Volt-Ohm-Milliammeter and Ohm’s Law

LAB REPORT 8 and 9

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Group 1, V2A
Andrea A. Bautista, Richard Dean Briones, Lance Castrillo, Allan De Silva
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Abstract - The first experiment performed was meter, the needle must also be set in the zero
about volt-ohm-milliammeter (VOM or position manually, which can result in errors. It is
multi-tester). It aimed to familiarize the students necessary to deduce and set the range for every
on how to use VOM. Two kinds of multi-tester measurement, potentially resulting in errors of scale.
were used in the experiment, analog and digital.
Digital multi-meters often avoid this with an
It showed that reading scales in digital
multi-tester is easier than doing it in analog. automatic range finder.
Moreover, the experiment showed the difference
in using ohmmeter, ammeter and voltmeter.
The second experiment, on the other
hand, tackled Ohm’s Law, It intended to use the
principle of Ohm’s Law in simple electric
circuits. In doing the experiment, multimeter was
also used in order to measure the voltage and
resistance. This was needed to compute the
current. The experiment showed that the
computed value from Ohm’s law and the read
value may not be equal all the time since voltage
can change upon testing.

1. INTRODUCTION
Fig 1. Analog Multi-tester
Volt-Ohm-Milliammeter

A multi-meter is a handheld device that combines

different electronic testing and measurement tools. It
is also known as volt/ohm meter or VOM. A basic
multi-meter measures resistance, voltage and
current (Edwards, 2017). ​These can either have a
needle or dial reading (analog multimeters) like Fig.
1 or a numerical display (digital multimeters) shown
in Fig 2. ​When reading the dial display of an analog
 battery

When the left-hand switch of the VOM is set on

+D.C., the red lead should be connected to the +side
of a voltage source to be measured and the black
lead is connected to the -side of the source. The
D.C. voltage scale is directly under the OHMS scale.
It is a linear scale marked with three sets of
numbers. Use the set of numbers that corresponds
to the range setting.

Direct current (abbreviated DC) is current that

always flows in one direction. Different multimeters
Fig. 2 Digital Multi-tester have different symbols for measuring direct current
(and the corresponding voltage), usually "DCA" and
"DCV," or "A" and "V" with a straight bar above or
next to them (Collinson, n.d). Alternating current
(abbreviated AC) is current that changes direction,
A multi-meter has controls that activate the quality to usually many times in one second. If you need to
be measured. Typically the main control is a dial measure alternating current in a circuit, different
which you twist to select what you're testing. Basic multimeters have different symbols to measure it
probes are insulated metal "needles" that can be (and the corresponding voltage), usually "ACA" and
touched to wires, components or tracks on a printed "ACV," or "A" and "V" with a squiggly line (~) next to
circuit board. They are typically color-coded: red for or above them. When the left-hand switch of the
positive, black for negative. ​A multi-meter has a VOM is set on +D.C., the needle deflects properly
battery inside that is connected to the probes. When for an electron current which flows into the -side of
you touch the probes to an object, electricity flows the meter and out of the +side.
from the battery through the object. If a lot of
electricity flows, that means the object has very little
electrical resistance, while if hardly any electricity
flows, that means the object has very high electrical
resistance.

The reading should be “infinite resistance” with the

probes not touching each other. This means that
there is no electricity flowing. When you touch the
probes together, the multimeter should read zero
resistance, meaning that the current is flowing
through the probes as quickly and easily as possible.

Multi-meter can serve as ohmmeter, voltmeter and

milliammeter since it can read resistance, voltage
and current. When the range switch is on a Fig. 3 Parts of Digital Multi-tester
resistance setting, the leads are connected to a
battery inside the VOM. For this reason, a resistor
should be removed from any circuit that it is in
before trying to measure its resistance with the
VOM. When a VOM is stored it should not be left on
a resistance setting because accidental shorting of
the leads would drain current from the internal
 the circuit element, the ammeter is connected in
series with the circuit element through which the
current passing is to be read.

The objective of the first experiment is for us to

be equipped with knowledge on how to use and
manipulate electrical meter device. Moreover, the
second experiment aims to use the principle of
Ohm’s law in simple electrical circuits.

