Mecatronic Control Systems – Tecsup – L3

Name: PACCO SONCCO CLINTON DANTE

Automotive
Electronics

Student Manual

Activity 3

Why Use a DMM?

Activity Contents:

• Meter Loading
• Component Damage
• Inaccurate Measurements
• Meter Polarity

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 Worksheet
Meter Loading:

A DMM should be used when troubleshooting electronic circuits instead of an analog

(needletype) meter or test light. Now we will look at the reason why.

B+

ELECTRICAL
LOAD 1
CURRENT

WATER +
LOAD 2
FLOW
VOLTMETER
-

Figure 3-1

Figure 3-1 shows the similarity of water flow and electrical current flow. When you
measure voltages around a circuit, the meter is placed in parallel (across) to the
component you are measuring. The meter “feels” the amount of pressure (voltage) by
causing a certain amount of current to flow through it.

In many automotive electronic control circuits, the amounts of current flow are so small
to begin with that any extra current will affect the overall measurement and possibly
even cause damage to the control components. If an analog meter (or test light) is used
in an electronic circuit, two things could happen:

(1) The electronic components might be damaged.

(2) The measurement will be inaccurate.

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Component Damage:

Build the circuit in Figure 3-2. Use red wire in the path to the resistor B-C and C-F. Use
black wire for the ground connections D-E and G-H. (adicionalmente ponga un cable
puente entre A y B)

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1. What do you expect the voltage to be across the parallel resistors?
Que sea 12 voltios en las resistencias

2. Using a test light, probe the voltage across the resistors. Describe the light:
Realizando la prueba de voltaje en la resistencia, la bombilla
enciende.

3. Now, using a hand-held DMM, measure the same voltage F-H: 12

Volts

4. Was battery voltage measured by both the test light and DMM? Si, se midió
y se comprobó en ambos que el voltaje es 12 voltios.

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Now let’s see what happened to the current flow in the circuit with both the test light and
DMM.

Set up the DMM to measure Amps. If using a Manual Ranging DMM, select the 2 mA
range. Make sure the red test probe is plugged into the proper jack for measuring Amps.
(If there are two jacks for measuring Amps, do not use the one labeled 10A).

Break the circuit at point A and properly insert the Ammeter in series with the circuit.
(Red probe to the positive power supply post and Black probe to point A.)

5. What is the total current flow in the circuit?

A — in mA 2.35 mA
B — in Amps 0.00236 amperios

Now probe the voltage across resistor F-G with a 12-Volt test light.

6. What is the new total current with the test light attached (you may need to
change ranges if you are using a manual ranging DMM)?
46.5 mA or 5 A

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Here we see that the use of the Test Light can cause a significant increase in current flow
in electronic circuits. This increase in current can damage the electronic control
components of an automotive circuit. An analog (needle-type) meter can also increase
current flow in a circuit.

The affect of the test light (or Analog Meter) increasing the current in a circuit is called
Meter Loading.

To prevent heavy meter loading, electronic voltmeters like the DMM have a very high
internal resistance. This internal resistance is called Impedance. An Analog Meter can
have an internal Impedance (resistance) of 250 KΩ (250,000 Ohms), but a DMM can
have an internal Impedance of 10 MΩ (10,000,000 Ohms) or more.

Remember, in electricity, more resistance (or impedance) means less current flow, so the
DMM causes less meter loading and affects the circuit being measured less.

A DMM is best for troubleshooting electronic circuits. Figure 3-3 tries to illustrate the
effects of meter loading with a water flow example.

Inaccurate Measurements:

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 TEST LIGHT
+ OR
ANALOG
- VOLTMETER

HEAVY METER LOADING

DIGITAL
VOLTMETER

SMALL METER LOADING

Figure 3-3

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 uild the series circuit in Figure 3-4. Use red wire in the path to the resistors B-C and
DE. Use black wire for the ground F-G. (adicionalmente ponga un cable puente entre
A y B)

7. With supply voltage connected at B+, what voltage would you expect to
measure across the two equal resistors wired in series?
5.8 Volts

8. Now measure the voltage across each resistor with the DMM.
C-D 5.8 Volts
E-F 5.89 Volts

Keep the DMM in place across E-F and probe the voltage across E-F using a test light.

9. What happened to the voltage across E-F with the test light connected?
Al conectar la luz de prueba no enciende, debido a que el voltaje es
consumido por las resistencias ya que estas están conectadas en serie.

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Here we see the heavy meter loading of the Test Light also affects the accuracy of the
readings, but the DMM does not.

Meter Polarity:

Referring back to the circuit of Figure 3-4, use a DMM to measure the voltage across the
resistor E-F, but this time put the red test probe on ground F and the black test probe on
point E.

10. What does the meter read? 5.89 Volts

This is a nice feature on a DMM: even if the probes are reversed, the meter can still make
the same measurement with a minus (-) sign in the display.

Conclusion:

In summary, the DMM is safer and more accurate for troubleshooting automotive
electronic circuits because it causes less meter loading. Also, DMMs are more rugged
than Analog Meters because there are no moving parts inside. This makes the DMM
ideal for the automotive shop.

The DMM is a very valuable automotive diagnostic tool if you understand how to use it
properly. The best way to learn this meter is to use it. Stick with it!!

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