20k/V sensitivity on its 10V range has a resistance of
20k/V × 10V = 200k.
By contrast, digital multimeters have a constant resistance of at least 1M
(often 10M) on all their DC voltage ranges. This is more than enough for
almost all circuits.

11
OHMMETER
(Hampson Page 41)

12
AMMETER, VOLTMETER,
OHMMETER (Hampson Page 42)

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 MULTIMETER BASICS
(Hampson Page 40 & 41)
Measuring voltage and current with a multimeter
1. Select a range with a maximum greater than you expect the reading to be.
2. Always connect ammeters in SERIES and voltmeters in PARALLEL
3. Connect the meter, making sure the leads are the correct way round.
Digital meters can be safely connected in reverse, but an analogue meter may be
damaged – observe the meter polarity when measuring DC.
4. If the reading goes off the (analog) scale: immediately disconnect and select a
higher range.
5. Always disconnect the multimeter before adjusting the range switch.
6. Always check the setting of the range switch before you connect to a circuit.
7. Never leave a multimeter set to a current range (except when actually taking a
reading). The greatest risk of damage is on the current ranges because the meter
has a low resistance.
8. Never use the DC selection range to measure AC.

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 MULTIMETER BASICS
(Hampson Page 40 & 41)
Care & Storage of Instruments
• Electrical measuring instruments contain delicate components that can be
easily damaged by rough handling, excessive temperatures or using the on
incorrect ranges. When they are not in use, you should switch them off and
store them with any connecting leads neatly wrapped.
• Do not tap on the glass of any measuring instrument because the glass can be
dislodged.
• All clips, probes and leads should be maintained in safe working order. If any
connecting lead becomes damaged, you should have it replaced immediately.

15
Resistance meter scales

Range x 100 Ω
Reading: __________
Voltage meter scales

Range x 30 V
Reading: __________
Current meter scales

Range x 12 A
Reading: __________
READING VOLTAGE on ANALOG MULTIMETERS
(Hampson Page 40& 41)

19
READING CURRENT on ANALOG MULTIMETERS
(Hampson Page 40& 41)

20
ANALOG METERS - RESISTANCE
(Hampson Page 40& 41)

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 MEASURING RESISTANCE WITH
AN ANALOG MULTIMETER (Hampson Page 41)
An ohmmeter has a small internal battery that causes a small current to
pass through the component being measured. A low battery will give an
incorrect reading.

Most ohmmeters have a reverse scale – the lowest value is at the RIGHT
end of the scale and the highest end at the LEFT. Scales are usually non-
linear, meaning that the distance between divisions is not equal.

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 MEASURING RESISTANCE WITH
AN ANALOG MULTIMETER (Hampson Page 41)

You must take the following precautions when measuring resistance with an
ohmmeter:
•All power sources must be disconnected when taking resistance measurements.

•Individual resistors must be measured separately from any other device in the
circuit.

•Use the ‘Ohms Adjust’ knob to set the instrument to full-scale deflection (FSD)
with the test probes short-circuited.

•Make sure that there are no other components in parallel with the one being
measured.

Switch off the instrument after use.

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 MEASURING RESISTANCE WITH
AN ANALOG MULTIMETER (Hampson Page 41)

Perform the following steps:

Set the meter to a suitable resistance range.
Choose a range so that the resistance you expect will be near the middle of the
scale. For example: with the scale shown below and an expected resistance of
about 50k choose the × 1k range.
Hold the meter probes together and adjust the control on the front of the
meter which is usually labelled "0 ADJ" until the pointer reads zero (on the RIGHT
remember!). If you can't adjust it to read zero, the battery inside the meter needs
replacing.
Put the probes across the component.
Avoid touching more than one contact at a time or your resistance will upset
the reading!

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DIGITAL MULTIMETER BASICS
(Hampson Page 40 & 41)
•When using a Multimeter, you must
properly set it to either AC or DC,
depending on the voltage you’re trying to
measure.
Digital Multimeter Layout
• The top portion of the meter contains the
digital readout area, which resembles the
digital display of many pocket calculators.
• Below the digital readout is a large gray knob,
called the FUNCTION switch. This switch
determines which function the multimeter will
perform (voltmeter, ammeter, or ohmmeter).

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 DIGITAL MULTIMETER BASICS
(Hampson Page 40 & 41)

Measuring resistance with a DIGITAL multimeter:

Set the meter to a resistance range greater than you expect the resistance to be.
Notice that the meter display shows "off the scale" (usually blank except for a 1 on
the left). Don't worry, this is not a fault, it is correct - the resistance of air is
very high!
Touch the meter probes together and check that the meter reads zero.
If it doesn't read zero, turn the switch to 'Set Zero' if your meter has this and
try again.
Put the probes across the component.
Avoid touching more than one contact at a time or your resistance will upset
the reading!

Click here for a PPT on Digital

Multimeter Safety (From FLUKE)!!

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CLAMP METER
(Hampson Page 40)
Clip-On Ammeters
This meter can measure current without having to
disconnect any wiring.

This instrument is designed to detect the magnetic field

resulting from the current in the conductor & convert it
to an indication on an analog or digital meter.

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 CIRCUIT CONTINUITY
(Hampson Page 40)
Continuity is a term used to describe the condition in which a conductor is
continuous from one end to the other.

If you are to check a conductor for continuity, you must disconnect the
supply voltage and at least one end of the conductor to avoid obtaining a
false reading through other conductors in the circuit.

Continuity can be checked using an ohmmeter, or a battery connected in

series with a lamp, bell or buzzer. If the conductor is continuous the lamp
will light, or the bell/buzzer will sound.

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 Summary
• An Ammeter is connected in series
• A Voltmeter is connected in parallel
• Resistance of a component is measured in parallel with the power supply isolated
• DC specific devices usually have a positive terminal and a negative terminal
• All types of digital instruments and resistance meters require a battery