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LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Voltmeter use How to measure voltage Ammeter use How to measure current Ohmmeter use How to measure resistance Use of Ohm's Law
Wiggy Voltmeter
Neon Light
Voltage Detector Quickly check for the presence of ac voltages, with no electrical contact Safe non-contact detection of voltages from 70 V to 440 V ac Both visible and audible indicators Detector emits loud audible chirping that changes pitch based on probes proximity to the ac voltage source Bright flashing LED also indicates presence of ac voltage
4 Bright neon lights indicate ac voltage 4 Ranges indicated from 110 V to 460 V ac No battery needed Tests 2 wire and 3 wire ac outlets
Figure 2.
If the neon light glows, then you have voltage at the outlet, as is the case here.
Figure 4.
Figure 6: (Testing from neutral to box ground. Notice the accuracy of only .077 volts AC)
The Ammeter
It is essential that electricians be able to use clamp-on ammeters, or multi-meters, for in-place troubleshooting of motors and controllers as well as other circuits. Many clamp-on ammeters can be used to measure voltage and resistance as well as current. They come in various sizes with selections of scales that make them extremely versatile tools.
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Some digital meters, like the unit shown in the illustration, have a separate jack to insert the red test lead plug when measuring current. Other meters, like most inexpensive analog meters, use the same jacks for measuring voltage, resistance, and current. Consult your owner's manual on the particular model of meter you own for details on measuring current.
When an ammeter is placed in series with a circuit, it ideally drops no voltage as current goes through it. In other words, it acts very much like a piece of wire, with very little resistance from one test probe to the other. Consequently, an ammeter will act as a short circuit if placed in parallel (across the terminals of) a substantial source of voltage. If this is done, a surge in current will result, potentially damaging the meter:
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Set your multimeter to the highest resistance range available. The resistance function is usually denoted by the unit symbol for resistance: the Greek letter omega (), or sometimes by the word "ohms." Touch the two test probes of your meter together. When you do, the meter should register 0 ohms of resistance. If you are using an analog meter, you will notice the needle deflect full-scale when the probes are touched together, and return to its resting position when the probes are pulled apart. The resistance scale on an analog multimeter is reverse-printed from the other scales: zero resistance in indicated at the far right-hand side of the scale, and infinite resistance is indicated at the far left-hand side. There should also be a small adjustment knob or "wheel" on the analog multimeter to calibrate it for "zero" ohms of resistance. Touch the test probes together and move this adjustment until the needle exactly points to zero at the righthand end of the scale. Digital multimeters set to the "resistance" mode indicate non-continuity by displaying some non-numerical indication on the display. Some models say "OL" (Open-Loop), while others display dashed lines. If you are using a digital multimeter, you should see a numerical figure close to 10 shown on the display, with a small "k" symbol on the right-hand side denoting the metric prefix for "kilo" (thousand). Some digital meters are manually-ranged, and require appropriate range selection just as the analog meter. If yours is like this, experiment with different range switch positions and see which one gives you the best indication
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Taking the measured figures for resistance and current, use the Ohm's Law equation to calculate circuit voltage. Compare this calculated figure with the measured figure for circuit voltage:
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Summary
Working with live electrical current can be very hazardous. Testing voltage output requires working with electrical current. Do not attempt this measurement without the proper tools and safeguards. It is essential that electricians be able to use clamp-on ammeters, or multimeters, for in-place troubleshooting of motors and controllers as well as other circuits. Always test your test equipment for proper operation before use. A multimeter is an electrical instrument capable of measuring voltage, current, and resistance. There are two types of multimeters, the digital and the analog meters. Digital multimeters have numerical displays, like digital clocks, for indicating the quantity of voltage, current, or resistance. Analog multimeters indicate these quantities by means of a moving pointer over a printed scale. Ammeters are use to check current in a circuit. An amp clamp is a non-invasive method of checking current draw with any electrical set up.
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