EXPERIMENT 6

HANDLING AND MAINTAINING A

MULTIMETER
Structure ,

6.1 Introduction
I 6.2 Aim
I 6.3 Using a Multimeter
Resistance Measurement
Current and Voltage Measurements
Testing apn Junction Diode and Bipolar Junction Transistor
6.4 Care and Maintenance of the Multimeter

6.1 INTRODUCTION
You have studied in Unit 6 that a multimeter is a multipurpose instrument
used for measuring resistances, AC and DC voltages and currents. It is a must .
in every physics laboratory as it is useful for fault finding in electrical circuits
and testing of components. For example, suppose you discover that a given'
circuit is not working even though all connections are correct and all devices
' and components in it are working. Then the fault could lie in one of the
!
connecting wires. You can use the multimeter to test the continuity of the
connecting wires by measuring their resistance, find out which one of these is
faulty and replace it.
As another example, suppose we have apn junction diode which has no
markings on it. How can we find out which of its ends isp-type and which one
is n-type? We can do so with the help of the multimeter. You can also use the
multimeter to identify the emitter, base and collector terminals of a bipolar
junction transistor. So you can see how useful an instrument a multimeter is.
Therefore, you must learn how to handle it and take care of it. We have
designed this experiment to provide you the experience of using a multimeter
and maintaining it.

6.2 AIM
In this experiment, you will learn how to use a multimeter for measuring
resistance, AC and DC currents and voltages, and testing electronic devices.
You will also learn how to take care of it.
After doing this experiment, you should be able to:

use a multimeter to measure resistances, AC and DC currents and voltages;

test the continuity of a wire with the help of a multimeter;
test an electrolytic capacitor;
check whether a pn junction diode is working and identify its p- and n-
ends;
identify the emitter, base and collector terminals of an npn andpnp
transistor;
Bask Experiments in
Phyrlcs test whether a given transistor is working;
maintain the multimeter in good working condition.
The following apparatus is required for this experiment.

Apparatus

Multimeter, resistors, electrolytic capacitors, connecting wires, simple

electrical circuits, pn junction diode, pnp and npn transistors, signal generator
and power supply.

6.3 USING A MULTIMETER

We will explain how to use an analogue multimeter. The digital multimeter
also works in the same way. The only difference is that readings are displayed
on it in the form of numbers. Before you actually start using the multimeter,
you should get familiar with its front panel. For this, do the following activity.

Activity
a) Take the multimeter available in your lab. List all the controls on the panel
and write their functions. You may refer to Unit 6 or read the manual
accompanying the multimeter.
b) Find out the relevant specifications of the multimeter such as its operating
temperature, storage temperature, battery voltage and battery life from its
manual, if available.
c) Write down the ranges of the resistance, ACIDC voltages and currents that
can be measured with this multimeter.

Once you are familiar with the multimeter, you can use it for many purposes as
explained above. For each measurement, practise till you feel confident about
your ability to handle the multimeter. While using the multimeter, you should
always keep in mind the following precautions:

If you do not know the source of voltage (AC or DC), then keep the meter
in the AC voltage range.

While taking any measurement, start from the maximum range

corresponding to the physical quantity being measured.
While measuring current, the multimeter should be connected in series.

While measuring high voltages, do not touch any part of the multimeter.

When the multimeter is not in use, do not leave it in the resistance range.

While using the -multimeterin resistance range, first make the zero
adjustment.

For measuring D C voltage, connect the +ve lead of the multimeter to the
+ve terminal of the source and -ve lead to the -ve terminal of the source.
 6.3.1 Resistance Measurement Handling and Maintaining a
Muhimeter
Follow the steps given below to measure an unknown resistance.
1. Set the range selector switch on the R scale in the highest range;
2. Insert black lead in 'COM' input terminal and red lead in VR input
terminal.
Always connect red lead to the +ve terminal of the multimeter and black lead
to the -ve terminal.
3. Make the zero adjustment as follows: Short circuit the two leads, i.e., make
them touch each other and rotate the knob marked 'zero adj' or 'ohms zero'
to adjust zero on the scale.
4. Turn power on.
5. Now connect the unknown resistance to the leads, and note the value of the
resistance on the meter. If the value falls in a lower range then select that
range for greater accuracy.
While measuring the resistance of a component connected in a circuit, you
should make sure that the power supply to the circuit is off and the capacitors
in the circuit are discharged. Otherwise, the multimeter fuse will blow up due
==a7
to excessive current.
Take several resistors of known and unknown resistance in different ranges,
measure their values and tabulate your results in an observation table.
You can use the multimeter in its resistance measurement mode to check the
continuity of a wire. You can also check whether a circuit is open or short
circuited and test a capacitor.

