LABORATORY MANUAL

ACTIVITY 4
AIM
To measure resistance, voltage (dc/ac), current (dc) and check
continuity of a given circuit using a multimeter.

APPARATUS AND MATERIAL REQUIRED

A multimeter with its test leads, a resistance box, a key, a cell, a step-
down transformer of 6 V output voltage, a rheostat, connecting wires
and a piece of sand paper.
(Note to teachers: Do not allow students to handle alternating current
sources of 220 V for safety considerations.)
Description of multimeter: A multimeter is an instrument that can
work as a current meter (ammeter) or a voltage meter (voltmeter) or a
resistance meter (ohmmeter). Sometimes it is also referred to as AVO
(ampere, volt and ohm) meter. It may measure resistance and potential
difference in both ac and dc circuits and current in dc circuit over several
ranges. The function and the range can be selected by means of either
a rotary selector knob or a combination of switches and sockets.
Multimeters are of two kinds : analog and digital.
Analog multimeter : Analog multimeter Fig. A 4.1 (a) is a dc
galvanometer which can be converted into an ammeter or a
voltmeter of different ranges to measure current or voltage or
resistance. For ac measurement, the root mean square (rms)
values of current and voltage are measured.
When using a multimeter to measure current, it must be
connected in series with the circuit. For measuring the voltage
difference between two points in a circuit, the two leads of the
multimeter are connected across them. For example, to measure
the voltage across a resistor, the multimeter is connected in
parallel with the resistor.
When the multimeter is in the resistance measuring mode, a
cell within the multimeter automatically gets connected, which
makes the current flow through the externally connected resistor
Fig. A 4.1(a) Analog multimeter whose resistance is being measured. The multimeter only senses
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this current with its dial calibrated in terms of the resistance. It is

essentially nonlinear in calibration.

Digital multimeter : Fig. A 4.1(b)

shows a digital multimeter.

To measure voltage and current

it uses a digital circuit called
ADC (analog to digital converter).
Since the ADC can accept a very
small input voltage, a sampling
of the input voltage/ current
is necessary.
Voltage is measured directly,
whereas current is converted into
proportional voltage using standard
resistors built in the instrument.
For resistance measurement, Fig. A 4.1(b) Digital multimeter
constant current sources are used.
It creates voltage proportional to resistance values which is then
digitised by the ADC.
The resolution of such meters depends on the range as well as the
number of digits in the display panel.

P
RINCIPLE
When the resistance R is connected in a circuit, for example as shown
in Fig. A 4.2, the potential difference across the two end points of the
resistor can be measured by connecting the multimeter (with proper
voltage setting) in parallel with the resistor.
The coil of the multimeter shows a deflection proportional to the direct
current (dc) passing through it.
Measurement of alternating Resistance Box
current is based on the
principle of heating effect of
current.
The current flowing through
the resistor can be measured by
connecting the multimeter (with To multimeter in resistance
proper current setting) in series measuring mode
as shown in Fig. A 4.5.
Fig. A 4.2 Use of multimeter as a resistance meter
The continuity of any electrical
component can be checked by measuring the resistance of the
component. An infinite resistance across the two ends of a component
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T
X Z

ac mains
Y To multimeter
in ac
RBOX measuring mode

Step down K
transformer
(6V)

Fig. A 4.3 Use of multimeter as a dc voltmeter Fig. A 4.4 Use of multimeter as ac voltmeter

Fig. A 4.5 Use of multimeter as an ammeter

indicates a discontinuity. A very low resistance (≤ 0.1 Ω) between the

two ends of a component indicates that the component under test has
a short circuit. (Fig. A 4.2).

P ROCEDURE
Analog multimeter
1. Clean the ends of connecting wires by a sand paper till they shine.
Preferably, use fresh connecting wires, as wires not in use for
long may have some insulating layer deposited on them. Also
check that the metallic ends of the multimeter test leads are not
having any rust or any insulating layer deposited on them.
2. For measurement of resistance: set the multimeter in resistance
measuring mode. Connect the red and black probes to the
multimeter.
3. Connect open end of the red probe directly to the black probe
and adjust the zero adjustment knob to read zero ohm on the
resistance scale (extreme right).
4. Separate the two metallic ends of the test probes and connect the
resistance box with the multimeter as shown in Fig. A 4.2.
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5. Insert a resistor of known resistance R in the circuit by taking

