HOW TO USE A MULTI METER

Not sure what a multimeter is or what you can do with one? Then you're in the right place! Below is an
overview of what multimeters are and what they are useful for. To learn how to use a multimeter, to find
multimeter usage ideas, or to find labeled photographs of assorted multimeter models, click on the
quick links in this multimeter tutorial.

This section includes answers to the following questions:

 What is a multimeter?

 What can multimeters measure?

 What are voltage, current, and resistance?

 What are direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC)?

  What are series and parallel circuits?

 What do all the symbols on the front of the multimeter mean?

 What are the red and black wires (probes)? Where do I plug them in?

What is a multimeter?

A multimeter is a handy tool that you use to measure electricity, just like you would use a ruler to
measure distance, a stopwatch to measure time, or a scale to measure weight. The neat thing about a
multimeter is that unlike a ruler, watch, or scale, it can measure different things — kind of like a multi-
tool. Most multimeters have a knob on the front that lets you select what you want to measure. Below is
a picture of a typical multimeter. There are many different multimeter models; visit the multimeter
gallery for labeled pictures of additional models.

Image Credit: Ben Finio, Science Buddies / Science

Buddies
Figure 1. A typical multimeter.

What can multimeters measure?

Almost all multimeters can measure voltage, current, and resistance. See the next section for an
explanation of what these terms mean, and click on the Using a Multimeter section for instructions on
how to make these measurements.
Some multimeters have a continuity check, resulting in a loud beep if two things are electrically
connected. This is helpful if, for instance, you are building a circuit and connecting wires or soldering; the
beep indicates everything is connected and nothing has come loose. You can also use it to make sure two
things are not connected, to help prevent short circuits.

Some multimeters also have a diode check function. A diode is like a one-way valve that only lets
electricity flow in one direction. The exact function of the diode check can vary from multimeter to
multimeter. If you're working with a diode and can't tell which way it goes in the circuit, or if you're not
sure the diode is working properly, the check feature can be quite handy. If your multimeter has a diode
check function, read the manual to find out exactly how it works.

Advanced multimeters might have other functions, such as the ability to measure and identify other
electrical components, like transistors or capacitors. Since not all multimeters have these features, we
will not cover them in this tutorial. You can read your multimeter's manual if you need to use these
features.

What are voltage, current, and resistance?

If you haven't heard of these terms before, we'll give a very simple introductory explanation here. You
can read more about voltage, current, and resistance in the References section. Remember that voltage,
current, and resistance are measurable quantities that are each measured in a unit that has a symbol,
just like distance is a quantity that can be measured in meters, and the symbol for meters is m.

 Voltage is how hard electricity is being "pushed" through a circuit. A higher voltage means the
electricity is being pushed harder. Voltage is measured in volts. The symbol for volts is V.

 Current is how much electricity is flowing through the circuit. A higher current means more
electricity is flowing. Current is measured in amperes. The symbol for amperes is A.

 Resistance is how difficult it is for electricity to flow through something. A higher resistance
means it is more difficult for electricity to flow. Resistance is measured in ohms. The symbol for
ohms is Ω (the capital Greek letter omega).

Technical Note

The symbol that is used for a unit is usually different than the symbol for a variable in an equation. For
example, voltage, current, and resistance are related by Ohm's law (see the References section to learn
more about Ohm's law):

Voltage=Current×ResistanceVoltage=Current×Resistance

which is usually expressed as

V=IRV=IR

In this equation, V represents voltage, I represents current, and R represents resistance. When referring
to the units volts, amps, and ohms, we use the symbols V, A, and Ω, as explained above. So, "V" is used
for both voltage and volts, but current and resistance have different symbols for their variables and
units. Don't worry if this seems confusing; this table will help you keep track:
 Symbol Unit Symbol

V Volts V

I Ampere A

e R Ohm Ω

This is very common in physics. For example, in many equations, "position" and "distance" are
represented by the variables "x" or "d," but they are measured in the unit meters, and the symbol for
meters is m.

