Electrical Troubleshooting: Ohm's Law Fundamentals

Electrical Troubleshooting
Before using a voltmeter on electrical components, do the following:
Conduct a hazard assessment and follow approved safe work practices.

Wear appropriate protective clothing and equipment.
Use insulated gloves, tools, blankets, and barriers if required.
For more information, refer to the HOLT CAT Electrical Safety Policy
and Procedures or your Company’s Safety Policy.
Ohm’s Law Fundamentals
E, I, and R, the
parameters of Ohm’s law.
E (Volts) = Electromotive Force. The potential difference measured across the

conductor in units of volts.
I (Amperage) = Intensity. The current through the conductor in units of amperes.
R (Ohm) = Resistance. The resistance of the load in units of ohms.
1
When using the multimeter to make voltage measurements it is important to

remember that the voltmeter must always be connected in parallel with the load or
circuit under test. The accuracy of the multimeter is approximately ± 0.01% in the
five ac/dc voltage ranges with an input impedance of approximately 10 M∧ when
connected in parallel.
To measure voltage perform the following tasks:
- Make sure the circuit is turned ON.

- Place the black meter lead in the COM input port on the meter and the red lead
in the VOLT/OHM input port.
- Place the rotary switch in the desired position AC or DC.
- Place the black meter lead in the on the low side or the ground side of the
component or circuit being measured.
- Place the red meter lead in the on the high side or the positive side of the
component or circuit being measured.
NOTE: The Fluke 87 illustrated in these pages is used with permission

from the Fluke Corporation.
2
Measuring Voltage Drop
Observe the circuit above. The test leads are connected in parallel across the circuit
load. With a 12 volt power source connected to the load, the meter should read a
voltage drop equal to the source voltage or 12 volts.
If the meter reads a voltage drop less than 12 volts, it would indicate that an un-
wanted resistance was present in the circuit. A logical process would be to measure
the voltage drop across the closed switch contacts. If a voltage reading was present
it would indicate that the switch contacts were corroded, requiring the switch to be
replaced.
The digital multimeter is a high impedance meter. This means the meter will not
significantly increase the current flow in the circuit being measured. Voltage
measurements should always be made with the circuit under power. The digital
multimeter is ideal for use in circuits controlled by solid state devices such as,
electronic components and computers.
3
BLUE
Pushbutton
When using the multimeter to make current measurements it is necessary that the
meter probes must be connected in SERIES with the load or circuit under test. To
toggle between alternating and direct current measurements, use the BLUE
pushbutton.
When measuring current, the meter’s internal shunt resistors develop a voltage
across the meter’s terminals called “burden voltage.” The burden voltage is very low,
but could possibly affect precision measurements. When measuring current flow, the
Fluke 87 multimeter is designed with low resistance to not affect the current flow in
the circuit. When measuring current in a circuit, always start with the red lead of the
multimeter in the Amp input (10 A fused) of the meter. Only move the red lead into
the mA/µA input after you have determined the current is below the mA/µA input
maximum current rating (400 mA).
The meter has a "buffer" which allows it to momentarily measure current flows
higher than 10A. This buffer is designed to handle the "surge“ current when a circuit
is first turned on. As stated earlier, the meter is capable of reading 20 amps for a
period not to exceed 30 seconds.
4
Measuring Current Flow
To measure current, perform the following tasks:
- Place the black multimeter input lead in the COM port and the red input lead in
the A (amp) port.
- Create an open in the circuit, preferably by “pulling” the fuse, or by "opening" the
switch.
- Place the leads in SERIES with the circuit, so that the circuit amperage is flowing
through the meter.
- Apply power to the circuit.
Caution: If the current flow exceeds the rating of the fuse in the meter, the
fuse will "open."
5
Measuring Resistance
When using the multimeter to make resistance measurements it is necessary to turn

off the circuit power and discharge all capacitors before attempting in-circuit
measurements. If an external voltage is present across the component being tested,
it will be impossible to record an accurate measurement. The digital multimeter
measures resistance by passing a known current through the external circuit or
component and measures the respective voltage drop. The meter then internally
calculates the resistance using the Ohm’s Law equation R = E/I. It is important to
remember, the resistance displayed by the meter is the total resistance through all
possible paths between the two meter probes.
To accurately measure most circuits or components it is therefore necessary to

isolate the circuit or component from other paths. Additionally, the resistance of the
test leads can affect the accuracy when the meter is in its lowest (400 ohm) range.
The expected error is approximately 0.1 to 0.2 ohms for a standard pair of test leads.
To determine the actual error, short the test leads together and read the value
displayed on the meter. Use the (REL) mode on the digital multimeter to
automatically subtract the lead resistance from the actual measurements.
6
Measuring Resistance
To accurately measure resistance, perform the following tasks:
- Make sure the circuit or component power is turned OFF.

- Place the red lead in the jack marked Volt/Ohms and the black lead in the jack
marked COM.
- Place the rotary selector in the Ω position.
- Place the meter leads ACROSS the component or circuit being measured.
IMPORTANT: It is important that your fingers are not touching the tips of the
meter leads when performing resistance measurements.
Internal body resistance can affect the measurement
NOTE: In the circuit shown, the power source is isolated from the
circuit by "opening" the switch. It also, isolates the resistor from
any other path that may affect the accuracy of the
measurement.
7
Measuring Equipment
This picture shows the equipment and test leads often used to perform effective
troubleshooting.
Want to Learn More?
HOLT ProTech offers a Fundamentals of Electricity (TG01) and an Electronic

Troubleshooting (DE205) course where attendees learn how to troubleshoot
electronics effectively and reduce the time needed to troubleshoot by half-the-time.
Find out more at www.HoltProTech.com today.

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What safety precautions should be taken before working with electrical components?

What safety precautions should be taken before working with electrical components?

How does a multimeter measure voltage, current, and resistance?

How does a multimeter measure voltage, current, and resistance?

Electrical Troubleshooting

Before using a voltmeter on electrical components, do the following:

Conduct a hazard assessment and follow approved safe work practices.

Ohm’s Law Fundamentals

E (Volts) = Electromotive Force. The potential difference measured across the

When using the multimeter to make voltage measurements it is important to

To measure voltage perform the following tasks:

- Make sure the circuit is turned ON.

NOTE: The Fluke 87 illustrated in these pages is used with permission

Measuring Voltage Drop

Measuring Current Flow

To measure current, perform the following tasks:

When using the multimeter to make resistance measurements it is necessary to turn

To accurately measure most circuits or components it is therefore necessary to

To accurately measure resistance, perform the following tasks:

- Make sure the circuit or component power is turned OFF.

Want to Learn More?

HOLT ProTech offers a Fundamentals of Electricity (TG01) and an Electronic

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