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What does the multimeter dial do internally?
Fuse blowing in 12 multimeters rated for 200mA, only measuring 12.5mA. Why?Why does a multimeter put more voltage to measure a smaller resistance?Different voltage readings when using different ranges on a multimeterDMM Auto-Polarity / Polarity detectionTesting Capacitors - Differing Results Each Time One Is Tested?Why isn't Ohm's law working for this simple circuit?high resolution analog AC voltmeter mysteryWhy do some multimeters have discrete ranges for measurable values and some just measure based on signal type?
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$begingroup$
Everyone who has ever handled a multimeter is familiar with these dials. The position of the dial indicates the maximum range of the quantity that can be measured.
But why are we required to adjust the maximum range ourselves? What happens internally in the multimeter when the dial is adjusted, say, from 20V to 200V? If we have the dial on 20V, and the voltage measured is 50V, why can't the meter provide a measurement? I don't have much knowledge on the internal workings of a multimeter, but I understand that voltage is measured by letting an infinitesimal amount of current through the meter and measuring the magnetic field (something along these lines). But why can't the meters adjust their range themselves?
EDIT: I know there are autoranging meters, but I'm interested in knowing why others have to be adjusted manually.
multimeter
asked Jul 5 at 12:49
S. RotosS. Rotos
1,4022 gold badges13 silver badges26 bronze badges
$endgroup$
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
Everyone who has ever handled a multimeter is familiar with these dials. The position of the dial indicates the maximum range of the quantity that can be measured.
But why are we required to adjust the maximum range ourselves? What happens internally in the multimeter when the dial is adjusted, say, from 20V to 200V? If we have the dial on 20V, and the voltage measured is 50V, why can't the meter provide a measurement? I don't have much knowledge on the internal workings of a multimeter, but I understand that voltage is measured by letting an infinitesimal amount of current through the meter and measuring the magnetic field (something along these lines). But why can't the meters adjust their range themselves?
EDIT: I know there are autoranging meters, but I'm interested in knowing why others have to be adjusted manually.
multimeter
asked Jul 5 at 12:49
S. RotosS. Rotos
1,4022 gold badges13 silver badges26 bronze badges
$endgroup$
5
$begingroup$
Cost...........
$endgroup$
– Chu
Jul 5 at 14:36
8
$begingroup$
Sometimes the auto-range behavior is a seriously-irritating behavior. A fixed range can be your (circuit-understanding) friend.
$endgroup$
– analogsystemsrf
Jul 5 at 16:01
3
$begingroup$
@analogsystemsrf Though every autoranging meter I've seen does have a manual range option as well. It's a little less straightforward than just turning the dial, but I think the mild inconvenience when you need to set it to a fixed range is worth it for the convenience of autoranging.
$endgroup$
– Hearth
Jul 6 at 17:02
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
Everyone who has ever handled a multimeter is familiar with these dials. The position of the dial indicates the maximum range of the quantity that can be measured.
But why are we required to adjust the maximum range ourselves? What happens internally in the multimeter when the dial is adjusted, say, from 20V to 200V? If we have the dial on 20V, and the voltage measured is 50V, why can't the meter provide a measurement? I don't have much knowledge on the internal workings of a multimeter, but I understand that voltage is measured by letting an infinitesimal amount of current through the meter and measuring the magnetic field (something along these lines). But why can't the meters adjust their range themselves?
EDIT: I know there are autoranging meters, but I'm interested in knowing why others have to be adjusted manually.
multimeter
asked Jul 5 at 12:49
S. RotosS. Rotos
1,4022 gold badges13 silver badges26 bronze badges
$endgroup$
Everyone who has ever handled a multimeter is familiar with these dials. The position of the dial indicates the maximum range of the quantity that can be measured.
But why are we required to adjust the maximum range ourselves? What happens internally in the multimeter when the dial is adjusted, say, from 20V to 200V? If we have the dial on 20V, and the voltage measured is 50V, why can't the meter provide a measurement? I don't have much knowledge on the internal workings of a multimeter, but I understand that voltage is measured by letting an infinitesimal amount of current through the meter and measuring the magnetic field (something along these lines). But why can't the meters adjust their range themselves?
EDIT: I know there are autoranging meters, but I'm interested in knowing why others have to be adjusted manually.
multimeter
multimeter
asked Jul 5 at 12:49
S. RotosS. Rotos
1,4022 gold badges13 silver badges26 bronze badges
asked Jul 5 at 12:49
S. RotosS. Rotos
1,4022 gold badges13 silver badges26 bronze badges
asked Jul 5 at 12:49
S. RotosS. Rotos
1,4022 gold badges13 silver badges26 bronze badges
asked Jul 5 at 12:49
S. RotosS. Rotos
1,4022 gold badges13 silver badges26 bronze badges
asked Jul 5 at 12:49
S. RotosS. Rotos
1,4022 gold badges13 silver badges26 bronze badges
1,4022 gold badges13 silver badges26 bronze badges
5
$begingroup$
Cost...........