out the corresponding resistor key from the resistance box and
read multimeter reading R M for the value of resistance of the
resistor used in the circuit. Repeat this step for four more resistors.
6. Carefully observe the reading in the non-linear scale noting that
its zero lies at the extreme right of the scale. Use the multiplication
factor appropriately to the range selected.
For example: 4 divisions of deflection in R × 100 scale means
resistance measured is 4 × 100Ω = 400Ω.
7. For measurement of dc voltage: select the suitable position of
the function switch (ac/dc) and then select the highest range
available. Ensure that the test probes are inserted/ connected in
sockets with proper polarity. It is a convention to use red probe
for positive and black probe for negative polarity.
8. Connect the multimeter in the circuit as shown in Fig. A 4.3.
9. Set the multimeter to measure the dc voltage. Select a suitable
range. For example, if a cell of 1.5V emf (say) is used in the circuit,
keep the range at 2.5V.
10. To measure the emf of the cell, connect the positive terminal of
the multimeter to the positive terminal of the cell and negative
terminal to negative terminal of the cell, through a plug key K.
Do not insert any resistor of resistance R in the circuit from the
resistance box. Insert the key in the plug K of the circuit and
read the multimeter reading. (A continuous flow of current in the
circuit will heat the connecting wires). Record your observations
in Table A 4.2. Then open the key K.
11. Now insert a resistance R of known value (10 Ω say) by taking
out the resistance key from the resistance box in the circuit. Insert
the key in the plug K. Read the multimeter reading for measuring
the potential difference across the two ends of the resistor. Do
you find any change in the reading as observed in step 10 when
there was no resistance in the circuit (i.e. R = 0)?
12. Repeat step 11 for three more values of resistance in the circuit.
Record your observations in Table A 4.2.
13. For measurement of ac voltage: connect an ac step down
transformer of 6 V output voltage, a rheostat XY as voltage divider,
resistance box RBOX, a plug key K, and the multimeter as shown
in Fig. A 4.4. Fix the value of R to be 5 ohm (say).
14. Set the multimeter to act as an ac voltmeter at 10V range.
15. Bring the variable connector Z of the rheostat close to point X. In
this situation the resistance of rheostat coil would be minimum.
Close the key in the plug K and record the multimeter reading
for ac voltage drop across the resistor of resistance R in Table A
4.3. Repeat the observations for atleast four positions of the
variable connection (Z) of the rheostat on coil XY (Table A 4.3).

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Note to students: Please do not handle alternating current

sources of 220 V for safety considerations.
16. For measurement of dc current: select the function switch
and the range switch/sockets suitable for proper dc current
measurement. For example, if one cell of 1.5 V emf is used in
the circuit as a source and the value of resistance to be used
during the experiment varies from 2 Ω to 10 Ω, a range of 1A
(or 1000 mA) would be appropriate.
17. Insert the probes of the multimeter in series with the cell so that
the positive terminal of the multimeter is connected to the positive
terminal of the cell and negative terminal of the multimeter with
the negative terminal of the cell as shown in Fig. A 4.5.
18. Read the multimeter reading for measuring the dc current flowing
through the multimeter.
19. Bring a resistance (R) in the circuit and read multimeter reading
for measuring the current flowing in the circuit after closing the
key in plug K. Repeat it for four more values of resistance (R) in
the circuit. Record the observations in Table A 4.4.
Digital multimeter
Procedure for measuring voltage, current and resistances is very
similar to that of the analog measurement. The notable difference is
that digital multimeter is not vulnerable to damage as easily as their
analog counterparts. They can accept voltage with reversed polarities
(shown by positive and negative sign), and display the number as
and when the magnitude of the measured quantity crosses the upper
limit of the range used.
There are no adjustments required (on any of the ranges) for
measuring R.

O BSERVATIONS
1. Range of resistance scale on the multimeter panel =... Ω
2. Least count of the scale =... Ω
Table A 4.1 : Measurement of resistance

Sl. No. Resistance R as Multimeter reading Difference

indicated in RM
R – RM = [ R–RM ]
resistance box
(Ω) (Ω) (Ω)
1
2
--
5

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Range of dc voltage scale selected on the multimeter panel = ... V

Least count of the scale = ... V
Table A 4.2 : Measurement of dc voltage

Sl. No. Resistance R in Multimeter reading

the circuit (Ω) for voltage (V)
1
2
--
5

Range of ac voltage scale selected on the multimeter panel = ...V

Least count of the scale = ...V
Table A 4.3 : Measurement of ac voltage drop across a resistor
of resistance R = ...Ω

Sl. No. Position of variable connection Multimeter reading (V)

Z of the rheostat on coil XY
1 Close to point X
2
--
5 Close to point Y

Range of dc current scale selected on the multimeter panel = ... mA

Least count of the scale = ... mA

Table A 4.4 : Measurement of dc current

Sl. No. Resistance R in Multimeter reading

the circuit (Ω) for current (mA)
1
2
--
5

R
ESULT
1. The dc/ac voltage, dc current and resistance have been measured
using a multimeter.

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2. The values of resistance measured by the multimeter is nearly

the same as the decoded values of resistors.

P RECAUTIONS
1. Appropriate selection of function switch and range switch for a
given measurement of voltage or current and resistance should
be made.
2. The polarity probe leads should be connected to the proper
polarities in measuring dc voltage and current.

S OURCES OF ERROR
1. The scale used in reading of voltage/ current may be improper.
2. Zero adjustment in measuring R with analog multimeter may not
be accurate.

D ISCUSSION
1. If in place of a resistance box, carbon resistors are used, the
heating of carbon resistor should be avoided. Heating of resistors
may change the resistance value of the resistor.
2. The percentage error in the measurement is more for smaller
values of the measured quantity.
3. If the two test leads of the multimeter are not identical, and also
there is significant resistance across the junctions of the
multimeter (test leads and the test resistance), how is your
measurement going to be affected?

S ELF ASSESSMENT
Can the measurement of dc voltage/ current be done using ac
voltage/ current function switch? Justify your answer.

SUGGESTED ADDITIONAL EXPERIMENTS/ACTIVITIES

A collection of assorted colour coded resistors are provided to you. Verify the
decoded values using multimeter within the tolerance limit specified by the code
on the resistor.

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