Electrical Workshop

Module 4: Study of Measurement and Test

Equipment

PREPARED BY

Academic Services Unit

August 2011

© Applied Technology High Schools, 2011

ATE1010 – Electrical Workshop

Module 4: Study of Measurement and

Test Equipment

Module Objectives

Upon successful completion of this module, students should be able to:

1. Explain the purpose and demonstrate the operation of test

instruments such as oscilloscopes, function generators and
multimeters.

2. Perform measurement of electrical quantities.

3. Test the functioning of diodes.

4. Perform continuity tests.

Module Contents:

Page
Topic
No.

4.1 Introduction 3

4.2 Multimeters 4

4.3 Diode Testing 9

4.4 Continuity Test 10

4.5 Function Generator 11

4.6 Oscilloscope 12

4.7 Practical Tasks 13

4.8 Review Exercise 22

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4.1 Introduction

Measurement and Test Equipment are used to measure electrical

quantities, test electrical components and generate different types of
signals to test the response of the circuit to that signal. Furthermore,
measuring and test equipment can be used to troubleshoot electrical
problems in many industrial and household devices such as batteries,
lamps, motor controls and wiring systems (see figure 4.1).

In this module, you will study how to use multi-meters, function

generators and oscilloscopes to perform electrical measurements and
component testing.

Figure 4.1: Measurement and test equipment functions

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4.2 Multimeters

Purpose: A multi-meter is an electronic measuring instrument that

combines several functions in one unit. A multi-meter is used to
measure voltage, current and resistance and to test diodes and
connectivity (see figure 4.2).

Figure 4.2: Multimeter functions

Types: There are two types of multimeter: analog and digital (see
figure 4.3).

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In this module, you will learn how to use a digital multimeter for
electrical measurements.

Figure 4.3: Types of multi-meters

• Multi-meter circuit symbols:

Device Circuit Symbol Function

Voltmeter Measure voltage

Ammeter Measure current

Ohmmeter Measure resistance

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Electrical Measurements

Voltage Measurement: To measure the DC voltage across electrical

components in a circuit, follow these steps (see figure 4.4):

1. Select on the digital multi-meter's setting switch on the

largest voltage range.
2. Connect the positive (RED) (+) lead to the part of the circuit
that is connected to the positive (+) side of the supply
(battery).
3. Connect the negative (BLACK) (-) lead to the part of the
circuit that is connected to the negative (-) side of the supply
(battery).
4. Switch on the multi-meter by pressing "POWER" button. Then,
select the best range that will give you the most accurate
results.
5. Record the reading and the unit that are displayed in the
multimeter's display.

Figure 4.4: Measuring the voltage of a battery

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Current Measurement: To measure the DC current flowing in

electrical circuit (see Figure 4.5), follow these steps:

1. Plug the BLACK (-) probe into the COM input jack and the
RED (+) probe into the mA or A input jack.

2. Adjust the digital multi-meter for current

measurements .

3. Switch off the power in the circuit.

4. Break the circuit between elements where the current to be

measured.

5. Insert the probes of the multimeter in the place where the

circuit is broken.

6. Switch on the multi-meter.

7. Select the best range that will give you the most accurate
results.

8. Record the reading and the unit that are displayed in the
multimeter's display.

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Figure 4.5: steps to measure current

• Resistance Measurement: To measure the resistance of a

resistor, follow these steps (see figure 4.6):

1. Turn Off the power to the circuit and remove the components to
be tested.

2. Select on the digital multi-meter's setting switch on the

lowest resistance range.
3. Plug the BLACK (-) probe into the COM input jack and the RED
(+) probe into the Ώ input jack.
4. Connect the probe tips across the component you want to
measure its resistance

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5. Switch on the multi-meter and select the best range that will
give you the most accurate results.
6. Record the reading and the unit that are displayed in the multi-
meter's display.

