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Say for instance I am trying to measure the current. The units around the edge of the multimeter is 2000u, 200m, 20m, 10A, etc.

Does this mean that the reading displayed on the multimeter is in that particular unit? For example, if I set it to 20m and the reading stated "0.5", does this mean it is 0.5 * 20mA = 10mA = 0.01A?

Similar Multimeter

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    \$\begingroup\$ Can you give us a link to an image of the multimeter? \$\endgroup\$
    – jippie
    Commented Nov 9, 2012 at 19:53
  • \$\begingroup\$ This is the closest thing I could find. I don't have access to the multimeter at the moment. Note that the "terminals" on mine are "10A", "A", "COM", "V". \$\endgroup\$
    – Wk_of_Angmar
    Commented Nov 9, 2012 at 20:04

1 Answer 1

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No the 'units' around the outside you are referring to are not units but ranges. If you set it to 20m, then the highest current you can measure its 20mA. If you are on 20mA and it says 0.5, that probably means you are measuring 0.5mA.

There exist auto-ranging multimeters which you simply set to current mode and you don't have to worry about picking a range.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Damn, this means that much of my homework is wrong. :/ \$\endgroup\$
    – Wk_of_Angmar
    Commented Nov 9, 2012 at 19:56
  • \$\begingroup\$ Ok, say for instance my multimeter was set to 2000µ (on the current) and the current reading was "0.10". Does this mean that the current was 0.10µ? \$\endgroup\$
    – Wk_of_Angmar
    Commented Nov 9, 2012 at 20:26
  • \$\begingroup\$ What are you doing 0.10µA is a pretty tiny amount of current. It is quite possibly saying 0.1mA, is the display showing 3 decimal places? \$\endgroup\$
    – Hugoagogo
    Commented Nov 9, 2012 at 21:04
  • \$\begingroup\$ If set to 2000u it would need 6 digits to display 0.10 \$\endgroup\$
    – geometrikal
    Commented Nov 10, 2012 at 12:43
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    \$\begingroup\$ If the display units change, then there should be an indicator on the display to tell you the current unit, like a "uA" or "mA". So if the display says 0.5 and the "mA" designator is visible, then it's 0.5 mA, while if only an "A", or "Amp" indicator is visible, then it's 500mA. \$\endgroup\$
    – Johnny
    Commented May 15, 2013 at 18:38

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