NOTES ON

MULTIMETERS

VOLTAGE, CURRENT AND RESISTANCE MEASURING INSTRUMENTS

To measure voltage (ac,dc), current (ac, dc) and resistance, two types of instruments,
analog and digital meters, are utilized. The measurements of these fundamental electrical
quantities are based on either one of the following:
i) Current sensing. The instruments are mostly of the electromagnetic meter movement
type, such as an analog multimeter.
ii) Voltage sensing. The instruments are mostly electronic in nature, using amplifiers
and semiconductor devices, such as a digital multimeter.

1) ANALOG MULTIMETER
The main part of an analog multimeter is the DArsonval meter movement also known
as the permanent-magnet moving-coil (PMMC) movement. This common type of movement
is used for dc measurements. The basic construction of a such meter movement is shown in
Figure 1.

Figure 1.
When the meter current Im flows in the wire coil in the direction indicated in Figure 1,
a magnetic field is produced in the coil. This electrically induced magnetic field interacts with
the magnetic field of the horseshoe-type permanent magnet. The result of such an interaction
is a force causing a mechanical torque to be exerted on the coil. Since the coil is wound and
permanently fixed on a rotating cylindrical drum as shown, the torque produced will cause the
rotation of the drum around its pivoted shaft.

When the drum rotates, two restraining springs, one mounted in the front onto the shaft
and the other mounted onto the back part of the shaft, will exhibit a countertorque opposing
the rotation and restraining the motion of the drum. This spring-produced countertorque
depends on the angle of deflection of the drum, , or the pointer. At a certain position (or

deflection angle), the two torques are in equilibrium.

Each meter movement is characterized by two electrical quantites:
1. Rm: the meter resistance which is due to the wire used to construct the coil.
2. IFS: the meter current which causes the pointer to deflect all the way up to the full-scale
position on the fixed scale (this is marked FS in Figure 1). This value of the meter current
is always referred to as the fullscale current of the meter movement.
Figure 2 indicates the electrical circuit symbol of the meter movement that will be used.

Rm

Im

Figure 2.

The meter sensitivity S, also referred as the ohm/volt rating of the meter movement, is
the reverse of the full-scale current.

S=

1
I FS

(1)

IFS or S (fixed value) is defined for a given meter movement and is usually noted on its
casing or in the manufacturer's data sheets. The meter becomes more sensitive as its full-scale
current decreases. Typically the minimum value of IFS is 50 A and hence the maximum

value of S is 20 K /V.
i

The PMMC movement cannot be used directly for ac measurements since the inertia of
PMMC acts as an averager. Because ac current has zero average value and it produces a
torque that has also zero average value, the pointer just vibrates around zero on the scale. In
order to make ac measurements, a bridge rectifier circuit is combined with PMMC as shown
in Figure 3.

i1(t)

i(t)

Bridge rectifier
i (t)

i (t)

-I

T/2

T/2

Figure 3.
In Figure 3 the bridge rectifier rectifies the ac current i and produces the current i1=|i|
which has a mean value (average or dc value).
T/2

1
T/2

i 1 ( t ) dt =

1
T/2

T/2

i1,mean =

I sin( t )dt =

2I

(2)

The rms (root-mean-square) value of a periodic waveform i(t) of period T is defined as

T

1 2
i ( t ) dt
T0

i rms =

(3)

The form factor of the same waveform is the rms value divided by the mean value of the
full-wave rectified waveform or equivalently
Form Factor (FF) =

i rms
i1, mean

(4)

On the ac scale, an analog multimeter is calibrated to read the rms value of a sine wave.
Since the rms value and the form factor of a sine wave of peak value I are I / 2 and 1.11,
respectively, the meter indication corresponds to the value 1.11 i1,mean (= I / 2 ) .

When measuring the rms values of other waveforms, the analog multimeter measures
the mean value of the rectified signal and multiplies with 1.11 as if it is a sine wave. Thus, the
analog multimeter gives wrong results for rms values of other waveforms. In order to
calculate true rms values of other waveforms, their form factors should be taken into account,
e.g., the factor of a triangular wave is 1.155 and the form factor of a square wave is 1.0. Then
for a triangular wave the analog multimeter indication corresponds to 1.11/1.155 times the
true rms value and it corresponds to 1.11/1.0 times the true rms value for a square wave.

