Use continuity to troubleshoot potential breaks in a line. You may also see a “speaker” symbol or something that indicates you will hear a tone or beep. The symbol for continuity looks like an arrow pointing right into a plus sign (see above). Electricians can also use a multimeter to test ground resistance when sinking ground rods for electrical panels. You also measure resistance during many electronics troubleshooting steps on a circuit board. This is handy for continuity tests (though many multimeters have a dedicated mode for that which beeps). You set the multimeter dial to Ω to measure resistance. How to Use a Multimeter to Measure Resistance in Ohms and Continuity The LCD screen should give you an indicator by switching between the visible V~ and V- modes. When they do this, you typivally need to press a “Mode” button to switch between AC and DC voltage modes. You will also find DC current when measuring the voltage on the battery in your vehicle.Īuthor’s Note: Sometimes manufacturers combine both AC and DC Voltage onto a single dial setting or position. The reason is that most household electronic devices take the 120V AC wall voltage and immediately convert it to DC before powering the sensitive internal processors, screens, and other systems. You measure and troubleshoot batteries and portable electronics using DC current. The “V-” DC voltage setting lets you measure DC (direct current) voltage. The reason is that alternating current periodically reverses direction. AC voltage is denoted with a V followed by a squiggly line (~). AC voltage is the voltage found at any outlet or plug in your home that supplies power to devices like your refrigerator, computer, TV, etc. Use the”V~” AC voltage setting for measuring or testing AC (alternating current) voltage. This should help you get to the correct mode so you can use the multimeter properly. Let’s walk through each main dial setting so you understand what the symbols and designations mean. Walking Through Each of the Main Dial Settings Some multimeters, break each measurement area on the dial into sections with specific dial points for differing scales.Įditor’s Note: When testing power tool batteries, a voltmeter shows you that 18V and 20V Max battery packs put out the exact same voltage. You just have to know where to look and you can easily get to the mode(s) you need. No matter which brand you use, several key features exist on every dial. It can look pretty intimidating-but we can help walk you through everything you need to know. Understanding How to Use the Multimeter Dial SettingsĪlmost every multimeter uses a large dial to set the mode. That extra precision has to do with the increased resolution afforded by the advanced digital components, error correction, and processing. Because the results are digital, a digital multimeter has the potential to be much more accurate and precise when taking measurements. For example, a digital multimeter includes internal electronics that include converters, comparators, encoders, and logic controllers. The dial on the display (which looks like a VU meter) reacts with magnetic fields created by changes in the electrical current detected by the device.Ī digital multimeter (DMM) gives you a digital readout but also offers additional functions. An analog multimeter measures voltage (volts), resistance (ohms), and current (amps). The difference between an analog multimeter and a digital multimeter comes down to the display and what they measure. In this article, let’s assume you want to use a multimeter. You can pick up a basic multimeter for less than $20, and they’re widely available. Every Pro uses a multimeter for troubleshooting, but even a homeowner benefits from the use of this tool at some point.
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