Instruments

Experiential Learning (ECE110)

Multimeter

What do meters
measure?

A meter is a measuring instrument.

An ammeter measures current.

A voltmeter measures the potential difference

(voltage) between two points.

An ohmmeter measures resistance.

A multimeter combines these functions, and

possibly some additional ones as well, into a
single instrument.

Basically Multimeters
measures
Voltage V
Amperage A
Resistance
and tests for continuity

Types of Multimeter

Two Types of Multimeters

Analog Multimeter

Digital Multimeter

Digital Multimeter

DMM Specifications

Electronics

Display

Accuracy

Range &
Resolution

Electrical

Understanding DMM Display Specification

Display is specified as Digits or as Count

Digits: 3 1/2, 4 1/2, etc.

Example: 3 1/2: (read as three and half digit DMM)

starting from the least significant digit (right most), 3 full

digits from 0-9

Left most digit - 1 half digit (means 2 possible combinations

up to 1 i.e 0 or 1). Ex: 1999

Count: 3200, 4000, etc...

4000 count display reads from 0-3999

3200 count display reads from 0-3199

20,000 count

Selector switch

Note the off

position.
Turn off your meter
when not in use.

Simple circuit

Multimeter as a Voltmeter

To use a multimeter as a voltmeter it is

connected in parallel between the two points
where the measurement is to be made.
The voltmeter provides a parallel pathway so
it needs to be of a high resistance to allow
as little current flow through it as possible.

Select AC or
DC voltage
measureme
nt.

Mutimeter as a Voltmeter

Select the DC or AC Volts

Start at the highest volts scale and work your

way down.

Probe leads are connected in parallel.

Be very careful to not touch any other

electronic components within the equipment
and do not touch the metal tips.

Mutimeter as a Voltmeter

measuring voltage

measuring voltage

measuring voltage

measuring voltage

measuring voltage

measuring voltage

measuring voltage

measuring voltage

Multimeter as a Ammeter

Turn Power Off before connecting multimeter.

Break Circuit.

Move multimeter leads (if needed).

Place multimeter in series with circuit.

Select highest current setting, turn power on, and work

your way down.

Turn power off.

Disconnect multimeter.

Reconnect Circuit

Ammeter mode measures current in Amperes. To measure current

you need to power off the circuit, you need to break the circuit so
that the ammeter can be connected in series. All the current flowing
in the circuit must pass through the ammeter. Meters are not
supposed to alter the behavior of the circuit, so the ammeter must
have a very LOW resistance. The diagrams below show the
connection of a multimeter to measure current.

Multimeter as a
Ohmmeter
Power

always has to be off

Component has to be
removed from circuit
Start at lowest Ohm
setting or maybe highest.

Component being measured needs to

be removed from the circuit.

Multimeter as a
Ohmmeter

Multimeter as a
Ohmmeter

Multimeter as a
Ohmmeter

Cathode Ray Oscilloscope

(CRO)

Oscilloscopes video

Oscilloscopes

Most versatile piece of test equipment available

for working on electronic equipment and circuits.

Provides a visual display of what is occurring in

the circuit.

Oscilloscopes provide:

The frequency of a signal.

The duration of a signal.

The phase relationship between signal

waveforms.

The shape of a signals waveform.

The amplitude of a signal.

The basic parts of an

oscilloscope are:

A cathode ray tube

(CRT).

A sweep generator.

Horizontal and
vertical deflection
amplifiers.

Power supplies.

Cathode-ray tube (CRT)

A phosphor screen.

Deflection plates.

An electron gun.

Front panel of CRO

Faceplate

Marked in centimeters
along the vertical and
horizontal axis.

Called a graticule, and is

separate from the
oscilloscope.

Mounted in front of the

CRT.

Power switch

Usually on the front panel.

May be a toggle, push-button or rotary switch.

Mounted separately or with another switch.

Used to apply line voltage to operate the oscilloscope.

Intensity switch

Also called brightness.

Controls the electron beam within the CRT.

It is a rotary control.

Too much intensity for too long can burn a hole or etch a line in
the phosphor screen.

Focus control

Connected to the electron gun.

Used to adjust the electron beam size and shape.

Rotary controls.

Horizontal and vertical position controls

Rotary controls.

Allows the electron beam to be positioned

anywhere on the face of the CRT.

Horizontal block

Consists of:

A vertical input jack.

An AC/DC switch.

A volts/cm rotary switch.

The oscilloscope probe is connected to the input jack.

The probe is then connected to the circuit to be tested.

Horizontal block

Also called the time base.

Consists of:

A time/cm rotary switch.

A trigger-control switch.

A triggering level control.

Level control

Sets the amplitude that the triggering signal must

exceed before the sweep generator starts.

Initial oscilloscope control settings:

Intensity: set to the center of range.

Focus: set to the center of range.

Astigmatism: set to the center of range.

Position: set to the center of range.