Figure 4.6: Resistance measurement using multi-meter

4.3 Diode Testing

To test if the diode is functioning or not, follow these steps:

1. Adjust the digital Multi-meter for diode-testing .

2. Connect the positive lead (Red) (+) to the anode (A(+)) and
connect the negative lead (BLACK) (-) to the cathode (K(-)) as
shown in Figure 4.7 a.
3. Switch on the multi-meter. For a diode in a good condition the
reading will be ≤ 300 mV for Ge diode and ≤ 700 mV for Si
diode.
4. Now connect the (RED) (+) lead to the (K(-)) and (BLACK) (-)
lead to the (A(+)) as shown in Figure 4.7b.

5. For a diode in good condition the reading will be for

both types.

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(a) (b)

Figure 4.7: Diode Testing

4.4 Continuity Test

To test if two points are electrically connected, follow these steps:

1. Turn Off the power to the circuit

2. Adjust the digital Multi-meter for continuity-testing and

Switch on the multi-meter.
3. When the probes aren't touching, the display shows "1" ( see
figure 4.8 a)
4. When you touch the tips of the probes together, the display
changes to a three digit mode. The multi-meter will also emit a
beep ( see figure 4.8 b)

(a) (b)

Figure 4.8: Continuity Test

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4.5 Function Generator

Purpose: Function generator is used to produce different waveform

such as sin, square and triangular (see figure 4.9). It is used to test
and examine the response of an electrical circuit to that signal. (i.e.
the motor response to a square or triangular signal).

Figure 4.9: Various waveform

Main Control Keys: The function generator has many control keys to
control the waveform shape, amplitude and frequency. The following
table shows function generator main keys and their usage.

Control Usage
Key

FUNC Select waveform types (sin, triangle

and square)

DUTY Set the duty cycle of the waveform

AMPL Set the peak amplitude of the

waveform

FREQ Set the frequency of the waveform

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4.6 Oscilloscope

Purpose: Oscilloscope is a device that is used to display different

waveforms simultaneously (i.e the input and output of an amplifier).
The following figure shows an oscilloscope picture.

Main Control Keys: Oscilloscope has many control keys to scale the
amplitude and periods of the displayed waveform. The following table
shows some oscilloscope main keys and their usage.

Control Key Usage

Channel A voltage Scale the amplitude of the waveform connected at

scale Channel A

Channel B voltage Scale the amplitude of the waveform connected at

scale Channel B

Period Scale Scale the period of all waveforms

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4.7 Practical Tasks:

Activity1: Battery Tester

- Items Required:
Batteries Digital Multi-meter

- Steps:

1. Measure the voltage across the batteries using a multi-meter as

shown below

2. Record your readings on the following table. The true value is

the value written on the battery

Measured Voltage True Value

Battery 1
Battery 2

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3. Compare the measured value with the true value of the

voltage written in the battery. Is the measured value close to
the real value? If no, state why?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------

4. You can test a battery using Multi-meter by:

(a) Voltage measurement (b) Connectivity test

(c) Diode Test

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Activity 2: Resistance Measurements

- Items Required:

Resistors Digital Multi-meter

- Steps:

1. Measure the resistance across different resistors using a multi-

meter and color code

2. Record your readings on the following table

Multi-meter Reading Color Code

Resistor 1

Resistor 2

3. Compare the value of resistance measured by the multi-meter

and color code. Are the values close to each other?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------

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Activity 3: Voltage and current Measurements

- Items Required:
1. Resistors (200Ώ), multi-meters
2. Electricity & Electronics Constructor, EEC470
3. Basic Electricity and Electronics Kit EEC471-2
4. Power supply unit

- Steps:

1. Construct the simple circuit shown below. Use 200 Ώ resistor

values.

2. Connect the multi-meter to the power supply.

3. Make sure that the variable dc control knob is fully counter

clockwise, and then switch on the power supply. Increase the
applied voltage in 2 V steps from 0 V up to 5 V.

