1

Self- Learning Module Lab 01:Basic Concepts and Test Equipment

PRELIM LABORATORY 1:

Voltmeter Usage

Prepared by:
Rachelle R. Nocete

Prelim Module 1: Multitester 1

 2

Page
Title Time

7.86 hr

4
Multimer Usage
5
Instruction

How to use and read Analog Multitester 10

Observatory Lab-Activity 3. 12

Reference: 15

Prelim Module 1: Multitester 2

Course Learning Outcomes (CLO)

 Topic Learning Outcomes
(TLO)
3

CLO 1. Define
fundamental electrical
principles, electronic
principles and solve
related mathematical
problems.
CLO 3. Discuss, explain TLO1. Demonstrate the
and interpret electronic parts of a multitester
parts, specifications, MLO 1. Examine the
components of a TLO 2. Demonstrate
circuits, functions and
applications multitester and explain how to use
CLO 4. Describe circuits , MLO2. Observe the use a multitester.
components and flow of of multitester in an TLO 3. Explain and
voltage, current, experiment identify AC’ DC and
resistance and other Ohm reading in a
components
multitester
CLO 5. Observe,
Examine and evaluate
passive components of
electronics

PRELIM LABORATORY 1:

Multimer Usage

Prelim Module 1: Multitester 3

 4

A multimeter is an electrical instrument capable of measuring voltage,

current, and resistance.

Digital multimeters have numerical displays, like digital clocks, for indicating
the quantity of voltage, current, or resistance.

Analog multimeters indicate these quantities by means of a moving pointer

over a printed scale.

Analog multimeters tend to be less expensive than digital multimeters, and

more beneficial as learning tools for the first-time student of electricity.

I strongly recommend purchasing an analog multimeter before purchasing a

digital multimeter, but to eventually have both in your tool kit for these
experiments.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

How to measure voltage

Characteristics of voltage: existing between two points
Selection of proper meter range

PARTS AND MATERIALS

Multimeter, digital or analog

Assorted batteries.
Breadboard
One light-emitting diode (Radio Shack catalog # 276-026 or equivalent)
Small “hobby” motor, permanent-magnet type (Radio Shack catalog #
273-223 or equivalent)
Two jumper wires with “alligator clip” ends (Radio Shack catalog #
278-1156, 278-1157, or equivalent)

Other(s):

INSTRUCTIONS

Prelim Module 1: Multitester 4

 5

In all of the experiments in this book, you will be using some sort of
test equipment to measure aspects of electricity you cannot directly see, feel,
hear, taste, or smell.

Electricity—at least in small, safe quantities—is insensible by our

human bodies. Your most fundamental “eyes” in the world of electricity and
electronics will be a device called a multimeter. Multimeters indicate the
presence of, and measure the quantity of, electrical properties such as voltage,
current, and resistance.

In this experiment, you will familiarize yourself with the measurement

of voltage. Voltage is the measure of electrical “push” ready to motivate
charges to move through a conductor.In scientific terms, it is the specific
energy per unit charge, mathematically defined as joules per coulomb. It is
analogous to pressure in a fluid system: the force that moves fluid through a
pipe, and is measured in the unit of the Volt (V).

Your multimeter should come with some basic instructions. Read them
well! If your multimeter is digital, it will require a small battery to operate. If
it is analog, it does not need a battery to measure voltage.

Some digital multimeters are autoranging. An autoranging meter has

only a few selector switch (dial) positions. Manual-ranging meters have
several different selector positions for each basic quantity: several for voltage,
several for current, and several for resistance. Autoranging is usually found
on only the more expensive digital meters, and is to manual ranging as an
automatic transmission is to a manual transmission in a car. An autoranging
meter “shifts gears” automatically to find the best measurement range to
display the particular quantity being measured.

Set your multimeter’s selector switch to the highest-value “DC volt”

position available.

Autoranging multimeters may only have a single position for DC

voltage, in which case you need to set the switch to that one position.

Supposed you touch the red test probe to the positive (+) side of a
battery, and the black test probe to the negative (-) side of the same battery.
The meter should now provide you with some sort of indication.Reverse the
test probe connections to the battery if the meter’s indication is negative (on
an analog meter, a negative value is indicated by the pointer deflecting left
instead of right).

Prelim Module 1: Multitester 5

 6

If your meter is a manual-range type, and the selector switch has been
set to a high-range position, the indication will be small. Move the selector
switch to the next lower DC voltage range setting and reconnect to the
battery.

The indication should be stronger now, as indicated by a greater

deflection of the analog meter pointer (needle), or more active digits on the
digital meter display.

For best results, move the selector switch to the lowest-range setting
that does not “over-range” the meter. An over-ranged analog meter is said to
be “pegged,” as the needle will be forced all the way to the right-hand side of
the scale, past the full-range scale value. An over-ranged digital meter
sometimes displays the letters “OL”, or a series of dashed lines. This
indication is manufacturer-specific.

