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Multimeter

What's a Multimeter

A multimeter is an electronic tool used to measure various electrical properties such as voltage, current, resistance, capacitance and frequency. It is used to measure voltage and current values at various points in a circuit that can be used for analysis of the electrical circuits and help in troubleshooting.

How to use it

  • Open the PSLab app.
  • Navigate to the Multimeter option on the home screen.
  • Select the type of measurement needed:
    • Voltage
    • Frequency
    • Clock Pulses
    • Resistance
    • Capacitance

Multimeter Screen

  • For measuring voltage, use:

    • CH1 (16.5V to -16.5V)
    • CH2 (16.5V to -16.5V)
    • CH3 (3.3V to -3.3V)
    • VOL (3.3V to -3.3V)
    • CAP (Voltage Measurement on CAP)

  • For measuring frequency (Up to 4 MHz) or clock pulses:

    • Logic Analyzer 1 (LA1)
    • Logic Analyzer 2 (LA2)
    • Logic Analyzer 3 (LA3)
    • Logic Analyzer 4 (LA4)

  • For measuring capacitance:

    • -| (- (pF to uF range)

  • For measuring resistance:

    • Ω

Important Features

  • Multimeter Configuration:

    • The update period can be selected.
    • The location data can be included in logged files.

  • Logged data:

    • It stores the logs of the data collected by the multimeter for later analysis.

Experiment: Measuring Voltage (check your battery)

Battery

Goal

Measure the voltage of a battery using PSLab.

Materials Required

  • Your Phone or Computer
  • The PSLab App installed
  • Battery (1.5V)

Procedure

Measure Voltage

  1. Open the PSLab app.
  2. Select the Multimeter option.
  3. The app will display various Multimeter options:
  4. Voltage
  5. Hz
  6. Count Pulse
  7. Measure
  8. Choose VOL in Voltage.
  9. Connect the voltage and ground terminals of the battery to the VOL and GND pins respectively using connecting wires.
  10. The voltage is displayed and stored in the logs if the option is selected by the user.

Observations

  • The reading of the Multimeter starts increasing as the battery is connected.
  • The PSLab successfully measures the battery voltage.

Conclusion

The PSLab accurately measures the battery voltage.

Experiment: Measuring Resistance

Resistor

Goal

Measure the resistance of a resistor using PSLab.

Materials Required

  • Your Phone or Computer
  • The PSLab App installed
  • Resistor (220 Ω)

Procedure

Measure Resistance

  1. Open the PSLab app.
  2. Select the Multimeter option.
  3. The app will display various Multimeter options:
  4. Voltage
  5. Hz
  6. Count Pulse
  7. Measure
  8. Choose Ω in Measure.
  9. Connect the end terminals of the resistor to the RES and GND pins respectively using connecting wires.
  10. The Resistance is displayed and stored in the logs if the option is selected by the user.

Observations

  • The value of the resistor is displayed on the multimeter screen.
  • The PSLab successfully measures the resistance value.

Conclusion

The PSLab accurately measures the resistance of the resistor.

Experiment: Measuring Capacitance

Capacitor

Goal

Measure capacitance using PSLab.

Materials Required

  • Your Phone or Computer
  • The PSLab App installed
  • Capacitor (110 pF)

Procedure

Measure Capacitance

  1. Open the PSLab app.
  2. Select the Multimeter option.
  3. The app will display various Multimeter options:
  4. Voltage
  5. Hz
  6. Count Pulse
  7. Measure
  8. Choose -| (- in Measure.
  9. Connect the terminals of the capacitor to the CAP and GND pins respectively using connecting wires.
  10. The Capacitance is displayed and stored in the logs if the option is selected by the user.

Observations

  • The value of the capacitor is displayed on the multimeter screen.
  • The PSLab successfully measures the capacitance.

Conclusion

The PSLab accurately measures the capacitance of the capacitor.

Experiment: Measuring Frequency

555 Timer

Goal

Measure the frequency of a 555 timer using PSLab.

Materials Required

  • Your Phone or Computer
  • The PSLab App installed
  • 555 timer board (6.86 kHz)

Procedure

Measure Frequency

  1. Open the PSLab app.
  2. Select the Multimeter option.
  3. The app will display various Multimeter options:
  4. Voltage
  5. Hz
  6. Count Pulse
  7. Measure
  8. Choose LA1 in Hz.
  9. Connect the voltage and ground terminals of the 555 timer board to Logic Analyzer 1 (LA1) and GND respectively using connecting wires.
  10. The Frequency is displayed and stored in the logs if the option is selected by the user.

Observations

  • The frequency value is displayed on the multimeter screen.
  • The PSLab successfully measures the frequency.

Conclusion

The PSLab accurately measures the frequency of the 555 timer board.