4. At each step measure the current flowing in the resistor. Record

your reading in the following table:

Voltage (V) Current (mA)

2V

4V

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Activity 4: Oscilloscope and function generators

- Items Required:
1. Function Generator 2. Oscilloscope 3.
speaker

- Steps:

1. Connect the function generator and oscilloscope as shown

below.

Oscilloscope Earth Line

Oscilloscope Probe

Function Generator Probe

Function Generator Earth line

2. Set the function generator to give 5v pk and 1 kHz.

3. Select channel A on the oscilloscope. Set the volt/division scale

to 5v and time/division to 250 us.

4. Amplitude Measurement: measure the pk-pk voltage of the

waveform as seen in figure 4.10:

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Step 1: Identify the

voltage scale Step 2: Determine the
vertical divisions

Figure 4.10: Voltage amplitude measurements

Volt/division scale = -----------------------------

No. of divisions = -----------------------------

Pk-Pk voltage = -----------------------------

5. Period Measurements: measure the period of the waveforms

seen in figure 4.11.

Step 1: Determine the

Step 2: Identify the horizontal divisions
time scale

Figure 4.11: Time measurements

Time/division scale = -----------------------------

No. of divisions = -----------------------------

T (Period) = -----------------------------

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6. Set the function generator to 3v pk and 10 kHz frequency. Check

oscilloscope display and sketch results below

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7. Set the function generator to square waveform of 6v peak and 4

kHz. Check oscilloscope display and sketch results on the figure
below.

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Effect of Amplitude and frequency of sine wave form on the

voice of the speakers:

1. Connect the positive probe of the function generator to the

positive terminal of the speakers.
2. Connect the negative probe of the function generator to the
negative terminal of the speakers
3. Set the function generator to produce a sine wave with
amplitude of 3V Pk-k and frequency 1K. Observe the speaker
sound.
4. Increase the amplitude of the sin wave. What do you notice on
the speaker voice? Circle the correct answer
(a) The voice of the speaker gets louder

(b) The voice of the speaker gets quieter

5. Increase the frequency of the sin wave. What do you notice on

the speaker voice? Circle the correct answer

(a) The voice of the speaker becomes less sharp

(b) The voice of the speaker becomes more sharp

6. What do you conclude?

1. The amplitude of the waveform controls the voice:

(a) Sharpness

(b) Loudness

2. The frequency of the waveform controls the voice:

(a) Sharpness

(b) Loudness

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4.8 Review Exercise

Exercise 1:

The diagram below shows a view of an oscilloscope screen. The

oscilloscope input is a sinusoidal voltage signal, which is the trace
shown on the screen. The oscilloscope’s volts/div knob is set to 0.1
volts/div, and the sec/div knob is set to 50 μs/div (1 μs = 1 × 10−6
s).

Find the following

1. What is the peak amplitude of this signal, in volts?

______________________________________________________

2. What is the peak-to-peak amplitude of this signal, in volts?

______________________________________________________

3. What is the period, T of this signal, in seconds?

______________________________________________________

4. What is the frequency, f, of this signal in hertz, Hz (1 Hz = 1 /s)?

______________________________________________________

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Exercise 2:

Write the reading of the multimeter on the display in each case for an (Si)
diode.

Exercise 3:

State whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). In case
the statement is false correct the underlined word (s).

a. For diode testing, if the diode is in a good condition the multimeter

reading should be ≤ 700 for Ge diode. ( )
b. The continuity test can be used to test batteries, solar cells, wall
plugs,and power outlets. ( )
c. The voltage measurements can be used to determine if a wire is
broken in the middle. ( )

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Exercise 4:

Choose the correct answer:

1. The multimeter shown in the picture below is

set to measure:
a. resistance of the cell
b. voltage of the cell
c. current in the cell
d. power of the cell

2. The multimeter shown in the picture below is set to test the

a. resistance
b. battery
c. continuity
d. lamp

Exercise 5:

Draw the required connections for measuring battery voltage and

current flowing through the circuit. Indicate also – on the figure – the
multimeter setting.

24 Module 4: Study of Measurements and Test Equipment