Triggering: INT +

Level: AUTO

Time/div: 1 mS

Volts/div: 0.02

Power: ON

Cathode ray oscilloscope

working
Electron gun

Deflection system

Fluorescent
screen

Heater

Tungsten
cathode

Focusing
cups

Y plates

X plates
Timebase

Cathode ray
oscilloscope. CRO
Electron gun

Deflection system

Fluorescent
screen

Heater

Tungsten
cathode

Focusing
cups

Y plates

X plates
Timebase

Cathode ray
oscilloscope. CRO
Electron gun

Deflection system

Fluorescent
screen

Heater

Tungsten
cathode

Focusing
cups

Y plates

X plates
Timebase

Cathode ray
oscilloscope. CRO
Electron gun

Deflection system

Fluorescent
screen

Heater

Tungsten
cathode

Focusing
cups

Y plates

X plates
Timebase

CRO Applications
Measurement of Amplitude

Voltage= no. of divisions of peak Voltage* volts/div.

Measurement of Time
period and freq.

Unknown frequency measurement

(Lissajous Pattern)
Press X-Y button, Lissajous Pattern will generate

Phase difference measurement

(using Lissajous Pattern)
Press X-Y button, Lissajous Pattern will generate

Power Supply

Power Supply

All

electronic circuits need a power source

to work.
For electronic circuits made up of
transistors and/or ICs, this power source
must be a DC voltage of a specific value.
A battery is a common DC voltage source
for some types of electronic equipment
especially portables like cell phones and
iPods.
Most non-portable equipment uses power
supplies that operate from the AC power
line but produce one or more DC outputs.

What is Power Supply ?

The power supply converts

the AC into DC and provides
one or more DC output
voltages.

Some modern electronic

circuits need two or more
different voltages.

A good example of a
modern power supply is the
one inside a PC that
furnishes 12, 5, 3.3 and 1.2
volts.

A presentation of eSyst.org

Components of a Power Supply

Main

circuits in most power supplies.

A presentation of eSyst.org

Transformer

A transformer is commonly used to step the input

AC voltage level down or up. Most electronic
circuits operate from voltages lower than the AC
line voltage so the transformer normally steps the
voltage down by its turns ratio to a desired lower
level.
It steps downs the 220V A.C to 12V AC ( if 12-012 Transformer)or depends upon rating of
transformer.

A presentation of eSyst.org

Rectifier

The rectifier converts the AC sine wave into a

pulsating DC wave.

There are several forms of rectifiers used but all

are made up of diodes.

A presentation of eSyst.org

Filter

The rectifier produces a DC output but it is

pulsating rather than a constant steady value
over time like that from a battery.

A filter is used to remove the pulsations and

create a constant output.

The most common filter is a large capacitor.

A presentation of eSyst.org

Regulator

regulator is a circuit that helps

maintain a fixed or constant output voltage.
Changes in the load or the AC line voltage
will cause the output voltage to vary.
Most electronic circuits cannot withstand
the variations since they are designed to
work properly with a fixed voltage.
The regulator fixes the output voltage to
the desired level then maintains that value
despite any output or input variations.

A presentation of eSyst.org

The

DC-DC Converter

Most modern power supplies also contain one or

more DC-DC converters

Modern electronics often demand different

voltages to function.

A DC-DC converter changes one DC voltage to

another, higher or lower DC voltage.

A DC-DC converter is used with a power supply

to prevent the need for a second AC-DC supply.

A presentation of eSyst.org

Soldering and De-soldering

Applications

Electronics
Plumbing
Stained

glasswork
Jewelry
Orthodontics
71

Introduction Equipment

Solder
Joint

filler metal

Metallic

alloy

Sn/Pb
Typ.

60/40 or 63/37 mix

60/40 melts @ 374F (190C)

63/37 melts @ 364F (183C)

72

Introduction Equipment

Flux

filler metal oxides

Aids wetting process

Availability

Separate

paste

Flux-in-core

solder

73

Introduction Equipment

Soldering

Iron

Solder melting heat source

Power rating

15-35W

for electronic

work

Various tips available

Conical,

chisel types

Tip

width ~ 70-90%
contact width
74

Solder

7
5

Solder is an alloy of tin and lead.

The solder used for electronics is frequently called 60/40

solder because it is made of 63% tin and 37% lead.

60/40 solder melts at 361 F.

Soldering Iron Care &

Maintenance
Un-Tinned

soldering iron must be coated

with a thin coat of solder. This
will allow for the transfer of heat
to the work piece.

This
Tinned

7
6

The

procedure is called tinning.

tip must be kept coated

with a shiny layer of solder by
occasional wiping and applying
solder directly to the tip.

A Good Solder Joint

7
7
Smooth
Bright
Shiny
Clean
Concave
fillet

Bad Solder Connections

Too Much Solder

7
8

Too Little Solder

IC Tester