Experiment No.

Project Report on

Analog Multimeter (MIYAMA M-385)

Rommel Areola

BSEE 3-1

August 4, 2012

Project Summary

This project is a laboratory report on the principles of operation, construction,

calibration, and evaluation of an electrical analog multimeter or Voltmeter-
Ohmmeter-Milliammeter(VOM). The multimeter model used in this project is
MIYAMA M-385. Parts of the design on the schematic diagram, PCB layout and
component placement are modified by the researcher, thus, it may vary from the
original overall design of MIYAMA M-385 multimeter.

Introduction

The multimeter is an essential tool for engineers, especially those specializing in

the field of electricity. Such testers may vary in design and purpose, and may
include more than three parameters of measurement. It is then a need for
electrical engineering students to study how these testers operate, how to repair
and calibrate them, and how to use them properly. This paper deals with these
studies about multimeters.

Purpose

The project aims to explain the assembly and construction of a typical analog
electric multimeter and how it works. It may also serve as a reference for fellow
researchers interested in making their own multimeters.

Scope

The efficiency and general use of the project is confined to the nature of the
multimeter circuit design. And since the project is a measuring device, the use of

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Project Report on Analog Multimeter

Areola, RA
accurate, less tolerant (resistors used in this project are 1% tolerant), and
appropriate electronic components must be considered.

The model used for this project is MIYAMA M-385 that includes 4 ranges for AC
Voltmeter, 6 ranges for DC Voltmeter, 4 ranges for DC Milliammeter, and 4
ranges for Ohmmeter. The entire project and research body is limited only to the
mentioned parameters.

This paper will discuss the construction, design, and evaluation of the
multitester, which is prepared and built within a two-week period.

Discussion

Methodology

This section of the project paper discusses the step-by-step procedures followed
in making the MIYAMA multitester.

Electronic Components

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Project Report on Analog Multimeter

Areola, RA

Equipments and Materials

2 1.5V AA Battery Soldering Iron

1 9V Battery Soldering Lead
Project Casing Soldering Paste

Page 3 of 14
 General Procedures

The project is accomplished by following these steps. First, decide what specific
design of multimeter and measurement parameters you want to include. Then
purchase all components and other materials to be used. If the design needs PCB
etching, consult Printed Circuit Boards-Design, Fabrication, and Assembly by R.S.
Khandpur. Next, place the components on the board. Be cautious in reading the
ratings of each component.

When all the components are placed on the board, cut all portruding component
leads, leaving only about 3mm (cutting the leads may also be done after
soldering). Then solder each component properly to the board. Avoid solder
bridges and poor connection between board and component, for these may
result in a shorted circuit or malfunction. Check for any misplaced component
before assembling the board to the project casing.

Flow Chart of Procedures

For a better understanding of the procedures, the table below shows the
chronological arrangement of steps.

Design
DesignlanningDDDDFFF
Planning Purchase of Materials PCB Etching

Casing Finalizing Soldering Component

Assembly Placement

Evaluation

Figure 1: Flow Chart of Procedures

Printed Circuit Board Layout

The tables below show the PCB layout design and component placement of the
multitester. The layout design shows how the PCB must look like after etching
(ready-made etched PCBs are also available in market). While the component
placement assists the researcher on how the components are to be placed and
positioned on the PCB.

Figure 2: PCB Design

Figure 3: Component Placement

Project Schematic Diagram

The following table shows the MIYAMA M-385 multitester schematic diagram.
Before evaluation, the researcher must conform to the schematic diagram to
prevent malfunctions.
 Figure 4: Project Schematic Diagram

Test and Evaluation

This part presents the multitester evaluation procedures and basic statistical
treatments used.

Initial Test

After the project was assembled, initial tests were conducted, like applying
appropriate loads, current, and voltage to each corresponding range to check
whether the meter and each range works. All three measurement parameters
(Voltmeter, Milliameter, Ohmmeter) worked well with this test.

Accuracy Tests

Since the project is a measuring device, accuracy of the reading must be given
due emphasis. It is in this light that the researcher devised the following formula
for getting the accuracy of the meter:
 Accuracy =100
[( units of deviation
units applied ) 100
]
The following tables show the reading accuracy of each of the ranges of the 3
measurement parameters (ACV, DCV, DCmA, and Ohmmeter).

AC Voltmeter

Table 1: AC Voltmeter Accuracy Test

Range Voltage Applied Reading Accuracy

1000V 230V 240V 95.65%
250V 230V 246V 93.04%

The above results were gathered by applying 230V household line into the first
two ranges of the ACV. Voltage sources lower than 230V may be used to test the
lower ranges. The above test shows that the ACV is in good and accurate
condition.

