Multimeter prices range from a few to several hundred dollars.
Multimeters such as the GE Digital Multimeter, 17-Range, 6-Function measure current, voltage and resistance in an electrical circuit. The tool, available at hardware stores, helps electricians to test circuits to identify and correct problems or, as part of regular maintenance, to verify that the system continues to function correctly. Does this Spark an idea?
Current
Current in electrical circuits is also known as flow of charge. As the wire conducts electricity, the GE digital multimeter measures the rate at which the charge moves through a point in the system. The result is indicated in ampere, or amp, the unit physics uses to measure current.
Voltage
Current does not start moving through the circuit voluntarily; it needs a force to propel it. Voltage is the power that pushes the electrical current onward. Since voltage strength varies, the GE multimeter measures it for you. For an electrical circuit to work, the voltage must start with a high potential energy and flow to low potential energy. The numerical difference between high and low is the voltage -- 12, 2, 9 volt -- that pushes the charge.
Resistance
The multimeter also measures how much resistance the conductor of electricity in a given circuit puts up. Just like constricted veins create stronger resistance to blood flow, narrow wires make it harder for electricity to move than wide and short ones. The multimeter presents the resistance reading in ohms, a unit of measurement.
Getting Accurate Readings
Study the instructions for your GE Digital Multimeter, 17-Range, 6-Function before you use it for the first time. It takes more than connecting the tool to the electrical circuit to get accurate measurements. The power in the circuit should be off, for example, when you check resistance.
Tags: electrical circuit, 17-Range 6-Function, Digital Multimeter, Digital Multimeter 17-Range, measure current, Multimeter 17-Range