Laboratory Activity 1: Things to ponder

1. How to use digital multimeter? https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=SLkPtmnglOI&list=RDCMUCKPLvnWhN1Qo51IDDZsmq1g

Direction : Copy and answer the questions in your laboratory notebook. Use the
camscanner to take clear pictures of your output and send it to the subject’s page. Use
the format given for your module in sending/submitting output.

What happens if you only touch one meter test probe to one end of a
battery?

How does the meter have to connect to the battery in order to provide
an indication?

What does this tell us about voltmeter use and the nature of voltage?

Is there such a thing as voltage “at” a single point?

Be sure to measure more than one size of battery, and learn how to
select the best voltage range on the multimeter to give you the maximum
indication without over-ranging.

Prelim Module 1: Multitester 6

 7

Now switch your multimeter to the lowest DC voltage range available,

and touch the meter’s test probes to the terminals (wire leads) of the light-
emitting diode (LED). A LED is designed to produce light when powered by a
small amount of electricity, but LEDs also happen to generate DC voltage
when exposed to light, somewhat like a solar cell.Point the LED towards a
bright source of light with your multimeter connected to it, and note the
meter’s indication:

Batteries develop electrical voltage through chemical reactions. When a

battery “dies,” it has exhausted its original store of chemical “fuel.” The LED,
however, does not rely on an internal “fuel” to generate voltage; rather, it
converts optical energy into electrical energy. So long as there is light to
illuminate the LED, it will produce voltage. Another source of voltage
through energy conversion is a generator. The small electric motor specified
in the “Parts and Materials” list functions as an electrical generator if its shaft
is turned by a mechanical force. Connect your voltmeter (your multimeter, set
to the “volt” function) to the motor’s terminals just as you connected it to the
LED’s terminals, and spin the shaft with your fingers.

The meter should indicate voltage by means of needle deflection

(analog) or numerical readout (digital). If you find it difficult to maintain both
meter test probes in connection with the motor’s terminals while
simultaneously spinning the shaft with your fingers, you may use alligator
clip “jumper” wires like this:

Prelim Module 1: Multitester 7

 8

Determine the relationship between voltage and generator shaft speed?

Reverse the generator’s direction of rotation and note the change in meter
indication. When you reverse shaft rotation, you change the polarity of the
voltage created by the generator.

The voltmeter indicates polarity by direction of needle direction

(analog) or sign of numerical indication (digital).When the red test lead is
positive (+) and the black test lead negative (-), the meter will register voltage
in the normal direction. If the applied voltage is of the reverse polarity
(negative on red and positive on black), the meter will indicate “backwards.”

Prelim Module 1: Multitester 8

 9

Prelim Module 1: Multitester 9

 10

How to use and read Analog Multi-tester

Lab-Activity 2.
Read each reading in terms of the following:
A. Ohm each range of multiplier
B. AC each range multiplier by (10, 50, 250)
1.

Prelim Module 1: Multitester 10

 11

3.

Prelim Module 1: Multitester 11

 12

Observatory Lab-Activity 3.

Watch this video and answer the following question;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts0EVc9vXcs

Copy and answer the questions in your laboratory notebook. Use the camscanner to
take clear pictures of your output and send it to the subject’s page. Use the format
given for your module in sending/submitting output.

1. What are the things we can measure in a multimeter?

2. What are the 3 probes that were used/shown in this experiment?
3. Whats the meaning of these letters found in the multi-meter?
a. A
b. V
c. "Ω
4. What are the three different ports what colors of probe that should be plug
to these ports?
5. Watch the experiment and write down the data on the table

Volts Reading
1000 V
0.15
20 V
2000M (millivolts)
1

6. What doe it mean to get a reading of 1?

7. What is the reading for the 9 volt batter?
8. What will happen if you reverse the probes (the positive and negative)What
does it mean?

Prelim Module 1: Multitester 12

 13

Sample Simple Circuit

1. Draw the circuit and its label its components

2. How to measure voltage in a circuit?
3. What is the readings/volts of the circuit of this experiment?

_____________________
Signature over printed name

(Don’t need to write this in your notebook. Your signature over your printed name will suffice )
Name:
Date:

Prelim Module 1: Multitester 13

 14

Course, Year and Section:

“As members of Academic Community, students are expected to

recognize and uphold standards of intellectual and academic integrity.
Philippine State College of Aeronautics assumes, as a basic and
minimum standard of conduct in academic matters, that
students should be honest and that they submit for credit only
the products of their own efforts.

______________________________
SIGNATURE OVER PRINTED
NAME

Prelim Module 1: Multitester 14

 15

Reference:

https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/experiments/chpt-2/voltage-
usage/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts0EVc9vXcs

Prelim Module 1: Multitester 15