How do I determine electronic meter uncertainty?

Electronic meter uncertainty depends on:

1. the electronic meter you are using
2. what type of measurement you are doing (i.e., DC voltage, AC current, resistance, etc.)
3. the actual value measured using the electronic meter

Make sure the data is always recorded to the smallest decimal place of the electronic meter
– don’t drop off the zeros! We need to know this decimal place to calculate the meter
uncertainty correctly.

Step 1 Determine the “recipe” for the particular electronic meter you are using and the type of
measurement you are doing with that electronic meter.
• “Recipes” are commonly in the form “# % + # digits.”
o The "%” applies to the measured value.
! Example: “2.0%” means take 2.0% of the value you measured.
o The “# digits” means “#” of the least significant digit found on the meter.
! Example: “2 digits” means two of the least significant digit.
• The “recipes” for three commonly used electronic meters can be found in Appendix B-2
of the Physics 1220L or Physics 1520L Lab Manuals. If the type of meter is not listed in
the appendix, check the assignment for a table or the chalkboard during the lab period to
find the meter uncertainty for that type of meter.

Step 2 Calculate the % given in the “recipe” for the particular measured value.

Step 3 Determine the decimal place of the least significant figure (LSF) in the measured
quantity.
• Example: value = 2.52 volts; decimal place of LSF = “hundredths” place
• Example: value = 0.170 A; decimal place of LSF = “thousandths” place

Step 4 Put a “1” in the decimal place of the least significant figure (LSF)
• Example: value = 2.52 volts; 1 digit = .01 volts
• Example: value = 0.170 A; 1 digit = .001 A

Step 5 Multiply the 1 digit by the “#” of digits in the “recipe”

• Example: value = 2.52 volts;
o “2 digits” = (2)(0.01 volts) = 0.02 volts
o “3 digits” = (3)(0.01 volts) = 0.03 volts
o “1 digit” = (1)(0.01 volts) = 0.01 volts

Step 6 Add the “%” and the “# digits” together

Step 7 Round the meter uncertainty result and the original measured value following the “Rules
for Reporting Experimental Values” found in Appendix C of the Physics 1210L and
Physics 1510L Laboratory Manuals. See Do’s and Don’ts of Physics Lab Reports #26
for a quick reminder of how to round values with uncertainty.
Note: In electricity and magnetism experiments, we usually do not measure the same value
multiple times with an electronic meter, like we did in previous Newtonian mechanics
experiments, so the meter uncertainty is the “overall” uncertainty of the measurement.

Extended Example #1: Meter uncertainty of a Fluke 75 multimeter, used to measure AC

Voltage. A value of 12.4 volts is read off the meter.
Step 1: “recipe” = 2.0% + 2 digits [Appendix Table B-2, Lab Manual]
Step 2: 2.0% of 12.4 volts = (0.02)(12.4 volts) = 0.248 volts
Step 3: the LSF of 12.4 volts = the “tenths” place
Step 4: one “digit” = 0.1 volts
Step 5: the “recipe” calls for “two digits” = (2)(0.1 volts) = 0.2 volts
Step 6: Add step 2 result and step 5 result = 0.248 volts + 0.2 volts = 0.448 volts
Step 7: Round.
• round the meter uncertainty to one significant digit (0.448 volts rounds to 0.4 volts)
• round the best estimate it accompanies to the same decimal place (if not already there)
Final answer for the AC voltage = (12.4 ± 0.4) volts

Note: Once you are comfortable with calculating electronic meter uncertainty, you can collapse
steps 2-6 into one large step. For the above example, it would look like this:
Step 1: “recipe” = 2.0% + 2 digits [Appendix Table B-2, Lab Manual]
Steps 2-6: 2.0% + 2 digits
= (.02)(12.4 volts) + (2)(0.1 volts) = 0.248 volts + 0.2 volts = 0.448 volts
Step 7: Round. 0.448 volts rounds to 0.4 volts (“tenths” place)
Final answer for the AC voltage = (12.4 ± 0.4) volts

Example #2: Meter uncertainty of a Sperry DM-6450 multimeter used to measure DC Current.
A value of 123.2 mA is read off the meter.
Step 1: “recipe” = 1.2% + 3 digits [“recipe” from instructor]
Steps 2-6: unc. = (0.012)(123.2 mA) + (3)(0.1 mA)
= 0.01774 mA + 0.3 mA
= 0.31774 mA
Step 7: 0.31774 mA rounds to 0.3 mA (which lies in the “tenths” place when rounded)
So 123.2 mA needs to be rounded to the “tenths” place. (It is already there!)
Final answer for DC Current = (123.2 ± 0.3) mA

Example #3: Meter uncertainty of a Sperry DM-6450 multimeter used to measure DC Voltage.
A value of 4.00 volts is read off the meter.
Step 1: “recipe” = 0.8% + 1 digit [“recipe” from instructor]
Steps 2-6: unc. = (0.008)(4.00 volts) + (1)(0.01 volts)
= 0.032 volts + 0.01 volts
= 0.042 volts
Step 7: 0.042 volts rounds to 0.04 volts (which lies in the “hundredths” place)
So 4.00 volts needs to be rounded to the “hundredths” place. (It is already there!)
Final answer for DC Voltage = (4.00 ± 0.04) volts

CSU Pomona Electronic Meter Uncertainty 1/16/20 Dr. Julie J. Nazareth