$endgroup$
– Chu
Jul 5 at 14:36
8
$begingroup$
Sometimes the auto-range behavior is a seriously-irritating behavior. A fixed range can be your (circuit-understanding) friend.
$endgroup$
– analogsystemsrf
Jul 5 at 16:01
3
$begingroup$
@analogsystemsrf Though every autoranging meter I've seen does have a manual range option as well. It's a little less straightforward than just turning the dial, but I think the mild inconvenience when you need to set it to a fixed range is worth it for the convenience of autoranging.
$endgroup$
– Hearth
Jul 6 at 17:02
add a comment
|
5
$begingroup$
Cost...........
$endgroup$
– Chu
Jul 5 at 14:36
8
$begingroup$
Sometimes the auto-range behavior is a seriously-irritating behavior. A fixed range can be your (circuit-understanding) friend.
$endgroup$
– analogsystemsrf
Jul 5 at 16:01
3
$begingroup$
@analogsystemsrf Though every autoranging meter I've seen does have a manual range option as well. It's a little less straightforward than just turning the dial, but I think the mild inconvenience when you need to set it to a fixed range is worth it for the convenience of autoranging.
$endgroup$
– Hearth
Jul 6 at 17:02
5
5
$begingroup$
Cost...........
$endgroup$
– Chu
Jul 5 at 14:36
$begingroup$
Cost...........
$endgroup$
– Chu
Jul 5 at 14:36
8
8
$begingroup$
Sometimes the auto-range behavior is a seriously-irritating behavior. A fixed range can be your (circuit-understanding) friend.
$endgroup$
– analogsystemsrf
Jul 5 at 16:01
$begingroup$
Sometimes the auto-range behavior is a seriously-irritating behavior. A fixed range can be your (circuit-understanding) friend.
$endgroup$
– analogsystemsrf
Jul 5 at 16:01
3
3
$begingroup$
@analogsystemsrf Though every autoranging meter I've seen does have a manual range option as well. It's a little less straightforward than just turning the dial, but I think the mild inconvenience when you need to set it to a fixed range is worth it for the convenience of autoranging.
$endgroup$
– Hearth
Jul 6 at 17:02
$begingroup$
@analogsystemsrf Though every autoranging meter I've seen does have a manual range option as well. It's a little less straightforward than just turning the dial, but I think the mild inconvenience when you need to set it to a fixed range is worth it for the convenience of autoranging.
$endgroup$
– Hearth
Jul 6 at 17:02
add a comment
|
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
This image (source) ought to tell you all you need to know about how it works. There are wiper contacts on the dial, shown at the bottom, that mate with pads on the meter's PCB.
These pads are connected to different taps of a voltage divider to divide the voltage, or to pass current through a current shunt.
Internally, the meter can only measure voltages from, say, -0.2V to +0.2V. The range switch changes the voltage divider to prescale the input voltage to be within that range, and on most meters will also send a signal to the LCD to tell it where to put the decimal point.
As for why you have to do it yourself instead of the meter doing it for you: Nothing more and nothing less than price. A meter that auto-ranges is more expensive than one that doesn't due to the need for additional hardware to detect when it's over-range and perform the switching.
answered Jul 5 at 13:06
HearthHearth
7,9911 gold badge19 silver badges53 bronze badges
$endgroup$
3
$begingroup$
"Internally, the meter can only measure voltages from, say, -1V to +1V." It is more than likely the lowest DC V range. ±199.9 mV on the basic digital meters. "... so the multimeter chip can digitally multiply that voltage back up ..." It's easier than that; one pole of the switch selects the relevant decimal point. No multiplication required.
$endgroup$
– Transistor
Jul 5 at 13:21
1
$begingroup$
@Transistor I used that value just as an example, as I don't know what a typical range would be. Good point about it being the lowest range, though.
$endgroup$
– Hearth
Jul 5 at 13:25
5
$begingroup$
I only know that much because I built a multimeter using one about 40 years ago. They seem to be pretty much the same devices in the €5 meters available in the supermarket these days. Mine cost me a lot of pocket money at the time.
$endgroup$
– Transistor
Jul 5 at 14:45
$begingroup$
@Transistor Ah, the march of progress!
$endgroup$
– Hearth
Jul 5 at 14:46
2
$begingroup$
"A meter that auto-ranges is more expensive than one that doesn't due to the need for additional hardware to detect when it's over-range and perform the switching." I wonder whether that's still really true.That big, mulicontact rotary switch costs a fair amount of money. A coarse A2D plus a comparator might well be cheaper. It wouldn't surprised if the current design continues more through inertia than real cost savings.
$endgroup$
– Jerry Coffin
Jul 6 at 15:32
|
show 2 more comments
$begingroup$
An old analog meter may be easier to understand (source http://fourier.eng.hmc.edu/e84/labs/lab1/node1.html):
Since the gauge deflection depends on the current passing it, and the deflection/current ratio does not change, different contact positions will form different voltage or current dividers to adapt the scale. Note: the coil resistance is also fixed.
