Harbor Freight Multimeter Wont Read Dc Volts

How to Utilize a Harbor Freight Multimeter

Updated on: December 15, 2018

Contents

1 The Intro
2 What is a multimeter and as well why do y'all demand one?
iii What would multimeters measure out?
iv What Do All Of the Symbols Mean?
5 How to Apply a Multimeter
6 Parts of a Multimeter
- 6.1 Ports
  - 6.1.one COM
  - 6.1.two 10A
  - 6.1.three Selection Knob
  - six.1.4 Probes
7 Measuring Voltage
- seven.ane Measuring a battery's voltage
- 7.2 Overload
- vii.three Option Knob
8 Measuring Resistance
9 Continuity
x Irresolute the Fuse
- x.1 Conclusions

The Intro

These guidelines will reveal y'all how to make use of a digital multimeter (DMM), a vital device that you can brand use of to identify circuits, learn more than well-nigh various other individuals's electronic layouts, and besides even harbor freight multimeter. For this reason the 'multi'-'meter' or several dimension name.

Ane of the most fundamental points nosotros measure are voltage and also current. A multimeter is also excellent for some standard peace of mind checks and troubleshooting. Is your circuit not working? Does the button job? Put a meter on information technology! The multimeter is your very first defense force when troubleshooting a system. In this tutorial we will certainly comprehend measuring voltage, electric current, resistance and continuity.

Every fixer needs to recognize their means around a multimeter, which has simply north of a zillion uses for screening electronic elements and also circuits.

In this tutorial we're by and large probable to evidence yous exactly how to utilize a multimeter. This tutorial is primarily resolved for novices who are starting in electronic devices also as accept no idea just how to utilize a multimeter and exactly how it can exist useful. We'll explore i of the most usual attributes on a multimeter as well as exactly how to measure current, voltage, resistance likewise as exactly how to audit continuity.

What is a multimeter and also why exercise yous need one?

A multimeter is a measurement tool admittedly required in electronic devices. Information technology combines iii vital functions: a voltmeter, ohmeter, and also ammeter, and also in many cases continuity.

The tool enables yous to understand what is going on in your circuits. Whenever something in your circuit isn't working, it will certainly aid you repairing. Below'southward some situations in electronic devices jobs that you'll notice the multimeter helpful:

is the button on?
is this cable conducting the electric power or is information technology broken?
simply how much current is streaming via this led?
exactly how much power practise y'all have left on your batteries?

What would multimeters measure?

Generally all multimeters can mensurate voltage, current, and likewise resistance.

A bunch of multimeters have a continuity check, leading to a loud beep if two things are electrically continued. This is valuable if, for instance, you are edifice a circuit and also attaching cords or soldering; the beep indicates everything is continued and also absolutely nothing has come loose. You can also employ information technology to ensure two points are non continued, to assist protect against curt circuits.

Some multimeters likewise have a diode cheque feature. A diode resembles a ane-way valve that just allows electricity flow in one direction. The exact feature of the diode check tin can differ from i type to another. If yous're collaborating with a diode as well as can't inform which means it enters the circuit, or if you're unsure the diode is functioning accordingly, the cheque attribute can exist fairly helpful. If your DMM has a diode check function, read the handbook to discover precisely how it works.

Advanced models could have various other features, such equally the capability to measure and determine other electric parts, similar transistors or capacitors. Given that not but about all multimeters have these features, we will not cover them in this tutorial. You can read your multimeter's guidebook if y'all need to apply these attributes.

What Practise All Of the Symbols Mean?

