Experience Approaches in Physics (II)

Digital Multimeter and a Power Supply

Group: A1
Name: 黃昱綸 B122035009
Editor: 曹安旭 B122035008
Professor: 洪昇廷
Date: 3/4
I. Objectives
⚫ To be familiar with the function and usage of a digital multimeter and a
power supply.
⚫ To learn how to read the resistor color codes and calculate the resistor’s
power.
⚫ To learn the basic principle behind the Wheatstone Bridge and use it to
calculate electrical resistance.

II. Principle
1. Multimeter
A multimeter is an instrument that combines a
galvanometer, a voltage multiplier, a current divider, a
rectifier, and a battery.

2. Voltage Multiplier
The voltmeter is formed by connecting an
ammeter and a resistor with a very large
resistance in series. This combination is
connected in parallel with the circuit element
to be tested. Therefore, the resistance of the
voltmeter is very large. According to Ohm's
law in parallel circuits, it is known that the
current is inversely proportional to the
resistance. Therefore, the current passing through the voltmeter is very small,
preventing the ammeter from being damaged. The displayed voltage is obtained
proportionally and does not represent the actual current.

If a voltmeter with resistance R V is connected in series with a variable resistor

with resistance R M to form a system, as shown in Figure 2, and it is known that
the potential difference across the two ends is V0 , then the current passing
through this system is
VM VV VM R M
I= = , =
RM RV VV R V
Add one at both the left- and right-hand sides, respectively,
VM + VV R M + R V
=
VV RV
And then we assume a voltage called V0 which symbolize:
 VM + VV = V0
Use the symbol in the formula:
V0 R M + R V
= .
VV RV
We can assume a constant n which is:
RM + RV
V0 = . VV = nVV
RV
Then we can get its meaning:
RM + RV
n=
RV
And the value of RM:
R M = (n − 1) R V

Hence if the resistance R M of the multiplier is (n-1) times the resistance R V of

the voltmeter, the voltmeter can measure the voltage up to n times the
maximum scale.

3. Current Divider
A current divider is a precise resistor
capable of passing high currents. When
a current flows through the shunt
resistor, a millivolt-level voltage appears
across its terminals. This voltage is then
measured using a millivoltmeter, and
the measured voltage is converted back
to current, thereby completing the
measurement of high current.

When an ammeter with resistance R A is connected in series with a variable

resistor with resistance R S , as shown in Figure 3, this system is called a current
divider. At this time, when a current flows into this system, the ratio of the
currents that been through the resistance and the ammeter is
Is R A
=
IA R S
Since:
Is = I − IA
We can get the other definition:
 I − IA R A I RA
= , −1=
IA RS IA RS
We can organize our equations and assume a constant n:
RA + RS
I= . IA = nIA
RS
Then we can obtain the value of Rs
1
RS = R
n−1 A

1
Therefore, if the resistant of the current divider is times the resistance of
n−1

the ammeter, the ammeter can measure the current n times its maximum scale.

4. DC Voltmeter
Figure 4 illustrates the combination of a multiplier with
switchable resistors. M can be regarded as a voltmeter.
In the circuit, by connecting M in parallel with resistors
R1, R2, R3, etc., M can measure evenly divided
voltages.

5. DC Ammeter
Figure 5 shows the switchable resistors used in the
current divider. M can be regarded as an ammeter.
Connecting M and various resistors in parallel results
in ammeters with different measurable ranges. The
scales of the measured current are also equally
divided.

6. Alternating Current (AC) Voltmeter

AC voltmeters are designed in a manner so that they can measure the AC
voltage under measurement.
7. Breadboard
Purpose: Measure the characteristics of a circuit and
verify its functionality
Red Area: the entire column of positive and negative
terminals is connected
Blue and Green Area: each row in the direction of the
arrow is connected, but the two adjacent rows are not
connected.