DC Voltmeter

Table 2: DV Voltmeter Accuracy Test

Range Voltage Applied Reading Accuracy

2.5V 1.5V 1.7V 80%
10V 9V 9.3V 96.86%
50V 24V 25V 95.83%
250V 24V 24V 100%

In this test, a variable DC power supply ranging from 3-24V is used to obtain the
results above. It is important to note that power supplies supply a bit higher
voltage than its rated voltage. And accuracy of the meter depends also on the
compatibility of the range and the applied unit. For example, an exact amount of
24V is hardly discernible in the 0-250V scale. The researcher may want to use
more compatible voltage source with that of a specific range.

DC Milliameter

Table 3: DC Milliammeter Accuracy Test

Range Current Applied Reading Accuracy

250mA 230mA 238mA 96.53%
25mA 25mA 25mA 100%

This test used small DC cells with the rated amperage as indicated in the table.
The other DCmA ranges were not tested because current sources of those ranges
are not available.

Ohmmeter

Table 4: Ohmmeter Accuracy Test

Range Load Applied Reading Accuracy

10,000 44k 4.4x10,000=44k 100%
1,000 44k 43x1,000=43k 97.73%
100 1k 10.2x100=1020 98%
10 1k 102x10=1020 98%
1 200 188x1=188 94%

The test above was conducted by measuring different values of color-coded

carbon resistors (44k, 1k and 200). All used resistors are rated at 1%
tolerance. Considering this, all of the achieved readings fall in the rated range of
the resistors. Which means the projects ohmmeter functions well and measures
accurately.

Evaluation and Recommendations

The figures presented above makes conclusive marks that the multimeter is in
good electrical condition and measures in high accuracy. All went well within the
project, only except the ohmmeter. The researcher compels the readers and
researchers to enhance and improve the multimeter circuitry, like adding an
extra parameter of measurement (e.g. hFe tests, decibelmeter, frequency meter,
etc.), or a buzzer circuit for continuity tests. The mathematical treatments used
in this paper may also be improved to achieve better results.

References

Buchsbaum, Walter. Buchsbaums Complete Handbook of Practical Electronics

Reference Data. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, Inc., 1975.

Ganic, Ejup, and Hicks, Tyler. McGraw-Hill Handbook of Essential Engineering

information and Data. USA: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1991.
Khandpur, R.S. Printed Circuit Boards: Design, Fabrication and Assembly. USA:
McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2006.

Saul Marconi and Pagarigan. Basic Electronics, Solid-State Servicing, 1986.

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/content/ProductData/Manuals/80-5060.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimeter

Appendices

Some significant parts of the study were not included in the research body. This
section will discuss additional information for easy understanding of the project,
aided by tables and figures.

Resistor Color Coding

There are many types of resistors, both fixed and variable. The most common
type for electronics use is the carbon resistor. They are made in different physical
sizes with power dissipation limits commonly from 1 watt down to 1/8 watt. The
resistance value and tolerance can be determined from the standard
resistor color code.

Figure 5: Color-coded Resistor

A variation on the color code is used for precision resistors which may have five
colored bands. In that case the first three bands indicate the first three digits of
the resistance value and the fourth band indicates the number of zeros. In the
five band code the fifth band is gold for 1% resistors and silver for 2%.

The following table shows the comprehensive color-coding system used in

resistors.

Table 5: Resistor Color-coding Reference

There is another scheme for resistors which have the values stamped on them.
Since a decimal point is easy to miss, this code uses R instead of a decimal point.
For values over 100 W four numbers are used. The tolerance is indicated by a
letter. F for 1%, G for 2%, J for 5%, K for 10%, and M for 20%.

How to Read Multimeters

If you're using a multimeter for the first time, one of the things you'll need to
learn is how to read it, which isn't that obvious. This article explains in detail how
to read the current and voltage using the multiple scales on an analog
multimeter or multitester (the kind with a pointer), not how to use a multimeter.
This article does not apply to resistance or dB measurements.

Determine the voltage at full scale. It depends on the setting of the range switch.
The meter is designed to give full scale when the voltage you're measuring
matches the switch setting. Thus, if the switch is set to the 30 volt range, this
picture shows 30 volts is applied across the inputs. Similarly, if the switch is set
to the 0.1 amp range, you have 0.1 amps of current running through the meter.

Remember that the meter is linear. So at half scale (shown here), you can just
divide the range setting by 2. Here it is 150 volts on the 300V range, or 50mA on
the 100mA range.

Expect variations in scales. In this example, there are two scales, 0 to 1 and 0 to
3. Not all meters are like this. Some have 0 to 5, or 0 to 2, but scales are
provided to match each setting of the range switch. Just find the one that
matches the switch, and then move the decimal point mentally.