There's a lot taking place when you look at the pick knob, just if you're simply going to be doing some standard things, y'all volition non also utilize l pct of all the settings. In any type of situation, below'south a rundown of what each sign suggests:

Direct Current Voltage (DCV):quite oft information technology volition certainly exist signified with a V– rather. This setting is fabricated use of to measure straight electric current (DC) voltage crazes like batteries.
Alternate Electric current Voltage (ACV): Sometimes information technology will certainly be signified with a V ~ instead. This setup is utilized to mensurate the voltage from alternating current resources, which is practically annihilation that connects right into an electrical outlet, along with the power coming from the electrical outlet itself.
Resistance (Ω): This gauges just how much resistance there is in the excursion. The reduced the number, the simpler it is for the current to movement through, also as the other way effectually.
Continuity: Usually signified by a wave or diode symbol. This just checks whether or non a excursion is total by sending out a actually percentage of current with the circuit and seeing if it makes information technology out the diverse other end. Otherwise, after that in that location's something along the excursion that's creating a problem– find it!
Straight Current Amperage (DCA): Like to DCV, but as opposed to offering yous a voltage analysis, it will inform y'all the amperage.
Directly Current Gain (hFE): This setting is to test transistors as well as their DC gain, just information technology's primarily pointless, since the majority of electrical contractors and too enthusiasts will utilize the continuity check instead.

Your multimeter may additionally have a dedicated setting for examining the amperage of AA, AAA, and also 9V batteries. This setup is usually signified with the battery icon.

Once more, you possibly won't as well utilize fifty percent of the setups revealed, so don't obtain overwhelmed if you only recognize what a few of them do.

How to Utilize a Multimeter

For starters, let'southward look at a few of the unlike parts of a multimeter. At the really bones level y'all accept the device itself, along with 2 probes, which are the blackness and as well red cable televisions that have plugs on i end and also metallic suggestions on the other.

The tool itself has a brandish screen at the top, which offers you your readout, as well as there's a big selection knob that you lot tin spin around to pick a particular setup. Each setting might additionally have different number worths, which exist to measure different toughness of voltages, resistances, and amps. Then if you have your multimeter drove to 20 in the DCV area, it will certainly measure voltages as much as 20 volts.

Your DMM volition likewise come with 2 or iii ports for connecting in the probes:

COM port mean "Common", and the black probe volition constantly connect into this port.
VΩmA port (often denoted as mAVΩ) is only an acronym for voltage, resistance, and likewise current (in milliamps). This is where the red probe will plug right into if y'all're measuring voltage, resistance, continuity, and also current less than 200mA.
the 10ADC port (sometimes signified equally but 10A) is utilized whenever you're measuring electric current that'southward greater than 200mA. If yous're uncertain of the current depict, begin with this port. On the other hand, you would not use this port at all if you're measuring anything aside from current.

Caution: Make sure that if yous're measuring annihilation with a current greater than 200mA, yous plug the cherry probe right into the 10A port, instead of the 200mA port. Otherwise y'all can blow the fuse that's inside of the multimeters. In addition, measuring annihilation over 10 amps tin blow a fuse or damage the multimeter as well.

Your measurement tool could have totally separate ports for measuring amps, while the various other port is particularly simply for voltage, resistance, and continuity, only the bulk of less expensive multimeters volition certainly share ports.

Anyway, allow'south get started in fact utilizing a multimeter. We'll exist measuring the voltage of a AA battery, the current draw of a wall surface clock, also every bit the continuity of an like shooting fish in a barrel cord as some instances to get you started and besides acquainted with making employ of a multimeter.

Parts of a Multimeter

Multimeters are composed by 4 vital sections:

Display: this particular is merely where the measurements are shown
Selection Knob: this picks what y'all want to mensurate
Ports: this is where you lot plug in the probes
Probes: a multimeter includes ii probes. Typically, one is blood-red as well as the various other is black.

Ports

"COM" or "–" port is where the black probe needs to be connected. The COM probe is traditionally black.
10A is used when measuring huge currents, above 200mA.
µAmA is made employ of to measure current.
VΩ allows y'all to measure voltage every bit well every bit resistance and examination continuity.

COM

COM mean typical and besides is oftentimes attached to Footing or '-' of a excursion.The COM probe is conventionally black still in that location is no distinction in between the red probe as well as black probe besides shade.

10A

10A is the special port utilized when measuring large currents (above 200mA).

Pick Knob

The choice knob permits the user to found the tool to read dissimilar things such equally milliamps (mA) of electric current, voltage (V) and also resistance (Ω).

