How To Use A Sperry Voltmeter

Introduction

A continuity test tells us whether two things are electrically connected: if something is continuous, an electric current can flow freely from one end to the other.

A continuity exam tells usa whether two things are electrically connected: if something is continuous , an electric current can menses freely from one end to the other.
If there's no continuity, it ways there is a suspension somewhere in the circuit. This could indicate anything from a blown fuse or bad solder joint to an incorrectly wired circuit.
Continuity is one of the most useful tests for electronics repair.

To begin, make sure no current is running through the circuit or component you want to test. Switch it off, unplug it from the wall, and remove any batteries.

To begin, brand certain no current is running through the circuit or component you want to test. Switch it off, unplug it from the wall, and remove whatsoever batteries.
Plug the black probe into the COM port on your multimeter.
Plug the red probe into the VΩmA port.

Switch on your multimeter, and gear up the punch to continuity mode (indicated by an icon that looks like a sound wave).
Not all multimeters have a dedicated continuity way. If yours doesn't, that'southward okay! Skip to Step 6 for an alternate way to perform a continuity examination.

The multimeter tests continuity by sending a niggling current through one probe, and checking whether the other probe receives it.
If the probes are connected—either by a continuous circuit, or by touching each other directly—the test electric current flows through. The screen displays a value of zip (or near zero), and the multimeter beeps. Continuity!
If the test electric current isn't detected, information technology means there's no continuity. The screen will display i or OL (open loop).

To complete your continuity test, place one probe at each stop of the circuit or component you want to test.
As before, if your circuit is continuous, the screen displays a value of nothing (or virtually zippo), and the multimeter beeps.
If the screen displays 1 or OL (open loop), there'due south no continuity—that is, there'due south no path for electric current to flow from i probe to the other.
Continuity is non-directional, significant information technology doesn't affair which probe goes where. But there are exceptions—for instance, if there's a diode in your excursion. A diode is like a one-way valve for electricity, meaning it will evidence continuity in ane direction, only not in the other.

If your multimeter doesn't have a dedicated continuity test mode, you tin can still perform a continuity test.
Turn the dial to the lowest setting in the resistance way.
Resistance is measured in ohms, indicated past the symbol Ω.

In this fashion, the multimeter sends a little electric current through i probe, and measures what (if annihilation) is received by the other probe.
If the probes are connected—either past a continuous circuit, or by touching each other straight—the exam electric current flows through. The screen displays a value of zero (or near zero—in this case, 0.viii). Very low resistance is another way of saying that nosotros have continuity.
If no current is detected, information technology means there's no continuity. The screen will brandish one or OL (open up loop).

To complete your continuity test, identify one probe at each stop of the circuit or component you want to test.
Information technology doesn't thing which probe goes where; continuity is non-directional.
As before, if your circuit is continuous, the screen displays a value of zero (or near zero).
If the screen displays 1 or OL (open loop), there's no continuity—that is, there'south no path for electric electric current to flow from one probe to the other.

Plug the black probe into the COM port on your multimeter.
Plug the blood-red probe into the VΩmA port.

Switch on your multimeter, and ready the dial to DC voltage style (indicated by a 5 with a directly line, or the symbol ⎓).
Virtually all consumer electronic devices run on DC voltage. Ac voltage—the kind that runs through the lines to your business firm—is considerably more unsafe, and across the scope of this guide.
Most multimeters are not autoranging, meaning you will need to ready the correct range for the voltage y'all expect to mensurate.
Each setting on the dial lists the maximum voltage it can mensurate. So for case, if y'all look to measure out more than than two volts but less than xx, use the twenty volt setting.
If you're not sure, start with the highest setting.

Place the cerise probe on the positive terminal, and the blackness probe on the negative concluding.
If your range was gear up too high, you may not get a very accurate reading. Here the multimeter reads ix volts. That's fine, but we tin plow the dial to a lower range to become a better reading.
If yous gear up the range too low, the multimeter only reads 1 or OL, indicating that information technology is overloaded or out of range. This won't hurt the multimeter, but we demand to set the punch to a higher range.

With the range set correctly, we become a reading of nine.42 volts.
Reversing the probes won't do any harm; it just gives u.s.a. a negative reading.

To begin, make certain no electric current is running through the circuit or component you want to examination. Switch it off, unplug it from the wall, and remove any batteries.
Remember that you'll be testing the resistance of the entire circuit. If you want to test an private component such as a resistor, test it by itself—not with it soldered in place!
Plug the black probe into the COM port on your multimeter.
Plug the red probe into the VΩmA port.

Switch on your multimeter, and set up the dial to resistance mode.
Resistance is measured in ohms, indicated past the Ω symbol.
Nearly multimeters are not autoranging, meaning yous will demand to set the correct range for the resistance you await to measure. If y'all're not sure, showtime with the highest setting.

Place one probe at each end of the circuit or component you want to test.
Information technology doesn't matter which probe goes where; resistance is not-directional.
If your multimeter reads shut to nix, the range is set too high for a practiced measurement. Turn the dial to a lower setting.
If you ready the range too depression, the multimeter simply reads ane or OL, indicating that it is overloaded or out of range. This won't injure the multimeter, simply nosotros need to set the punch to a higher range.
The other possibility is that the circuit or component you are testing doesn't have continuity—that is, information technology has infinite resistance. A non continuous circuit will ever read one or OL on a resistance test.