There is a variety of electronic test equipment used to take and record measurements. From spectrum analyzers to oscilloscopes and voltmeters, these tools are used to track everything from magnetic fields to voltage. Electronic test equipment is commonly used in the fields of physics, engineering and electricity. Test equipment manufacturered by companies like Fluke and Tektronix is generally well regarded. A voltmeter is an instrument that measures the differences of electrical potential, or voltage, between two points in an electric circuit. The most common model of a voltmeter is based on the galvanometer, an analog tool. The readings on analogs aren't very precise, because their readings can vary over a continuous range. The modern digital voltmeters, however, are much more accurate, because they give their readings in numerical displays. An ammeter measures the flow of electric current in a circuit. To measure the amperes, the ammeter uses magnetic deflection. When the electric current passes through the coil, it causes the coil to move its magnetic field. The ammeter is also based on the galvanometer, and is an analog type instrument. A multimeter combines the functions of the voltmeter, ammeter and the ohmmeter. An ohmmeter measures electric resistance. By passing an electric current through the resistance and concurrently measuring the voltage, the value for R, the resistance, can be found. This figure is determined by dividing the voltage into the numerical value of the current. In addition to these three functions, many multimeters perform additional functions as well. Features such as digital output, testing for continuity and testing drodes and transistors are a few of these additional features. |