Probes

2 probes are connected correct into ii of the ports on the front of the device. The probes have a banana type connector on completion that connects into the multimeter. Any kind of probe with a banana plug will work with this meter. This permits for different kinds of probes to be utilized.

Probe Types

There are several kinds of probes offered. Here are a few of our faves:

Banana to Alligator Clips: These are splendid cable televisions for attaching to large wires or pins on a breadboard. Swell for doing longer term examinations where you don't have to have to hold the probes in position while you adjust a circuit.
Banana to IC Claw: IC hooks role well on smaller sized ICs and legs of ICs.
Banana to Tweezers: Tweezers are helpful if yous are requiring to examine SMD parts.
Banana to Test Probes: If you always damage a probe, they are inexpensive to replace!

Measuring Voltage

To begin, allow's measure out voltage on a AA bombardment: Plug the black probe into COM likewise equally the ruby-red probe into mAVΩ. Establish to "2V" in the DC (direct electric current) diverseness. Nearly all portable electronic devices make utilise of straight current), not alternating current. Link the black probe to the battery'south ground or '-' and also the red probe to power or '+'. Squeeze the probes with a little pressure against the favorable and also adverse terminals of the AA battery. If y'all've obtained a fresh bombardment, you ought to see around 1.5 V on the display screen (this battery is brand-new, and so its voltage is somewhat greater than i.5 V).

You can certainly measure out DC voltage or AC voltage. The Five with a directly line implies DC voltage. The V with the curly line means Air-conditioning voltage.

To measure voltage:

Set the mode to V with a wavy line if you're measuring AC voltage or to the Five with a directly line if you're measuring DC voltage.
Ensure the red probe is connected to the port with a 5 next to information technology.
Connect the red probe to the silver lining of your component, which is where the current is coming from.
Adhere the COM probe to the various other side of your component.
Review the value on the screen.

Idea: to measure out voltage you accept to connect your multimeter in parallel with the component yous intend to measure out the voltage. Putting the multimeter in parallel is positioning each probe along the leads of the component you lot desire to measure out the voltage.

Measuring a battery's voltage

In this example we're going to measure out the voltage of a 1.5 V bombardment. Yous know that you'll accept nigh 1.5 5. Then, y'all must pick a variety with the selection knob that can check out the 1.5 V. So you should choose 2V when it comes to this multimeter. If you take an autorange one, you don't need to stress over the assortment y'all require to cull.

Starting time by activating it, plugging the probes right into their corresponding ports and likewise after that establishing the selection knob to the greatest number worth in the DCV expanse, which in my situation is 500 volts. If yous do not know at the very least the voltage serial of things you're measuring, information technology'south constantly an excellent idea to begin with the highest worth initially and also afterward that work your way down until you go an accurate reading.

In this instance, we understand the AA battery has a very low voltage, only we'll begin at 200 volts simply for the sake of case. Next off, place the black probe on the adverse end of the battery besides as the carmine probe on the favorable cease. Have a wait at the analysis on the display. Given that nosotros accept the multimeter drove to a loftier 200 volts, it shows "1.6" on the display, indicating 1.6 volts.

However, I desire an even more than precise analysis, so I'll move the selection knob reduced down to xx volts. Below, yous can come across that nosotros take a more exact analysis that floats in between ane.60 and 1.61 volts. If y'all were to always before institute the selection knob to a number worth less than the voltage of things you're testing, the multimeter would just read "i", representing that it's overwhelmed. So if I were to set the knob to 200 millivolts (0.ii volts), the 1.6 volts of the AA bombardment is excessive for the multimeter to bargain with at that setting.

Nevertheless, you might exist request why you would certainly require to check the voltage of something to begin with. Well, in this example with the AA battery, we're inspecting to see if it has whatsoever juice left. At ane.half-dozen volts, that'due south a fully-loaded battery. Even so, if it were to read 1.2 volts, it's close to beingness unusable.
In a more practical situation, y'all might do this sort of measuring on a cars and truck battery to run into if information technology may exist passing away or if the alternator (which is what bills the bombardment) is spoiling. A reading betwixt 12.4-12.7 volts implies that the battery remains in excellent form. Anything lower which'south proof of a passing away battery. In add-on, start your automobile upward as well as rev it upward a chip. If the voltage does not increase to around fourteen volts or two, after that it's likely that the generator is having concerns.

