How to Measure Electronic Components

There are a number of simple electronic components that it might be useful for you to measure. The most common electrical components you will run across, as well as the ones that are most likely to require measuring, are the inductor, the resistor and the capacitor. As long as you have a multimeter, this is easy to achieve. A digital multimeter will make it easier, but an analog multimeter will work just as well, if not as precisely.

Things You'll Need

  • Electrical component you want to measure
  • Multimeter (digital or analog)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select the inductor setting on your multimeter, which will be marked by a range of numbers indicated with the letter H. H stands for henries, the unit of inductance. If the color bands on the inductor are visible, read them using a band chart and set your multimeter to the lowest setting that is still above this amount.

      To measure, press the probes against the leads coming out of either end of the inductor and look at the reading on the face of your multimeter. If the number is zero or infinity, it likely means you got the magnitude wrong and need to adjust it up or down. Take your number and multiply it by the magnitude you have the multimeter set to, and you have the proper inductance.

    • 2

      Select the capacitor setting on your multimeter, which will be marked by a range of numbers indicated with the letter C. C stands for capacitance, which has the unit farad. If the color bands on the capacitor are visible, read them using a band chart and set your multimeter to the lowest setting that is still above this amount.

      To measure, press the probes against imprints on either end of the capacitor and look at the reading on the face of your multimeter. If the number is zero or infinity, it likely means you got the magnitude wrong and need to adjust it up or down. Take your number and multiply it by the magnitude you have the multimeter set to, and you have the proper capacitance.

    • 3

      Select the resistor setting on your multimeter, which will be marked by a range of numbers indicated with the letter omega. Omega stands for ohms, which is the unit of resistance. If the color bands on the resistor are visible, read them using a band chart and set your multimeter to the lowest setting that is still above this amount.

      To measure, press the probes against the protruding leads on either end of the resistor and look at the reading on the face of your multimeter. If the number is zero or infinity, it likely means you got the magnitude wrong and need to adjust it up or down. Take your number and multiply it by the magnitude you have the multimeter set to, and you have the proper resistance.

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