It's not that different with digital meters, except that instead of a coil that needs a certain current it has a Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) which needs a certain voltage for full scale indication.
answered Jul 5 at 14:49
vangelovangelo
1,2321 gold badge2 silver badges13 bronze badges
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add a comment
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$begingroup$
If it is a digital multimeter, it works differently than an analogue one.
The schematics for an analogue one is shown in Vangelo's answer.
The schematics for a digital one looks like this:
simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab
For the voltage measurements, the dial will select the ratio of the voltage divider (as shown in the schematics above) and it will change the position of the decimal dot on the display.
answered Jul 7 at 18:20
Martin RosenauMartin Rosenau
1,0964 silver badges7 bronze badges
$endgroup$
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
A voltmeter is not measuring any currents. There is an ADC (analog to digital converter, that is the real measuring device) inside, which compares the input voltage with a reference voltage and gives the factor of the input to the reference as a digital output.
Let's say the reference voltage is 2V. Then the maximum input voltage is also 2V, because this would be 100%. If you turn the dial to 20V input range you are switching in a voltage divider to the input, so that you reduce the input voltage by the factor of 10. This results in only 2V at the ADC with 20V input voltage. The microcontroller knows that and shows you the real value on the display.
Autoranging meters can choose the different voltage dividers by switching relays. This requires additional parts and therefore some meters just have the user set it manually and by that reducing cost.
edited Jul 5 at 14:42
Hearth
7,9911 gold badge19 silver badges53 bronze badges
answered Jul 5 at 13:05
jusacajusaca
2,9682 gold badges11 silver badges35 bronze badges
$endgroup$
5
$begingroup$
Well, old passive analog meters "measure current" in the sense that they need current passing through the meter movement to swing the needle. A meter movement that required 50$mu mathrmA$ was the common "high class" standard; that translates to a 20000$Omega / mathrmV$ meter.
$endgroup$
– TimWescott
Jul 5 at 16:54
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
In simplest form the dial switches suitable resistors between probes and meter coil so that multiple ranges of voltages and currents cam be measured with a single meter.
If you try to measure 40V at 20V range then the meter would have to go to 200% reading because there is two times the current flowing it needs to display 100% reading. The coil cannot move the meter physically and the coil might burn because of excess current flowing unless there are protection components to limit it.
The meter does not know how much voltage you are
about to measure and has no active components to detect or switch the range automatically.
answered Jul 5 at 12:56
JustmeJustme
9,1222 gold badges10 silver badges25 bronze badges
$endgroup$
4
$begingroup$
You're talking about a coil; it might be worth mentioning digital multimeters with ADCs as well.
$endgroup$
– Hearth
Jul 5 at 16:06
add a comment
|
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5 Answers
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active
oldest
votes
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
This image (source) ought to tell you all you need to know about how it works. There are wiper contacts on the dial, shown at the bottom, that mate with pads on the meter's PCB.
These pads are connected to different taps of a voltage divider to divide the voltage, or to pass current through a current shunt.
Internally, the meter can only measure voltages from, say, -0.2V to +0.2V. The range switch changes the voltage divider to prescale the input voltage to be within that range, and on most meters will also send a signal to the LCD to tell it where to put the decimal point.
As for why you have to do it yourself instead of the meter doing it for you: Nothing more and nothing less than price. A meter that auto-ranges is more expensive than one that doesn't due to the need for additional hardware to detect when it's over-range and perform the switching.
answered Jul 5 at 13:06
HearthHearth
7,9911 gold badge19 silver badges53 bronze badges
$endgroup$
3
$begingroup$
"Internally, the meter can only measure voltages from, say, -1V to +1V." It is more than likely the lowest DC V range. ±199.9 mV on the basic digital meters. "... so the multimeter chip can digitally multiply that voltage back up ..." It's easier than that; one pole of the switch selects the relevant decimal point. No multiplication required.
$endgroup$
– Transistor
Jul 5 at 13:21
1
$begingroup$
@Transistor I used that value just as an example, as I don't know what a typical range would be. Good point about it being the lowest range, though.
$endgroup$
– Hearth
Jul 5 at 13:25
5
$begingroup$
I only know that much because I built a multimeter using one about 40 years ago. They seem to be pretty much the same devices in the €5 meters available in the supermarket these days. Mine cost me a lot of pocket money at the time.
$endgroup$
– Transistor
Jul 5 at 14:45
$begingroup$
@Transistor Ah, the march of progress!
$endgroup$
– Hearth
Jul 5 at 14:46
2
$begingroup$
"A meter that auto-ranges is more expensive than one that doesn't due to the need for additional hardware to detect when it's over-range and perform the switching." I wonder whether that's still really true.That big, mulicontact rotary switch costs a fair amount of money. A coarse A2D plus a comparator might well be cheaper. It wouldn't surprised if the current design continues more through inertia than real cost savings.
$endgroup$
– Jerry Coffin
Jul 6 at 15:32
|
show 2 more comments
$begingroup$
This image (source) ought to tell you all you need to know about how it works. There are wiper contacts on the dial, shown at the bottom, that mate with pads on the meter's PCB.