2. METHODS AND MATERIALS

The following are the materials used during

the experiment:

Fig. 4 Parts of Analog Multi-Tester

Ohm’s Law

Ohm’s Law states that the current in a circuit is

directly proportional to the applied voltage and
inversely proportional to the resistance of the circuit
(Davidson, n.d). This was developed by George
Simon Ohm who studied the three variables in the
law. Moreover, the law demonstrates that the ratio of
the voltage and the current is constant. In this law,
the resistance can be obtained through equation 1. Two rubber tubes Two Glass rod

Equation 1.

V
R= I

Where R is the resistance in ohm, V is the potential

difference in volt and the current I is the ampere.

Resistors are labeled with color-coded bands that

indicate resistance and tolerance. The first two color
bands give the first two digits of the value (Fig. 15.3). Insulated Wires Set of Resistors
The third band gives the multiplier for the first two, in
powers of 10. The last band is the tolerance (Fig.
15.3), meaning the true value should be ±x% of the
color code value. Refer to Table 15.1 for standard
color values.

In order to measure voltage and current, voltmeter

and ammeter are used respectively. Voltmeter is an
instrument for measuring potential difference or
electromotive force. It is connected parallel to the
circuit element across which the voltage is to be
Multitester Four 9V Batteries
read (Hewitt, 2006). On the other hand, ammeter
measures the current passing through a circuit
element. While the voltmeter is connected parallel to
Multimeter

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES
3. ​Results

Table 1.1 Measurement of Resistance

Percent difference = [ ( |V​​1 - V​2​| ) / ( ( V​​1 +
V​2​) / 2) ] x 100

For resistance
Trial 1: [ ( |10 - 10| ) / ( ( 10 +10) / 2) ] x 100 =
0%
Trial 2: [ ( |51 - 50| ) / ( ( 51 +50) / 2) ] x 100 =
1.98019802 or ​1.98%
Trial 3: [ ( |120 - 118| ) / ( ( 120 +118) / 2) ] x
100 = 1.680672269 or ​1.68%

Table 1.2 Measurement of Voltage Trial 4: [ ( |3.30 – 3.25| ) / ( ( 3.30 +3.25) / 2) ] x

100 = 1.526717557 or ​1.53%
Trial 5: [ ( |100 - 100| ) / ( ( 100 +100) / 2) ] x
100 = ​0%

For voltage
Trial 1: [ ( |12 – 11.15| ) / ( ( 12 +11.15) / 2) ] x
100 = 7.343412527 or ​7.34%
Trial 2: [ ( |12 – 11.16| ) / ( ( 12 +11.16) / 2) ] x
100 = 7.25388601 or ​7.25%
Trial 3: [ ( |12 – 11.17| ) / ( ( 12 +11.17) / 2) ] x
100 = 7.164436772 or ​7.16%
Table 1.3 Measurement of Current
Trial 4: [ ( |12 – 11.18| ) / ( ( 12 +11.18) / 2) ] x
100 = 7.075064711 or ​7.08%
Trial 5: [ ( |11 – 11.09| ) / ( ( 11 +11.09) / 2) ] x
100 = 0.8148483477 or ​0.81%