A simple analogy to better understand voltage, current, and resistance: imagine water flowing through a
pipe. The amount of water flowing through the pipe is like current. More water flow means more
current. The amount of pressure making the water flow is like voltage; a higher pressure will "push" the
water harder, increasing the flow. Resistance is like an obstruction in the pipe. For instance, a pipe that is
clogged with debris or objects will be harder for water to flow through, and will have a higher resistance
than a pipe that is free of obstruction.

What are direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC)?

Direct current (abbreviated DC) is current that always flows in one direction. Direct current is supplied by
everyday batteries—like AA and AAA batteries—or the one in your cell phone. Most of the Science
Buddies projects you do will probably involve measuring direct current. Different multimeters have
different symbols for measuring direct current (and the corresponding voltage), usually "DCA" and
"DCV," or "A" and "V" with a straight bar above or next to them. See "What do all the symbols on the
front of the multimeter mean?" for more information about the abbreviations and symbols on
multimeters.

Alternating current (abbreviated AC) is current that changes direction, usually many times in one
second. The wall outlets in your house provide alternating current that switches directions 60 times per
second (in the U.S., but 50 times per second in other countries). (Warning: Do not use a multimeter to
measure the wall outlets in your home. This is very dangerous.) If you need to measure alternating
current in a circuit, different multimeters have different symbols to measure it (and the corresponding
voltage), usually "ACA" and "ACV," or "A" and "V" with a squiggly line (~) next to or above them.

What are series and parallel circuits?

When you take measurements with a multimeter, you will need to decide whether to attach it to your
circuit in series or in parallel, depending on what you want to measure. In a series circuit, each circuit
element has the same current. So, to measure current in a circuit, you must attach the multimeter in
series. In a parallel circuit, each circuit measurement has the same voltage. So, to measure voltage in a
circuit, you must attach your multimeter in parallel. To learn how to take these measurements, see
the Using a Multimeter section.

Figure 2 shows basic series and parallel circuits, without a multimeter connected. To learn more about
voltage, current, and resistance in series and parallel circuits, check out the References section.

Image Credit: Ben Finio, Science Buddies / Science Buddies

Figure 2. In a basic series circuit (left), each element has the same current (but not necessarily the same
voltage; that will only happen if their resistances are all the same). In a basic parallel circuit (right), each
element has the same voltage (but not necessarily the same current; that will only happen if their
resistances are all the same).

What do all the symbols on the front of the multimeter mean?

You might be confused by all the symbols on the front of your multimeter, especially if you don't actually
see words like "voltage," "current," and "resistance" spelled out anywhere. Don't worry! Remember
from the "What are voltage, current, and resistance?" section that voltage, current, and resistance have
units of volts, amps, and ohms, which are represented by V, A, and Ω respectively. Most multimeters use
these abbreviations instead of spelling out words. Your multimeter might have some other symbols,
which we will discuss below.

Most multimeters also use metric prefixes. Metric prefixes work the same way with units of electricity as
they do with other units you might be more familiar with, like distance and mass. For example, you
probably know that a meter is a unit of distance, a kilometer is one thousand meters, and a millimeter is
one thousandth of a meter. The same applies to milligrams, grams, and kilograms for mass. Here are the
common metric prefixes you will find on most multimeters (for a complete list, see
the References section):

 µ (micro): one millionth

  m (milli): one thousandth

 k (kilo): one thousand

 M: (mega): one million

These metric prefixes are used in the same way for volts, amps, and ohms. For example, 200kΩ is
pronounced "two hundred kilo-ohms," and means two hundred thousand (200,000) ohms.

Some multimeters are "auto-ranging," whereas others require you to manually select the range for your
measurement. If you need to manually select the range, you should always pick a value that is slightly
higher than the value you expect to measure. Think about it like using a ruler and a yardstick. If you need
to measure something that is 18 inches long, a 12-inch ruler will be too short; you need to use the
yardstick. The same applies to using a multimeter. Say you are going to measure the voltage of a AA
battery, which you expect to be 1.5V. The multimeter on the left in Figure 3 has options for 200mV, 2V,
20V, 200V, and 600V (for direct current). 200mV is too small, so you would pick the next highest value
that works: 2V. All of the other options are unnecessarily large, and would result in a loss in accuracy (it
would be like using a 50-foot tape measure that only has markings every foot, and no inch markings; it
isn't as accurate as using a yardstick with 1-inch markings).

