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Difficulty: MediumMultimeter: Voltage and Current Measurement

An electronics student is preparing to measure an unknown DC voltage across a circuit load using a digital multimeter. Arrange the following steps in the correct sequence to perform this measurement safely and accurately from first to last.

  1. 1Insert the black test lead into the COM jack and the red test lead into the V/Ω jack.
  2. 2Rotate the selector switch to the highest available DC voltage (DCV) range.
  3. 3Touch the probe tips in parallel across the load while the circuit is energized.
  4. 4Step down the selector switch to a lower range to obtain the most accurate reading.

Answer

1. Insert the black test lead into the COM jack and the red test lead into the V/Ω jack. 2. Rotate the selector switch to the highest available DC voltage (DCV) range. 3. Touch the probe tips in parallel across the load while the circuit is energized. 4. Step down the selector switch to a lower range to obtain the most accurate reading.
To measure DC voltage safely, the technician must first install the leads into the COM and V/Ω terminals, set the selector switch to the highest DCV range to prevent overload damage, place the probe tips across the load in parallel, and finally reduce the range selector to achieve maximum measurement resolution.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Plug the black test lead into the COM terminal and the red lead into the V/Ω terminal.
The meter is configured for high input impedance.
Connecting to the high-impedance voltage terminals prevents short circuits and protects internal circuitry.
2
Set the rotary function switch to direct current voltage (DCV) at the highest scale.
The meter is protected against potential over-voltage conditions.
When the circuit potential is unknown, starting on the highest range prevents meter overload.
3
Place the probe tips in parallel across the component under test while the circuit operates.
The display registers the potential difference across the load.
A voltmeter must always be connected in parallel with the component being measured.
4
Lower the selector dial range until the measurement fills the display scale.
The reading achieves maximum resolution and accuracy.
Stepping down to the closest range above the measured value yields the greatest number of significant digits.

Key Concept

Digital multimeter setup, probe placement, and range selection for DC voltage measurements.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Multimeter: Voltage and Current Measurement

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