DC Multimeter

Josh Osborne

DC Multimeter Report

Dr. Alex Tugulea Engineering Project 1

Josh Osborne ITCT Year 1

Submitted: October 18, 201

DC Multimeter

Josh Osborne

Table of Contents
Table of Contents...2 List of Illustrations....3 Introduction.......4 DC Ammeter......4 Calculations.....4 Implementation5 Multisim Schematic.5 Test Results.....6 DC Voltmeter6 Calculations....6 Implementation...7 Multisim Schematic.......7 Test Results........8 DC Ohmmeter...8 Calculations....8 Implementation...9 Multisim Schematic....9 Test Results....9 DC Multimeter..9 Multimeter Schematic...10 Final Test Results..10 Conclusion.........9

DC Multimeter

Josh Osborne

List of Figures
Figure 1 Ammeter Design4 Figure 2 Ammeter Schematic..5 Figure 3 Voltmeter Design..6 Figure 4 Voltmeter Schematic.7 Figure 5 Ohmmeter Design.8 Figure 6 Ohmmeter Design.9 Figure 7 Multimeter Schematic.10 Figure 8 Ohmmeter Graph.11 Figure 9 Multimeter...11

List of Tables
Table 1 Ammeter Results.6 Table 2 Voltmeter Results...8 Table 3 Ohmmeter Results..9 Table 4 Multimeter Results10

DC Multimeter

Josh Osborne

Introduction
The Direct Current Multimeter Project is an investigation to take a 100 micro Amp DArsenal movement and use it as an Ammeter, Voltmeter and Ohmmeter. This meter movement takes a small electric current that flows across a magnetic coil, then using that current to rotate a needle displayed on a gauge. This movement can only measure a max of 100 micro Amp therefore the current must be limited in a certain fashion, in order to produce a useable Ammeter, Voltmeter and Ohmmeter. The DArsenal movement has an internal resistance of 3.699K. The first quarter of this project is dedicated to creating a single range Ammeter and Voltmeter. The second quarter will be used to expand both meters to measure a larger scale. The third quarter will be used to design and build an Ohmmeter. Finally in the last section of the project all three meters will be combined into one circuit.

DC Ammeter
The DArsenal movement only allows for a maximum current reading of 0.100 mA. In order to extend the range to the required 0 5mA and 0 10mA a resistor must be placed in parallel with the meter movement known as the shunt resistor. This resistor absorbs the remaining current that cannot be handled by the movement.
Figure 10 Ammeter Design

Rshunt Calculation Equation

Calculations 0 5mA Range

= =

DC Multimeter = 0.0754K = 75.48 0 10mA Range

Josh Osborne

= = = 0.03702K = 37.02

Implementation The implementation of the dual range ammeter requires three resistors for the 0 5mA range. A 22 , 33, and a second 33, measured with the digital multimeter at 22.37, 32.80, and 32.90 respectively. For the 0 10mA range two resistors a 39 and 3.3 resistor were used measured with the digital multimeter at 38.6 and 3.37 respectively. A double pull double throw switch will integrate the two ranges for the meter together. Multisim Schematic

Figure 11 Ammeter Schematic

DC Multimeter Test Results Table 1 Ammeter Results Range Input (mA) 0 5mA 0 10mA DArsenal Expected Reading (A) 0 50 100 0 50 100 DArsenal Actual Reading (A) 0 51 100 0 48 98 Actual Measurement (mA) 0 2.55 5 0 4.8 9.8

Josh Osborne

Percent Error (%) 0 2 0 0 4 2

0 2.5 5 0 5 10

DC Voltmeter
The DArsenal Meter Movement is also capable of measuring voltage. Much like the ammeter the DArsenal movement has a very low max voltage. In order to accomplish the required ranges of 0 1V and 0 10V, a resistor must be put in series with the movement in order to limit the amount of current passing through.
Figure 12 Voltmeter Design

