

For example, in many equations, "position" and "distance" are represented by the variables "x" or "d," but they are measured in the unit meters, and the symbol for meters is m.Ī simple analogy to better understand voltage, current, and resistance: imagine water flowing through a pipe. The symbol for ohms is Ω (the capital Greek letter omega). A higher resistance means it is more difficult for electricity to flow.


If you haven't heard of these terms before, we'll give a very simple introductory explanation here. What are voltage, current, and resistance?
#NEGATIVE BLACK POSITIVE RED MANUAL#
You can read your multimeter's manual if you need to use these features. Since not all multimeters have these features, we will not cover them in this tutorial.

If your multimeter has a diode check function, read the manual to find out exactly how it works.Īdvanced multimeters might have other functions, such as the ability to measure and identify other electrical components, like transistors or capacitors. If you're working with a diode and can't tell which way it goes in the circuit, or if you're not sure the diode is working properly, the check feature can be quite handy. The exact function of the diode check can vary from multimeter to multimeter. A diode is like a one-way valve that only lets electricity flow in one direction. Some multimeters also have a diode check function. You can also use it to make sure two things are not connected, to help prevent short circuits. This is helpful if, for instance, you are building a circuit and connecting wires or soldering the beep indicates everything is connected and nothing has come loose. Some multimeters have a continuity check, resulting in a loud beep if two things are electrically connected.
#NEGATIVE BLACK POSITIVE RED HOW TO#
See the next section for an explanation of what these terms mean, and click on the Using a Multimeter tab, above, for instructions on how to make these measurements. There are many different multimeter models visit the multimeter gallery for labeled pictures of additional models.Īlmost all multimeters can measure voltage, current, and resistance. Below is a picture of a typical multimeter. Most multimeters have a knob on the front that lets you select what you want to measure. The neat thing about a multimeter is that unlike a ruler, watch, or scale, it can measure different things - kind of like a multi-tool.