Image
Credit: Ben Finio, Science Buddies / Science Buddies
Figure 3. The multimeter on the left is manual-ranging, with many different options (indicated by metric
prefixes) for measuring different amounts of voltage, current, and resistance. The multimeter on the
 right is auto-ranging (note how it has fewer options for the selection knob), meaning it will automatically
select the appropriate range.

What do the other symbols on the multimeter mean?

You might have noticed some other symbols besides V, A, Ω, and metric prefixes on the front of your
multimeter. We'll explain some of those symbols here, but remember, all multimeters are different, so
we cannot cover every possible option in this tutorial. Check your multimeter's manual if you still can't
figure out what one of the symbols means. You can also browse our multimeter gallery to see labeled
pictures of different multimeters.

Symbol Samples

line): You might see a squiggly line next to or above a V or A on the front of
meter, in addition to metric prefixes. This stands for alternating current (AC).
he voltage in an AC circuit is usually referred to as "AC voltage" (even though Image Credit: Ben F
range to say "alternating current voltage"). You use these settings when you Science Buddies / Science Buddies
ing a circuit with alternating current (or voltage).

d line or dashed line): Like the squiggly line, you might see this next to or
or an A. The straight lines stand for direct current. You use these settings when
asuring a circuit with direct current (e.g., most circuits that are powered by a Image Credit: Ben F
Science Buddies / Science Buddies

ACA, DCA, VAC, or VDC: Sometimes, instead of (or in addition to) using
dashed lines, multimeters will use the abbreviations AC and DC, which stand
ting current and direct current, respectively. Note that some multimeters
AC and DC after the V and A, instead of before. Credit: Ben Finio, Science Buddies / Science Buddies

check (series of parallel arcs): This is a setting used to check if two things are
connected. The multimeter will beep if there is a conductive path between
obe tips (meaning, if the resistance is very close to zero), and will not make any Image Credit: Ben
re is no conductive path. Note that sometimes the continuity check can be Science Buddies / Science Buddies
with other functions on a single setting.

k (triangle with some lines through it): This function is used to test a diode,
e a one-way valve for electricity; it only lets current flow in one direction. The
on of the diode check can be different on different multimeters. Check your Image Credit: Ben Fin
's manual to learn about how the diode check function works for your model. Buddies / Science Buddies
Table 1. Some symbol examples from different multimeters. Check out the gallery for more examples.

What are the red and black wires (probes)? Where do I plug them in?

Your multimeter probably came with red and black wires that look something like the ones in Figure 4.
These wires are called probes or leads (pronounced "leeds"). One end of the lead is called a banana
jack; this end plugs into your multimeter (Note: some multimeters have pin jacks, which are smaller than
banana jacks; if you need to buy replacement probes, be sure to check your multimeter's manual to find
out which kind you need). The other end is called the probe tip; this is the end you use to test your
circuit. Following standard electronics convention, the red probe is used for positive, and the black probe
is used for negative.

Image Credit: Ben Finio,

Science Buddies / Science Buddies
Figure 4. A typical pair of multimeter probes.

Although they come with two probes, many multimeters have more than two places in which to plug the
probes, which can cause some confusion. Exactly where you plug the probes in will depend on what you
want to measure (voltage, current, resistance, continuity test, or diode test) and the type of multimeter
you have. We have provided one example in the images below—and you can check our gallery for a
multimeter similar to yours—but since all multimeters are slightly different, you might need to consult
the manual for your multimeter.

Most multimeters (except for very inexpensive ones) have fuses to protect them from too much current.
Fuses "burn out" if too much current flows through them; this stops electricity from flowing, and
prevents damage to the rest of the multimeter. Some multimeters have different fuses, depending on
whether you will be measuring high or low current, which determines where you plug the probes in. For
example, the multimeter shown in Figure 5 has one fuse for 10 amps (10A) and one fuse for 200
milliamps (200mA).