Rseries Calculation Equation

Calculations 0 1V Range

DC Multimeter

Josh Osborne

0 10V Range

= 96.3K

Implementation Similar to the ammeter the voltmeter uses a double pull double throw switch to change between the 0 1V and 0 10v ranges. For the 0 1V range a 2.7K and a 3.3K resistor were used measured at 2.695K and 3.342K respectively. For the 0 10V range an 82K resistor is was used measured at 81.79K Multisim Schematic
Figure 13 Voltmeter Schematic

DC Multimeter Test Results Table 2 Voltmeter Results Range Input (V) 0 1V 0 10V DArsenal Expected Reading (A) 0 50 100 0 50 100 DArsenal Actual Reading (A) 0 47 97 0 48 98 Actual Measurement (V) 0 0.5 5 0 4.8 9.8

Josh Osborne

Percent Error (%) 0 6 3 0 4 2

0 0.5 1 0 5 10

DC Ohmmeter
When measuring resistance with a DArsenal Meter Movement 0 ohm is at full scale deflection and infinite ohm is at zero deflection.
Figure 14 Ohmmeter Design

Rseries Calculation Equation

Calculations

= 25.8K

DC Multimeter Implementation

Josh Osborne

For the ohmmeter a 22K resistor is used for the series resistor measured at 21.7K. A 1K potentiometer is used as the zero-adjust. A 3V DC voltage is provided from a power supply to power the ohmmeter

Multisim Schematic
Figure 15 Ohmmeter Design

Test Results Table 3 Ohmmeter Results Test Resistor () 1K 100K 220K 330K DArsenal Reading (A) 97 15 8 5

DC Multimeter
The DC Multimeter used a 5 position rotary switch to switch between the 2 ranges of the ammeter, the 2 ranges of the voltmeter and the ohmmeter. A double pull double throw switch is used to allow the shunt resistors of the ammeter to be placed in parallel, and for the ohmmeter to be used.

DC Multimeter
Figure 16 Multimeter Schematic

Josh Osborne

Final Test Results Table 4 Multimeter Results

Meter 0 5 mA Ammeter 0 10 mA Ammeter 0 1V Voltmeter 0 10V Voltmeter Ohmmeter Input DArsenal Expected Reading (A) 0 50 100 0 50 100 0 50 100 0 50 100 100 DArsenal Actual Reading (A) 0 50 100 0 46 96 0 46 95 0 47 99 100 Actual Measurement 0 mA 2.5 mA 5 mA 0 mA 4.6 mA 9.6 mA 0V 0.46 V 0.95 V 0V 4.7 V 9.9 V 0 Percent Error (%) 0 0 0 0 8 4 0 8 5 0 6 1 NA

0 mA 2.5 mA 5.0 mA 0 mA 5 mA 10 mA 0V 0.5 V 1V 0V 5V 10 V 0

1K 10K 47K 100K 330K 470K 1M

97 70 33 18 6 4 1

1K 10K 47K 100K 330K 470K 1M

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DC Multimeter
Figure 17 Ohmmeter Graph

Josh Osborne

120 100 Ammeter reading (A) 80 60 40 20 0 0 200000 400000 600000 Resistance () 800000 1000000 1200000

Figure 18 Multimeter

Conclusion
The DC Multimeter project was a success, both in theory and in the implementation. By designing a fully functional multimeter from basic electrical components it showed that you can measure almost any value of amp, volt or ohm with a simple 100 A DArsenal movement. The schematics were built on Multisim and tested on a breadboard.

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DC Multimeter

Josh Osborne

Every calculation and percent error was documented along the way in a log book. The errors from this meter were due to the inaccuracy of using a DArsenal movement, as well as the inconsistency of the resistors. This meter demonstrates how current day meters that use digital signals are far more accurate. From this project, knowledge has been gained on how a multimeter works and how resistors can be used to manipulate current to make other measurements.

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