Multimeters made by Cen-Tech all have the same instructions of use. It makes it easier to use so that each new model won’t be too complicated. One multimeter from Cen-Tech has the same functions and navigation with the same tasks of testing AC and DC voltages and efficiently performing a test on batteries and transistors.
Here’s a guide on how to use a digital multimeter and its functions by Cen-Tech.
Contents
What is Digital Multimeter?
In simple terms, a digital multimeter is a type of testing tool which you can use to test several electrical values like current, Resistance, and Voltage. The quantity measured will then be displayed on a screen, and that’s how a digital multimeter works.
One advantage the digital multimeter has over the analog multimeter is that it has a more accurate and readable digital screen. So, when using a digital multimeter, you can eliminate errors due to parallax.
Moreover, in a modern digital multimeter, you will find a type of computer system that will offer you features that make measuring electrical values easier, such as graphical representation, auto polarity, auto-ranging.
Some modern digital multimeter gives you the flexibility to interface it with a personal computer via USB or any other instrument bus. This interface allows you to record the measurements made on your personal computer.
Some digital multimeters can store measurements and upload them on your PC later.
Features of Digital Cen-Tech multimeter
Different Cen-Tech multimeter comes with several features of which you will find very helpful in different scenarios. Here are the most common features you are most likely to find in a digital Cen-Tech multimeter:
Battery-Operated
Cen-Tech modern digital multimeter features a removable battery, mostly a 9V battery. A digital Cen-Tech multimeter cannot function without a battery.
Moreover, since the Cen-Tech digital tester has a display, it wouldn’t work without a battery. Some Cen-Tech digital multimeters have a backlit, powered by the battery.
Fuse Protection
Fuse is another crucial component of the Cen-Tech upgraded digital multimeter. We know a fuse is set to break when a certain level of current is exceeded, and that is what a fuse does in the Cen-Tech digital multimeter.
The fuse will also cut at an instantaneous high current, thereby protecting the Cen-Tech from damage.
LCD Digital Screen
Another feature of the Cen-Tech digital multimeter is the digital screen. With the screen’s help, you can use this multimeter to measure a specific electrical value accurately to the first decimal place in most cases.
Some Cen-Tech LCD screens have backlit, which allows you to take readings in low-light rooms.
Selection Knob
With the selection knob’s help, you can set the multimeter to measure a specific electrical value. Irrespective of what you want to measure, be it AC or DC, use the knob to set it appropriately before any test.
Be sure to use the right electrical value for the proper testing to prevent burns or electric shocks.
Ports for Banana Head Probes
Most Cen-Tech high tech multimeters come with multiple ports where you can plug in the probes. The flexibility of the ports allows you to be able to plug in different types of Probes. Often, you would find two or more ports for the black and red wire.
Frequently, you would find that each port has a design that can accommodate banana head probes.
Auto-Ranging
With the Cen-Tech digital multimeter’s auto-ranging feature, the multimeter will always select the correct range for the quantity under test. So your displayed result will always be the most significant digits of the value you’re measuring.
For instance, if your Cen-Tech digital circuit checker is a four-digit multimeter, it would automatically select an appropriate range to display on measuring an electrical value.
So if you measure a voltage rather than the multimeter displaying 0.029V, it would instead display 29.34 mV.
Getting Ready to Use the Multimeter
Note the main selector wheel on the front of the multimeter. Use this wheel to select the function you need and the sensitivity of the measurement you’re going to make. You’ll notice three jack inputs arranged in a vertical line on the bottom right.
They are marked – from top to bottom – 10ADC, VΩmA, and COM. The meter comes with a pair of leads, one black, and one red, that fit into these jacks. On the left side, you’ll see a multipin transistor /hFE jack for testing transistors. You’ll also see an On/Off button. Turn this on to activate the LED display.
Measuring Voltage and Current
To measure AC voltage, rotate the selector to point to 750 in the AC voltage section (ACV) at the top. Plug the red lead into the jack marked VΩmA, and the black lead into the jack marked COM. Touch the leads to the exposed wires of the circuit you are testing and note the reading. If it is less than 250 volts, turn the selector to the 250 settings in the AC voltage section to get a more accurate reading.
