Different Types Of Testers And Meters Used In Electrical Measurements
Electrical measurement is a method, device, and calculations used to measure electrical quantities. Measurement of electrical quantities is done to measure the electrical parameters of a system.
Transducers, physical properties including temperature, pressure, flow, force, and many other factors are converted to electrical signals, which, can further be conveniently measured and recorded.
Several industries need accurate readings when it comes to electrical gadgets and electrical measurements.
This article will look at the different types of testers and meters used in electrical measurements.
What Are Some Measurable Electrical Quantities?
Voltage, electric current, electrical resistance & electrical conductance, electrical reactance susceptance, magnetic flux, electrical charge using an electrometer, partial discharge measurement, a magnetic field of hall sensor, electric field, electrical power by the means of electricity meter, S-matrix by the means of a network analyzer, and electrical power spectrum by the means of spectrum analyzer are some of the measurable electrical quantities.
What Are Electrical Measurement Tools Used For?
Technicians require electrical measurement tools to check the electrical activity and to detect the presence of voltage or current. They are mostly used in the testing of electrical and electronic applications.
Usually, you will find electrical measurement tools like multimeters or clamp meters clubbed together in a HVAC tool kit set along with other tools like pressure gauges, leak detectors, vacuum pumps, smart digital manifolds with Bluetooth, etc.
Basically, all these tools come under measuring instruments and are useful to technicians and engineers in almost every sector.
Different Types Of Testers And Meters Used In Electrical
Measurements
This article will specifically talk about multimeters, clamp meters, and voltage testers.
Multimeters
A multimeter is a measuring device that is able to measure multiple electrical properties.
Multimeters can measure voltage, resistance, and current.
It is also known as a volt-ohm-milliammeter, as the unit is equipped with a voltmeter, ammeter, and ohmmeter functionality.
Nowadays you will find digital multimeters which act as a test tool that can be used to measure electrical values, particularly voltage, current, and resistance.
It is considered to be a standard diagnostic tool for experts in the electrical or electronic industries.
It is basically known as a volt-ohm meter as it is used to measure electrical voltage, current, resistance, and other values.
Multimeters are made in analog and digital versions. They are helpful in simple tests, such as:
-Measuring battery voltage
-Detecting faults and complex diagnostics
-Used by electricians for troubleshooting electrical problems on motors, appliances, circuits, power supplies, and wiring systems
Clamp Meters
A clamp meter, also known as a current probe, is an electrical device used in electrical and electronic engineering. It is a device with jaws that open to allow clamping around an electrical conductor. It looks like a clothespin-shaped tool that is clamped around a wire to measure the current the wire is carrying.
As seen above, a multimeter needs to be inserted within a series of circuits under measurement, which most of the time requires to be cut first. Whereas, clamp meters with Bluetooth are more advanced tools. They are
able to measure the current flowing in the wire around which they have been clamped with the help of the magnetic field generated by the current.
In simple terms, they can measure the current flowing to a machine or electronic device right during the operation is taking place.
Clamp meters are classified in a number of variants, but they can be classified in terms of what they measure as follows:
DC measurement, AC measurement, Leakage current measurement, Starting current measurement, voltage measurement continuity checks, resistance measurement, diode measurement, Capacitance measurement, and temperature measurement are some of the factors you can measure with a clamp meter.
Of course, there is no single clamp meter that can measure all of these parameters.
Therefore, you will need to choose the best clamp meter for your specific application.
Voltage Testers
A voltage tester is a simple tool that measures the flow of electrical current when you place it at two points in the circuit. It includes a tiny neon bulb equipped with two insulated wires that are attached to the bottom.
Voltage testers work when the current is turned on and determine if or not the current is flowing through a wire.
It is also helpful in determining whether an adequate voltage exists in a wire.
You should choose a tester that is rated up to 500 volts.
When you use a voltage tester, first attach one probe with one wire and the other probe to the opposite wire.
If it is receiving electricity, the light in the housing will glow. If the light doesn’t glow, you can conclude the issue is right here. The light in the tester should be light. If it doesn’t, the outlet may be impaired.
The next step is to test the outlet. Pull it out of the wall. Place one tester probe on one terminal screw connection and the other probe on the other terminal screw.
If the tester bulb turns on, the outlet is surely malfunctioning(current might be flowing through the outlet. But when it malfunctions, the current doesn’t flow to provide power to the appliance plugged into it).
If the test bulb doesn’t light, it has no current flowing into the outlet. The problem may be a blown a fuse or tripped circuit breaker, or the wire may be disconnected or broken behind the outlet.
Takeaway
We have discussed three important electrical measurement instruments: multimeter, clamp meters, and voltage tester.
