Search

Premium Membership ♕

Limited Time Offer: Save 15% on PRO Plan with discount code: LRN15 and study specialized LV/MV/HV technical articles and studies.

Home / Technical Articles / Basic measuring of resistance, voltage and current using digital multimeter

Few words about digital multimeter

Digital multimeter has generally replaced the analog-type multimeter as the test device of choice for maintainers because they are easier to read, are often more compact and have greater accuracy. Digital multimeter performs all standard analog-meter measurement functions of AC and DC. Some offer frequency and temperature measurement.

Basic measuring of resistance, voltage and current using digital multimeter
Basic measuring of resistance, voltage and current using digital multimeter

Many have such features as peak-hold display that provides short-term memory for capturing the peak value of transient signals as well as audible and visual indications for continuity testing and level detection.

When troubleshooting with the digital multimeter, the maintainer is able to “see” the situation and the problem within the circuit or system. Figure 1 illustrates a typical autoranging digital multimeter.

Of course for the meter to be of any use it must first be connected to the circuit or device to be tested. Both leads, one red and the other black, must be inserted into the correct meter lead jacks. The black lead is connected to the meter jack marked COM or common.

Digital multimeter
Figure 1 – Digital multimeter

It is usually the lower right jack as in this illustration. (Be aware that not every meter has the same jack configuration.) The red lead is connected to either of the appropriate jacks depending on what the maintainer wants to measure – ohms, volts or amperes.

The two jacks on the left are utilized when measuring current, either in the 300mA or the 10 ampere range.

Let’s see now the basic procedures for measuring of three main electrical units:

  1. Resistance
  2. Voltage
  3. Current

1. Measuring resistance

Figure 2 shows the steps that should be followed when measuring resistance. Remember that resistance measurements are carried out without the power being applied to the component under test, and resistance values can vary by as much as 20% due to the tolerance of certain resistors.

Do not be misled if your meter reading is slightly different from the color band on the resistor. If a resistor’s value is off and exceeds the tolerance, the resistor should be replaced! A resistor will rarely short, but typically will open.

If a resistor does open, the digital multimeter display will flash on and off or display OL (open line) because the resistor has an infinite resistance.

  1. Turn off power to the circuit
  2. Select resistance Ω
  3. Plug the black test lead into the COM jack and the red test lead into the Ω jack
  4. Connect the probe tips across the component or portion of the circuit for which you want to determine the resistance
  5. View the reading and be sure to note the unit of measure, Ω, ΩK, MΩ, etc.
Measuring resistance with digital multimeter
Figure 2 – Measuring resistance with digital multimeter

Go back to digital multimeter measurements ↑


2. Measuring voltage

Figure 3 shows the steps that should be followed when measuring voltage. The measurement of both voltage and resistance is where the digital multimeter finds its greatest utilization.

For voltage and resistance measurement, the red lead is inserted into the V – ŸΩ (volt or ohm) meter jack.

  1. Select volts AC (V~), volts DC (V—), mvolts (V—) as desired
  2. Plug the black test lead into the COM jack and the red test lead into the V jack
  3. Touch the probe tips to the circuit across a load or power source as shown (parallel to the circuit to be tested)
  4. View the reading being sure to note the unit of measure

Note // For DC readings of the correct polarity (+ or -), touch the red test probe to the positive side of the circuit, and the black test probe to the negative side of the circuit ground. If you reverse the connections, a digital multimeter with auto-polarity will merely display a minus sign indicating negative polarity. With an analog meter you risk damaging the meter.

Measuring voltage with digital multimeter
Figure 3 – Measuring voltage with digital multimeter

Go back to digital multimeter measurements ↑


3. Measuring current

Figure 4 shows the steps that should be followed when measuring current. The measurement of current is rarely performed when troubleshooting, as the circuit path has to be opened to insert the digital multimeter in series with the current flow.

However, if current is to be measured, the red lead is inserted into one of the ampere jacks, 10 amp (10A) or 300 milliamp (300 mA) input jack depending on the expected value of the reading.

  1. Turn off the power to the circuit
  2. Disconnect, cut or unsolder the circuit, creating a place where the meter probes can be inserted
  3. Select amps AC (A~), or amps DC (A—) as desired
  4. Plug the black test lead into the COM jack and the red test lead into 10 amp (10A) or 300 milliamp (300mA) jack depending on the expected value of the reading
  5. Connect the probe tips to the circuit across the bread as shown so that all current will flow through the meter ( a series connection)
  6. Turn the circuit power back on
  7. View the reading being sure to note the unit of measure

Note // If test leads are reversed a negative (-) sign will be displayed

Measuring electric current with digital multimeter
Figure 4 – Measuring electric current with digital multimeter

Go back to digital multimeter measurements ↑

Reference // Electrical Theory – Technology, PLC concepts, basic electronics by Michelin

Premium Membership

Get access to premium HV/MV/LV technical articles, electrical engineering guides, research studies and much more! It helps you to shape up your technical skills in your everyday life as an electrical engineer.
More Information
author-pic

Edvard Csanyi

Electrical engineer, programmer and founder of EEP. Highly specialized for design of LV/MV switchgears and LV high power busbar trunking (<6300A) in power substations, commercial buildings and industry facilities. Professional in AutoCAD programming.

5 Comments


  1. Stephen Brown
    Jul 14, 2019

    Thought this level of information would be directed to primary school children or maybe farmers


  2. Daniel Tackie Nunoo
    Jul 14, 2019

    I want to know why Star Delta Transformer is used for long high voltage transmission in electrical power system


  3. Fatulla Karimov
    Jul 14, 2019

    Thanks for advance


  4. Paul
    Aug 15, 2016

    An exercise for the readers: What is wrong with the lead photo with the automotive battery. Why does it appear to show the correct (although negative) voltage.


    • David Renshaw
      Aug 17, 2016

      Paul – re. your comment:

      It’s a strain on the eyesight but just possible to make out that the left-hand socket is marked something ‘A’ (a CURRENT, not voltage range). With slight magnification, I notice the second socket from the right is marked COM – which he should be using for the black lead, but isn’t.

      Almost all DMMs would normally show range & status details in the display (mV or V; AC or DC; state of the meter’s internal battery). This one isn’t doing. Whether the user has noticed this, we don’t know. Maybe he’s just having a bad day! But I’m sure he realized something was wrong and immediately moved the black lead to its correct socket (COM) – thereby shorting out the battery. Still, at least he’ll now have a replacement instrument won’t he.

      All in all, an excellent example of how use a digital multimeter!

Leave a Reply to Fatulla Karimov

Tell us what you're thinking. We care about your opinion! Please keep in mind that comments are moderated and rel="nofollow" is in use. So, please do not use a spammy keyword or a domain as your name, or it will be deleted. Let's have a professional and meaningful conversation instead. Thanks for dropping by!

sixty seven  +    =  72

Learn How to Design Power Systems

Learn to design LV/MV/HV power systems through professional video courses. Lifetime access. Enjoy learning!

Subscribe to Weekly Newsletter

Subscribe to our Weekly Digest newsletter and receive free updates on new technical articles, video courses and guides (PDF).
EEP Academy Courses - A hand crafted cutting-edge electrical engineering knowledge