To measure DC voltage, leave the red lead in the jack marked VΩmA and the black lead in the jack marked COM and turn the dial counterclockwise to the 1000 setting in the DC voltage section (DCV). Take the reading by touching the leads to the exposed circuit wires.
If the reading is less than 200, move the dial to that setting. If the reading is less than 20, move the dial to that setting. Keep turning the dial as needed, all the way to 200 mV if necessary, to get the most accurate reading.
To measure current, switch the red lead to the 10 ADC jack and leave the black one in the COM jack. Turn the dial to the 10 amp (10A) area, make sure the meter is on, touch the leads to the exposed circuit wires and note the reading.
If it’s below 0.2 amps, turn off the meter, place the red lead into the VmA jack and turn the dial one position counterclockwise to the 220m setting in the DC amp (DCA) area. Turn on the meter and take another reading. Continue turning the dial counterclockwise – all the way to 200 µ if necessary – to increase the reading accuracy.
How to Use a Cen-Tech Digital Multimeter to Check Voltage?
Here are five steps that make using the CenTech digital multimeter to check Voltage in AC or DC:
Step 1: Safety
Safety is an essential part of using a multimeter. You need to consider that electricity can be hazardous, and if care is not taken, it can lead to severe injuries or even death.
So, when using a Cen-Tech digital multimeter to check for Voltage, ensure you observe the general safety precaution. Furthermore, inspect the multimeter to ensure it is in good working condition, such as the probe.
Ensure the probes are well insulated so that you would not come in contact with the current directly. Lastly, make sure you use the right function of the multimeter for the right purpose.
For example, do not set your multimeter to the DC voltage when you want to measure AC voltage.
Step 2: Rotate Selector to AC or DC Voltage
To set the function of the multimeter to measure an electrical value, use the selection knob. In this case, where we would measure Voltage, turn the selection knob to either AC voltage or DC voltage as the case may be.
Use the section that has a V with a straight line to measure DC voltage. Likewise, use the part that has a V with a wavy line to measure AC. DC voltage is Voltage observed in batteries, while AC voltage is the one supplied to our home sockets.
A typical Cen-Tech digital multimeter can measure Voltages within the range of 200mV to 1000V DC or 2V to 700V AC.
Step 3: Plug the probes.
At this stage, plug in the probes to the ports on the Cen-Tech multimeter. There are different ports on the multimeter, sometimes three or four, used for measuring various parameters.
In measuring Voltage, we would be using just two ports, labeled COM (Common) and V/Ω/Hz. Plug the red wire to the port labeled V/Ω/Hz, and the black wire to the port tagged COM.
Although you will still get the same value if you twist these wires, it would be the negative counterpart.
Step 4: Check Voltage
Now that you have made all the necessary adjustments, all you have to do is connect the probes on the live and neutral wire for AC voltage testing.
If you are testing a DC voltage, connect the black probe to the battery’s negative terminal and the red probe to the cell’s positive terminal. Note that nothing terrible will happen when you twist the black wire with the red wire.
Your voltage reading will become a negative number of the actual result if you switch it by mistake. This negativity is because a multimeter measures the Voltage of a live wire to the Common (COM) port.
Step 5: Taking your reading
At this stage, your reading will be displayed on the screen. Depending on the Cen-Tech multimeter model, you have, but most often, you would get your result in three or four significant figures.
If the result on your screen is zero, there is no voltage is in the wire.
In conclusion, using a Cen-Tech digital multimeter to measure Voltage is straightforward once you have a good grasp of how it works. With the CenTech digital multimeter, troubleshooting an electronic device has become so direct.
And the ability of the Cen-Tech digital multimeter to measure different electric values makes it even more useful. So, if you are an electrical enthusiast, the Cen-Tech multimeter is a pretty decent multimeter to buy if you are thinking about getting one.