For current
Trial 1: [ ( |0.48 – 0.47| ) / ( ( 0.48 +0.47) / 2) ] x
100 = 2.105263158 or ​2.11%
Trial 2: [ ( |0.46 – 0.47| ) / ( ( 0.46 +0.47) / 2) ] x
100 = 2.150537634 or ​2.15%
Trial 3: [ ( |0.44 – 0.47| ) / ( ( 0.44 +0.47) / 2) ] x
100 = 6.593406593 or ​6.59%
Sample computation:
Trial 4: [ ( |0.42 – 0.47| ) / ( ( 0.42 +0.47) / 2) ] x
100 = 11.23595506 or ​11.24% VOM in knowing what are the current, voltage and
resistance of a certain resistor the group were able
Trial 5: [ ( |0.4 – 0.47| ) / ( ( 0.4 +0.47) / 2) ] x to gather the different data in different resistors that
100 = 16.09195402 or ​16.09% are used in the experiment. The general value of the
resistor used in the experiment are 10 Ω, 50 Ω, 100
Ω, 470 Ω and 100 k Ω. The group uses two kind of
Table 2.1 Ohm's Law, Resistance as the constant multi tester the analog and the digital one through
this the group were able to gather the data needed
for the value of the resistance, voltage and current of
the every resistor. Through using the analog multi
tester the value gathered are 10 Ω, 51 Ω, 120 Ω,
3.30 kΩ, 100 kΩ , 12 V , 12 V, 12 V, 12 V, 11 V, 0.48
mA, 0.46 mA, 0.44 mA, 0.42 mA and 0.4 mA
respectively. On the other hand the gathered value
for the resistance/ ohmmeter reading,
voltage/voltmeter reading and current/milliameter
reading of the five resistors using the digital multi
tester are 10 Ω, 50 Ω, 118 Ω, 3.25 kΩ, 100 kΩ,
11.15 V, 11.16 V, 11.17 V, 11.18 V, 11.09 V, 0.47
mA, 0.47 mA, 0.47 mA, 0.47 mA and 0.47 mA
respectively. There is a discrepancy in the gathered
data using the two different kind of multi- tester and
the percent difference that the group done in the
Table 2.2 Ohm's Law, Voltage as the constant experiment for resistance, voltage and current are 0
%, 1.98 %, 1.68 %, 1.53 %, 0 %, 7.34 %, 7.25 %,
7.16 %, 7.08 %, 0.81 %, 2.11 %, 2.15 %, 6.59 %,
11.24 % and 16.09 % respectively. This value shows
that there is a slight percent difference in the two
kind of multi tester it is because of the analog multi
tester is not too much accurate in measuring the
value of the resistance, voltage and current. Unlike
the digital multi tester which is able to show the
value of the five resistors more accurately. The
percent difference value means that the group have
a slight error in conducting the experiment and the
possible error done is not checking the analog multi
tester before using. Through not checking if the
analog multi tester gauge is not situated to 0 makes
a discrepancy in the gathered data. This error is
4. Discussion usually common for the people who are not
accustomed in using the analog multi tester such as
Using the Tester our group. In conducting this experiment about
Volt-Ohm-Milliammeter (VOM) the group were able
As seen in table 1.1,1.2 and 1.3, the group
to learn and be more accustomed in reading and
were able to accomplish the objective of the
using the analog and digital multi tester.
experiment about Volt-Ohm-Milliammeter (VOM)
which is learning how to use and operate electrical
meter device such as a multi-tester. In using the
multi tester which is known as a volt/ ohm meter or Ohm’s Law
 As can be seen in the table 2.1, 2.2, the The date in the experiment shows the
group were able to apply the Ohm’s law in simple difference between the use of multi-tester and
electrical circuits where current ​I through an ohmmeter, voltmeter and milliammeter. Due to
electrical conductor is always directly proportional to technological improvement reading voltage, current
and resistance became easier. It become more
the potential difference or voltage across the
simpler yet more precise and accurate. The use of a
conductor. The gathered data of the group for the digital tester show the result easier because it is
first table for the value of current and resistance are already in numerical form and in a more exact way
0.37 mA, 0.17 mA, 0.2mA, 0.57 mA, 8.40 V, 5.46 V, rather than reading through scale and pointer.After
5.88 V and 11. 30 V respectively. Using this value in understanding the concept of using the analog and
the first table the group were able to gather the total digital tester,We started to conduct the reading of a
resistance which is 50 Ω using the formula given R= simple circuit. We Found out that there are times
V/ I where R is the resistance, V is the voltage and I that the computed value from the OHM’s law is not
always the same as the one being read because in a
is the current. The gathered data for the second
circuit, electricity is continuously flowing that's why
table for the current and resistance are 0.12 mA, voltage can change during the test. After the
0.15mA, 0.17mA, 0.19 mA, 10 Ω, 51 Ω, 120 Ω and experiment we agreed that digital is more accurate
3.30 kΩ respectively. Through using this value the and precise hence, there is a possible error due to
total voltage can be computed by manipulating the the battery of the tester.
formula R= V/ I and the group come up with the
value of 5.87 V. The first table data will show a
correct relation of resistance to voltage and current
because it will show an upward slope which means 6. REFERENCES
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APPENDICES