EEVblog #26 - Multimeter Tutorial - Counts, Accuracy, Resolution & Calibration

A tutorial about digital multimeter measurement display counts, accuracy, and calibration.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• multimeter
• fluke
• meterman
• 87
• 79
• calibration
• accuracy
• count
• counts
• display
• adjustment
• digital
• tutorial
• demo
• how
• to
• measurement
• measure
• voltage
• current
• resistance

[jpmcbride]

First I want to say great video - good information. I want to slightly correct one of your terms though. The term "traceablity" when it comes to calibration does not refer to the historical record of the item as you said. It actually means there is a traceable path through the measurement standards used to calibrat ethe item. (transfer standards, back to primary standards, etc...)

[EEVblog]

@jpmcbride The term is used in many contexts, and often refers to the entire traceable path, including the history of the instrument itself.

[mtttee2]

If calibration only checks on the history of the multimeter's accuracy, what happens if one day my multimeter's accuracy drifted away. Will they readjust it back to specifications?

[EEVblog]

Yes, that's a normal part of the process too. It doesn't even have to be outside the specs for that to happen, just enough to doubt that it will remain within specification for the next interval. In this case they usually give you the before and after adjustment figures. And the serious user will drop the cal interval until confidence is restored in that meter.

You can also specifically ask for adjustment every time regardless.

[EEVblog]

Ok, point us to yourself on video and we can all have fun judging YOU. Based on your username and the way you speak, my money would be on you being a pick-up truck driving, tobacco chewing, god and country music loving, undereducated, backwater redneck yank. But that's just a guess...

And why am I hearing dueling banjos?...

Go on, post a youtube video response, I dare you.

[krankiev]

you don't have to just insult him based on how he talks man...

[eurokid83]

@NMOEG Why are you so worried about calibration? I have a few older 87 meters and they are just as accurate as my 87V and they have never been calibrated.

[NMOEG]

when we talk about Calibration we always mention the fluke 87 V which makes me feel very bad and unsafe coz every time i need 2 measure something i feel it is drifting away and i dont have another multimeter.is the Fluke 87 V needs to be calibrated once in a while even if i dont use it that much ? im thinking to buy another one Fluke 179 ,never heard any said any about clibrating this meter ,does it need to be calibrated once in a while just like the Fluke 87 V ?

[EEVblog]

@ion010101 the word resolution has many meanings in many different industries. How high is the "count" or full scale. The resolution is the least significant digit.

[XINXAN7515]

bloody good video mate

[jfleming006]

@EEVblog HAHAHA!!! You are right - go to his channel!!!

[sirsideways]

Thanks for the bit at 6 mins in, it was very helpful!

[0000mastermind]

hey dave......GOOD JOB!!!! greating from Trinidad & tobago....i'v looked at alot of your vids and learnt alot....i have never owned a multimeter before, but i want to get myself one for automotive and home use. I happen to like the yokogawa TY530 and TY720, I know both are not the automotive type but can you do a review on them?? My girlfriend likes the "sex on a stick" she said we shoud try it lmao.....

[ValiRossi]

Is that an old simpson 260 back there on the shelf.