These pads are connected to different taps of a voltage divider to divide the voltage, or to pass current through a current shunt.
Internally, the meter can only measure voltages from, say, -0.2V to +0.2V. The range switch changes the voltage divider to prescale the input voltage to be within that range, and on most meters will also send a signal to the LCD to tell it where to put the decimal point.
As for why you have to do it yourself instead of the meter doing it for you: Nothing more and nothing less than price. A meter that auto-ranges is more expensive than one that doesn't due to the need for additional hardware to detect when it's over-range and perform the switching.
answered Jul 5 at 13:06
HearthHearth
7,9911 gold badge19 silver badges53 bronze badges
$endgroup$
3
$begingroup$
"Internally, the meter can only measure voltages from, say, -1V to +1V." It is more than likely the lowest DC V range. ±199.9 mV on the basic digital meters. "... so the multimeter chip can digitally multiply that voltage back up ..." It's easier than that; one pole of the switch selects the relevant decimal point. No multiplication required.
$endgroup$
– Transistor
Jul 5 at 13:21
1
$begingroup$
@Transistor I used that value just as an example, as I don't know what a typical range would be. Good point about it being the lowest range, though.
$endgroup$
– Hearth
Jul 5 at 13:25
5
$begingroup$
I only know that much because I built a multimeter using one about 40 years ago. They seem to be pretty much the same devices in the €5 meters available in the supermarket these days. Mine cost me a lot of pocket money at the time.
$endgroup$
– Transistor
Jul 5 at 14:45
$begingroup$
@Transistor Ah, the march of progress!
$endgroup$
– Hearth
Jul 5 at 14:46
2
$begingroup$
"A meter that auto-ranges is more expensive than one that doesn't due to the need for additional hardware to detect when it's over-range and perform the switching." I wonder whether that's still really true.That big, mulicontact rotary switch costs a fair amount of money. A coarse A2D plus a comparator might well be cheaper. It wouldn't surprised if the current design continues more through inertia than real cost savings.
$endgroup$
– Jerry Coffin
Jul 6 at 15:32
|
show 2 more comments
$begingroup$
This image (source) ought to tell you all you need to know about how it works. There are wiper contacts on the dial, shown at the bottom, that mate with pads on the meter's PCB.
These pads are connected to different taps of a voltage divider to divide the voltage, or to pass current through a current shunt.
Internally, the meter can only measure voltages from, say, -0.2V to +0.2V. The range switch changes the voltage divider to prescale the input voltage to be within that range, and on most meters will also send a signal to the LCD to tell it where to put the decimal point.
As for why you have to do it yourself instead of the meter doing it for you: Nothing more and nothing less than price. A meter that auto-ranges is more expensive than one that doesn't due to the need for additional hardware to detect when it's over-range and perform the switching.
answered Jul 5 at 13:06
HearthHearth
7,9911 gold badge19 silver badges53 bronze badges
$endgroup$
This image (source) ought to tell you all you need to know about how it works. There are wiper contacts on the dial, shown at the bottom, that mate with pads on the meter's PCB.
These pads are connected to different taps of a voltage divider to divide the voltage, or to pass current through a current shunt.
Internally, the meter can only measure voltages from, say, -0.2V to +0.2V. The range switch changes the voltage divider to prescale the input voltage to be within that range, and on most meters will also send a signal to the LCD to tell it where to put the decimal point.
As for why you have to do it yourself instead of the meter doing it for you: Nothing more and nothing less than price. A meter that auto-ranges is more expensive than one that doesn't due to the need for additional hardware to detect when it's over-range and perform the switching.
answered Jul 5 at 13:06
HearthHearth
7,9911 gold badge19 silver badges53 bronze badges
edited Jul 5 at 15:18
answered Jul 5 at 13:06
HearthHearth
7,9911 gold badge19 silver badges53 bronze badges
answered Jul 5 at 13:06
HearthHearth
7,9911 gold badge19 silver badges53 bronze badges
answered Jul 5 at 13:06
HearthHearth
7,9911 gold badge19 silver badges53 bronze badges
7,9911 gold badge19 silver badges53 bronze badges
3
$begingroup$
"Internally, the meter can only measure voltages from, say, -1V to +1V." It is more than likely the lowest DC V range. ±199.9 mV on the basic digital meters. "... so the multimeter chip can digitally multiply that voltage back up ..." It's easier than that; one pole of the switch selects the relevant decimal point. No multiplication required.
$endgroup$
– Transistor
Jul 5 at 13:21
1
$begingroup$
@Transistor I used that value just as an example, as I don't know what a typical range would be. Good point about it being the lowest range, though.
$endgroup$
– Hearth
Jul 5 at 13:25
5
$begingroup$
I only know that much because I built a multimeter using one about 40 years ago. They seem to be pretty much the same devices in the €5 meters available in the supermarket these days. Mine cost me a lot of pocket money at the time.
$endgroup$
– Transistor
Jul 5 at 14:45
$begingroup$
@Transistor Ah, the march of progress!
