Multimeter

Multimeter

Multimeter is an electronic instrument, which is used to measure voltage, current and resistance. This is called as AVO meter (ampere, voltage, ohm). The internal circuit of the multimeter is shown in Fig. It consists of a moving coil galvanometer. By incorporating suitable circuits with the galvanometer, the measurement of voltage, current and resistance can be done. Let us consider a galvanometer of resistance G (= 100 Ω), which gives a full scale deflection for 1 mA.

(a) as a voltmeter

The moving coil galvanometer is converted into a voltmeter by connecting in series a high resistance of suitable value. If a resistance of 900 Ω is connected in series with the galvanometer, the range of the voltmeter becomes 10^-3 × 1000 = 1 V. The same meter can be used to measure voltage upto 10 V, if a resistance 9900 Ω is connected in series. Thus, in order to measure different ranges, different high resistances are put in series with the galvanometer by a switching arrangement.

(b) as an ammeter

The galvanometer is converted into an ammeter by shunting it with suitable low resistances, one for each range. For example, the galvanometer can be converted into an ammeter with range 0-1 A by shunting it with a resistance of 100/999 Ω or 0.1 Ω (approximately) and the range can be increased to 10 A by shunting it with 100/9999 Ω (0.01 Ω approximately) and so on.

(c)  as an ohm-meter

The galvanometer is converted into an ohm-meter by connecting a battery and a suitable resistance in series (Fig). If a battery of 1 V is connected in series and the above galvanometer shows full scale deflection, then the total resistance in the circuit (including that of the galvanometer) be 1000 Ω.

Measurement of resistance

On the resistance scale 0 is marked against the current of 1 mA. Now, if a unknown resistance is connected between the terminals T1 and T2, the current passing through

the galvanometer decreases to 0.5 mA, then the unknown resistance is 1000 Ω. Hence, 1 k Ω is marked against 0.5 mA. If the galvanometer current is 0.25 mA for another unknown resistance connected between T₁ and T₂, then that resistance is 3000 Ω. Hence, 3 k Ω is marked against 0.25 mA.

Usually an adjustable resistance of small value is connected in series, so that the zero adjustment can be made, even if the emf of the cell decreases slightly.

To measure a.c. voltage and current, a rectifier unit is connected in series and by turning a switch to a.c., the instrument is used to measure a.c. quantities. If the switch is turned to d.c., the rectifier unit gets disconnected and the instrument is then used to measure d.c. current and voltage.