What does auto ranging mean on a multimeter?

What does auto ranging mean on a multimeter?

There are fancy multimeters that are autoranging, meaning they automatically change their internal range to attempt to find the correct voltage, resistance, or current of the thing you’re poking at. Auto-ranging can be very helpful if you know how to use it. A circuit’s voltage or current can fluctuate quite quickly.

How does Ranging work on a multimeter?

The multimeter starts at the highest(*) range, and if the reading is less than the 199.9 threshold it switches to 1 decade lower, and repeats this until the reading is between 200 and 1999.

Is it normal to change the units on a multimeter?

Yes, it is normal for the units to change on a multimeter as you move up through the ranges. The reason for this is simply practical. On a 3½ digit display you can’t cover the range and precision needed without changing units. Some multi-meters have little letters on the display to indicate the current units.

What’s the maximum number of ohms a meter can display?

Your meter has a 3 1/2 digit display, which means that the maximum reading it can display is 1999 (with a decimal inserted as needed). The range switch sets where the decimal place is located on the display. On the 200 ohm range, full scale will be 199.9 ohms.

What’s the function of the Black test lead on a multimeter?

I have read the manual several times but it just says: Plug the RED test lead into the “Ω” jack of the multimeter; plug the BLACK test lead into the “COM” jack. Set the meter’s Function/Range Selector Switch to the OHM “Ω” range function.

How is the wire gauge an independent variable?

In your experiment, you chose the gauge of the wire before the experiment began and measured the current and voltage after turning on the circuit. The gauge of the wire does not change during a measurement, so it is the independent variable. The current and voltage you measure depends on the wire gauge, so these are the dependent variables.