$endgroup$
– Hearth
Jul 5 at 14:46
2
$begingroup$
"A meter that auto-ranges is more expensive than one that doesn't due to the need for additional hardware to detect when it's over-range and perform the switching." I wonder whether that's still really true.That big, mulicontact rotary switch costs a fair amount of money. A coarse A2D plus a comparator might well be cheaper. It wouldn't surprised if the current design continues more through inertia than real cost savings.
$endgroup$
– Jerry Coffin
Jul 6 at 15:32
|
show 2 more comments
3
$begingroup$
"Internally, the meter can only measure voltages from, say, -1V to +1V." It is more than likely the lowest DC V range. ±199.9 mV on the basic digital meters. "... so the multimeter chip can digitally multiply that voltage back up ..." It's easier than that; one pole of the switch selects the relevant decimal point. No multiplication required.
$endgroup$
– Transistor
Jul 5 at 13:21
1
$begingroup$
@Transistor I used that value just as an example, as I don't know what a typical range would be. Good point about it being the lowest range, though.
$endgroup$
– Hearth
Jul 5 at 13:25
5
$begingroup$
I only know that much because I built a multimeter using one about 40 years ago. They seem to be pretty much the same devices in the €5 meters available in the supermarket these days. Mine cost me a lot of pocket money at the time.
$endgroup$
– Transistor
Jul 5 at 14:45
$begingroup$
@Transistor Ah, the march of progress!
$endgroup$
– Hearth
Jul 5 at 14:46
2
$begingroup$
"A meter that auto-ranges is more expensive than one that doesn't due to the need for additional hardware to detect when it's over-range and perform the switching." I wonder whether that's still really true.That big, mulicontact rotary switch costs a fair amount of money. A coarse A2D plus a comparator might well be cheaper. It wouldn't surprised if the current design continues more through inertia than real cost savings.
$endgroup$
– Jerry Coffin
Jul 6 at 15:32
3
3
$begingroup$
"Internally, the meter can only measure voltages from, say, -1V to +1V." It is more than likely the lowest DC V range. ±199.9 mV on the basic digital meters. "... so the multimeter chip can digitally multiply that voltage back up ..." It's easier than that; one pole of the switch selects the relevant decimal point. No multiplication required.
$endgroup$
– Transistor
Jul 5 at 13:21
$begingroup$
"Internally, the meter can only measure voltages from, say, -1V to +1V." It is more than likely the lowest DC V range. ±199.9 mV on the basic digital meters. "... so the multimeter chip can digitally multiply that voltage back up ..." It's easier than that; one pole of the switch selects the relevant decimal point. No multiplication required.
$endgroup$
– Transistor
Jul 5 at 13:21
1
1
$begingroup$
@Transistor I used that value just as an example, as I don't know what a typical range would be. Good point about it being the lowest range, though.
$endgroup$
– Hearth
Jul 5 at 13:25
$begingroup$
@Transistor I used that value just as an example, as I don't know what a typical range would be. Good point about it being the lowest range, though.
$endgroup$
– Hearth
Jul 5 at 13:25
5
5
$begingroup$
I only know that much because I built a multimeter using one about 40 years ago. They seem to be pretty much the same devices in the €5 meters available in the supermarket these days. Mine cost me a lot of pocket money at the time.
$endgroup$
– Transistor
Jul 5 at 14:45
$begingroup$
I only know that much because I built a multimeter using one about 40 years ago. They seem to be pretty much the same devices in the €5 meters available in the supermarket these days. Mine cost me a lot of pocket money at the time.
$endgroup$
– Transistor
Jul 5 at 14:45
$begingroup$
@Transistor Ah, the march of progress!
$endgroup$
– Hearth
Jul 5 at 14:46
$begingroup$
@Transistor Ah, the march of progress!
$endgroup$
– Hearth
Jul 5 at 14:46
2
2
$begingroup$
"A meter that auto-ranges is more expensive than one that doesn't due to the need for additional hardware to detect when it's over-range and perform the switching." I wonder whether that's still really true.That big, mulicontact rotary switch costs a fair amount of money. A coarse A2D plus a comparator might well be cheaper. It wouldn't surprised if the current design continues more through inertia than real cost savings.
$endgroup$
– Jerry Coffin
Jul 6 at 15:32
$begingroup$
"A meter that auto-ranges is more expensive than one that doesn't due to the need for additional hardware to detect when it's over-range and perform the switching." I wonder whether that's still really true.That big, mulicontact rotary switch costs a fair amount of money. A coarse A2D plus a comparator might well be cheaper. It wouldn't surprised if the current design continues more through inertia than real cost savings.
$endgroup$
– Jerry Coffin
Jul 6 at 15:32
|
show 2 more comments
$begingroup$
An old analog meter may be easier to understand (source http://fourier.eng.hmc.edu/e84/labs/lab1/node1.html):
Since the gauge deflection depends on the current passing it, and the deflection/current ratio does not change, different contact positions will form different voltage or current dividers to adapt the scale. Note: the coil resistance is also fixed.
