How to Read D C Scale on Multimeter
You may be wondering why y'all need to know how to utilize analog multimeter in a wildly digital historic period. Well, the reasons are enough.
As a modern electrician, you never know when and where the need arises for you to read an analog display – whether information technology is on a multimeter or another measuring tool.
Plus, there are applications that nonetheless use analog meters (as well written /as analogue meters) for troubleshooting, owing to their accuracy and true RMS value conversion.
And then, today, we are going to bear witness you how to measure electrical quantities using an analog multimeter to mensurate different electrical quantities. But before that let's quickly go through the cadre differences between an analog multimeter and a digital multimeter (DMM).
Differences Between an Analog Multimeter and a DMM
The following are the qualities that differentiate an analog meter from a DMM:
- Analog display (with multiple scales for different quantities)
- Frequent manual calibration is required
- Faster response rate (analog meters exercise non need to catechumen the measured value into figures similar in DMM)
- Closest to true RMS value
- Higher accuracy simply prone to man errors while noting down measurements
Then there is the case of legacy and "true electricians know how to use analog multimeters" ideology. Any may be your reasons, knowing your way around an analog meter e'er pays off.
And if you are a educatee studying electricity, use this guide to know what and how the previous generation used to mensurate electric quantities.
Understanding the Analog Multimeter Scale
Before we tin jump into the steps, it is of import that the workings of the scale of an analog meter are fully articulate to us.
This is important because nosotros have been so acclimatized with our digital tools that it can go slightly disruptive to read the analog calibration. Take a look at the prototype shown below.
Analog multimeter
Understanding the Panel
In the image, at the bottom left is where your exam leads will be connected. It is similar to how you connect the leads in a DMM. The ports in the lesser right are for advanced options.
The optional polarity switch comes in handy when you want to reverse the polarity of your measurement. The switch in the middle is how you select the quantity to be measured and the desired range.
For example, if you lot want to use an analog multimeter to measure voltage (Ac), you would switch it to the left-hand side of the dial.
Some multimeters have different switches for range and quantity choice. Some likewise accept a separate dial for zeroing out the meter, which nosotros volition cover later in this guide.
The Analog Calibration
Take a await at the shut-upwards image of an analog scale below.
How to read analog multimeter
The top line (in blackness) is the ohmic scale where you measure the resistance from left to right. Based on the range selected, you volition take to multiply the calibration reading with the range currently selected. For example, if the pointer is steady at 5 and your range is 1k then your reading is 5k ohms.
The range pick is done in similar fashion for all quantity measurements.
Beneath the ohmic scale are the voltage and current scales. The blackness line next to the ohmic scale is where you measure DC voltage and current. The crimson line is always for Air conditioning measurements. Please note that current and voltage measurements are read from right to left.
The main deviation between an analog multimeter and voltmeter/ammeter is the scale. A voltmeter will simply take two scales for AC and DC voltage measurement, whereas an ammeter or a galvanometer volition simply have one scale for AC and DC amps measurement.
At present permit's have a look at measuring some quantities.
How to Use an Analog Multimeter
How to use analog multimeter to measure voltage
If you take an analog meter of your own, please follow the steps outlined below –
- Connect the test leads to your analog multimeter
- Apply the following setups for measuring different quantities:
- Utilize an AA battery to measure voltage DC voltage and current
- Apply an Ac socket to measure out AV voltage and current
- Utilise a resistor to measure resistance
- Use a wire to measure continuity
- For each setup, connect the exam probes to the element to exist measured and check the reading in the scale. In this guide, we will have the example of measuring DC voltage
- Connect the probes to either end of the AA bombardment (approx. 9V). The pointer should move across the calibration depending upon the range you have selected. Using the above image, if the battery is fully charged, the pointer should point between viii and 10 on the scale. If not done, please select the DC volt range in your multimeter that is higher than 10 V (ordinarily 10V or 12V)
- Endeavour the same technique for other setups to measure the respective quantities.
Every bit noted earlier, the central to accurate analog measurement is range option and multiplication. Everything else is similar to what and how you do utilize your DMM.
In the in a higher place example involving the bombardment, if you lot employ your analog multimeter to measure the voltage of a car bombardment, then the range has to be higher. You will also have to practice unproblematic multiplication to go the final measurement.
For case, if your DC volt range is 250V, and the arrow is betwixt fifty and 100, then the voltage is around 75 volts depending upon the exact point.
Why You Should Always Calibrate Your Analog Multimeter?
Analog multimeters work on batteries, and as their charge drains gradually, the multimeter's ability to provide authentic readings also diminishes.
Therefore, we recommend zeroing out your multimeter before every major measurement activity. Following are the steps:
- Select the resistance range on your dial
- Connect the test probes to the meter so connect them together (the positive and negative leads should touch each other) to establish null resistance
- Ideally, your meter should read zero resistance
- If it does non, employ the 'zero out' dial (provided in virtually meters either in the forepart console or back) and accept the pointer to zeroth value on the scale
- This should calibrate your meter.
Useful Tips and Tricks
- While measuring with an analog multimeter, you should always select the appropriate range for authentic readings. This should be done before as well as while measuring the quantity
- E'er calibrate your analog multimeter before a major measurement or troubleshooting job. If you are a daily user, weekly calibration is recommended
- Replace the batteries if y'all notice major fluctuations in measurements
- Ever use the highest range id you do non know the approximate value of the quantity beingness measured.
Conclusion
There you have the basic guide on how to use an analog multimeter to measure voltage, current, and resistance. The basic principle is same as DMM but here you lot merely need to put in more efforts. We hope that this guide has been helpful.
Source: https://www.laserlevelhub.net/how-to-use-analog-multimeter/
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