A) AMMETER

As pointed out above, the deflection of the pointer in the DArsonval meter movement is
proportional to the meter current I. Therefore, this instrument can be used to measure current.
However, the meter movement by itself is of limited use and capability, since its full-scale
current value IFS is practically too small (at most in the order of milliamperes). If the current
allowed to flow in the movement, Im, exceeds IFS, permanent damage can result, in particular
to the restraining springs.
To be able to measure currents higher in value than IFS of a given meter movement, the
division principle is applied. Figure 4 shows the construction of an ammeter.

I
Symbol

Im

Rm

Ish

Ammeter
Actual circuit

Rsh

Figure 4.
Here

Im = I

R sh
R m + R sh

(5)

where Im is the movement current, I the circuit current being measured, Rm the
resistance of the movement, and Rsh the "shunt" resistance connected in parallel with the
movement to provide a path for the portian of the circuit's current not allowed to flow though
the meter movement.

A given meter movement can be used to build a multirange ammeter. Each range
requires a different value of the shunt resistance. A three-range ammeter, requiring three
different shunt resistors, is shown in Figure 5.

Rm
Rsh1
Multi-position
switch

Rsh2
Rsh3

Figure 5.
The resistance of the ammeter RA is thus
RA =

Because usually Rsh << Rm then RA

R m R sh
R m + R sh

(6)

Rsh that is the equivalent resistance, RA is

approximately equal to the smaller of the two parallel connected resistors, Rsh.
It is indicated that as the range of a multirange ammeter is changed, Rsh will be different
and the ammeter's resistance, RA, will be different for the different ranges.
The ammeter must be connected in series with a terminal pair through whieh the current
is to be measured. For example, to measure the current I flowing through terminals A and B in
Figure 6(a), the ammeter is conneeted as shown in Figure 6(b).
A

A
I

A
E

(a)

(b)

Figure 6.
In order for this measurement process not to disturb the value of the current being
measured, the resistance of the ammeter (which is series connected) should ideally be zero so
that the circuit remains unchanged. However, a practical ammeter has a finite but small

resistance, RA, which could disturb the circuit conditions and change the current distribution
in the circuit. This is what is called the meter's loading effect.

B) VOLTMETER

The meter movement is modelled as a resistance of value Rm, as shown in Figure 7.

Therefore, Ohm's law applied to this movement provides (8)
Vm = R m I m

(7)

where Vm is the voltage across the meter movement when the current flowing in it is Im.
When the current in the movement is IFS,
VFS = R m I FS

(8)

To increase the full-scale voltage range of the movement when functioning as a

voltmeter, the meter movement current Im has to be lowered. This can easily be achieved by
inserting a large resistance, called the multiplier resistance, Rmult, in series with the meter
movement, as shown in Figure 7.
Voltmeter

Actual circuit
Im

V
Rmult

Rm

Symbol
V

Figure 7.
The resistance of the voltmeter, Rv, is the series combination of Rm and Rmult as can be
seen from Figure 7.
R v = R mult + R m =

Vmax
1
= Vmax
= range of voltmeter S
I FS
I FS

(9)

Eq. (9) is quite important. It indicates that the higher the range of the voltmeter, the
larger would be internal resistance of the voltmeter, Rv. This is a clear since a higher voltage
range requires a larger multiplier resistance. Also, Eq. (9) indicates that a more sensitive
meter movement (higher S or lower IFS) also results using a larger voltmeter resistance.

Using the same meter movement, a multirange voltmeter can be designed. A three-range
voltmeter is shown schematically in Figure 8.
Rmult1

Multi-position switch

Rmult2
Rm

Rmult3

Figure 8.
The voltmeter must be connected in parallel with a terminal pair across which the
potential difference is to be measured. For example, to measure the voltage V across the
terminals A and B in Figure 9(a) the voltmeter is connected as shown in Figure 9(b).
A

A
V

B
(a)

(b)

Figure 9.
In order for this measurement process not to disturb the value of the potential difference
being measured, the resistance of the voltmeter (which is parallel connected) should ideally be
infinity so that the circuit remains unchanged. However, a practical voltmeter has a finite but
large resistance, Rv, which could disturb the circuit conditions and result in reading errors
called loading effect errors. To reduce the loading effect, Im must be very small or Rv must be
made as large as possible. Examining Eq. (10) reveals that Rv is increased by using a higher
sensitivity meter movement or 'by using a higher range to read the voltage which may not
always be acceptable because of the reading errors near the lower end of the scale.