It's not that different with digital meters, except that instead of a coil that needs a certain current it has a Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) which needs a certain voltage for full scale indication.
answered Jul 5 at 14:49
vangelovangelo
1,2321 gold badge2 silver badges13 bronze badges
$endgroup$
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
An old analog meter may be easier to understand (source http://fourier.eng.hmc.edu/e84/labs/lab1/node1.html):
Since the gauge deflection depends on the current passing it, and the deflection/current ratio does not change, different contact positions will form different voltage or current dividers to adapt the scale. Note: the coil resistance is also fixed.
It's not that different with digital meters, except that instead of a coil that needs a certain current it has a Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) which needs a certain voltage for full scale indication.
answered Jul 5 at 14:49
vangelovangelo
1,2321 gold badge2 silver badges13 bronze badges
$endgroup$
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
An old analog meter may be easier to understand (source http://fourier.eng.hmc.edu/e84/labs/lab1/node1.html):
Since the gauge deflection depends on the current passing it, and the deflection/current ratio does not change, different contact positions will form different voltage or current dividers to adapt the scale. Note: the coil resistance is also fixed.
It's not that different with digital meters, except that instead of a coil that needs a certain current it has a Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) which needs a certain voltage for full scale indication.
answered Jul 5 at 14:49
vangelovangelo
1,2321 gold badge2 silver badges13 bronze badges
$endgroup$
An old analog meter may be easier to understand (source http://fourier.eng.hmc.edu/e84/labs/lab1/node1.html):
Since the gauge deflection depends on the current passing it, and the deflection/current ratio does not change, different contact positions will form different voltage or current dividers to adapt the scale. Note: the coil resistance is also fixed.
It's not that different with digital meters, except that instead of a coil that needs a certain current it has a Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) which needs a certain voltage for full scale indication.
answered Jul 5 at 14:49
vangelovangelo
1,2321 gold badge2 silver badges13 bronze badges
edited Jul 5 at 14:54
answered Jul 5 at 14:49
vangelovangelo
1,2321 gold badge2 silver badges13 bronze badges
answered Jul 5 at 14:49
vangelovangelo
1,2321 gold badge2 silver badges13 bronze badges
answered Jul 5 at 14:49
vangelovangelo
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1,2321 gold badge2 silver badges13 bronze badges
add a comment
|
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
If it is a digital multimeter, it works differently than an analogue one.
The schematics for an analogue one is shown in Vangelo's answer.
The schematics for a digital one looks like this:
simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab
For the voltage measurements, the dial will select the ratio of the voltage divider (as shown in the schematics above) and it will change the position of the decimal dot on the display.
answered Jul 7 at 18:20
Martin RosenauMartin Rosenau
1,0964 silver badges7 bronze badges
$endgroup$
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
If it is a digital multimeter, it works differently than an analogue one.
The schematics for an analogue one is shown in Vangelo's answer.
The schematics for a digital one looks like this:
simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab
For the voltage measurements, the dial will select the ratio of the voltage divider (as shown in the schematics above) and it will change the position of the decimal dot on the display.
answered Jul 7 at 18:20
Martin RosenauMartin Rosenau
1,0964 silver badges7 bronze badges
$endgroup$
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
If it is a digital multimeter, it works differently than an analogue one.
The schematics for an analogue one is shown in Vangelo's answer.
The schematics for a digital one looks like this:
simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab
For the voltage measurements, the dial will select the ratio of the voltage divider (as shown in the schematics above) and it will change the position of the decimal dot on the display.
answered Jul 7 at 18:20
Martin RosenauMartin Rosenau
1,0964 silver badges7 bronze badges
$endgroup$
If it is a digital multimeter, it works differently than an analogue one.
The schematics for an analogue one is shown in Vangelo's answer.
The schematics for a digital one looks like this:
simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab
For the voltage measurements, the dial will select the ratio of the voltage divider (as shown in the schematics above) and it will change the position of the decimal dot on the display.
answered Jul 7 at 18:20
Martin RosenauMartin Rosenau
1,0964 silver badges7 bronze badges
answered Jul 7 at 18:20
Martin RosenauMartin Rosenau
1,0964 silver badges7 bronze badges
answered Jul 7 at 18:20
Martin RosenauMartin Rosenau
1,0964 silver badges7 bronze badges
answered Jul 7 at 18:20
Martin RosenauMartin Rosenau
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1,0964 silver badges7 bronze badges
add a comment
|
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
A voltmeter is not measuring any currents. There is an ADC (analog to digital converter, that is the real measuring device) inside, which compares the input voltage with a reference voltage and gives the factor of the input to the reference as a digital output.
Let's say the reference voltage is 2V. Then the maximum input voltage is also 2V, because this would be 100%. If you turn the dial to 20V input range you are switching in a voltage divider to the input, so that you reduce the input voltage by the factor of 10. This results in only 2V at the ADC with 20V input voltage. The microcontroller knows that and shows you the real value on the display.