Image Credit: Ben Finio, Science Buddies / Science Buddies

Figure 5. This multimeter has three different ports labeled 10A, COM (which stands for "common"), and
mAVΩ. The fuse between mAVΩ and COM is rated for 200mA, which is a relatively "low" current. So, in
order to measure small currents-or voltage or resistance (very little current flows through the multimeter
when measuring voltage or resistance)—you plug the black probe into COM and the red probe into the
port labeled mAVΩ. The fuse between 10A and COM is rated for 10A, so to measure high currents, you
plug the black probe into COM and the red probe into the port labeled 10A.

Using a Multimeter

Do you have a multimeter but are confused about how to use it or are getting unexpected readings? If
so, the sections below will help you sort through what to do. If there are words or concepts you do not
understand, or symbols on your multimeter that puzzle you, return to the Multimeter Overview tab. If
you are looking for multimeter usage ideas or labeled photographs of assorted multimeter models, then
visit the other sections in this multimeter tutorial.

This section includes answers to the following questions:

 How do I measure voltage?

 How do I measure current?

 How do I measure resistance?

 How do I do a continuity check?

 How do I do a diode check?

  How do I know which scale to pick for voltage, current, or resistance, and how do I read the
numbers at different scales?

 My multimeter isn't working! What's wrong?

 How do I know if I need to change the fuse?

 How do I change the fuse?

How do I measure voltage?

To measure voltage, follow these steps:

1. Plug your black and red probes into the appropriate sockets (also referred to as "ports") on your
multimeter. For most multimeters, the black probe should be plugged into the socket labeled
"COM," and the red probe into the socket labeled with a "V" (it might also have some other
symbols). Remember to check out our image gallery, the Multimeter Overview section, or your
multimeter's manual if you have trouble identifying the right socket.

2. Choose the appropriate voltage setting on your multimeter's dial. Remember that most battery-
powered circuits will have direct current, but the setting you select will depend on the science
project you are doing. If you are working with a manual-ranging multimeter, you can estimate
the range you need based on the battery (or batteries) powering your circuit. For example, if
your circuit is powered by a single 9V battery, it probably doesn't make sense to select the
setting for 200V, and 2V would be too low. If available, you would want to select 20V.

3. Touch the probe tips to your circuit in parallel with the element you want to measure voltage
across (refer to the Multimeter Overview section for an explanation of series and parallel
circuits). For example, Figure 6 shows how to measure the voltage drop across a lightbulb
powered by the battery. Be sure to use the red probe on the side connected to the positive
battery terminal, and the black probe on the side connected to the negative battery terminal
(nothing will be harmed if you get this backwards, but your voltage reading will be negative).
 Image Credit: Ben
Finio, Science Buddies / Science Buddies
Figure 6. Measuring voltage across a lightbulb by attaching the multimeter probes in parallel. Current
flow is represented by the yellow arrows. In voltage-measurement mode, the multimeter's resistance is
very high, so almost all of the current flows through the lightbulb, and the multimeter does not have a
big impact on the circuit. Notice how the knob has been set to measure DC voltage (DCV) and the red
probe is plugged into the correct port for measuring voltage (labeled "VΩ" because it is also used to
measure resistance).

4. If your multimeter is not auto-ranging, you might need to adjust the range. If your multimeter's
screen just reads "0," then the range you have selected is probably too high. If the screen reads
"OVER," "OL," or "1" (these are different ways of saying "overload"), then the range you have
selected is too low. If this happens, adjust your range up or down as necessary. Remember that
you might need to consult your multimeter's manual for specifics about your model.

How do I measure current?

To measure current, follow these steps:

1. Plug your red and black probes into the appropriate sockets (also referred to as "ports") on the
multimeter. For most multimeters, the black probe should be plugged into the socket labeled
"COM." There might be multiple sockets for measuring current, with labels like "10A" and
"mA". Note:It is always safer to start out with the socket that can measure a larger current. Plug
the red socket into the high-current port.
 2. Choose the appropriate current setting on your multimeter. Remember to check if your circuit is
direct current or alternating current, and that almost all battery-powered circuits will be direct
current. If your meter is not auto-ranging, you might need to guess at the scale to use (you can
change this later if you don't get a good reading).

