How to Read a Digital Volt Meter
Testing voltage follows a uncomplicated process. For those of you new to electric testing, we asked our resident Pro how they might teach an apprentice how to utilize a voltmeter or multimeter. Once you know how to use a multimeter, you tin motility on to troubleshooting and fixing electrical bug, verifying ability at outlets, checking continuity, and more.
Quick Article Summary
- Practically speaking, voltmeters and multimeters are the same
- Ready the mode and (if applicative) the range
- Insert test leads into the tool
- Touch/insert the probe tips to the outlet/switch/device/etc
Multimeters include the same features as voltmeters but also test current, resistance, and continuity. Sometimes, with the right probes and sensors, multimeters also capture boosted information similar temperature.
Going back to the voltmeter, or voltage meter, it measures the difference in electrical potential between two nodes of an electric circuit. Absolutely, that sounds pretty complicated and technical. Yet, information technology takes just a few steps to principal.
Voltmeter or Multimeter?
First things outset, voltmeters typically operate as an analog device. Nearly every Pro troubleshoots by using a multimeter at some betoken. You can pick up a basic one for less than $20, and they're a lot more widely available. Digital voltmeters also exist that simply give you a digital readout instead of using a dial. In this article, let'due south assume you want to use a multimeter.
How to Use a Voltmeter: Find Your Setting
Ready the Punch
Almost every voltmeter or multimeter uses a large dial to set the mode. On this dial, the voltage setting will be denoted with either a Five~, which will measure AC (alternating electric current) voltage, or a V- for measuring DC (direct current) voltage. Sometimes manufacturers combine these modes. Household circuits and outlets use AC, while batteries and portable electronics run on DC.
This differs from a non-contact voltage tester similar the Southwire dual-range NCVT which only beeps when yous get almost a live excursion.
On multimeters with manual range settings, set the dial above the maximum expected voltage. Many of these measurement tools have a few options marked out for various voltages. This changes the sensitivity of the meter, letting you take a measurement without damaging the tool. If the tool shows no range settings, your voltmeter likely uses an auto-ranging feature.
If your meter lacks an car-ranging feature, no worries, just ready information technology higher than what y'all await the voltage to be. For case, if you programme to examination a wall outlet (in the US), which runs around 120V, set the meter at 200 V~. If you have no idea what to expect, set the voltage on the meter to the max setting.
Merely for your own betterment, household batteries typically operate at 9V DC or below, while a fully charged auto bombardment runs at upward to 12.6V DC. An alternator typically charges the vehicle'due south 12V battery at ~14V.
Editor's Annotation: When testing power tool batteries, a voltmeter shows y'all that 18V and 20V Max battery packs put out the exact aforementioned voltage.
Inserting the Multimeter Test Leads
Your multimeter includes at least two test leads, i red and one black. Each has a probe on one end and a plastic-covered metal jack on the other. The latter insert into the appropriate colored slots on your multimeter.
The blackness-colored jack will ever plug into the port labeled "COM" (common). When measuring voltage, the cherry-red jack volition plug into the hole labeled with a Five.
See below for measuring electric current (amps).
Measuring Voltage
Condom Outset
Safety is cardinal when learning how to use a voltage tester. When dealing with electricity, it doesn't take a whole lot to stop a heart. When touching a live circuit, keep your fingers articulate of the metallic probes. As well, keep the probes from touching each other during use on alive circuits.
Jamming Metal Probes Into Hot Outlets
Basically, you test circuits by attaching the leads in parallel. Working from the earlier example of testing wall outlets, have your blackness (negative) test lead and insert it into the larger vertical slot of your outlet. Nigh black probes have a retaining bump built onto them so that you stick it in and let go.
Next, you'll bear upon the red pb to the positive hole. This will exist the smaller vertical hole on a 120V 15A outlet. Check the reading on the meter. Yous should get a reading of around 120V. However, if you get an overload reading ("OL" or "1"), you'll need to raise the range on your multimeter.
Testing Batteries
This procedure is also pretty uncomplicated. On a battery, yous'll accept the multimeter set up to read DC voltage (5-). Touch the black lead of the voltage tester to the negative terminal, and the ruby pb to the positive last. If you get no reading on your meter, check to see if your meter has a switch labeled DC+ or DC-. Switch the position if it does. If information technology doesn't, opposite the positions of the red and blackness probes.
Still not getting a reading? Drop the voltage setting by one step until yous do.
Measuring Current (Amps)
You will notice equally many as two other spots on a multimeter for measuring current (amps). At that place are two principal things to understand when measuring current.
- You ever measure electric current in series with a load
- Y'all demand to prepare the multimeter to the proper setting, including having the probes inserted into the proper ports
Take care to follow the instructions for the maximum corporeality of current the meter tin handle. If you don't, or you connect to the wrong port, you tin can blow the internal fuse or even fry the meter.
How Virtually People Fry Their Multimeter
Most of the times nosotros've heard about people frying their multimeter, they measure current with no load. That ways they set their meter to Amps, plug in the red probe to the spot marked 10A…and and then promptly stick the probe tips into an outlet or otherwise in parallel with a high-current circuit.
That blows your meter. You just applied a load of 0-ohms to a high-current ability source. Always measure current in series with the load. That ways yous place the meter in series with the hot leg.
Voltage is a sort of "potential" measurement. It's what's bachelor. Current doesn't actually exist until you create a load for it. What you never want to do is create a load with cypher resistance (your meter).
Wrapping Things Upwardly
Clear equally mud? Good. If you call up nothing else, it'southward that you typically just measure Voltage direct across an outlet. With the correct equipment, you lot tin safely test any circuit effectually the house or motorcar. What are some of your best practices? Leave our apprentices a tip on how to use a voltmeter beneath!
Source: https://www.protoolreviews.com/how-to-use-a-voltmeter-multimeter/
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