A. Checking the continuity of a wire

You know that a connecting wire is a good conductor and has low resistance.
I However, if there is a break in the wire, no current will pass through it because
there will be infinite resistance between the two ends of the wire. This basic
principle gives us the method for checking the continuity of the wire using a
I multimeter:
I
1. Take a continuous wire and connect its ends to the black and red leads of
the multimeter. You should get a small finite reading.
2. Now join two pieces of wire using an electric tape in such a way that their
ends do not touch. Connect the ends of the joined wire to the red and black
I
I
t
leads of the multimeter. What do you observe? We expect the value to be
very high. Why? Discuss your findings with your counsellor.
3. Repeat this process to check the continuity of several other wires.
I
I In this way you can also test whether a resistor is Inworking order or broken
internally; or whether a circuit is open (R = a)or short (R = 0).
B. Testing a capacitor
I

You can also use a multimeter in the resistance measurement mode to test
whether an electrolytic capacitor is in working order or not:
1. Connect the -ve end of the capacitor to COM and the +ve end to VR. If the
connections are done properly, the battery inside the multimeter charges
the capacitor.
Basic Experiments in
Phvsics 2. The pointer on the scale comes to a point close to zero. Once the capacitor
is fully charged, it starts discharging through the multimeter and the
resistance increases. The pointer slowly moves towards the end of the scale
marked ao. If this happens, the capacitor is working properly.
3. For discharging the capacitor after testing it, disconnect it from the
multimeter and short circuit its positive and negative ends.
4. If the capacitor is broken internally, it acts as an open circuit and the
pointer registers co on the scale.
5. If the capacitor is short circuited, the value of resistance remains zero at all
times.
6. If the capacitor is leaking, the pointer does not go to co, and it cannot be
used again.

6.3.2 Current and Voltage Measurements

Since a multimeter can be used to measure both AC and DC signals, we will
discuss all cases here. You will be provided appropriate circuits for taking
these measurements. Follow the steps listed for each measurement.

A. Direct current measurement

1 . Connect red test lead to A input terminal and black test lead to COM input
terminal.
2. Set range selector knob to the highest current range for DC. If the value of
the current lies in a lower range, then go to that range.
Remember that the expected current should not exceed the maximum
permissible current in the multimeter.
3. Turn off power supply to the device or the circuit being tested and
discharge all capacitors.
4. Open the circuit in which the current is to be measured and connect test
leads in series with the load through which current is to be measured
(Fig.6.1). Keep the polarities as shown in the figure. In this case the
multimeter functions like an ammeter.
5. Turn on power to the circuit being used.
6. Read current value on the meter.

d as ammeter
7. After taking the current measurement, turn off all power to the circuit being
used and discharge capacitors.
8. Disconnect test leads from circuit and reconnect the circuit in which
current was being measured.

B. Alternating current measurement

1. Connect red test lead to the A input and the black test lead to COM input.
Circuit 2. Set range selector knob to highest range for AC. If the value of the current
Elements
falls in a lower range, go to that range.
F'ig.6.1: Direct current 3. Follow the Steps 3 to 8 above.
measurement in a
circuit
C. Direct voltage measurement
1. Connect red test lead to VGI input terminal and the black test lead to COM
input terminal.
 2. Set range selector knob to desired DC V position. If the voltage to be Handling and Maintaining a
Multimeter
measured is not known, set range selector at the highest DC V range and
reduce range, if necessary, for a satisfactory reading.
3. Follow steps 3 to 8 listed for measuring direct current except step 4.
In step 4 remember to connect the multimeter in parallel with the load
across which the voltage is to be measured with appropriate polarity. In
I this case, the multimeter functions as a voltmeter.

D. Alternating voltage measurement

If
Follow the steps given for direct voltage measurement with the only difference
that the range selector switch should be set in AC V position.
Make an appropriate Observation table and enter your measurements in it.

6.3.3 Testing apn Junction Diode and Bipolar Junction Transistor

For the measurenlents you take in the following activities, make your
observation tables and record all your readings in them. You will be assessed
for these.
Recall from Sec. 6.3.1 of Unit 6 that a pn junction diode has a low resistance
when it is forward biased and a high resistance when it is reverse biased. We
can use this property to test the diode and also find out which of its ends is
p-type and which one n-type.