Autoranging meters can choose the different voltage dividers by switching relays. This requires additional parts and therefore some meters just have the user set it manually and by that reducing cost.
edited Jul 5 at 14:42
Hearth
7,9911 gold badge19 silver badges53 bronze badges
answered Jul 5 at 13:05
jusacajusaca
2,9682 gold badges11 silver badges35 bronze badges
$endgroup$
5
$begingroup$
Well, old passive analog meters "measure current" in the sense that they need current passing through the meter movement to swing the needle. A meter movement that required 50$mu mathrmA$ was the common "high class" standard; that translates to a 20000$Omega / mathrmV$ meter.
$endgroup$
– TimWescott
Jul 5 at 16:54
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
A voltmeter is not measuring any currents. There is an ADC (analog to digital converter, that is the real measuring device) inside, which compares the input voltage with a reference voltage and gives the factor of the input to the reference as a digital output.
Let's say the reference voltage is 2V. Then the maximum input voltage is also 2V, because this would be 100%. If you turn the dial to 20V input range you are switching in a voltage divider to the input, so that you reduce the input voltage by the factor of 10. This results in only 2V at the ADC with 20V input voltage. The microcontroller knows that and shows you the real value on the display.
Autoranging meters can choose the different voltage dividers by switching relays. This requires additional parts and therefore some meters just have the user set it manually and by that reducing cost.
edited Jul 5 at 14:42
Hearth
7,9911 gold badge19 silver badges53 bronze badges
answered Jul 5 at 13:05
jusacajusaca
2,9682 gold badges11 silver badges35 bronze badges
$endgroup$
5
$begingroup$
Well, old passive analog meters "measure current" in the sense that they need current passing through the meter movement to swing the needle. A meter movement that required 50$mu mathrmA$ was the common "high class" standard; that translates to a 20000$Omega / mathrmV$ meter.
$endgroup$
– TimWescott
Jul 5 at 16:54
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
A voltmeter is not measuring any currents. There is an ADC (analog to digital converter, that is the real measuring device) inside, which compares the input voltage with a reference voltage and gives the factor of the input to the reference as a digital output.
Let's say the reference voltage is 2V. Then the maximum input voltage is also 2V, because this would be 100%. If you turn the dial to 20V input range you are switching in a voltage divider to the input, so that you reduce the input voltage by the factor of 10. This results in only 2V at the ADC with 20V input voltage. The microcontroller knows that and shows you the real value on the display.
Autoranging meters can choose the different voltage dividers by switching relays. This requires additional parts and therefore some meters just have the user set it manually and by that reducing cost.
edited Jul 5 at 14:42
Hearth
7,9911 gold badge19 silver badges53 bronze badges
answered Jul 5 at 13:05
jusacajusaca
2,9682 gold badges11 silver badges35 bronze badges
$endgroup$
A voltmeter is not measuring any currents. There is an ADC (analog to digital converter, that is the real measuring device) inside, which compares the input voltage with a reference voltage and gives the factor of the input to the reference as a digital output.
Let's say the reference voltage is 2V. Then the maximum input voltage is also 2V, because this would be 100%. If you turn the dial to 20V input range you are switching in a voltage divider to the input, so that you reduce the input voltage by the factor of 10. This results in only 2V at the ADC with 20V input voltage. The microcontroller knows that and shows you the real value on the display.
Autoranging meters can choose the different voltage dividers by switching relays. This requires additional parts and therefore some meters just have the user set it manually and by that reducing cost.
edited Jul 5 at 14:42
Hearth
7,9911 gold badge19 silver badges53 bronze badges
answered Jul 5 at 13:05
jusacajusaca
2,9682 gold badges11 silver badges35 bronze badges
edited Jul 5 at 14:42
Hearth
7,9911 gold badge19 silver badges53 bronze badges
edited Jul 5 at 14:42
Hearth
7,9911 gold badge19 silver badges53 bronze badges
edited Jul 5 at 14:42
Hearth
7,9911 gold badge19 silver badges53 bronze badges
7,9911 gold badge19 silver badges53 bronze badges
answered Jul 5 at 13:05
jusacajusaca
2,9682 gold badges11 silver badges35 bronze badges
answered Jul 5 at 13:05
jusacajusaca
2,9682 gold badges11 silver badges35 bronze badges
answered Jul 5 at 13:05
jusacajusaca
2,9682 gold badges11 silver badges35 bronze badges
2,9682 gold badges11 silver badges35 bronze badges
5
$begingroup$
Well, old passive analog meters "measure current" in the sense that they need current passing through the meter movement to swing the needle. A meter movement that required 50$mu mathrmA$ was the common "high class" standard; that translates to a 20000$Omega / mathrmV$ meter.
$endgroup$
– TimWescott
Jul 5 at 16:54
add a comment
|
5
$begingroup$
Well, old passive analog meters "measure current" in the sense that they need current passing through the meter movement to swing the needle. A meter movement that required 50$mu mathrmA$ was the common "high class" standard; that translates to a 20000$Omega / mathrmV$ meter.