8. Read the Resistance Color Code

As the picture mentioned, we can get the resistant value by observing the color
code:
 9. Wheatstone Bridge
The Wheatstone Bridge is an electric circuit used to
measure the unknown resistance by using the known
resistance. As Figure 10 shows, when no current flows
through galvanometer G:
𝑖1 = 𝑖2 , 𝑖3 = 𝑖4
Not only the current but the voltage are the same:
𝑣𝐴𝐶 = 𝑣𝐶𝐵, 𝑣𝐴𝐷 = 𝑣𝐷𝐵
After that, we can use the function V=IR:
𝑖1 𝑅1 = 𝑖3 𝑅3, 𝑖2 𝑅2 = 𝑖4 𝑅4
Then, we can do some division:
𝑅1 𝑅3
=
𝑅2 𝑅4
And we can get the R1:
𝑅3
𝑅1 = 𝑅2
𝑅4

III. Procedure & To-Do List

Determining the resistance
1. Get the measured value using the multimeter
⚫ Turn the multimeter to resistance mode and adjust it to the maximum
range
⚫ Connect the V/Ω terminal and the COM terminal to the two ends of
the resistor
⚫ gradually lower the range until the resistance value can be measured.
⚫ Measure and record the resistance value.
2. Utilize the resistor color code information to determine the value of the
resistor
3. Compare it with the measured value to see if it falls within the tolerance
range of the resistor
⚫ You can use the website Digikey for efficient referencing

Measurement with constant voltage output

4. Prepare
⚫ Connect the circuit to the breadboard as shown in Figure 11(a)
⚫ Select a color code resistor according to the specifications of the LED.
Use the formula P=VI to calculate the power that the color code
 resistor can withstand. You can adjust the current magnitude in the
circuit using a variable resistor.
⚫ Connect the V/Ω terminal and the COM terminal of the multimeter to
both ends of the LED light and adjust the selector switch to the
highest measurement range of DCV.
⚫ The output mode of the power supply must be constant voltage (C.V.)
mode. Set the output to a constant 10V. The output current must not
exceed 0.5A.
⚫ The variable resistor is used to set up a voltage divider. The connection
method of the variable resistor should follow the rule of clockwise
rotation to increase voltage.
5. Decrease the measurement range of the multimeter, and measure the
voltage and current magnitude when the LED lights up.
6. Two ways to test the circuit current
⚫ Current Measure: Select DCA 10A on the multimeter, then connect the
COM and 10A terminals in series and gradually lower the range if 10A
terminal is too high. Follow the connection shown on Figure 11(b)
⚫ Voltage Measure: Connect an appropriate resistor in series to the
circuit. Measure the voltage difference across the resistor and use V/R
to calculate the magnitude of the current. Before connecting the
resistor, ensure to estimate if the resistor can withstand the power
generated by the current, i.e., I^2 * R must be less than 1/4 Watt.
Follow the connection shown on Figure 11(c)
7. Replace LED of different specifications and repeat Steps 1 ~ 3

Measuring with constant current

 8. Set up the circuit as illustrated in
Figure 12
⚫ Connect the multimeter’s
10A and COM terminals to
the circuit in series. Adjust
the selector switch to the
highest measurement range
of DCA
⚫ The output mode of the
power supply must be set to
C.C
9. Turn on the power supply, output a current, and adjust to control the
magnitude of the output current and use the multimeter to measure the
current flowing through the fuse as the connection shown on Figure 11(b)
10. Adjust the output current of the power supply until the fuse burns out, and
record the current value

Wheatstone Bridge
11. Interpret the circuit in Figure 10 and connect it to the breadboard
⚫ R3 and R4 use known color-coded resistors.
⚫ R2 uses a variable resistor.
⚫ Connect the mA port and COM terminal in
series to the circuit to serve as a
galvanometer (G)
⚫ Adjust the selector switch to the highest
measurement range of DCA
12. Ask TA whether the circuit is correct or not
13. Output voltage from the power supply
⚫ The voltage must not exceed 5V
⚫ The current must not exceed 0.5A
14. Change the resistance value of R2 until the current reading is zero
⚫ This means that the current flowing through the multimeter is zero
15. Record the resistance value of the variable resistor and calculate the
unknown resistance
16. Change the unknown resistor and repeat Steps 1 ~ 2

IV. Tables and Figures

V. Reference

https://www.digikey.tw/zh/resources/conversion-

calculators/conversion-calculator-resistor-color-code