C) OHMMETER

If the meter movement current Im is somehow made to be proportional to the value of an

unknown resistance to be measured, the meter's scale can be calibrated to read resistance
directly. Here, however, a voltage source (e.g., a battery) must be added to the meters circuit
to drive the current necessary for the deflection of the pointer. A typical ohmmeter circuit is

shown in Figure 10.

Zero-adjust
resistor

Im

Black

I
Rm
R2

R1

I
Rx

Ohmmeters circuit

Resistance
being
measured

Red

Figure 10.
The total resistance seen by the voltage source E is
RT = R x + R2 +

where the quantity R 2 +

R 1R m
= R x + R MS
R1 + R m

(10)

R 1R m
is denoted by RMS. The current I flowing in the source and
R1 + R m
I=

E
E
=
R T R x + R MS

(11)

The meter movement current Im can be determined using the current-division principle,
Im = I

When Rx=

R1
R1
E
=

R 1 + R m R x + R MS R 1 + R m

(12)

(i.e., an open circuit), Im= 0 but when Rx= 0 (i.e., a short circuit), Im

should be at its maximum value, as the total resistance of the circuit is at its minimum value
[see Eqs. (11) and (12)]. Therefore, Rx= 0

should correspond to Im becoming IFS, the

full-scale current of the meter movement. Thus from Eq. (12),

I FS =

R1
E

R MS R 1 + R m

(13)

Hence, the ohmmeter (resistance) scale is inverted with respect to the current and
voltage scales (Figure 11). Eq. (12) indicates that the resistance scale is nonlinear; it is sparse

Eq. (12), then

near the Rx= 0 position and crowded near the Rx=

position. When Rx= RMS is substituted in

Im =

I
R1
E

= FS
2R MS R 1 + R m
2

(14)

This indicates that the meter movement current will be half its full-scale value when the
value of the unknown resistance is RMS.

Figure 11.

Referring to Figure 10, one should note that

1. The battery is connected so that it drives the meter movement current Im into the
positive (red) terminal of the movement, in order to cause an upscale deflection of the pointer.
Therefore, the current in the external resistance flows from the negative (black) terminal
toward the positive (red) terminal, as shown, due to the battery polarity connections.

2. R2 is a series connection of two resistors: one of them fixed and the other one (about
20% of R) variable. The variable resistor is called the "zero-adjust resistor". When R is zero
(i.e., a short circuit is connected across the ohmmeter terminals), the pointer should deflect all
the way up to the full-scale position [see Eq. (13)]. Because the battery voltage E does decay
(change) with time, readjustment of the value of R2, through the zero-adjust resistor, is
necessary to compensate for this battery voltage change. This is usually an initial checking
procedure to ensure that the ohmmeter would function properly; otherwise, the source should
be replaced by a new battery.

Figure 12. The analog multimeter used in the laboratory.

D) CURRENT MEASUREMENT

To measure current, the instrument should be set to a A.C. or D.C. range (lower-left part
in Figure 12), and the range should be set from lower-right part. Red values and black values,
which are maximum values to be measured, are for AC current and DC current
measurements, respectively. Then multimeter should be connected in series apparatus to be
tested. The currents are measured from the middle-upper part of the multimeter that again red
and black scales are for AC and DC current measurements, respectively. To give an example,
if it is set to DC and 5 mA scales, then the current should be measured from 0-50 scale on the
highest scale which 50 corresponds to 5 mA. Then if the drum is steady at 10, the current
measured is 1 mA.
Generally speaking, the power absorbed in the instrument is negligible, but in cases of
low voltage heavy current networks, theinclusion of a meter may reduce the current
appreciably below the value which would otherwise prevail. The potential drop at full scale
deflection across the meter terminals is in the order of 500 mV on all D.C. ranges, except the
50 A range which has a drop of 125 mV. In the case of A.C., it is less than 250 mV on all

ranges.
The care should be taken to ensure that the circuit is "dead" before breaking into it to
make current measurements.