3. Connect the multimeter probes in series to the current you want to measure (refer to
the Multimeter Overview section for an explanation of series and parallel circuits). For example,
Figure 7 shows how to measure the current through a lightbulb that is powered by a battery. Be
sure to use the red probe toward the battery's positive side, otherwise your current reading will
be negative.

Image Credit: Ben

Finio, Science Buddies / Science Buddies
Figure 7. Measuring the current through a lightbulb by attaching a multimeter in series. Current flow is
represented by the yellow arrows. In current-measurement mode, the multimeter's resistance is
very low, so the current can easily flow through the multimeter without affecting the rest of the circuit.
Notice how the knob has been set to measure direct current (DCA) and the red probe is plugged into the
port for measuring current, labeled with an "A."
 4. If your multimeter is not auto-ranging, you might need to adjust the range. If your multimeter's
screen just reads "0," then the range you have selected is probably too high. If the screen reads
"OVER," "OL," or "1" (these are different ways of saying "overload"), then the range you have
selected is too low. If this happens, adjust your range up or down as necessary. Remember that
you might need to consult your multimeter's manual for specifics about your model.

How do I measure resistance?

To measure resistance, follow these steps:

1. Plug your red and black probes into the appropriate sockets on your multimeter. For most
multimeters, the black probe should be plugged into the socket labeled "COM," and the red
probe should be plugged into the socket labeled with an "Ω" symbol.

2. Choose the appropriate resistance measurement setting on your multimeter's dial. If you have
an estimate for the resistance you will be measuring (for example, if you are measuring a resistor
with a known value), that will help you pick the range.

3. Important: Turn off the power supply to your circuit before measuring resistance. If your circuit
has a power switch, you can do this by turning the switch "off." If there is no switch, you can
remove the batteries. If you do not do this, your reading might be incorrect. If your circuit has
multiple components, you might need to remove the component you want to measure in order
to accurately determine its resistance. For example, if your circuit has two resistors in parallel,
you will have to remove one resistor to measure their resistances individually.

Connect one of your multimeter's probes to each side of the object whose resistance you want to
measure. Resistance is always positive and the same in both directions, so it does not matter if you
switch the black and red probes in this case (unless you are dealing with a diode, which acts like a one-
way valve for electricity, so it has a high resistance in one direction and a low resistance in the other
direction). Figure 8 shows how to measure the resistance of a lightbulb.
 Image Credit: Ben
Finio, Science Buddies / Science Buddies
Figure 8. Measuring the resistance of a lightbulb using a multimeter. Notice how the lightbulb has
been disconnected from the circuit. The multimeter supplies its own small amount of current, which
allows it to measure the resistance. Notice how the knob has been set to the "Ω" to measure resistance,
and the red probe is plugged into the proper port to measure resistance (labeled "VΩ" since it is also
used to measure voltage).

4. If your multimeter is not auto-ranging, you might need to adjust the range. If your multimeter's
screen just reads "0," then the range you have selected is probably too high. If the screen reads
"OVER," "OL," or "1" (these are different ways of saying "overload"), then the range you have
selected is too low. If this happens, adjust your range up or down as necessary. Remember that
you might need to consult your multimeter's manual for specifics about your model.

How do I do a continuity check?

To do a continuity check (which ensures that there is a conductive path between two points in your
circuit), follow these steps:

1. Set your multimeter to the continuity check symbol. Remember that this symbol might not look
the same on all multimeters (and some multimeters do not have it at all), so check out
the Multimeter Overview section or our multimeter image gallery to see examples.
 2. Plug your probes into the appropriate sockets. On most multimeters, the black probe should go
into the socket labeled "COM," and the red probe should go into the same socket you would use
to measure voltage or resistance (not current), labeled with a V and/or an Ω.

3. Important: Turn off the power supply to your circuit before doing a continuity check. If your
circuit has a power switch, you can do this by turning the switch "off." If there is no switch, you
can remove the batteries.

Touch two parts of your circuit with the probes. If the two parts of the circuit are electrically connected
with very little resistance between them, your multimeter should beep. If they are not connected, it will
not make a noise and might display something on the screen such as "OL," "OVER," or "1," which all
stand for "overload." The easiest way to test this function with your multimeter is to check it with a
single piece of conductive material (most metals) and a piece of non-conducting material, like wood or
plastic. See Figure 9 for an example.

