Hitachi Construction Truck Manufacturing Ltd.

Using a Digital Multimeter

HTM Training

HTT-EP3-1108

Overview
The digital multimeter is a versatile instrument,
containing three different meters in one.
1. A voltmeter measures the electrical potential across a device (in volts).
2. An ammeter measures the amount of electrical current through a device (in
amperes, or amps).
3. An ohmmeter measures the electrical resistance of a device (in ohms).

Multimeter Layout

The top portion of the meter contains the

digital display readout area.

Below the digital readout is a selection

knob, called the FUNCTION switch. This
switch determines which function the
multimeter will perform (voltmeter,
ammeter, or ohmmeter).

Function Switch
There are a different number of
positions to choose from on
the function switch depending
on the available features of the
multimeter.
The first is OFF. The meter should always be
returned to this position when not in use.
The V symbols measure voltage, the symbol
measures electrical resistance, the A symbols
measure AC and DC currents and the
symbol
checks diodes and capacitors.

Auto-Ranging Multimeters

Most newer high quality multimeters are auto-ranging and do not

require the user to pre-select the range of the voltage, amps or
resistance they are measuring.

This is indicated by an Auto symbol on the LCD screen.

The range can generally still be manually selected, on this meter it is

done by pressing the SELECT button.

Range Selectable Multimeters

Some multimeters will require you to select
the proper range for the value being
measured.
If you are unsure about the range of the
value start at the highest range and then
decrease the range as needed.
When measuring current it is necessary to
switch the red lead connection to the
proper lead port for the value range being
measured. If unsure of the range, start by
using the highest current test-lead
connection.

Starting Up
When the digital multimeter is first turned on, it
will go through a self-analysis of its battery and its
internal circuits.
While this is proceeding, most meters will light up
all of the digital segments to indicate proper
function.

Function Switch - Voltage

The V~ is set to measure alternating-current
voltages, or simply AC voltage.
V is for direct
measurements.

current

voltage,

or

DC

mV is used to measure low voltages of direct

current in the millivolt (mV) range.

Function Switch Ohms/Amps

The position is used to measure electrical
resistance (in ohms).
The
position is for certain applications that
will be covered later in the presentation.
The A~ is used to measure AC current (in amps).
The A is used to measure DC current (in amps).

Function Switch Summary

V~ for AC voltage
V for DC voltage
mV for low DC voltages
(millivolts)
A~ for AC current
A for DC current
for resistance

for diode and

capacitor testing

Typical Measurements
Voltage

Resistance

Current

Typical Measurements
Continuity

ON

OFF

Capacitance Measurement

Diode Measurement

Measuring Voltage

Voltage is one of the most common measurements because many other

variables - like temperature and pressure for example - are measured by
generating a voltage with a sensor.

Voltage is measured with a voltmeter OR the voltmeter function of a digital

multimeter. There are other instruments - like oscilloscopes - that measure
voltage as well and should be thought of as voltmeters.

When you measure voltage you have to remember that voltage is an across
variable. When you measure voltage you have to connect the voltmeter to two
points in a circuit where you want to measure voltage.

When you measure voltage, the voltmeter should not disturb the circuit where
you are attempting to measure the voltage. The disturbance is the current
drawn by the voltmeter. You want that current to be as close to zero as it can
possibly be, so you need to have the resistance of the voltmeter as large as
possible. Ideally, the resistance of a voltmeter would be infinite

Measuring DC Voltage
Turn the function switch to the V
read DC voltages.

position to

The connections to devices are made via the

two terminals on the lower right of the meter.

Connect the red test lead to the red input

terminal on the meter (labeled V ) and the
black lead to the black input terminal (labeled
COM for common terminal).

You can now begin making measurements.

Battery Potential Voltage

To measure the potential across the battery, connect the
red test lead from the meter to the positive side of the
battery (+) and the black test lead to the negative side (-)
Read the value on your display. In the example below we
see a voltage of 24V across the battery.
The type of voltage is indicated by
number displayed.

to the left of the

R1

Determining Polarity

Leave the Function switch in the position just used, but reverse the
connections of the leads to the battery.
Connect the red test lead to the negative terminal (-) on the battery, and
the black test lead to the positive terminal (+).
Notice the display shows approximately the same numerical value, but
now has a negative (-) sign in front of it. The multimeter not only
measures the magnitude of the voltage, but it also senses which
terminal is at the higher potential.
Positive readings indicate that the red terminal is at the higher
potential, while negative readings indicate that the black (or COM)
terminal is at higher potential.
+
-

R1

Voltage Drop Across a Load

The amount of voltage a particular load is using is called its voltage

drop. This drop in voltage reduces the voltage available for other
components in the circuit.
To measure the voltage drop of a component the circuit must be in
use. Place one lead of a volt meter on one side of the component and
the other lead on the other side.
In a series circuit voltage drops across each resistance will equal total
supply voltage.
In the example below we have only one load. The voltage drop across
the load will equal ~24V (supply voltage).