E) VOLTAGE MEASUREMENT

To measure voltage, the instrument should be set to a suitable A.C. or D.C. range, and
then connected parallel across the source of voltage to be measured. The range should be set
from upper-right part. If the expected magnitude of the voltage is within the range of the
meter, but its actual value is unknown, the instrument should be set to its highest range,
connected up and if below 1000 V the appropriate selector knob should be rotated decreasing
the ranges step by step, until the most suitable range has been selected.
On D.C. ranges, the meter consumes only 50 A at full scale deflection, this sensitivity

corresponding to 20,000 ohms/volt. In the case of A.C. ranges from 10 V upwards, full-scale
deflection is obtained with a consumption of 1 mA (1000 ohms/volt). The 2.5 V A.C. range
consumes 10 mA at full scale deflection.

F) RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT

On resistance ranges, the meter must not merely start from its instrument zero, but must
have, in addition a resistance zero corresponding to the full scale deflection of the meter.
Before carrying out tests for resistance a check and, if necessary, adjustment should be carried
out to ensure that when the leads are joined, together the meter actually indicates zero ohms,
irrespective of the condition of the battery (within the limits of adjustment). The method of
adjustment is given below.
1. Set left-hand knob at -OHMS.
2. Join probes together.
3. Set right-hand knob to x 1 k or x 100 from the middle-right part (green part).
4. The drum should be steady at zero on the green scale. If it is not, arrange knob on the
upper-left part until the drum is steady at zero.
If it is not possible to obtain zero ohms setting, or furthermore the pointer position does
not remain constant, falls steadily, the internal battery (or batteries) should replaced. To test a
resistance, the right-hand knob should be at the range required, the leads being connected
across unknown component. However, the value, where the drum is steady, should be
multiplied by the selected ohm range. For example, if x 1 k is selected and the drum is on
10 on the green scale, the value of the resistance is 10 k .
It should be noted that a positive potential appears at the negative terminal of the

instrument when set for resistance tests. A resistance of component should be measured when
it is not connected to any circuit that resistance test should never be carried out on
components which are already carrying current on or when it is connected to a circuit.

2) DIGITAL MULTIMETER

While most analog meters require no power supply, give a better visual indication of
trends and changes, suffer less from electric noise and isolation problems, and, are simple and
inexpensive, digital meters offer higher accuracy and input impedance, unambiguous readings
at greater viewing distances, smaller size, and a digital electrical output (for interfacing with
external equipment) in addition to visual readout.
The main part of most of the digital multimeter (DMMs) is the analog to digital
converter (A/D) which converts an analog input signal to a digital output. While
specifications may vary, virtually such multimeters are developed around the same block
diagram of Figure 13.

Figure 13.
Since the DMM is a voltage sensing meter; current is converted to volts by passing it
through a precision low resistance shunt while ac is converted to dc at the AC converter by
employing rectifiers and filters. Most of the AC converters detect the peak value of the signal
and are calibrated to give the rms value of a sine wave. However, some measures the mean of
the rectified signal such as the digital multimeter Agilent 34401A. Finally, this dc level is
applied to the A/D converter to obtain the digital information.

For resistance measurement, the meter includes a precision low current source that is
applied across the unknown resistor. Then the dc voltage drop across the resistor, which is
proportional to the value of the unknown resistor, is measured.
For AC measurements, the digital multimeter is a true rms instrument that it measures
true rms value of any periodic signal.

Figure 14. The digital multimeter used in this laboratory.

A) VOLTAGE MEASUREMENT

To measure voltage, the instrument should be set to a A.C. or D.C. range (the buttons of
DC V and AC V). The red probe should be connected to upper-right socket and black one
to middle-right socket as indicated in Figure 14. The digital multimeter is an auto-range
device that it is not needed to arrange the range of voltage.
B) CURRENT MEASUREMENT

To measure current, the instrument should be set to a suitable A.C. or D.C. range. For
this purpose, firstly, blue Shift button is depressed then DC V or AC V button is
depressed. The red probe should be connected to lower-right socket and black one to
middle-right socket.
C) RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT

To measure resistance, the

2W button should be depressed without selecting blue

Shift button. The red probe should be connected to upper-right socket and black one to
middle-right socket as in voltage measurement.