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2 EXERCISE TITLE: The DC Ohmmeter

OBJECTIVES
1. To measure resistance by using a basic meter movement.
2. To verify ohmmeter operation by measuring known resistor values.

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
1 F.A.C.E.T Base unit
1 DC FUNDAMENTALS Circuit Board
2 15 Vdc Power Supply
1 DC Milliammeter Module
1 Multimeter

THEORY

The ohmmeter is one of the most useful measuring instruments in electronics. With it, you
can measure component or circuit resistance without applying power in the circuit. You can also
check continuity or short and open circuits, and you can measure resistance. Although the
pointer of the ohmmeter is deflected by current, the meter scale is normally marked off in ohms.

An ohmmeter measures resistance indirectly by measuring the current that flows through
a series circuit. If the voltage is held constant, then by Ohms law the current will be inversely
proportional to the resistance. The ohmmeter has an internal battery that supplies this current.
An ohms adjust variable resistor adjusts the current flow of the battery. After use, the battery
starts to age and its output decreases; therefore, you should adjust the ohmmeter for 0 ohms
prior to your making measurements.

Figure 1.2-1 shows a basic ohmmeter circuit and a resistor that is to be measured

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 The circuit is made up of a 10V battery, meter movement, calibration resistor (RCAL), and
scale resistor (RSCALE). The circuit is closed when the two leads are shorter together or when
the meter is connected to the unknown resistance (RX).

When the leads are shorter together, current flows through the test leads, RSCALE, RCAL,
and the 1 mA meter movement. Because IM equals 1 mA and the battery equals 10V, the
internal resistance of the circuit equals 10 kilo-ohms ( R1 = RM + RCAL + RSCALE ), calculated as
shown.

R1 = VA / IT
R1 = 10 / 0.001
R1 = 10,000 ohms (10 kilo-ohms)

Rheostat RCAL adjusts the full scale deflection to 0 ohms. Figure 1.2-2 illustrates the
calibration on a typical ohmmeter scale. In the figure, the top scale is calibrated for ohms. The
full-scale deflection ( 1 mA for this meter movement ) occurs at 1 mA. This point is the external
zero ohm or short circuit indication point. In addition, the ohms scale is nonlinear.

Figure 1.2-3 Example of ohm's scale calibration

You can calibrate this ohmmeter scale by using the formula below, where RX is the value
to be marked on the top part of the scale, VA is the applied voltage, IT is the total current
through the ohmmeter (shown in the lower part of the scale), and R1 is the total internal
resistance of the ohmmeter circuit (RM + RCAL + RSCALE).

RX = ( VA / IT ) - R1

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 For example, suppose an ohmmeter uses a 1.5V battery and a meter that requires 0.5
mA for a full-scale deflection. A current of 0.5 mA must flow when the meter leads are shorted.
The total internal resistance is calculated as follows.

R1 = VA / IM
R1 = 1.5V / 0.0005 A
R1 = 3,000 ohms

If you connect this meter across an unknown resistance that allows a current flow of 0.45
mA, you can determine the scale position of the pointer from the following formula.

RX = ( VA / IT ) - R1
RX = ( 1.5V / 0.00045 ) - 3,000
RX = 33,333.33 - 3,000
RX = 30,333.33 ohms

In another example using the same meter circuit, you can determine the scale positions
for an unknown resistor that allows a current flow of only 0.0001 A ( 0.1 mA ) as follows.

RX = ( 1.5 / 0.0001 ) - 3,000

RX = 15,000 - 3,000
RX = 12,000 ohms

This process, demonstrated by Figure 1.2-3, will help you to calculate a specific ohmic
value for any point on the meter scale. Multimeter manufacturers use this formula to produce
the ohmmeter scale markings you see on your VOM.

The scale of the ohmmeter is opposite to the scales of the ammeter and the voltmeter in
the ohmmeter has 0 ohms at the right and high resistance at the left. This type of scale is
sometimes called a back-off scale. When the test leads are open, the meter reads the maximum
resistance or infinity. When an unknown resistance is measured, the value falls between infinity
and 0 ohm. The scale is expanded at the right and is very crowded at the left. This nonlinear
scale results from the Ohm's law inverse proportion relationship between current and
resistance, with voltage being held constant.

Refer to Figure 1.2-4. If a 10 kilo-ohm resistor is being measured, the pointer will be at half-
scale because the unknown resistor (RX) is placed in series with the 10 kilo-ohm internal
resistance (R1 = VA / IM ). The total resistance (RT) is 20 kilo-ohm ( R1 + RX ). The current
flowing through the meter is 0.5 mA ( VA / RT = 10 / 20,000 = 0.0005 A ). With 0.5 mA flowing
through a 1 mA meter movement, the pointer is deflected to half-scale.

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 Figure 1.2-4 Basic ohmmeter circuit

Figure 1.2-5 shows a schematic for the OHMS circuit on the VOLTMETER / AMMETER /
OHMMETER circuit block of the DC FUNDAMENTALS circuit board. The circuit consists of a
variable power source adjusted to +10 Vdc, three fixed resistors (R5, R6 and R7), a variable
resistor (R8) that acts as the zero adjust, and connections for the multiammeter. Resistor R5 is
the scale resistor that sets the range of the ohmmeter. Resistors R6 and R7 simulate resistors of
unknown value and will be measured by the ohmmeter.

