How to Read a Digital Multimeter Ohms

One of the most bones skills of a technician is the faculty to efficiently use a multimeter.

As a beginner, you are looking at a deep understanding of how a multimeter works, how it detects and measures diverse electrical quantities, and eventually how it converts them to a last value in the digital display.

You may already know the basics, then we will directly jump to the process of how to read a multimeter.

In instance you lot are looking for more information about the operating principle of multimeters, delight cheque out our other guides. This article focuses simply on reading a multimeter.

How to Read a Multimeter

The fundamental to reading a multimeter properly is understanding the concept of decimal adjustment. Since the values of all electrical quantities are in numbers, knowing the difference between degrees of units is crucial.

For example, y'all should know the difference between amps and milliamps equally in ane ampere equals 1000 milliamperes.

If your basics about the SI unit system is clear to the point that you can rapidly convert betwixt decimals, so you lot are already halfway through learning how to read a multimeter.

In fact, the conversion of decimals is the biggest 'technical deviation' betwixt analog and digital multimeters.

Analog versus Digital Multimeter

In analog meters, you have to manually calculate the decimals whereas, in digital meters, it makes your chore a tad easier. This is the very reason why digital multimeters have become popular, with the American brand Fluke leading the industry for decades.

Now, without much ado, let us learn how to read a multimeter. For this guide, we recommend you keep your multimeter handy and simultaneously carry out the experiments.

How to Read Ohms on a Multimeter

Footstep 1

Accept out your multimeter and a sample resistor (you can go 2 or more resistors to experiment with)

Step 2

Use the dial switch to select the resistance function in the multimeter. You can switch to the lowest range in the section

Select the resistance office on the multimeter

Step three

Connect the test probes to the resistor and observe the brandish. This is where you demand to concentrate.

For explanation purpose, let'due south assume that the value of the resistor is 672 ohms (which we derived from the color coding technique)

Connect the examination probes to the resistor

Step four

Since the dial is pointing at the 200-ohm range, the display is non showing the proper reading. Why?

Because the value of the resistor is beyond the range. In this 200-ohm range, the multimeter can only detect and mensurate resistance below that number. Annihilation above that volition require a higher range

Step 5

And the college range in this multimeter is 2000 ohms. So, you lot need to move the punch to that range so as to get a proper reading.

The brandish will show the value as 672 considering it falls within the range. Had the resistance value been more than than 2000 ohms (or 2k ohms), the display would still not give a proper reading.

Now this is where the measurement gets interesting. You got the value as 672 when you lot moved the range switch to 2000 ohms, right?

Now try moving it to 2k ohms. You volition come across that the reading has changed from 672 to 0.67. So, the reading volition be read as 0.67k ohms which translates to 670 ohms

Go one level higher (200k ohms) and you volition see that the reading shows 0.seven, which translates to 0.7k ohms.

The difference between these two readings is the position of the decimal point (observe where they are in 0.67 and 0.7)

What this range choice basically does is expand the multimeter's ability to measure resistance.

In the to a higher place example, had the value of the resistor been 3k ohms, we would have to further upwards and select the 20k-ohm range.

This will be clearer in the following steps.

Step 6

Hither's another example where the reading shows 2.18. So how do you ascertain the verbal value of this resistor? First, check the range

Stride vii

Now have the number shown on the brandish and place it between the current range signal and the lower range point. In this example, the current point is 20k-ohm and the lower point is 2000-ohm.

Stride 8

Since the value is between this range, which translates to between 2k and 20k ohms, nosotros tin can ostend that 2.18 is, in fact, 2.18k ohms.

Footstep 9

If this sounds confusing, visualize a scale where this value is in a higher place 2k. If the number "2.18" has to be more than than 2k, then information technology has to be two.18k. Right?

At outset attempt, the ranges and decimals can be tricky. But as you lot experiment with more and dissimilar resistor values, reading ohms on a multimeter will become easier.

Remember that the key is to focus on the range selector; the measurement part is easy.

How to Read Voltage on a Multimeter

The process is similar to how you measured resistance. Instead of the resistance function, you lot have to select the volts function in the multimeter.

In most multimeters, the sections for DC volts and Ac volts are separate, so make sure that you select the right function while measuring.

The range selection is also the aforementioned where you select the higher range when measuring the voltage that you presume to exist on the lower side.

Fluke 287 Truthful-RMS Stand Alone Logging Multimeter Kit

For instance, if you lot are testing a 9-volt battery, the range arrow should point at 20 volts (DC) because it is the highest range for this measurement. But then will the display show a proper reading.

In case you are measuring amps on a multimeter, make certain y'all check the rating. Nigh multimeters are incapable of measuring amps higher than 10A DC or AC.

A Annotation Nigh the Best Multimeter Make

Co-ordinate to us, Fluke is one of the best multimeter brands. Although there are various other manufacturers, Fluke remains to be the leader because it is the pop selection.

In the unlikely event that you have not yet bought a multimeter, we would recommend a Fluke meter.

Determination

We hope that this short guide has helped you understand the basics of multimeter reading. Merely think the cardinal points about function and range selection, and with plenty practice, you lot can become a principal multimeter tester. If yous accept any comments about how to read a multimeter, let u.s.a. know in the comments.

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Source: https://www.laserlevelhub.net/how-to-read-a-multimeter/