Don’t reverse the wires, or you could risk destroying the circuitry of the multimeter. Make sure you coordinate the colored wires correctly.
DC is commonly used in batteries and small electronics, whereas AC is most commonly used in household electronics and outlets. Set the multimeter to measure voltage, not amps or ohms. If you try to measure voltage without the correct setting you could damage the multimeter.
If you choose a range that is too low for your test, the multimeter will display a “1”, indicating that you need to choose a higher range. If you don’t know the operating voltage you can set the meter on its highest range setting and work your way down until you get an accurate reading.
If you place the leads on the wrong terminals, the multimeter will display a negative version of the correct measurement, so a 20v measurement would read -20v. Avoid doing this to avoid malfunctions in your multimeter. [4] X Research source To test the voltage on other electrical components, identify the positive and negative terminals in the manufacturer’s guide to attach the probes to the correct place.
If it reads “1” or has a negative symbol next to the reading, you need to either adjust the range or reverse the lead connections. [5] X Research source
DC is usually the type of voltage associated with small electronics and batteries, while AC is usually associated with grids and outlets.
Voltmeters often have more options than a multimeter, and they can generally measure much more powerful circuits than a general-purpose multimeter.
Double check to make sure your probes are in the correct place, or you could risk damaging your voltmeter.
Batteries are the easiest to measure for first-time users, but voltmeters can easily measure outlets and higher-power electronics too. To measure an outlet with a voltmeter, plug in each probe to the rectangular holes of the outlet. It doesn’t matter where you plug in each probe, it should still get an accurate reading, provided that you set the range to one level higher than the outlet’s voltage.
Electricians and beginners tend to prefer digital multimeters because they are faster and easier to use. DC and AC are also commonly represented by DCV and ACV, respectively.
Damage is uncommon when measuring low voltages, but if you set your multimeter to 20v and try to measure a 220v outlet, you might destroy it and have to replace it entirely. If your analog multimeter is set too high, the needle will barely move. Lower the setting if this is the case to get an accurate reading. If your analog multimeter is set a step too low, the needle will fling to the right. Quickly remove the probes from the connection to sever the circuit and prevent damage to your multimeter if this happens.
It is sometimes recommended to attach the black probe but only touch the red probe to the positive terminal, as if there is an error you can quickly lift the probe and break the circuit.
Remember to start at a high range and work your way down. If the needle barely moves, select a lower range to get an accurate reading. If the needle flies off to the right, you need to break the circuit and select a higher range. If it flies to the right too hard, it might damage the needle, so try starting at a high range.