Figure 1.2-5 Ohmmeter connection circuit

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 The leads used to connect the meter to the circuit are the meter test leads. The positive
lead should be connected at the top of the mA symbol. When the negative lead is connected to
R5, use R8 to adjust the meter to 0 ohm. Measure R6 and R7 by moving the negative meter lead
to the test point at the respective resistor.

NOTE: In this procedure, you will use the basic dc milliammeter configured for an ohmmeter
application. Figure 1.2-6 shows the ohms scale. You will record calculations for the
ohmic values related to 0.1 mA through 0.9 mA in Table 1.2-1

Figure 1.2-6 Ohmmeter scale calibration

PROCEDURES:
1. Turn off the power sources. Insert the DC FUNDAMENTALS circuit board into the base
unit. Turn on the power sources. Do not apply power to the OHMS circuit at this time.

2. Adjust the positive supply to +10 Vdc at the VOLTMETER / AMMETER / OHMMETER
circuit block.

3. Connect the meter into the circuit with the positive lead at the top of the mA symbol and
the negative led at the R5 test point, as shown in Figure 1.2-7

Figure 1.2-7 Ohmmeter zero adjust connection

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4. Calculate the value of R8 that is required for a full-scale reading
[ R8 = RT (RM + R5) ]

NOTE: A total resistance of 10kohms is needed for a full-scale meter current of 1 mA

R8 = 1280 ohms 10,0000 (2,300 + 6420) = 1280

5. Using a DMM, adjust R8 to the value you calculated in step 4. Use the VOLTS or AMPS
circuit to directly read the ohmic value of R8.

NOTE: Be sure the OHMS circuit is not energized.

6. Energize the OHMS circuit with a two-post connector. Is the meter pointer at full scale?

No

7. Using the formula RX = (VA / IT) RI, complete Table 1.2-1. Enter your values in kiloohms.

NOTE: IT = the desired current reading between 0 and 1 mA full-scale. RT = VA / IT

TOTAL INTERNAL UNKNOWN

CURRENT RESISTANCE RESISTANCE RESISTANCE
IN mA RT R1 RX
0.1 100 kiloohms 2,300 97,700
0.2 50 kiloohms 2,300 47,700
0.3 33.33 x 10^3 2,300 31,033.33
0.4 25 kiloohms 2,300 22,700
0.5 20 kiloohms 2,300 17,700
0.6 16.67 x 10^3 2,300 14,366.67
0.7 14.29 x 10^3 2,300 11,985.71
0.8 12,500 ohms 2,300 10,200
0.9 11.11 x 10^3 2,300 8,811.11

Table 1.2-1 Ohmmeter calibration

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8. Move the negative meter lead to R6. Based on the meter deflection, record the value of
current and the value of R6 for Table 1.2-1

NOTE: R6 acts as an unknown resistor

IR6 = 0.01 mA ; R6 = 997.7 kiloohms

9. Is the scale calibrated to provide a 10 kiloohms indication for a 0.5 mA circuit current?

Yes

10.Move the negative meter lead to R7. Based on the scale calibration and Table 1.2-1,
what is the value of R7?

Note: The reading may be difficult to determine due to the area of the meter scale used.
However, this demonstrates how a typical analog ohmmeter would function for
these conditions of scale and value.

R7 = 14.89 kiloohms

11. Turn off the power sources and remove all circuit board connections.

CONCLUSIONS:

Write at least three (3) conclusions for this exercise.

1. The purpose of the resistor in the experiment is to limit the voltage and current in the
circuit.

2. Resistance was a great help to lower some voltages when it is accidentally

increased.

3. An ohmmeter measures resistance indirectly by measuring the current that flows

through a series circuit.

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REVIEW QUESTIONS:

Encircle the letter of the best answer.

1. An ohms adjust rheostat is usually a part of the internal resistance of an ohmmeter to

compensate for

a. large variations in meter movement resistance

b. ohms scale errors during manufacture
c. variations in ohmmeter supply voltage
d. current variations when small values of resistors are measured

2. What is the current flow through a series ohmmeter when it indicates zero
resistance?

a. maximum
b. minimum
c. halfway between minimum and maximum
d. none of the above

3. The total internal resistance of an ohmmeter having a 1.5V internal battery and using
a 0-1 mA meter movement would be

a. 3,000 ohm
b. 2,500 ohm
c. 2,300 ohm
d. 1,500 ohm

4. If you used the ohmmeter from question 3 and an unknown resistor caused the
pointer to go to half-scale, the value of the unknown resistor would be

a. 2,500 ohm
b. 2,300 ohm
c. 1,500 ohm
d. 500 ohm

5. When using an ohmmeter, you should disconnect the applied voltage from the circuit
being checked because

a. the voltage source increases the resistance

b. the current decreases the resistance
c. the ohmmeter has its own internal battery
d. no current is needed for the meter movement

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