How To Use A Multimeter To Check Continuity

When it comes to testing, diagnosing and troubleshooting electrical circuits and parts, a multimeter is a must have tool. This tool is  mostly used for measuring the voltage in the devices, measure current and measure resistances. In this post, we are going to guide you through the use of a multimeter.

Mostly we are going to help beginners who have no idea what is expected of them when it comes to multimeter. First, we will brief about how to use the analog, flake, and digital multimeter, how to measure current, voltage and resistance of a circuit board, and measure continuity of the circuit board.

What is a Multimeter?

A multimeter, also referred to as a volt-ohm meter (VOM) or a multitester, is an essential tool for checking whether or not electrical devices are functioning. It is how voltage and current / amperage and resistance are measured. There are two basic types of multimeters, analog and digital types.

To learn how to use it correctly, you must get to understand the main parts of a volt-ohm meter so that you can use a multimeter. You need to pay attention to three main parts of a multimeter: there are the display, selection knob, and ports.

After testing for voltage, resistance, or current, the display of the measurements will usually be an LED display. They are the dials or buttons used to select the test meter that you want, based on what you’re testing.

The ports are often located at the front of these devices. Almost all the multimeters have three terminals which include; Continuity test mode or COM, 10A, and mAVΩ. COM or continuity test mode is used to measure the circuit or component, 10A/20A is used to measure voltage, and the mAVΩ is used to measure resistance.

The multimeter is a very easy to use tool that is used by electricians to check or troubleshoot problems of motors, appliances, circuits, wiring systems, and power supply. Yet it is important to know that these are very dangerous tools and that they will need you to have the appropriate information when using these. We have written a couple steps in order to assist you to get the best out of your multimeter, and to help you actually learn how to use a multimeter.

1. Measuring Voltage

You could use a multimeter to measure voltage. For example, if you have the digital multimeter, you can make measurements of dc voltage or ac voltage, but since the analogue multimeter, it is possible to make only measurements of the alternating current.

The voltage section (marked V) of the volt ohm meter usually make sense. To see if electrical devices are working properly, you measure the voltage. If you try measuring the voltage there are few basic steps that you could follow in that.

a) DC Voltage Steps

To measure DC voltage, you just have to follow a few small steps and be ultra careful.

1. To measure DC voltage, turn the multimeter dial on to V, which is straight line for V. Push a button in the lower left corner of most multimeters to turn you will turn the voltmeter. V with a straight line will remind you that we are dealing with DC voltage and V with the wavy line stands for AC voltage.
2. Plug the red probe and the black cable into the corresponding voltmeter switch to measure the voltage. That means you need to play the red probe top red port or volt jack and the the black cable to black or volt jack.
3. After that, attach the test leads to the power supply circuit. When you will also need to make sure your hands don’t touch the lead tops whilst here. Furthermore, you should begin using black probe then red probe. As a reminder you can measure the Dc voltage drop across the components in this system, such as the resistor.
4. Determine and measure dc voltage. This will have display and indicate the measurements. This in case the multimeter reads a negative value is because you connected the multimeter probes to backwards terminals. So if you're using red, you always go to the positive terminal and black goes to the negative.
5. After finishing, be sure to eliminate the multimeter probes beginning in the top red probe.

b) AC Voltage

With the AC voltage, you have to be super cautious and it is best to be used by professionals or under some expert’s supervision.

1. First, you need to be sure about the fact that your probes fit and plugged in their relevant ports or terminals with perfection. You should not touch the probes, nor is there exposed metal. Make sure you remember how super dangerous the AC is.
2. Rotate the knob or dial on to V with a wave like symbol which depicts the AC voltage. Before the way in the red probe or the black probe, set be knurl to the V. Just note that in measuring the Dc voltage then you are in a position to measure the voltage drop across the component such as the resistor. Note that V with a straight line means direct current voltage, while V with the wavy line represents oscillating current voltage.
3. Plug  the black probe and the red probe to the main power. Be very cautious when doing this.
4. Now read the measurements shown on the screen above or below depending on screen orientation.

2. Measuring Current

Measuring current can be more challenging since you actually have to measure it in series. To measure voltage, you’ll use voltage, but here in this case, you will use current, which means you will have to interrupt the current flow and make sure that the meter is connected in series to obtain correct measurements. Now that you understand how to use a multimeter for voltage and resistance, we present you some steps on how to do it for current.

1. Turn on the multimeter to measure current.
2. You then need to plug the black probe and the red probe in correctly. Put the black probe in first in continuity test mode or with the COM socket, and run the red one in high current or with the mA/ 10A/20a switch.
3. Measure current by turning the knob of the volt-ohm meter to the highest current range.
4. Turn on the power. Just remember, when the range is too high, you should change onto a lower range to have more accurate readings.

