How to Use a Digital Voltage Meter

Use a voltmeter to measure the potential difference between two points.

A digital voltmeter is a convenient tool for measuring voltages and potential difference between two points of a circuit. This functionality can be integral for electricians and electronics hobbyists, as it can help with designing the circuit or component placement (resistors, capacitors, etc). Digital voltmeters are easier to read accurately than analog needles. They also have the advantage of higher resistance than analog voltmeters, which is key to measuring potential difference accurately. Most affordable instruments these days are digital multimeters, which are combined voltmeters and other instruments (like ammeters). Multimeter voltmeter functions work the same as in a standalone voltmeter.

Things You'll Need

• Voltmeter or multimeter
• Voltmeter contact cables

Instructions

1. Connect the voltmeter contact leads to the voltmeter. These will usually be simple plugs, however some leads may be a threaded screw-on connection.

2. Switch the dial in the middle (or buttons on higher end models) to the correct voltage range. Typically, the 20 V range is acceptable, but for measuring smaller voltages, consider using the 2 V or 200 mV settings. To determine the correct voltage range, note the voltage of the power supply for the circuit, and adjust the dial on the voltmeter to the closest voltage above that of the power supply. For example, if your power supply is between 3 V and 20 V, you will set the voltmeter to the 20 V setting.

3. Touch the contacts to the two points on your circuit that you want to measure.

4. Make adjustments to your circuit based on the readout on your voltmeter.

Tips & Warnings

• Always be careful when working with electricity. It is important to keep yourself grounded by keeping in constant contact with a metal surface to avoid electrostatic discharge, which can also damage the electrical components you may be working with.

References

• Doctronics: Using a Multimeter