A digital multimeter is a device that measures electric circuit in homes and commercial areas. There are various types and designs of dmms on the market. Some are created for beginners while others are created specifically for professional electricians and experts. Dmm vary in prices as there are those that are durably made for industrial use with outstanding features and some, just have easy to use features and cost less.
Hence, dmms are one of the most utilized gadgets for testing different parameters. A digital multimeter can be used to test voltage, current, resistance, continuity, frequency, capacitance, and temperature. The digital multimeter devices come with various features that a person should learn about so that they can operate the meter easily.
Summary of Contents
Parts of a DMM
Main connections
Digital multimeter tools normally come with a front side which has various ports for connecting the electronic to the meter in order to carry out the various tests. Normally, only two ports are needed at a time but the meter usually has three to four ports for placing the test leads. These include: common, volts/ohms/frequency, amps & milliamps, and high current. This is a typical model of a multimeter but they might vary slightly depending on the brand or type of multimeter.
Screen display
Dmm usually has a clear and easy to read multimeter screen displays. A good number of them consist of four digits. These can turn out to be a 0 or 1, and also a + or – sign, too. At times, there may be a few little indicators like ac/dc and many more.
Main switch
Normally, DMM comes with a single main rotary switch to choose the kind of measurement to be carried out and the range that is required.
Extra connections
Other multimeter devices come with extra connections for other tests such as temperature where a thermocouple will require its personal connections. Other meters have the capability to measure the gain of transistors and will need different connections on the multimeter.
Digital multimeters usually come with additional features such as the on/off switch, hold button, auto-power off, auto-ranging button and min/max buttons, among others.
How to Operate a DMM
Unlike analog meters, the operation of a digital multimeter is very easy and straightforward. If one has the knowledge of how to measure voltage, resistance and current, then using the dmm is very easy. Here are few of the steps to follow:
- Turn the DMM on
- Put the test leads to the right connections. This is very important as there are various connections that can be utilized.
- Set the switch to the right measurement kind and range for the measurement to be conducted. At the time of choosing the rage, always ensure that the maximum range is above the one that is expected.
- Optimize the range for the best reading. If you can, make sure that all the leading digits do not read zero and as a result, the greatest number of important numbers can be read.
- When the reading is done, it is a good precaution to put the test leads into the voltage measurement sockets and turn the range to maximum voltage.
The digital multimeter or DMM is a highly accurate device that is very easy to use. If you want to get accurate results, go for the highest qualities. The device that you select should be compact and sturdily built. Some of the brands to consider buying your DMM from include Fluke(basic 101), Amprobe, Mastech(get details) and Klein tools.
