Purkeys has produced a video for heavy-duty technicians providing guidance for how to use all the functions of a multimeter, including the voltmeter.
According to Purkeys, multimeters combine multiple electrical measurement functions into one portable unit. These instruments measure voltage, current, and resistance to detect or diagnose electrical issues.
One of the most commonly used functions of a multimeter is the voltmeter.
The voltmeter is the function of a multimeter that allows technicians to measure voltage drop. Purkeys says using a voltmeter on all the parts of a circuit lets technicians find the place where the flow of power is impeded, and thus where the voltage drop occurs.
To correctly use a voltmeter, Purkeys says technicians must understand what is being measured and what the measurement should be. The voltmeter can take measurements throughout a circuit and tell technicians the difference in voltage between two points.
In the above below, Larry Rambeaux, Purkeys national truck and fleet sales representative, uses a voltmeter to test a complete circuit to find voltage drop.
Purkeys says the main point to remember when using a voltmeter to find voltage drop is that there is no voltage drop without flowing current. The circuit has to be energized with a load to use a voltmeter to diagnose any electrical issues related to voltage drop.