$endgroup$
– TimWescott
Jul 5 at 16:54
5
5
$begingroup$
Well, old passive analog meters "measure current" in the sense that they need current passing through the meter movement to swing the needle. A meter movement that required 50$mu mathrmA$ was the common "high class" standard; that translates to a 20000$Omega / mathrmV$ meter.
$endgroup$
– TimWescott
Jul 5 at 16:54
$begingroup$
Well, old passive analog meters "measure current" in the sense that they need current passing through the meter movement to swing the needle. A meter movement that required 50$mu mathrmA$ was the common "high class" standard; that translates to a 20000$Omega / mathrmV$ meter.
$endgroup$
– TimWescott
Jul 5 at 16:54
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
In simplest form the dial switches suitable resistors between probes and meter coil so that multiple ranges of voltages and currents cam be measured with a single meter.
If you try to measure 40V at 20V range then the meter would have to go to 200% reading because there is two times the current flowing it needs to display 100% reading. The coil cannot move the meter physically and the coil might burn because of excess current flowing unless there are protection components to limit it.
The meter does not know how much voltage you are
about to measure and has no active components to detect or switch the range automatically.
answered Jul 5 at 12:56
JustmeJustme
9,1222 gold badges10 silver badges25 bronze badges
$endgroup$
4
$begingroup$
You're talking about a coil; it might be worth mentioning digital multimeters with ADCs as well.
$endgroup$
– Hearth
Jul 5 at 16:06
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
In simplest form the dial switches suitable resistors between probes and meter coil so that multiple ranges of voltages and currents cam be measured with a single meter.
If you try to measure 40V at 20V range then the meter would have to go to 200% reading because there is two times the current flowing it needs to display 100% reading. The coil cannot move the meter physically and the coil might burn because of excess current flowing unless there are protection components to limit it.
The meter does not know how much voltage you are
about to measure and has no active components to detect or switch the range automatically.
answered Jul 5 at 12:56
JustmeJustme
9,1222 gold badges10 silver badges25 bronze badges
$endgroup$
4
$begingroup$
You're talking about a coil; it might be worth mentioning digital multimeters with ADCs as well.
$endgroup$
– Hearth
Jul 5 at 16:06
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
In simplest form the dial switches suitable resistors between probes and meter coil so that multiple ranges of voltages and currents cam be measured with a single meter.
If you try to measure 40V at 20V range then the meter would have to go to 200% reading because there is two times the current flowing it needs to display 100% reading. The coil cannot move the meter physically and the coil might burn because of excess current flowing unless there are protection components to limit it.
The meter does not know how much voltage you are
about to measure and has no active components to detect or switch the range automatically.
answered Jul 5 at 12:56
JustmeJustme
9,1222 gold badges10 silver badges25 bronze badges
$endgroup$
In simplest form the dial switches suitable resistors between probes and meter coil so that multiple ranges of voltages and currents cam be measured with a single meter.
If you try to measure 40V at 20V range then the meter would have to go to 200% reading because there is two times the current flowing it needs to display 100% reading. The coil cannot move the meter physically and the coil might burn because of excess current flowing unless there are protection components to limit it.
The meter does not know how much voltage you are
about to measure and has no active components to detect or switch the range automatically.
answered Jul 5 at 12:56
JustmeJustme
9,1222 gold badges10 silver badges25 bronze badges
edited Jul 5 at 13:03
answered Jul 5 at 12:56
JustmeJustme
9,1222 gold badges10 silver badges25 bronze badges
answered Jul 5 at 12:56
JustmeJustme
9,1222 gold badges10 silver badges25 bronze badges
answered Jul 5 at 12:56
JustmeJustme
9,1222 gold badges10 silver badges25 bronze badges
9,1222 gold badges10 silver badges25 bronze badges
4
$begingroup$
You're talking about a coil; it might be worth mentioning digital multimeters with ADCs as well.
$endgroup$
– Hearth
Jul 5 at 16:06
add a comment
|
4
$begingroup$
You're talking about a coil; it might be worth mentioning digital multimeters with ADCs as well.
$endgroup$
– Hearth
Jul 5 at 16:06
4
4
$begingroup$
You're talking about a coil; it might be worth mentioning digital multimeters with ADCs as well.
$endgroup$
– Hearth
Jul 5 at 16:06
$begingroup$
You're talking about a coil; it might be worth mentioning digital multimeters with ADCs as well.
$endgroup$
– Hearth
Jul 5 at 16:06
add a comment
|
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$begingroup$
Cost...........
$endgroup$
– Chu
Jul 5 at 14:36
8
$begingroup$
Sometimes the auto-range behavior is a seriously-irritating behavior. A fixed range can be your (circuit-understanding) friend.
$endgroup$
– analogsystemsrf
Jul 5 at 16:01
3
$begingroup$
@analogsystemsrf Though every autoranging meter I've seen does have a manual range option as well. It's a little less straightforward than just turning the dial, but I think the mild inconvenience when you need to set it to a fixed range is worth it for the convenience of autoranging.
$endgroup$
– Hearth
Jul 6 at 17:02