Describe how to use multimeters to

measure current, voltage and resistance

How to use multimeter to measure
Current

 Turn off the power in the circuit being measured.

 Connect the probe leads as shown in the photo

below. Plug the black ground probe lead into the
COM socket.
 Plug the red positive probe lead either into the mA
socket or the high current socket which is usually
marked 10A (some meters have a 20 A socket instead
of 10A). The mA socket is often marked with the
maximum current and if you estimate that the current
will be greater than this value, you must use the 10 A
socket, otherwise you will end up blowing a fuse in the
meter.
 A multimeter must be inserted in series in a circuit in
order to measure current.
 Turn the dial on the meter to the highest current
range (or the 10A range if the probe is in the 10A
socket). If the meter is autoranging, set it to the "A"
or mA setting. (See the photo above for an
explanation of symbols used).
 Turn on the power.
 If the range is too high, you can switch to a lower
range to get a more accurate reading.
 Remember to return the positive probe to the V socket
when finished measuring current. The meter is
practically a short circuit when the lead is in the mA or
10 A socket. If you forget and connect the meter to a
voltage source when the lead is in this position, you may
end up blowing a fuse at best or blowing up the meter
at worst! (On some meters the 10A range is un-fused).
Connecting Probe Leads to Measure Current
Measuring Large Currents with a Clamp
Meter (Tong Tester)

 On most multimeters, the highest current range is 10

or 20 amps. It would be impractical to feed very high
currents through a meter because normal 4 mm
sockets and test leads wouldn't be capable of
carrying high currents without overheating. Instead,
clamp meters are used for these measurements.
 Clamp meters (as the name suggests), also known as
tong testers, have a spring loaded clamp like a giant
clothes peg which clamps around a current carrying
cable. The advantage of this is that a circuit doesn't have
to broken to insert a meter in series, and power needn't
be turned off as is the case when measuring current on a
standard DMM. Clamp meters use either an integrated
current transformer or hall effect sensor to measure the
magnetic field produced by a flowing current.
 The meter can be a self contained instrument with an
LCD which displays current, or alternatively the device
can output a voltage signal via probe leads and 4mm
"banana" plugs to a standard DMM. The voltage is
proportional to the measured signal, typically 1mv
represents 1 amp.
 Clamp meters can measure hundreds or thousands of amps.
 To use a current clamp, you simply clamp over a single cable.
In the case of a power cord or multicore cable, you need to
isolate one of the cores. If two cores carrying the same
current but in opposite directions are enclosed within the
jaws (which would be the situation if you clamp over a
power cord), the magnetic fields due to the current flow
would cancel out and the reading would be zero
Fluke 381 True RMS AC/DC clamp meter
 How to use multimeter to measure
Voltage
 To start, let's measure voltage on a AA battery: Plug the
black probe into COM and the red probe into mAVΩ. Set the
multimeter to "2V" in the DC (direct current) range. Almost
all portable electronics use direct current), not alternating
current. Connect the black probe to the battery's ground or
'-' and the red probe to power or '+'. Squeeze the probes
with a little pressure against the positive and negative
terminals of the AA battery. If you've got a fresh battery,
you should see around 1.5V on the display (this battery is
brand new, so its voltage is slightly higher than 1.5V).
 If you're measuring DC voltage (such as a battery or a sensor
hooked up to an Arduino) you want to set the knob where
the V has a straight line. AC voltage (like what comes out of
the wall) can be dangerous, so we rarely need to use the AC
voltage setting (the V with a wavy line next to it). If you're
messing with AC, we recommend you get a non-contact
tester rather than use a digital multimeter.
Use the V with a straight line to measure DC Voltage
Use the V with a wavy line to measure AC Voltage
 What happens if you switch the red and black probes? The
reading on the multimeter is simply negative. Nothing bad
happens! The multimeter measures voltage in relation to
the common probe. How much voltage is there on the ‘+’
of the battery compared to common or the negative pin?
1.5V. If we switch the probes, we define ‘+’ as the common
or zero point. How much voltage is there on the ‘-’ of the
battery compared to our new zero? -1.5V!
 Why does the meter knob read 20V and not 10V? If
you're looking to measure a voltage less than 20V,
you turn to the 20V setting. This will allow you to read
from 2.00 to 19.99.

 The first digit on many multimeters is only able to

display a '1' so the ranges are limited to 19.99 instead
of 99.99. Hence the 20V max range instead of 99V
max range.
Selection Knob
 Warning!
 In general, stick to DC circuits (the settings on the multimeter with
straight lines, not curvy lines). Most multimeters can measure AC
(alternating current) systems, but AC circuits can be dangerous. A wall
outlet with AC or 'main voltage' is the stuff that can zap you pretty
good. VERY carefully respect AC. If you need to check to see if an outlet
is 'on' then use a AC tester. Really the only times we've needed to
measure AC are when we've got an outlet that is acting funny (is it really
at 110V?), or if we're trying to control a heater (such as a hot plate). Go
slow and double check everything before you test an AC circuit.
How to use multimeter to measure
Resistance

 If the component is on a circuit board or in an appliance,

turn off the power
 Disconnect one end of the component if it's in a circuit.
This may involve pulling off spade leads or desoldering.
This is important as there may be other resistors or other
components having resistance, in parallel with the
component being measured.
 Connect the probes as shown in the photo below.
 Turn the dial to the lowest Ohm or Ω range. This is
likely to be the 200 ohm range or similar.
 Place a probe tip at each end of the component being
measured.
 If the display indicates "I", this means that resistance is
greater than can be displayed on the range setting you have
selected, so you must turn the dial to the next highest
range. Repeat this until a value is displayed on the LCD.
Connecting Probe Leads to Measure
Resistance