Overload

What takes place if you choose a voltage setting that is besides low for the voltage yous're trying to mensurate? Absolutely cipher negative. The meter will just display a ane. This is the meter attempting to tell you that information technology is overloaded or out-of-range. Whatever you're trying to review is way too much for that certain setup. Endeavour transforming the multimeter handle to a the post-obit highest setup.

Selection Knob

Why does the meter knob checked out 20V equally well as non 10V? If y'all're aiming to measure a voltage less than 20V, you count on the 20V setting. This will certainly let you to review from 2.00 to 19.99. The initial digit on lots of multimeters is only able to show a 'one' so the arrays are restricted to xix.99 instead of 99.99. Hence the 20V max variety as opposed to 99V max variety.

Measuring Resistance

Plug the red probe right into the ideal port and also turn the selection knob to the resistance expanse. Then, attach the probes to the resistor leads. The method y'all link the leads does not matter, the outcome coincides.

Normal resistors take color codes on them. If you don't understand what they imply, that'south ok! There are lots of on-line calculators that are simple to make utilise of. Notwithstanding, if you ever before locate yourself without web gain access to, a multimeter is really useful at measuring resistance.

Choose an arbitrary resistor besides every bit prepare the multimeter to the 20kΩ setup. So hold the probes against the resistor legs with the same quantity of pressure yous when pressing a cloak-and-dagger on a keyboard.

The meter will certainly review one of 3 things, 0.00, 1, or the real resistor worth.

In this case, the meter reads 0.97, significant this resistor has a worth of 970Ω, or regarding 1kΩ (recall you remain in the 20kΩ or 20,000 Ohm setting and so you lot need to relocate the decimal 3 locations to the right or 970 Ohms).

If the multimeter checks out 1 or displays OL, it'due south strained. You will certainly need to attempt a greater mode such as 200kΩ mode or 2MΩ (megaohm) way. In that location is no injury if this take identify, it merely means the range handle needs to exist adjusted.

Should the multimeter reviews 0.00 or nearly cipher, subsequently that you require to reduce the mode to 2kΩ or 200Ω.

Bear in mind that several resistors have a v% tolerance. This means that the shade codes may show ten,000 Ohms (10kΩ), but since of disparities in the manufacturing procedure a 10kΩ resistor can be as reduced as 9.5 kΩ or every bit high equally 10.5 kΩ. Don't fret, information technology'll piece of work simply fine as a pull-up or basic resistor.

Generally of thumb, it's unusual to see a resistor much less than i Ohm. Keep in listen that measuring resistance is non ideal. Temperature tin affect the reading a dandy deal. Additionally, measuring resistance of a gadget while it is literally fix up in a circuit can be really tricky. The surrounding elements on a motherboard tin profoundly impact the analysis.

The mockup normally resembles with a basic clock running off of a AA battery. On the silvery lining, the cable going from the bombardment to the clock is separated. We simply place our ii probes in between that break to complete the circuit again (with the red probe continued to the source of power), just this moment our multimeter volition read out the amps that the clock is pulling, which in this situation is around 0.08 mA.

While almost multimeters tin can additionally mensurate alternating electric current (Air-conditioning), it's not actually a skilful suggestion (specifically if its online power), considering that Air conditioning can be unsafe if you air current up slipping up. If you need to see whether or not an outlet is performance, use a non-contact tester instead.

To measure electric current y'all require to birth in mind that elements in collection share a electric current. So, you need to connect your multimeter in collection with your circuit.

Proposition: to place the multimeter in series, you lot require to identify the red probe on the lead of a component and the black probe on the post-obit component lead. The multimeter acts as if information technology was a wire in your circuit. If you divide the multimeter, your excursion won't work.

