How to Use Digital Multimeter

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By lifeengineer
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Use Digital Multimeter

If you are working on electronics you will need to know how to use a digital multimeter. The digital multimeter is one of the most useful tools for measuring, testing, and troubleshooting any type of electronic device. If you understand some of the basic settings you will know how to use your digital multimeter.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

auto-ranging digital multimeter

Step 1

Use your digital multimeter to test DC voltage by using the dial setting shown in the photo. Plug the red probe into the red voltage, Ohm, diode jack. Plug the black probe into the com jack. Hold the red probe on the positive side of the DC voltage source and hold the black probe to the negative side.
Step 2

Use your digital multimeter to test DC minivolts by using the dial setting shown in the photo. Plug the red probe into the red voltage, Ohm, diode jack. Plug the black probe into the com jack. Hold the red probe on the positive side of the DC minivoltage source and hold the black probe to the negative side.
Step 3

Test AC voltage with your digital multimeter by using the dial setting shown in the photo. Plug the red probe into the red voltage, Ohm, diode jack. Plug the black probe into the com jack. Hold the red probe on the positive side of the AC voltage source and hold the black probe to the negative side. Autoranging multimeters will automatically scale to the nearest voltage range. You can also press the range button to manually change the range to see the value in a different detail.
Step 4

Test AC minivolts with your digital multimeter by using the dial setting shown in the photo. Plug the red probe into the red voltage, Ohm, diode jack. Plug the black probe into the com jack. Hold the red probe on the positive side of the AC minivoltage source and hold the black probe to the negative side.
Step 5

Test resistors by setting the digital multimeter on the setting shown in the photo. Plug the red probe into the red voltage, Ohm, diode jack. Plug the black probe into the com jack. Hold the red probe on the positive side of the resistor in the circuit and hold the black probe to the negative side. Using this method a resistor can be tested in circuit or as a loose component.
Step 6

Test continuity of a circuit by setting the dial to the setting shown in the photo. Plug the red probe into the red voltage, Ohm, diode jack. Plug the black probe into the com jack. Test circuit boards or wiring by holding one lead to one end of a trace or wire and the other lead to the other side of the lead or wire. If the multimeter beeps, then the wire or trace is good. If you do not have a circuit schematic, this is a great tool to use to map things out.
Step 7

Test DC current (Amps) by setting the dial to the setting shown in the photo. Plug the red probe into the red A (Amps) jack. Plug the black probe into the com jack. Measure an in-circuit current by holding the red probe on the positive side of the circuit and holding the black probe to the negative side Do not test a current over the maximum amount shown on the jack or shown in your multimeter manual. You can switch to the smaller setting and jack if your current is low, but measure on this setting first.
Step 8

Test AC current (Amps) by setting the dial to the setting shown in the photo. Plug the red probe into the red A (Amps) jack. Plug the black probe into the com jack. Measure an in-circuit current by holding the red probe on the positive side of the circuit and holding the black probe to the negative side Do not test a current over the maximum amount shown on the jack or shown in your multimeter manual. You can switch to the smaller setting and jack if your current is low, but measure on this setting first.
Step 9

Use your digital multimeter to test a diode by using the dial setting shown in the photo. Plug the red probe into the red voltage, Ohm, diode jack. Plug the black probe into the com jack. Hold the red probe rear side of the forward bias and the black probe on the forward side. If you get a reading the diode is good. If the digital multimeter beeps, the diode is bad.