Experiment 2: Electrical Engineering Symbols and
usage of digital Multimeter
2.1 Objectives
Electrical Engineering symbols are a convenient way of representing electrical components
in circuit diagrams. These will be discussed further in the report. Digital multimeter can be used as
an ohmmeter. The procedure and working will be discussed. Digital multimeter can be used to
measure current. The procedure and working have been discussed. Digital multimeter can used as
voltmeter to measure potential difference too. Simple procedure and working have been discussed
later.
2.2 Theoretical Background
“An ohmmeter is a device that measures the resistance in an electrical component or a
circuit.”
The following circuit diagram shows an analog ohmmeter:
The pointer in the meter deflects when current flows through the circuit or component, according
to the Ohmmeter's working principle. When the meter's pointer travels to the left, it indicates a
high resistance and responds to low current.
An ohmmeter's functioning premise is that it has one needle and two test leads. The battery
current determines how much the needle deflects. To determine the resistance of the electrical
circuit, two test leads of the meter can be coupled and shortened at first.
Ammeter: “An ammeter is device that is used to measure the current flowing through the circuit.”
An ammeter is always connected in series to the circuit, otherwise it would give us the wrong
reading. This is since current remains constant in series combination and the reading we will get will
be accurate.
The only thing that needs to be done is that you just must connect the probes of ammeter in series
with the circuit and then turn on the power supply and you can easily see how much current is
flowing through the circuit.
Voltmeter: “A voltmeter is a device which we can use measure the potential difference across a
component in an electrical circuit.”
The way you must connect the voltmeter is exactly opposite to ammeter. A voltmeter is always
connected parallel to the component since the voltage remains constant in parallel combination.
Just make sure that probes are connected at the right place in the circuit, and you can get the
potential difference reading instantly.
2.3 Lab Work
Procedure to measure current through the DMM present in lab:
Following procedure is to be followed:
1. Firstly, the three resistors were connected in series combination on the breadboard
provided in the lab.
2. The DC power supply was connected to the resistors in series.
3. Afterwards, the probes of DMM were connected in the circuit such that the DMM was in
series with the circuit.
4. To switch DMM to ammeter mode, the button of DC ammeter was pressed.
5. The DC power supply was turned on and set to a suitable desired voltage which was less
than the voltage that would have caused any damage to the circuit or the devices.
6. Hence, the current in the circuit was measured using the DMM provided in the lab.
Procedure to measure voltage through the DMM available in lab:
Following procedure is to be followed:
1. The provided resistors were connected in a series combination on the breadboard.
2. The DC power supply was connected in series with resistors.
3. Afterwards, the probes of DMM were connected in the circuit such that the DMM was in
parallel with resistor across which the voltage is to be measured.
4. To switch DMM to voltmeter mode, the button of DC voltmeter was pressed.
5. Then the power supply was turned on and set to desired voltage keeping in view the
maximum voltage that we could apply in that circuit without having any part of the circuit
damaged.
6. Hence, the voltage in the circuit and the individual resistors was measured using the DMM
provided in the laboratory.
Procedure to measure resistance through the DMM available in lab:
Following procedure is to be followed:
1. The provided resistors were connected in series combination.
2. To switch the digital multimeter to ohmmeter mode, the ohmmeter button was pressed.
3. The ohmmeter probes were connected to the circuit in series as shown in the circuit diagram.
4. Hence, the resistance in any circuit can be measured by following this simple procedure.
What can cause voltmeter or ammeter to get damaged:
The voltmeter or ammeter or, in general, the digital multimeter can get damaged due to following
reasons:
1. When you are setting up the desired circuit and accidently leave the power supply ON, the
digital multimeter can get damaged.
2. If the voltmeter is connected in series instead of parallel, this can cause damage to DMM
too.
3. Similarly, if ammeter is connected in parallel instead of series combination, DMM can be
damaged.
2.4 Quick Search
1. Current and voltage are interrelated. Fundamentally, current flows when there is potential
difference (or voltage) between two points in a circuit. This means current cannot flow
without voltage. Voltage is a measurement of the pressure or force of electrical power
flowing through a conductor, whereas current is a measure of the rate of flow. The heart is
clamped or fibrillates because of the flow of current through the body, which might lead to
death. Hence, we can conclude that both current and voltage play a role in death of a
person.
2. A galvanometer is a sensitive instrument so we cannot allow large amount of current to pass
through it. To convert a galvanometer into an ammeter, we must connect a shunt resistance
parallel to galvanometer. Hence, almost all the current flows through the shunt and just a
little through the galvanometer.
3. A galvanometer is a sensitive instrument so we cannot allow large amount of current to pass
through it. To convert a galvanometer into a voltmeter, we must connect a high resistance
in series to galvanometer. Hence, when the current first passes through the high resistance,
it is suppressed to a low current value which can now safely travel through the
galvanometer.
2.5 Conclusion
Electrical Engineering symbols allow us to represent various electrical components
conveniently in circuit diagrams. They are easy to remember and draw as we cannot draw actual
component drawing every time, we must represent it in a circuit diagram.
The digital multimeter is a very useful single tool which can be used to find the value of current,
voltage, resistance very conveniently.