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Analog and Digital Multimeters

Topics Covered in Chapter 8

8-1: Moving-Coil Meter

8-2: Meter Shunts

8-3: Voltmeters

8-4: Loading Effect of a Voltmeter

8-5: Ohmmeters

Chapter 8

Topics Covered in Chapter 8

8-6: Multimeters

8-7: Digital Multimeters (DMMs)

8-8: Meter Applications

8-9: Checking Continuity with the Ohmmeter


Two Types of Multimeters

VOM

(analog)

DMM

(digital)

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.


Types of Meters

Analog meter:

Uses a moving pointer and a printed scale to indicate

values of voltage, current, or resistance.

Volt-Ohm-Milliammeter (VOM):

Allows all three kinds of measurements on a single

scale or readout.

Digital multimeter:

Uses a numerical readout to indicate the measured

value of voltage, current or resistance.


Direct Current Meters

Direct current in a moving-coil meter deflects the pointer

in proportion to the amount of current.

A current meter must be connected in series with the

part of the circuit where the current is to be measured.

A dc current meter must be connected with the correct

polarity.


Analog instruments use a moving coil meter movement.

Current flow in the coil

moves the pointer up-

scale.


8-2: Meter Shunts

Meter Shunts

Meter shunts are low-value precision resistors that are

connected in parallel with the meter movement.

Meter shunts bypass a portion of the current around the

meter movement. This process extends the range of

currents that can be read with the same meter

movement.

8-2: Meter Shunts

Using Shunts to Increase Ammeter Range

Fig. 8-4: Example of meter shunt RS in bypassing current around the movement to extend

range from 1 to 2 mA. (a) Wiring diagram. Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.

8-2: Meter Shunts

Fig. 8-4: (b) Schematic diagram showing effect of

shunt. With RS = rM the current range is doubled.

(c) Circuit with 2-mA meter to read the current.

VM = IM x rM IS = IT - IM RS = VM

IS

VM = 50mV IS = 1 mA RS = 50 W


8-2: Meter Shunts

Fig. 8-5: Calculating the resistance of a meter shunt. RS is equal to VM/IS. Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.

VM = 0.001 x 50 = 0.05V or 50 mV

8-2: Meter Shunts

Fig. 8-5: Calculating the resistance of a meter shunt. RS is equal to VM/IS. Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.

IS = 0.005 − 0.001 = 0.004 A or 4 mA

8-2: Meter Shunts

Divide VM by IS to find RS.

RS = 0.05/0.004 = 12.5 Ω

This shunt enables the 1-mA movement to be used

for an extended range from 0-5 mA.

8-3: Voltmeters

A voltmeter is connected across two points to measure

their difference in potential.

A voltmeter uses a high-resistance multiplier in series

with the meter movement.

A dc voltmeter must be connected with the correct

polarity.

8-3: Voltmeters

A multiplier resistor is a large resistance in

series with a moving-coil meter movement

which allows the meter to measure voltages

in a circuit.

8-3: Voltmeters

DCV

Using Multipliers to Increase

Voltmeter Range

VM = IM x rM = 0.1 V

9.9 kW

Sensitivity = rM

VM

= 1000 W per voltRmult = VFS

IM

- rM

Rmult

10 V

For a 25 V range, change Rmult to 24.9 kW.

Note: sensitivity is not affected by the multipliers.

DCV

Using Multipliers to Increase

Voltmeter Range

VM = IM x rM = 0.1 V

9.9 kW

Sensitivity = rM

VM

= 1000 W per voltSensitivity = rM

VM

= 1000 W per voltRmult = VFS

IM

- rMRmult = VFS

IM

- rM

Rmult

10 V10 V

For a 25 V range, change Rmult to 24.9 kW.

Note: sensitivity is not affected by the multipliers.

8-3: Voltmeters

Typical Multiple Voltmeter Circuit

Fig. 8-7: A typical voltmeter circuit with multiplier resistors for different ranges. Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.

8-3: Voltmeters

Voltmeter Resistance

The high resistance of a voltmeter with a

multiplier is essentially the value of the

multiplier resistance.

Since the multiplier is changed for each

range, the voltmeter resistance changes.

8-4: Loading Effect of a Voltmeter

When voltmeter resistance is not high enough,

connecting it across a circuit can reduce the measured

voltage.

This effect is called loading down the circuit, because

the measured voltage decreases due to the additional

load current for the meter.

8-5: Ohmmeters

Fig. 8-10: How meter movement M can be used as an ohmmeter with a 1.5-V battery. (a)

Equivalent closed circuit with R1 and the battery when ohmmeter leads are short-circuited for

zero ohms of external R. (b) Internal ohmmeter circuit with test leads open, ready to measure an

external resistance.


8-5: Ohmmeters

Resistance RT is the total resistance of RX and the

ohmmeter’s internal resistance.

NOTE: RX is the external resistance to be measured.

The ohmmeter’s internal resistance Ri is constant at 50 +

1450, or 1500 Ω here. If RX also equals 1500 Ω, RT equals

3000 Ω.

Fig. 8-11

8-6: Multimeters

Fig. 8-13: Analog VOM that

combines a function selector and

range switch.

Fig. 8-14: Portable digital

multimeter (DMM).


8-6: Multimeters

Fig. 8-15: DMM with amp clamp accessory.


The problem of opening a circuit

to measure current can be

eliminated by using a probe with

a clamp that fits around the

current-carrying wire.

The clamp probe measures only

ac, generally for the 60-Hz ac

power line.


The digital multimeter has become a very popular

test instrument.

The digital value of the measurement is displayed

automatically with decimal point, polarity, and the unit

for V, A, or Ω.


Fig. 8-16: Typical digital multimeter (DMM).


Digital multimeters

are generally

easier to use.

They eliminate the

human error that often

occurs in reading

different scales on an

analog meter with a

pointer.


Fig. 8-17: How to insert a current meter in different parts of a series-parallel circuit to read

the desired current I. At point A, B, or C the meter reads IT; at D or E the meter reads I2; at F

or G the meter reads I3. Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.


Fig. 8-18: With 15 V measured across a known R of 15 Ω, the I can be calculated as V/R or 15 V

/ 15 Ω = 1 A.



Fig. 8-19: Voltage tests to localize an open circuit. (a) Normal circuit with voltages to chassis

ground. (b) Reading of 0 V at point D shows R3 is open.


8-9: Checking Continuity

with the Ohmmeter

The ohmmeter is a great tool for checking the

continuity between two points.

When checking for continuity, make sure the

ohmmeter is set on the lowest ohms range.

If continuity exists between two points, the ohmmeter

will read a very low resistance such as zero ohms.

If there is no continuity between two points, the

ohmmeter will read infinite ohms.


with the Ohmmeter

Fig. 8-20: Continuity testing from point A to wire 3 shows this wire is connected.



with the Ohmmeter

Fig. 8-21: Temporary short circuit at one end of a long two-wire line to check continuity from the

opposite end.


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