This document discusses different types of basic electrical measuring instruments. It describes absolute instruments, like tangent galvanometers, which directly measure electrical quantities without needing calibration. Secondary instruments require calibration against a standard, examples being multimeters, clamp meters, ammeters and voltmeters. Multimeters are described in detail, including their display, selection knob and ports. The document explains how to use a multimeter to measure AC voltage, DC voltage, resistance, current and test continuity. Clamp meters and the working of ammeters and voltmeters are also briefly covered.

1. Basic Electrical
Measuring
Instruments
By
Pramod A

2. Classification of Measuring
Instruments
Electrical instruments may be divided into two
categories, that are;
1. Absolute instruments,
2. Secondary instruments.

3. Absolute instruments
 Absolute instruments or Primary Instruments:- These
instruments gives the magnitude of quantity under measurement
in terms of physical constants of the instrument e.g. Tangent
Galvanometer. These instruments do not require comparison
with any other standard instrument
 • These instruments give the value of the electrical quantity in
terms of absolute quantities (or some constants) of the
instruments and their deflections.
• In this type of instruments no calibration or comparison with
other instruments is necessary.
• They are generally not used in laboratories and are seldom
used in practice by electricians and engineers. They are mostly
used as means of standard measurements and are maintained
lay national laboratories and similar institutions.

4. • Some of the examples of absolute instruments
are:
* Tangent galvanometer
* Raleigh current balance
* Absolute electrometer

5. Secondary instruments
 In Secondary instruments the deflection gives
the magnitude of electrical quantity to be
measured directly. These instruments are
required to be calibrated by comparing with
another standard instrument before putting
into use.

6. Basic Secondary instruments
which we use
 Multi meter
 Clamp meter
 Ammeter
 Voltmeter

7. Multi Meter

8. Multi Meter
 A multimeter or a multitester, also known as
a VOM (Volt-Ohm meter or Volt-Ohm-milliammeter ), is
an electronic measuring instrument that combines several
measurement functions in one unit. A typical multimeter
would include basic features such as the ability to
measure voltage, current, and resistance.
 A multimeter can be a hand-held device useful for
basic fault finding and field service work, or a bench
instrument which can measure to a very high degree of
accuracy. They can be used to troubleshoot electrical
problems in a wide array of industrial and household
devices such as electronic equipment, motor
controls,domestic appliances, power supplies, and wiring
systems.

9. Parts of Multi Meter
A multimeter is has three parts:
 Display
 Selection Knob
 Ports
 The display usually has four digits and the ability to display a negative sign. A few
multimeters have illuminated displays for better viewing in low light situations.
 The selection knob allows the user to set the multimeter to read different things
such as milliamps (mA) of current, voltage (V) and resistance (Ω).
 Two probes are plugged into two of the ports on the front of the unit. COM stands for
common and is almost always connected to Ground or ‘-’ of a circuit. The COM probe
is conventionally black but there is no difference between the red probe and black
probe other than color. 10A is the special port used when measuring large currents
(greater than 200mA). mAVΩ is the port that the red probe is conventionally plugged
in to. This port allows the measurement of current (up to 200mA), voltage (V), and
resistance (Ω).

10. Measuring AC Voltage
Use the V with a wavy line to measure AC Voltage

11. How to measure AC Voltage
 Plug the black probe into COM and the red
probe into mAVΩ.
 Select the knob in the desired voltage range
 Stick both the probes in the two point whose
potential difference (Voltage) is to be
measured
 If the selected range is small the meter will
simply show 1, so increase the range.

12. Measuring DC Voltage
Use the V with a straight line to measure DC Voltage

13. How to measure DC Voltage
 Plug the black probe into COM and the red
probe into mAVΩ.
 Select the knob in the desired voltage range
 Connect the black probe to the battery’s
ground or ‘-’ and the red probe to power or ‘+’
 If the selected range is small the meter will
simply show 1, so increase the range.

14. Measuring Resistance

15.  Pick out a random resistor and set the
multimeter to the 20kΩ setting. Then hold the
probes against the resistor legs.
 In this case, the meter reads 0.97, meaning
this resistor has a value of 0.97kΩ, or about
1kΩ or 1000 Ω (remember you are in the
20kΩ or 20,000 Ohm mode so you need to
move the decimal three places to the right or
9,900 Ohms).

16. Measuring Resistance

17.  If the multimeter reads 1 or displays OL, it’s
overloaded. You will need to try a higher mode
such as 200kΩmode or 2MΩ (mega ohm)
mode. There is no harm if this happen, it simply
means the range knob needs to be adjusted.
 If the multimeter reads 0.00 or nearly zero, then
you need to lower the mode to 2kΩ or 200Ω.

18. Measuring Current
Reading current is one of the trickiest and most insightful
readings in the world of embedded electronics. It’s tricky
because you have to measure current in series.

19.  we’ll need to physically interrupt the circuit to
measure the current.
 Breaks the main power line and connect the
line through the multi meter, so that it can
measure the current as it “flows” through to
the multimeter into the circuit.
 Set the desired current Range.
Note :- it is safer to connect the red wire into 10
Amp port as the current rating is much higher
that the other port.

20. Measuring Continuity
Continuity testing is the act of testing the resistance between
two points. If there is very low resistance (less than a few Ω’s),
the two points are connected electrically, and a tone is emitted.

21.  Set the multimeter to ‘Continuity’ mode.
 Now touch the probes together. The
multimeter should emit a tone
 Touch the both probes to the both ends of
wire which is to be tested.
 If a sound emits the wire is good to use.
 If no sound is emitting check the wire for any
breakage.

22. Clamp Meter

23. Definition
 Clamp meter (current clamp or current
probe) is an electrical device having two jaws
which open to allow clamping around an
electrical conductor. This allows properties of
the electric current in the conductor to be
measured, without having to make physical
contact with it, or to disconnect it for insertion
through the probe.

24. Using of Clampmeter

25. Ammeter

26. Working of Ammeter
 An ideal ammeter is a two terminal device,
also polarized. It is connected in series with
circuit elements to measure the sign and
magnitude of the current flowing through
that component.

27. Connection of Ammeter

28. Voltmeter

29. Working of Voltmeter
 An ideal voltmeter has two terminals and
senses the voltage between the terminals
where they may be connected to a circuit.
Ideally the voltmeter has infinite resistance.

30. Connection of Voltmeter

31. Thank you