A. Testing apn junction diode

1. Set the functiodrange switch to the resistance measurement position in the
range of I0 kR.
The range of 10 kR is chosen so that the current through the diode is low.
2. Make zero adjustment.
Note: In some multimeters, the terminal marked negative (-) on the meter is
actually connected to the positive terminal of the battery inside. We
advise you to always find out the polarity of the multimeter, i.e., its
positive and negative leads, with the help of a voltmeter before
identifying the ends of apn junction diode.
If there are markings for p-type and 12-type on the pn junction diode then
proceed as follows:
3. Connect the red lead to the p-side and black lead to the n-side. If the diode
is in working condition, you should get a low resistance reading (Fig.6.2a).
4. Reverse the connection, i.e., connect black lead to p-end and red lead to
mend. You should get a very high resistance reading (Fig.6.2b).
If the multirneter shows zero or low resistance reading for forward bias
and does not change even on reversing the connection then the diode is
defective. It is short (Pig.6.3a).
If the diode shows a high resistance under both forward and reverse Fig.6.2: Testing of apn
biased conditions, it is defective. It is open (Fig.6.3b). Junction diode
Basic Experlmsats lo
Phvslcs
1. Set the functiodrange switch to the resistance measurement mode in the Handling and a
Multlmeter
range of 10 kR.
2. Make zero adjustment.
3. Now connect the two multimeter leads to the two ends of the diode. Note
the reading.
4. Is the reading high as in Fig.6.4a? Then the end A isp-type.
5. Is it low as in Fig.6.4b? Which is the n end? Obviously, end A is n-type.

B. Testing of bipolar junction transistors

You know that in a bipolar junction transistor, the emitter base junction is
forward biased and the collector base junction is reverse biased. Sometimes the
emitter, base and collector terminals are not identifiable on the transistor. To
identify these terminals, proceed as follows:
Turn the transistor upside down. The three terminals lie within a semi-circle
(Fig. 6.5). The emitter (E) and collector (C) terminals are diametrically
opposite. The collector is near the notch (N). The third junction is obviously
the base (B).
Now that you know the emitter, base and collector leads of apnp or npn
transistor, proceed as follows to test whether they are in working order.
1. Set the functiodrange switch to the resistance measurement mode in the
range of 10 kR.
2. Make zero adjustment.

pnp transistor
3. Forward bias emitter base junction. What connections does this imply for a
pnp transistor? Connect red lead of the multimeter to emitter terminal and
black lead to base terminal. Note the reading. The reading should be low.
, Fig.6.5: lly,ng
collector and bare
terminals of a
Reverse the connections. You should get a high reading. Then the E-B transistor
junction is working.
4. If the multimeter shows low reading in both cases, the E-B junction is
short. If it shows high reading in both cases, the E-B junction is open.
5. Reverse bias collector-basc (CB) junction, i.e., connect red lead to base and
black lead to collector terminal. You should get high resistance. Reverse
the connections and if you get a low resistance then the junction is
working.
6. If the multimeter shows low reading in both cases, the C-B junction is
short. If it shows high reading in both cases, the C-B junction is open.
What will the situation be for an npn transistor? Obviously, you will have to
bias the npn transistor exactly in reverse ofpnp transistor. Write down the
necessary steps for testing an npn transistor in your practical notebook.
The emitter-base and collector-base are two pn junctions. Therefore you can
determine their types O, or n) by measuring the resistances exactly as for thepn
junction diode.

6.4 CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE MULTIMETER

You have to take the usual precautions for handling electronic instruments that
we have discussed in Sec. 6.2.2 of Unit 6. In addition, maintenance of a
Basic Experiments in
Phvsics multimeter requires changing its battery from time to time. You may also
need to replace its fuse a t times. In both cases, turn off the multimeter and
disconnect test leads before removing battery cover or back cover to
prevent electrical shock.

A. Battery replacement

The battery is located in the battery compartment at the bottom rear of the
multimeter.
After disconnecting test leads and turning off multimeter, press battery
cover and push in the direction of the arrow to open.
Take out the battery from the instrument and replace with a standard 9V
battery. Replace battery cover. Wind the excess lead length once around
the battery clip.
Failure to turn off the instrument before installing the battery could result
in damage to the instrument. Connect the battery terminal correctly or
else the battery and the multimeter will get damaged.

B. Fuse replacement
After disconnecting test leads and turning off multimeter, press battery
cover and push in the direction of the arrow to open.
Remove old fuse and replace with spare fuse. Replace battery cover.
Note: Use only 0.8A1250 V fuse or as specified in the multimeter manual.