Finding your way back after business failure

5 Tips for Novice Multimeter Users

14 October 2019

Brittany Washington

If you're foraying into electrical work as a hobby or professionally, you will need to use a multimeter. This small tool can help you measure voltage, current, resistance, and diode incontinuity as well as other items, and if you're debugging circuits, rewiring items, trying to find the voltage of certain items, or doing other electrical tasks, this tool can be essential. Before using your micrometer, keep the following tips in mind. 

1. Know the Difference Between Direct and Alternating Currents

Most multimeters feature a variety of different symbols. Two of the most important symbols are direct and alternating currents. The symbol for a direct current is a straight line with small dots underneath it, while the alternating current is represented by a wavy line. Direct currents flow in one direction, but alternating currents change direction. 

2. Familiarise Yourself With the Port Options

Although multimeters come in different designs, they all feature a few ports along the bottom. When you're taking measurements of an electrical item, you need to touch probes to the exposed wires or metal that the electricity is running through, and then, you need to plug the other end of the probe into the ports. 

Usually, you put the black probe into the common port and the red one into the voltage port. If you get a negative reading, that generally means that you have the probes reversed. 

3. Figure Out If You Need to Set a Voltage Range or Not

With some multimeters, you need to select the voltage range that you are trying to measure, and the multimeter narrows in on the reading in that range. For instance, if you were working with a traditional appliance, the standard voltage in Australia is 230 volts, so you set the multimeter's range around that level. However, with some models of multimeters, the tool narrows in on the right range for you. Before using your multimeter, make sure you understand whether you need to select a range or not. 

4. Invest in a Variety of Different Probes

To get the most accurate measurements with your multimeter, you need the right probe. Ideally, if you plan to use your multimeter for a variety of different projects, you need a range of different probes. Needle tips are very small and work well on pins in circuit boards. Alligator clips attach to the wires you're measuring so that you can free up your hands for other tasks. As implied by their name, IC hooks "hook" onto exposed wires. Tweezer probes are ideal for measuring very small components. These are just a few of the types of probes you may want to consider. 

5. Use the One-Hand Rule

When working with your multimeter, keep one hand in your pocket, and only work with a single hand. That way, if the current starts to run through you, you are not grounded, and you can't get electrocuted. This simple rule can save your life. 

 

Share

Search