Prior to measuring the electric current, make sure that you've connected at a loss probe in the appropriate port, in this case µAmA. In the case below, the exact same circuit of the previous example is utilized. The multimeter belongs to the circuit.

Continuity

If there is extremely reduced resistance in betwixt 2 points, which is much less than a few ohms, the ii factors are electrically linked and also you'll hear a constant sound. If the sound isn't abiding or if yous don't hear any blazon of audio at all, it means that what yous're testing has a malfunctioning link or isn't connected in all.

Alert: To examine continuity you ought to plow off the organization! Plow off the power supply!

Impact the 2 probes together and too, every bit they are attached, you'll listen to a continuous sound.To test the continuity of a cable, you just require to attach each probe to the cable tips.

Continuity is a wonderful method to evaluate if two SMD pins are touching. If your eyes can not see it, the multimeter is typically a wonderful second testing resource. When a organisation is non performance, continuity is another point to help set the arrangement.

Establish your multimeter to the continuity setting making use of the selection knob.
The readout on the screen will instantaneously read "i", which implies that there isn't whatsoever kind of continuity. This would be correct considering we accept not attached the probes to annihilation notwithstanding.
Next, ensure the circuit is unplugged and has no power. Then attach one probe to i finish of the wire and the diverse other probe to the diverse other end– no matter which probe goes on which end. If there is a total excursion, your multimeter will certainly either beep, reveal a "0", or something as well a "one". If it even so reveals a "one", and so there'southward a trouble and as well your circuit isn't full.
Y'all can too check that the continuity role services your multimeter by touching both probes to every other. This finishes the circuit likewise as your multimeter must allow you lot know that.

A continuity test informs us whether 2 things are electrically connected: if something is continuous, an current can motility easily from 1 end to the other.

If at that place's no continuity, it implies there is a interruption somewhere in the circuit. This can show annihilation from a blown fuse or poor solder joint to an incorrectly wired excursion.

Changing the Fuse

Among one of the most usual mistakes with a new multimeter is to measure current on a bread board by probing from VCC to GND. This will right away curt power to footing through the multimeter triggering the staff of life board ability supply to brown out. As the current rushes through the multimeter, the internal fuse will heat up and later that stress out every bit 200mA moves with information technology. Information technology will occur in a flash too as with no actual aural or physical indicator that something is incorrect.

Remember that measuring current is carried out in series (disrupt the VCC line to the breadboard or microcontroller to measure electric current). If you endeavour to measure the current with a blown fuse, you'll probably run into that the meter reviews '0.00' as well as that the system doesn't plow on like it must when you connect the multimeter. This is since the interior fuse is damaged besides as acts as a busted cable or open.

To modify the fuse, locate your useful dandy mini spiral driver, and kickoff obtaining screws. The parts and PCB traces inside the multimeter are made to take unlike amounts of electric current. You will damage also equally potentially ruin your multimeter if you mistakenly press 5A through the 200mA port.

In that location are times where you lot crave to measure high current tools like a motor or burner. Practise you lot see the two locations to place the carmine probe on the forepart of the multimeter? 10A left fly equally well as mAVΩ on the right? If you try to mensurate greater than 200mA on the mAVΩ port you lot run the chance of blowing the fuse. Only if you utilize the 10A port to mensurate current, you run a much reduced threat of blowing the fuse. The compromise is sensitivity. As we spoke almost above, by utilizing the 10A port and handle setup, you will just take the ability to review down to 0.01 A or 10mA. A lot of systems brand use of more than 10mA so the 10A setting also as port works well sufficient. If you lot're attempting to measure very reduced power (mini or nano amps) the 200mA port with the 2mA, 200uA, or 20uA could exist what you require.

Conclusions

You lot're currently ready to use your digital multimeter to brainstorm measuring the earth around you. Really experience totally free to brainstorm using it to address several questions. A digital multimeter volition certainly respond to numerous questions most electronics.

A multimeter is a crucial device in any type of electronics laboratory. In this guide, nosotros've shown yous How To Apply a Multimeter. You've learned just how to measure voltage, current as well as resistance, as well as just how to bank check continuity.

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