Image Credit: Ben Finio,

Science Buddies / Science Buddies
 Image Credit: Ben Finio,
Science Buddies / Science Buddies
Figure 9. Using a multimeter to do a continuity test. If a conductive path is formed between the probe
tips, the multimeter will beep. If the conductive path is broken (possibly due to a wire that has come
loose in your circuit, or a bad solder connection), the multimeter will not beep. Notice how the knob has
been set to the symbol for continuity and the red probe is plugged into the VΩ port (this port is not
always labeled with the continuity symbol).

How do I do a diode check?

The diode check feature is useful to determine in which direction electricity flows through a diode. The
exact operation of the "diode check" function will vary for different multimeters, and some multimeters
do not have a diode check feature at all. Because of this variety, and because the feature is not required
for most Science Buddies projects, we have not included directions here. If you need to do a diode
check, consult the manual for your multimeter.

How do I know which scale to pick for voltage, current, or resistance, and how do I read the numbers
at different scales?

If your multimeter is not auto-ranging, knowing which scale to pick can be tricky, especially if you are not
very familiar with metric prefixes. Here are two rules of thumb you can follow for measuring voltage,
current, and resistance:

 Voltage: Many manual-ranging multimeters have settings for 200mV, 2V, and 20V. It is very
unlikely that battery-powered circuits will exceed 20V (for example, two 9V batteries connected
in series will provide a maximum of 18V). A single AA or AAA battery supplies 1.5V. Two AA or
 AAA batteries combined in a battery pack will provide 3V, four will provide 6V, and eight will
provide 12V. So, if you know what type of batteries (and how many), are powering your circuit,
you can pick a starting range to measure voltage. Remember that you want to pick the next
highest voltage setting (just like with measuring distance; you would need a yardstick— not a 12-
inch ruler— to measure something that is 18 inches long). So, for a circuit powered by a single
AA battery (1.5V), you would select the 2V setting. For a circuit powered by a 9V battery, you
would select 20V.

 Current: When measuring current, it is always a good idea to start out with the highest possible
current setting (and the appropriate high-current socket, if your multimeter has multiple sockets
to measure current), in order to avoid blowing a fuse. If the current you measure is low enough
to safely use your low-current settings and socket, then you can take a new reading to get a
more-accurate measurement. For example, say your multimeter has a socket with a 10A fuse
and one with a 200mA fuse. Using the 10A socket, you measure a current of 150mA. Then it
would be safe to measure again with the 200mA socket (and a lower setting on the knob).

 Resistance: If you are measuring an object with a known resistance, you can use that value to
choose the appropriate resistance setting. As with current and voltage, you need to pick the next
largest resistance value on your scale. For example, to measure a 4.7kΩ resistor, you would
select 20kΩ. If you are measuring an object with unknown resistance, you will just have to guess,
but it is difficult to damage your multimeter or the object you are testing when measuring
resistance, so this is not a big problem.

The same value might appear differently when measured with a different scale selected on the
multimeter dial. For an example, let's use measuring the DC voltage from a AA battery—which we expect
to be 1.5V—using a multimeter that has settings for 200mV, 2V, 20V, 200V, and 600V. When measuring
the battery with each setting, we get these readings:

Dial Setting Screen Reading

1 .

1.607

1.60

1.6

001
Table 2. Readings when measuring voltage of a single AA battery using different dial settings on a
manual-ranging multimeter.

The "1 ." is this multimeter's way of saying that it is "overloaded"—the value of 1.6V is outside the
selected range of 200mV. Other multimeters might display "OVER" or "OL" when this happens. Notice
that as the range increases, the accuracy decreases. At the 2V setting, the reading displays 3 decimal
places. At the 200V setting, the reading only displays one decimal place.

You might also need to take metric prefixes into account when reading the number from the multimeter
screen. For example, suppose your screen reads "6.1" when you are measuring current with the "10A"
setting. This means your current measurement is 6.1 amps. However, if the screen reads "6.1" when you
have the current dial set to 20mA, this means you are measuring 6.1 milliamps.

