Ecmweb 13262 Thinkstockphotos 476844676
Ecmweb 13262 Thinkstockphotos 476844676
Ecmweb 13262 Thinkstockphotos 476844676
Ecmweb 13262 Thinkstockphotos 476844676
Ecmweb 13262 Thinkstockphotos 476844676

Tip of the Week: Can you pass this test and measurement quiz?

April 17, 2017
Make sure you know how to use a digital multimeter properly and safely.

The modern digital multimeter (DMM) is ubiquitous, partly because it’s so incredibly useful. Even an entry-level industrial DMM is valuable, though of course the higher-end models take that up a few notches.

But don’t let the fact that “everyone” has a DMM lull you into thinking you know how to use yours safely. Maybe you do, but are you sure?

Take this short quiz, which covers (only some of the) important safety considerations for using a DMM:

• Does your DMM meet the safety standards for the environment in which you’re using it? Do you merely think so, or do you know so? If the latter, how exactly do you know?

• Do you carefully examine all stickers, signs, and labels on the equipment to ensure your DMM is going to be connected to 480V instead of 13kV?

• Do you inspect your test leads for physical damage before making a measurement? Things do happen in between jobs. Inspect every time.

• Do you always connect and disconnect the meter one lead at a time? If not, you may some day expose yourself to a nasty arc flash event.

Beyond the safety aspects, also note the performance limitations of a DMM. For many tasks, it’s not the right piece of test equipment. The list of such tasks is actually quite long, but it includes items such as testing circuit breakers for contact resistance and testing feeder cables for insulation integrity.

Use your DMM safely, and don’t try to use it for testing it’s not suitable for.

About the Author

Mark Lamendola

Mark is an expert in maintenance management, having racked up an impressive track record during his time working in the field. He also has extensive knowledge of, and practical expertise with, the National Electrical Code (NEC). Through his consulting business, he provides articles and training materials on electrical topics, specializing in making difficult subjects easy to understand and focusing on the practical aspects of electrical work.

Prior to starting his own business, Mark served as the Technical Editor on EC&M for six years, worked three years in nuclear maintenance, six years as a contract project engineer/project manager, three years as a systems engineer, and three years in plant maintenance management.

Mark earned an AAS degree from Rock Valley College, a BSEET from Columbia Pacific University, and an MBA from Lake Erie College. He’s also completed several related certifications over the years and even was formerly licensed as a Master Electrician. He is a Senior Member of the IEEE and past Chairman of the Kansas City Chapters of both the IEEE and the IEEE Computer Society. Mark also served as the program director for, a board member of, and webmaster of, the Midwest Chapter of the 7x24 Exchange. He has also held memberships with the following organizations: NETA, NFPA, International Association of Webmasters, and Institute of Certified Professional Managers.

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