Confused when measuring current with my multimeter

Other Hardware General Electronics
1

I apologize for my ignorance. I tried to measure the current of a DC circuit by Connecting the multimeter in series with the circuit. I first set the multimeter to 10A and the results was 0.48 (see pic)
10A_setting
then I set the multimeter to 200mA and the result was 4.9 (see pic)
200ms_setting
How to understand these results? what is the real value of the current?

3

The first reading is 480mA, so you should not be measuring in the 200mA scale.

2 Likes
4

I took these pictures this morning when I was in the office. Now I am a home and I have no multimeter with me. The multimeter used is show in this picture:

multimeter
multimeter800×642 278 KB

5

According to the pictures, you didn't move the positive lead from the 10A connector to the mA connector when you switched from the 10A range to the 200mA range.

6

I didn't

7

How much current are you expecting?

It looks like you need to move the probe for the 200mA measurement. But you don't want excess current for the scale. ...Blown current fuses are pretty common in meters.

8

I have no idea about the expected current because I was trying some old solar panels that some of them were almost dead.

9

Your meter current ranges:

  1. Connect the red test lead to the "V.Q.mA" jack and the black test lead to "COM" jack. (For measurements between 200mA and l0 A, remove red lead to "1O A" jack.)
  2. Set the rotary switch at' desired DCA position.
  3. Open the circuit in which the current is to be measured. and connect test leads in series with the circuit
  4. Read .current value on LCD display along with the polarity of red lead connection.

Measuring current your meter measures in series with your load. Anytime the current is unknown start with the highest range, on your meter the 10 Amp range.

DC CURRENT
Range Resolution Accuracy_
200 uA 0 .1~uA ±1% of rdg ± 2 digits
2 mA 1.0 uA ±1% of rdg ± 2 digits
20 mA 10 uA ±1% of rdg ± 2 digits
200 mA 100 uA ±1.5% of rdg 2 digits
10 A 10 mA ±3% of rdg ± 2 digits

The 10 Amp range is not fused!

Ron

10

If you put the meter in a 480mA circuit set on the 200mA range, you probably blew the fuse, check that.

11

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