My multimeter isn't working! What's wrong?

Don't panic! There are several common mistakes that can be easily fixed.

 Make sure your multimeter has fresh batteries.

 Some multimeters have an auto power-saving feature, and will turn off after a certain period of
inactivity. If this happens, turn your multimeter's dial to "off" and then turn it on again.

 Make sure you have your probes plugged into the correct ports for what you want to measure
(see the "How do I measure..." sections above).

 Make sure you are connecting your probes to your circuit in the correct manner (series or
parallel) for what you want to measure (see the "How do I measure..." sections above).

 Make sure you have the correct setting chosen on your multimeter dial for what you want to
measure; for example, if you need to measure DC voltage, make sure you don't have current,
resistance, or AC voltage selected on the dial.

 If your multimeter is not auto-ranging, you might need to manually adjust your range. If your
multimeter screen always reads "0," this might mean the range you have selected is too high. If
it reads "OL," "OVER," or "1," the range you have selected could be too low. Each multimeter is
different, so you might need to read your multimeter's manual to find out what the display on
the screen means. You can then adjust the range accordingly.

o For example, if you are trying to measure the voltage of a 9V battery, but have your
multimeter set to 2 DCV, this range is too small and you would have to increase it to a
higher value, such as 20 DCV.

Still not working? You might have blown out a fuse in your multimeter. See the next section for
suggestions.

How do I know if I need to change the fuse?

Some multimeters have a fuse (or multiple fuses) that will "burn out" when too much current flows
through them, which then prevents more electricity from flowing, and hopefully saves the rest of the
multimeter from damage. In some multimeters, these fuses can be replaced if they burn out, but
instructions for replacing them (and figuring out if they need to be replaced at all) will vary for different
multimeter models.

You will probably need to open up your multimeter to access the fuses (Important: Always disconnect
the probes before you do this). Some multimeters have covers that will pop or slide off, and some have
screws that must be removed first. Fuses usually look like small, glass cylinders with metal caps on the
end and a thin wire running down the middle:

Image Credit
Figure 10. A typical fuse.

If a fuse has burned out, it might be visibly blackened or charred. The wire on the inside might have
completely burned away, and no longer be visible.

How do I change the fuse?

Important: Always disconnect the leads from your multimeter before opening the cover to change the
fuse.

Instructions for changing the fuse vary with each multimeter model, so you will need to check your
multimeter's manual for instructions. This tutorial from SparkFun provides directions for changing a fuse
on their brand of multimeter, but remember that these directions might not apply to your model. Note
that in some multimeters-especially in inexpensive ones-you might not be able to change the fuse.

Multimeter Fun

In this multimeter tutorial, we have already covered what a multimeter is and how to use it. This section
will provide some suggestions of practical and interesting things to do with a multimeter.
This section answers the questions:

 What can I do with a multimeter around the house?

 What shouldn't I do with my multimeter?

 Which Science Buddies projects require a multimeter?

What can I do with a multimeter around the house?

Remember that the primary purpose of a multimeter is to test circuits and electrical components in an
experiment or science project that involves electronics. What if you don't have a circuit to test? Here are
a couple suggestions for quick experiments you can do with a multimeter around your house.

 Test batteries! Have you ever wondered if a device or toy stopped working because the batteries
were dead? With a multimeter, you can make sure batteries are actually dead before recycling
them by testing their voltage. Remember that fresh AA and AAA batteries should supply about
1.5V (a fresh alkaline cell will measure about 1.6V with nothing else attached). However,
batteries will effectively be "dead" long before they reach 0V. For example, if a battery is
supplying 0.7V, that probably isn't enough to power most household devices that are expecting
1.5V from the battery.

 Do you have rechargeable batteries? You can test their voltage over time as they recharge, and
then make a plot of voltage vs. charge. How long does it take for the voltage to stop increasing?
Is the graph a straight line?

 Do you have anything you can take apart with a circuit board inside, like an old toy, or a TV
remote? Use the continuity check on your multimeter (if it has one) to test which parts of the
circuit are directly connected to each other. (Warning: Old circuit boards are constructed with a
lead-based solder, which is toxic. Always wash your hands carefully after handling solder, and
check your local waste disposal guidelines to see if there are special rules about disposing of
lead as hazardous waste.)