+
24V

R1 = 6

Voltage Drop Across Multiple Loads

In the example below we have multiple loads in the circuit. The total
voltage drop will still equal the supply voltage but the drop across
each load will depend on the resistance of the individual loads.

R1 = 2
+
24V

R2 = 4
R3 = 6

Measuring Resistance
To measure the resistance of a component, disconnect the component
from the circuit and connect the leads to the positive and negative pins of
the connector.
Resistance can ONLY be checked with the component removed from the
system.

NOTE: When measuring resistance

make sure you DO NOT touch the test
leads. A loading effect will occur.

+
Solenoid
30

Disconnect Prior to
Measurement

24V

Loading Effect

The change in the output, when resistance load is changed.

By holding the leads when taking a resistance measurement you are
changing the resistance load and the measurement will NOT be
accurate.
.5M

R1 =1 M

By holding the leads you are inserting your resistance

into the circuit in parallel, reducing circuit resistance.
1 M Resistor

Measuring Current

Current measurements arent as simple to make as voltage measurements.

In order to measure current properly the meter must become part of the circuit
instead of simply bridging across it.
You can make the job of inserting a meter into the circuit easier with some
special test adaptors that allow current measurement without unsoldering
wires. Some adaptors may be able to be bought, or you might have to custom
make them.
Input current tests can provide a lot of information on a circuit in a short
period of time. Reading current drawn by a motor for example, can tell you
total wattage being consumed, (simply multiply the current by the voltage
applied). Total wattage is a valuable piece of information because if a load is
using more power than it is rated for, there is definitely something wrong.
For example, if a motor is running too hot, you will want to check if it is
drawing too much power.

WARNING: Incorrect lead connections, selecting the wrong current range

or accidentally shorting the circuit to ground CAN blow a meter!

Measuring Current

Wattage = A x 12V
= .435A x 12V
= 5.22 W

12V

+
-

Insert Meter into

Circuit Prior to
Measurement

DC
Motor

Continuity Test

A continuity test is done to determine whether a circuit is open or closed. For

example, a switch is closed when it is turned on and it is open when it is
turned off. Only a closed circuit has continuity.

Set the multimeter to the ohm setting, (). An analog meter will use the needle
to indicate the measured value. A digital meter provides a numeric reading
instead of using a needle. Many digital multimeters will also have an audible
continuity test setting.

Note that while the probes are not touching anything, the multimeter will
indicate a reading of infinity. A reading of infinity means that the circuit is
open. When you touch the two probes together, the reading changes to zero or
you will hear a beep sound if an audible continuity test setting is being used.
A reading of zero or a beep sound indicates that the circuit is closed or
complete.

WARNING: This test should NOT be done when

current is present. Always unplug the device or turn
off the main power source before attempting a
continuity test.

Continuity Test
To test a switch, place a probe on each pole of the switch. When you move the
switch from the off to the on position, the meter reading should change from
infinity to roughly zero, or the audible beep should be heard, which implies that
the switch is working.

BEEP!

ON

OFF

ON

OFF

Capacitor Test

There are generally two things you need to test a capacitor for:
1. Open
2. Leaking or Shorted

The capacitance value is normally stamped or colour-coded on the

capacitor so measuring the value is seldom necessary, but many
newer meters have a capacitor test setting ( ) for this purpose.

100 F

Capacitor Test
Without a capacitance test range on your
multimeter you can still make certain tests.

For electrolytics in the uF range or above, you

should be able to see the cap charge when you
use a high ohms scale with the proper polarity
the resistance will increase until it goes to
(nearly) infinity. If the capacitor is shorted, then
it will never charge. If it is open, the resistance
will be infinite immediately and won't change. If
the resistance never goes very high, the
capacitor is leaky.

100 F

A multimeter will not test the cap under normal

operating conditions or at its full rated voltage,
but it is a quick way of finding major faults.

.01 F

For small caps (.01 uf or less), all you can really

test is for shorts or leakage. Any capacitor that
measures a few ohms or less is bad. Most
should test infinite even on the highest
resistance range.

Diode Test
The diode setting on your multimeter (
rating of a diode.

) is only able to tell you the

In order to test a diode for faults you can use the Ohm meter () to test
for a diode which is: Open, Short or Leaky
A diode that tests okay with your meter can still fail when exposed to high
voltages under full load.
NOTE: A diode must be removed from the circuit prior to testing.

Diode Test
Set your meter to the ohms range to check for
diode leakage in reverse and forward testing.
Reverse Bias

Touch the black lead of your meter to the

cathode and red lead to the anode, the diode is
reverse biased and should look like an open
reading a digital meter will read (OL) on a analog
meter the needle will not move.

Connecting the red lead of your meter to the

cathode and black lead to the anode, the diode
is forward biased and the meter should register
a resistance value.
If you get two readings then the diode is likely
shorted or leaky and should be replaced.
If you dont get a reading in either forward or
reverse biased the diode is considered open and
should be replaced.

Forward Bias

THE END