DIGITAL MULTIMETER
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It is a type of meter which shows measurement in digits, is called as digital multimeter.
Digital Multimeter Front Panel
Components of a digital Multimeter
A digital multimeter comprises of three parts viz
- Liquid Crystal Display
- Rotary Selector switch and
- Test probes.
The display usually has four digits and has the ability to display a negative sign. A few meters have illuminated displays for better viewing in low-light situations.
The selector switch allows the user to set the multimeter to read different parameters such as current, voltage and resistance. Two probes with banana plugs are plugged into two ports on the front of the instrument. COM stands for common and is always connected to ground or ‘-’ of a circuit. VΩmA is the port in which the red probe (+ terminal) is conventionally plugged-in. This means, using this port, we can measure current up to 200 mA, voltage and resistance values.
Block Diagram of Digital Multimeter
Probe types
There are different types of probes available for multimeters. Here are some of the important probes in regular use.
- Banana plugs to crocodile clips
These cables are used for connecting large wires or pins on a bread board as shown in Figure 10.15. It is good for performing longer term tests where the user doesn’t have to hold the probes in hands while testing the circuit.
Banana Plugs to Crocodile Clips
- Banana Plugs to IC Hook
These probes are used to connect the legs of ICs with the meter and can be measured easily. It is shown in Fig
Banana Plugs to IC Hook
Banana plugs to Tweezer
Banana plugs to Tweezer
Banana plugs to test leads
Banana plugs to test leads
INVERTER
A power inverter, or inverter, is an electronic device or circuitry that changes direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC).The input voltage, output voltage and frequency, and overall power handling depend on the design of the specific device or circuitry. The inverter does not produce any power; the power is provided by the DC source. A power inverter can be entirely electronic or may be a combination of mechanical effects (such as a rotary apparatus) and electronic circuitry. Static inverters do not use moving parts in the conversion process.
Application of inverters
An inverter is a device which converts a DC (direct current) voltage source into an AC (alternating current) voltage source. It is useful when you want to run an appliance designed to be operated from AC mains (120 or 240Vac, 50 or 60Hz) from a battery (often 12 or 24Vdc).
Typical applications may be when you are off grid with solar panels and storage battery, when you want to operate mains appliances like TV, hifi, desktop computer and refrigerator. They are also useful for backup power for critical loads when mains power fails.
Inverters may be rotary, with an AC generator driven by a DC motor. More commonly, though, they are static, using electronic power switches to synthesize an AC waveform from the DC input.