3. Measuring Resistance

You can measure resistance between two points to access or determine the condition of your components like resistor or circuit. Always remember low resistance means the higher the current flow and vice versa. To measure resistance, we have indicated the few steps you could use.

1. The first thing you have to do is make sure you turn off the circuit power.
2. Turn your multimeter knob to resistance or ‘ohms’. When in resistance mode, OLΩ will display on the screen.
3. Next plug the probes in; the black ones to the continuity test mode or COM port; the red ones into the VΩ jack. Don't forget to check, if the probes stick to the COM port the black goes first and the red second, and when removing, take the red probes away from COM before taking out the black one.
4. Now twist the dial all the way to the lowest Ω or ohm range.
5. Put test probes tips across resistor being tested and read them on display.
6. When you are done, always remember to turned the multimeter off.

Types of Multimeter

Basically, fluke multimeter is of three types, the digital, analog and the fluke one. The most commonly used are digital and analog multimeters. We have discussed the three types to help you understand better.

1. Analog Multimeter

Analog multimeter is typically designed in a way that contains the shifting coil meter and pointer which specifies the readings. Analogs multimeters are used to measure voltage, current, resistance, frequency and signal power.

An analog meter is cheap, but typically very difficult to use and therefore is not a good solution for beginners since taking readings is on a voltage and resistance test can be tricky. The analog multimeter is used to measure an electrical field in resistance, in ohms, in volts. Furthermore, they are able to be tested for whether there are any short circuits, or some component, such as the resistor problem.

These more advanced analog meters great features like; overload protection, mirrored scale, range switch, IC testing styles, great battery power, capacitor, diode (etc.). Most of them will also have diode tests and battery tests. For example, if you have a device with a diode symbol, the tester is going to test the diode's operation, if you have a device with a battery test symbol, then it's going to test the battery's operation. But they’ll also have many manual settings, and dials with lots of different scales that you can’t read and aren’t easy to use.

Multimeters

Digital multimeters or DMM are the most commonly used meters today. While these meters may be slightly more costly than the analog ones, they are easy to operate. That’s why, a DMM will be functional for both; DC voltage and AC voltage and will give efficient and accurate reading.

The DMMs are normally double probe, and the typical probes are positive and negative which come in colors of Red and black hence possess switches. Also, the DMMs have the LCD, knob and digital to analog electric converter on it. The knob located on the DMM has a concentric ring around it and there are lines on this PCB which will break or join depending on the position of the knob.

Digital multimeters can test numerous things in an electrical circuit. Analog DMMs are slow, do not offer sensors for testing things like amps, volts, ohms, etc. – basic DMMs can do all that easily. The DMM will include many of the DMMs will allow enable functionality such as using it while testing temperature, capacitance, frequency, transistor functionality, and continuity of a circuit.

3. Fluke Multimeter

Fluke digital multimeter is a great multimeter commonly used and features a combination of different functionalities. The fluke multimeter will have a protection from the transient voltage and the screen will be larger to display the readings.

The Fluke is most used to take the measure of the voltage, current and resistance between two points. Don’t be surprised if you also see other Fluke multimeters that can be used for measuring duty cycle, humidity, frequency, temperature and diodes and more.

Tips About Using A Multimeter

If you have learned how to use a multimeter, there’s some tips we have prepared in order to help you use the multimeter safe and to use it like a pro..

1. First and foremost, while utilizing a multimeter, you ought to be extremely careful.
2. You also need a high good and quality multimeter, which will do your job. This will also help us take accurate readings and will help us avoid risks of getting injured.
3. Make sure your multimeter is tip top before you begin using it. For example, check if all the knobs are covered or cracked or broken. You could also see if the connections are tight while you insert them in to the ports.
4. Never use the multimeter selection knob for anything else other than checking the voltage reading. You will have to set the multimeter and return the probes to the voltage port.
5. When measuring both AC voltage and DC voltage, make sure the probes are hooked up in the correct port while measuring voltage.
6. Remember to turn off you multimeter every time you’re finished using it.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Use a Multimeter

1. What is a multimeter used for?

A multimeter is a standard tool used for for measuring electrical values consisting of the voltage, the current, and resistance, commonly known respectively as voltage, amperage, and ohm. Actually, the tool is mostly applied by technicians in electric industries; however, it can also be applied at our homes.

2. What is the easiest multimeter to use?

With so many great options of easy to use multimeter, the market is getting a bit over whelming. One amazing choice which you can go for is the Fluke 115 compact RMS digital Multimeter. This multimeter packs some great features that are good for beginners to use.

3. Which is dangerous, AC or DC?

The A.C or the alternating current is always known to be much more dangerous compared to the D.C or the direct current. The voltage of AC is 5 times more dangerous, and the frequency of 60 cycles, will start severe effects on your body and even kill a person.