DEE10013

MEASUREMENT DEVICES
 LEARNING OUTCOME
1. Describe block diagram and function of each block of digital
multimeter
2. State advantages and disadvantages of digital multimeter
3. Compare between analogue multimeter and digital
multimeter
4. Demonstrate safety precautions in using digital multimeter
5. Measure actual voltage, current, and resistance with digital
multimeter
6. Describe basic principles of clamp meter
7. Use clamp meter to measure alternating current
BLOCK DIAGRAM OF DIGITAL MULTIMETER
FUNCTION OF EACH BLOCK OF MULTIMETER

Signal Conditioning
The Signal Conditioning section provides a DC
analog voltage - to applied to the ADC section.
This task is accomplished by the input voltage
divider, current shunts, AC converter, ohm
converter, active filter and associated switching.
FUNCTION OF EACH BLOCK OF MULTIMETER

Analog-to- Digital Converter (A/D Converter)

Changes the dc output voltage from Signal
Conditioning section to digital information.

Display
Display the value from the A/D converter section.
Eg.LED/seven segment (Light Emitting Diode)
readout.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF
DIGITAL MULTIMETER
Advantages
 Higher accuracy and resolution
 Easier to read, display as a number
 No parallax errors
 Reduce human error
 Digital meters can be safely connected in reverse

Disadvantages
 May require memory
 More expensive and also requires a power supply
 Repeated inputs are possible
DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN ANALOGUE
MULTIMETER AND DIGITAL MULTIMETER
No Aspects Analog Digital
multimeter multimeter
1 Power supply Not required Required
2 Visual indication of Better Not that much
changes in the reading better
3 Effect of electric noise Less More
4 Accuracy Less High
5 Interface of the with Not possible Possible
external equipment
6 Construction Simple Complicated
7 Cost Less More
 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS IN USING DIGITAL
MULTIMETER
1. Never apply power to the circuit while measuring
resistance with a multimeter.
2. Connect the multimeter in series with the circuit for current
measurements, and in parallel for voltage measurements.
3. Be certain the multimeter is switched to AC before
attempting to measure AC circuits.
4. Observe proper DC polarity when measuring DC circuits.
5. Always start with the highest voltage or current range.
6. Observe the general safety precautions for electrical and
electronic devices.
VOLTAGE MEASUREMENT
CURRENT MEASUREMENT
RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT
THE CLAMP METER

Figure 5.6: Clamp meter

INTRODUCTION OF CLAMP METER
• A clamp meter is a type of meter which measures
electrical current (AC) in the conductor without the
need to disconnect the wiring which is the current
flowing through it.
• Clamp meter is having two jaws which open to allow
clamping around an electrical conductor.
• These meters are also known as tong testers or
Amprobes.
• The advantage of this meter over an ammeter is that
we do not have to break the circuit to measure the
current.
• So we usually use it to measure current in a circuit
where it is dangerous of difficult to break the circuit
to place ammeter in line for the test.

• We clamp the meter onto the conducting wire at the

point where we want to measure the current.

• We usually use this meter to measure alternating

current (AC) values higher than 10A. Direct currents
and very low AC currents (milliamps) are more
difficult to measure.
THE BASIC PRINCIPLE OF CLAMP METER

Figure 5.7: The block diagram of Digital Clamp meter

• Clamp meter are consists of Transformer Jaws, Hall
element and GAP.
• Hall elements are used as a sensor to detect DC
current and placed across a gap created by cutting
off part of the transformer jaws.
• When there occurs a flow of magnetic flux
proportional to both AC and DC primary currents in
the transformer jaws this hall element detects the
magnetic flux and takes it out as an output voltage.
 OPERATION OF CLAMP METER
• AC clamp meters operate on the principle of current
transformer (CT) used to pick up magnetic flux
generated as a result of current flowing through a
conductor.

• Assuming a current flowing through a conductor to be

the primary current.

• This current proportional to the primary current by

electromagnetic induction from the secondary side
(winding) of the transformer .which is connected to a
measuring circuit of the instrument.
• This result an AC current reading on the digital
display (in the case of digital clamp meters) as
illustrated by the block diagram figure 5.7
THE CLAMP METER CONNECTION FOR ALTERNATING
CURRENT MEASUREMENT

Figure 5.8: Clamp meter circuit for AC

current measurement
 AC Voltage Measurement

• Set the Function switch to the 40 or 200A AC

range.
• Press the jaw trigger and clamp around, fully
enclosing a single conductor. Do not allow a gap
between the two halves of the jaw (Take a
measurement at the centre of the core of the
clamped portion to minimize measuring errors).
• If two wire parallel lines are clamped, current
measurement cannot be made.
• Read the ACA value on the LCD.