 Set your multimeter to measure resistance, and have everyone in your house take turns grabbing
the metal tips of the probes (one in each hand). Who has the highest resistance? The lowest?

 Use the continuity check or resistance measurement to test different materials in your house.
Which ones are conductors and which ones are insulators?

 Hook the multimeter leads up to a speaker using speaker wire, and set the multimeter to
measure AC amps (or AC volts if AC amps is not available). Who can get the multimeter to
display the biggest number by yelling into the speaker? (In this case, the speaker is working like a
microphone, generating current when it detects sound.)

What shouldn't I do with my multimeter?

 Do not use a multimeter to test electricity from the wall outlets in your home. Electricity from
wall outlets is very dangerous and can be fatal.

 Do not connect the probes directly to a battery or other power supply when you have a
"current" measurement setting selected. This will cause a "short circuit" across the battery
 terminals, and a very high current will flow through your multimeter. This will probably blow a
fuse, or possibly damage the multimeter.

Which Science Buddies projects require a multimeter?

A lot of Science Buddies projects require a multimeter; it is a really handy tool! In fact, there are too
many to list, but here is a sampling of a few that cover a variety of topics:

 Electrolyte Challenge: Orange Juice Vs. Sports Drink. This project compares the amount of
electrolytes in a sports drink to the amount in typical orange juice. Do sports drinks live up to
their promise? Use a multimeter to find out how well these different liquids conduct electricity.

 How to Turn a Potato Into a Battery. Did you know that you can make a battery and even light up
LEDs with everyday fruits and vegetables? Use a multimeter to test the current and voltage that
can be supplied by your afternoon snack.

 Water to Fuel to Water: The Fuel Cycle of the Future. Help save the planet with this green energy
project! Use fuel cells to store energy produced by solar panels for use when it's dark out, and
use your handy multimeter to keep track of your power generation.

 How Bright Is Your Glow Stick? Measure It!. Using a light sensor, a simple circuit, and a
multimeter, you can measure the amount of light given off by glow-in-the-dark objects.

 Spice Up the Power of a Microbial Fuel Cell with a Dash of Salt. Does generating electricity from
mud sound crazy? Believe it or not, with help from some friendly bacteria, you can turn an
everyday scoop of dirt into a battery. Use a multimeter to help design this green-energy fuel cell.

 Wily Waves: Build an Oscillating Water Column to Extract Energy from Ocean Waves. Harnessing
the power of the ocean is yet another green energy technology that could help reduce our
dependence on fossil fuels. Use a multimeter to measure the electrical power generated by your
oscillating water column.

 A Battery That Makes Cents. Did you ever think you could make a battery out of pocket change?
In this project you will make a battery out of pennies and nickels, and use a multimeter to
measure the current and voltage that it can produce.

Multimeter Gallery

While most multimeters can perform the same basic functions, different models that are made by
different manufacturers might not all look the same. In the gallery below, we have provided a series of
images of different multimeters with different measurement settings and sockets for the probes labeled.
Note that most of the multimeters have basic features in common, including settings for measuring
voltage, current, and resistance. All of them have a single "ground" socket for the black probe. Most of
them have separate sockets for measuring high and low current. The low-current socket is also used to
measure voltage and resistance. However, some multimeters only have two sockets total, or only have
one socket for measuring current. Some also have additional features that we did not label.

Remember, this gallery is meant to be a general guide; if you do not see your model of multimeter
pictured here, your best bet is to consult your specific multimeter's manual. If you need help getting
introduced to multimeters in general, refer back to our Multimeter Overview section. If you need to
know how to take a specific type of measurement, refer to the Using a Multimeter section.

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This multimeter is a combination of auto-ranging and manual ranging. For example, it only has one
setting to measure DC voltage, but it has three settings for measuring DC current. It also has one socket
for measuring voltage and resistance, and another socket for measuring both high and low current. It
also has a "Logic" test function for measuring digital circuits (not covered in this tutorial).