How to measure current with a multimeter (2-part tutorial)
Content
- Safety measures
- Multimeter setting
- No. 1. Find out how many amp-volts your battery or circuit breaker can handle on the nameplate.
- #2 Use plug-in clamps if your multimeter leads aren't high enough for the circuit.
- No. 3. Insert the black test leads into the multimeter's COM port.
- No. 4. Insert the red probe into socket "A".
- No. 5. On the meter, you can choose AC or DC voltage.
- No. 6. During the measurement, set the scale to a higher ampere-volt level.
- How to measure volt-ampere with a multimeter
- No. 1. Turn off circuit power.
- No. 2. Disconnect the red wire from the power supply.
- No. 3. Strip the ends of the wires if necessary.
- No. 4. Wrap the positive test lead of the multimeter with the positive wire.
- No. 5. Power up the circuit by connecting the black probe of the multimeter to the last wire.
- No. 6. While reading the meter, leave the devices in place for about a minute.
When working on an electrical project, you may need to check the amount of current or power flowing through a circuit. You also need to measure the amperage to determine if anything is drawing more power than it should.
Measuring current can be helpful when trying to figure out if a component in your car is draining your battery.
Fortunately, measuring current is not difficult if you know the basic multimeter tests and are careful around electrical components.
Let me help you learn how to measure amps with a multimeter.
Safety measures
You must be careful whether you are using a simple multimeter or a digital multimeter. When performing electrical measurements, each measurement current application presents potential safety hazards that must be considered. Before using any electrical test equipment, people should always read the user manual. It is pertinent to learn about proper working practices, safety precautions and restrictions. (1)
Wear heavy rubber gloves, avoid working near water or metal surfaces, and do not touch bare wires with bare hands. It's also good to have someone around. A person who can help you or call for help if you get electrocuted.
Multimeter setting
No. 1. Find out how many amp-volts your battery or circuit breaker can handle on the nameplate.
Make sure your multimeter matches the amount of amps flowing through the circuit before connecting it to it. Displays the rated maximum current of most power supplies, as shown on the nameplate. On the back of the instrument or in the user manual, you can find the total current of the multimeter wires. You can also see how high the scale rises. Do not attempt to measure currents above the maximum scale value.
#2 Use plug-in clamps if your multimeter leads aren't high enough for the circuit.
Insert the wires into the multimeter and connect to the circuit. Do this in the same way as on the multimeter clamps. Wrap the clamp around a live or hot wire. It is usually black, red, blue, or a color other than white or green. Unlike using a multimeter, the clamps will not become part of the circuit.
No. 3. Insert the black test leads into the multimeter's COM port.
Even when using a jig, your multimeter must have red and black leads. The probe will also have a tip on one end to hook into the instrument. The black test lead, which is the negative wire, must always be plugged into the COM jack. "COM" stands for "common", and if the port is not marked with it, you may get a negative sign instead.
If your wires contain pins, you will need to keep them in place when measuring current. You can free your hands by attaching them to the chain if they have clips. However, both types of probes are connected to the meter in the same way.
No. 4. Insert the red probe into socket "A".
You may see two outlets with the letter "A", one labeled "A" or "10A" and one labeled "mA". mA outlet tests milliamps down to about 10 mA. If you are not sure which to use, select the higher option "A" or "10A" to avoid overloading the meter.
No. 5. On the meter, you can choose AC or DC voltage.
If your meter is solely for testing AC or DC circuits, you will need to select which one you are trying to test. If you're still unsure, check the label on the power supply again. This should be mentioned next to voltage. Direct current (DC) is used in vehicles and battery-powered gadgets, while alternating current (AC) is commonly used in household appliances and electric motors.
No. 6. During the measurement, set the scale to a higher ampere-volt level.
Once you have calculated the highest currents to test, find the lever on your meter. Rotate it a little higher than this number. If you want to be careful, turn the dial to the maximum. But if the measured voltage is too low, you won't be able to get a reading. If this happens, you will need to reduce the scale and retake the assignment.
How to measure volt-ampere with a multimeter
No. 1. Turn off circuit power.
If your circuit is powered by a battery, disconnect the negative cable from the battery. If you need to turn off the electricity with a switch, turn off the switch, then disconnect the opposite line. Do not connect the meter to the circuit when the electricity is on.
No. 2. Disconnect the red wire from the power supply.
To measure the current flowing through a circuit, connect a multimeter to complete the course. To begin, turn off power to the circuit, then disconnect the positive wire (red) from the power source. (2)
You may need to cut the wire with wire cutters to break the chain. See if there is a plug at the junction of the power wire with the wire going to the gadget under test. Simply remove the cover and unwind the cables around each other.
No. 3. Strip the ends of the wires if necessary.
Wrap a small amount of wire around the multimeter pins, or leave enough wires exposed so that the alligator pins can lock in securely. If the wire is completely insulated, take the wire cutters about 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the end. Squeeze just enough to cut through the rubber insulation. Then quickly pull the wire cutters towards you to remove the insulation.
No. 4. Wrap the positive test lead of the multimeter with the positive wire.
Wrap the bare end of the red wire with duct tape away from the power source. Attach alligator clips to the wire or wrap the tip of the multimeter probe around it. In any case, to get an accurate result, make sure the wire is secure.
No. 5. Power up the circuit by connecting the black probe of the multimeter to the last wire.
Locate the positive wire coming from the electrical device under test and connect it to the black tip of the multimeter. If you disconnect the cables from the battery powered circuit, it will regain its power. Turn on the electricity if you turned it off with a fuse or switch.
No. 6. While reading the meter, leave the devices in place for about a minute.
Once the meter is installed, you should immediately see the value on the display. This is a measurement of current or current for your circuit. For the most accurate measurement, keep the devices in rotation for at least 1 minute to ensure that the current is stable.
You can check other multimeter tests we have written below;
- How to use a multimeter to check the voltage of live wires
- How to set up an amplifier with a multimeter
- How to trace a wire with a multimeter
Recommendations
(1) Safety Measures - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html
(2) power source - https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/power-source
