3.1.4 Multimeters
An essential tool for working on vehicle elec-
trical and electronic systems is a good digital
multimeter. Digital meters are most suitable for
accuracy of reading as well as available facilities.
The following list of functions, broadly in order
from essential to desirable, should be considered.
Function
Range
Accuracy
DC voltage
500 V
0.3%
DC current
10 A
1.0%
Resistance
0 to 10 M⍀
0.5%
AC voltage
500 V
2.5%
AC current
10 A
2.5%
Dwell
3,4,5,6,8 cylinders
2.0%
RPM
10 000 rev/min
0.2%
Duty cycle
% on/off
0.2% (kHz)
Frequency
100 kHz
0.01%
Temperature
⬎900°C
0.3% ⫹ 3°C
High current clamp
1000 A (DC)
Depends on
conditions
Pressure
3 bar
10.0% of standard
scale
A way of determining the quality of a meter,
as well as by the facilities provided, is to con-
sider the following:
●
accuracy;
●
loading effect of the meter;
●
protection circuits.
The loading effect is a consideration for any form
of measurement. With a multimeter this relates
to the internal resistance of the meter. It is rec-
ommended that the internal resistance of a meter
should be a minimum of 10 M⍀. This not only
ensures greater accuracy but also prevents the
meter from damaging sensitive circuits.
Figure 3.2 shows two equal resistors connected
in series across a 12 V supply. The voltage across
each resistor should be 6 V. However, the internal
resistance of the meter will affect the circuit con-
ditions and change the voltage reading. If the
resistor values were 100 k⍀ the effect of meter
internal resistance would be as follows.
Meter resistance 1 M
⍀
With a parallel combined value of 1 M⍀ and
100 k⍀ ⫽ 91 k⍀ the voltage drop in the circuit
across this would be:
91/(100 ⫹ 91) ⫻ 12 ⫽ 5.71 V
This is an error of about 5%.
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