How to test whether the multimeter is working properly

Multimeters are super handy electrical testing devices, and as the name suggests, they can measure a variety of parameters, such as voltage, resistance, current, and many more. Among other things, it can be used to debug faulty circuits, understand other people's electronic designs, and even test batteries. Hence the "multi"-"meter" in the name. But how do you use a multimeter? This tutorial will show you how to test if your multimeter is working, and if it is, I will also give you some tips on how to use this device. So let's first start by testing if your multimeter is working.

Step 1: Check the battery. Try turning on the multimeter.

So the first thing to check if your multimeter is working is to turn the dial from the off position to any other position and you should see some display there. If your display is working properly you have to check two things, it means your multimeter is powered.

Now, if your display is not showing anything, then there are two chances. One, your battery might have died, so open the case and you have to replace the battery. The second thing is, your fuse might have blown. So you have to open the case again and replace the fuse. After checking the battery, another thing you can check is if your leads are working properly.

Step 2: Test Probe Leads

So to do this, put your multimeter in continuity mode. Every multimeter has a continuity mode and you can identify it using the continuity symbol there (similar to a sound wave). Once you have put your multimeter in continuity mode, take those two probes and connect them together. You should hear a continuous beeping sound when you do this. This means that there is a proper connection between the two leads and your multimeter is working. So once you have done this, you can be almost 90% sure that your meter is working properly and you can go ahead and measure your voltage, current, resistance or whatever else.

If your monitor is working fine. If you don't hear the continuity sound, it means there is something wrong with your leads and you need to replace them. Now, assuming your multimeter is working properly, you can use the following tips to ensure that you always use this device safely.

How to use a multimeter safely?

In this section, we will discuss how to safely use a multimeter for different applications.

When measuring AC voltage, avoid touching the probe tips while they are still connected to the corresponding points on the circuit. This is to prevent the circuit from shorting out, which could cause sparks or a ball of flame to injure you.

Do not use the test leads if the protective insulation on the leads or probes is broken or damaged. Your fingers could come into contact with the probe conductors, which could result in an electric shock.

Be aware that not all multimeters support AC current measurement. Therefore, never use a multimeter that does not support AC current measurement to measure AC current, otherwise the meter will be damaged.

When measuring current you should always be careful about where you place the probes. The black probe should always go into the com port. Now for the red probe you can use it in both places. One can use it to measure voltage and current in milliamps. If you are measuring more than milliamps, if you are measuring amps then you have to use your probe to the other port as shown in the picture.