This example shows 7.2 volts on the 10V range, or 216mA on the 300mA range.

Here it's 36.5mV on the 100mV range, or 11A on the 30A range.

Tips:

1. If the needle points below zero, then you've connected the "+" lead to a
negative DC voltage (compared to the "-" lead). Note this, and reverse the
connections to take the measurement.
2. For DC (Direct Current)(Amps) measurements, the conventional current is

flowing in to the "+" lead and out of the "-" lead when the pointer operates
properly.

3. If the pointer goes above full scale, the reading is meaningless. Always
select a high enough range that the pointer stays at or below full scale.

Multimeter Theory of Operation

A multimeter is a combination of a multirange DC voltmeter, multirange AC
voltmeter, multirange ammeter, and multirange ohmmeter. An un-amplified
analog multimeter combines a meter movement, range resistors and switches.

For an analog meter movement, DC voltage is measured with a series resistor

connected between the meter movement and the circuit under test. A set of
switches allows greater resistance to be inserted for higher voltage ranges. The
product of the basic full-scale deflection current of the movement, and the sum
of the series resistance and the movement's own resistance, gives the full-scale
voltage of the range. As an example, a meter movement that required 1 milliamp
for full scale deflection, with an internal resistance of 500 ohms, would, on a 10-
volt range of the multimeter, have 9,500 ohms of series resistance.

For analog current ranges, low-resistance shunts are connected in parallel with
the meter movement to divert most of the current around the coil. Again for the
case of a hypothetical 1 mA, 500 ohm movement on a 1 Ampere range, the
shunt resistance would be just over 0.5 ohms.

Moving coil instruments respond only to the average value of the current through
them. To measure alternating current, a rectifier diode is inserted in the circuit so
that the average value of current is non-zero. Since the average value and the
root-mean-square value of a waveform need not be the same, simple rectifier-
type circuits may only be accurate for sinusoidal waveforms. Other wave shapes
require a different calibration factor to relate RMS and average value. Since
practical rectifiers have non-zero voltage drop, accuracy and sensitivity is poor at
low values.

To measure resistance, a small dry cell within the instrument passes a current
through the device under test and the meter coil. Since the current available
depends on the state of charge of the dry cell, a multimeter usually has an
adjustment for the ohms scale to zero it. In the usual circuit found in analog
multimeters, the meter deflection is inversely proportional to the resistance; so
full-scale is 0 ohms, and high resistance corresponds to smaller deflections. The
ohms scale is compressed, so resolution is better at lower resistance values.

Amplified instruments simplify the design of the series and shunt resistor
networks. The internal resistance of the coil is decoupled from the selection of
the series and shunt range resistors; the series network becomes a voltage
divider. Where AC measurements are required, the rectifier can be placed after
the amplifier stage, improving precision at low range.

Digital instruments, which necessarily incorporate amplifiers, use the same

principles as analog instruments for range resistors. For resistance
measurements, usually a small constant current is passed through the device
under test and the digital multimeter reads the resultant voltage drop; this
eliminates the scale compression found in analog meters, but requires a source
of significant current. An autoranging digital multimeter can automatically adjust
the scaling network so that the measurement uses the full precision of the A/D
converter.

In all types of multimeters, the quality of the switching elements is critical to

stable and accurate measurements. Stability of the resistors is a limiting factor in
the long-term accuracy and precision of the instrument.

o For 5 mA range

A A A

(a (b (c

(a) In order for the meter to deflect at 5 mA, it requires 1.8k resistance
for the test circuit.
(b) In order for the meter to deflect at 2.5 mA, it requires 3.6k resistance
for the test circuit.
(c) In order for the meter to deflect at 1.3 mA, it requires 6.8k resistance
for the test circuit
o For 25 mA range

(a (b (c
(a) In order for
the meter to deflect at 25 mA, it requires 360 resistance for the test
circuit.
(b) In order for the meter to deflect at 12.5 mA, it requires 720
resistance for the test circuit.
(c) In order for the meter to deflect at 6 mA, it requires 1.5k resistance
for the test circuit

o For 75 mA range

(a (b (c
(a) In order for the meter
to deflect at 75 mA, it requires 120 resistance for the test circuit.
(b) In order for the meter to deflect at 37.5 mA, it requires 240
resistance for the test circuit.
(c) In order for the meter to deflect at 18 mA, it requires 500 resistance
for the test circuit
o For 100 mA range

(a (b (c

(a) In order for the meter to deflect at 75 mA,

it requires 120 resistance for the test circuit.
(b) In order for the meter to deflect at 37.5 mA, it requires 240
resistance for the test circuit.
(c) In order for the meter to deflect at 18 mA, it requires 500 resistance
for the test circuit