On a manual-ranging meter, you select the range, and if the source that you are measuring is outside of that range, the meter tells you that you made an error. I prefer this. I also get impatient with the time it takes for the autoranging feature to figure out the appropriate range each time I make a measurement. But it’s a matter of personal preference. See Figures 1-5 through 1-7 for some examples of multimeters.
Figure 1-5. You can see by the wear and tear that this is my own favorite meter. It has all the necessary basic features and can also measure capacitance (the F section, for Farads). It can also check transistors. You have to choose the ranges manually.
Figure 1-6. Mid-priced RadioShack meter, which has the basic features; however, the dual purpose for each dial position, selected with the SELECT button, may be confusing. This is an autoranging meter.
Figure 1-7. An autoranging meter from Extech offers basic functions, plus a temperature probe, which may be useful to check whether components such as power supplies are running unduly hot.
Supplies
Batteries
9-volt battery. Quantity: 1.
AA batteries, 1.5 volts each. Quantity: 6.
The batteries should be disposable alkaline, the cheapest available, because we may destroy some of them. You should absolutely not use rechargeable batteries in Experiments 1 and 2.
Battery holders and connectors
Snap connector for 9-volt battery, with wires attached (Figure 1-8). Quantity: 1. RadioShack part number 270-325 or similar. Any snap connector that has wires attached will do.
Figure 1-8. Snap connector for a 9-volt battery.
Battery holder for single AA cell, with wires attached (Figure 1-9). Quantity: 1. RadioShack part number 270-401 or Mouser.com catalog number 12BH311A-GR, or similar; any single-battery holder that has thin wires attached will do.
Figure 1-9. Single AA-sized battery carrier with wires.
Battery holder for four AA cells, with wires attached (Figure 1-10). Quantity: 1. All Electronics catalog number BH-342 or RadioShack part 270-391 or similar.
Figure 1-10. Battery carrier for four AA cells, to be installed in series, delivering 6 volts.
Alligator clips
Vinyl-insulated. Quantity: at least 6. All Electronics catalog number ALG-28 or RadioShack part number 270-1545 or similar (Figure 1-11).
Figure 1-11. Alligator clips inside vinyl sheaths, which reduce the chance of accidental short circuits.
Components
You may not know what some of these items are, or what they do. Just look for the part numbers and descriptions, and match them with the photographs shown here. Very quickly, in the learning by discovery process, all will be revealed.
Fuses
Automotive-style, mini-blade type, 3 amps. Quantity: 3. RadioShack part number 270-1089, or Bussmann part ATM-3, available from automotive parts suppliers such as AutoZone (Figure 1-12).
Figure 1-12. A 3-amp fuse intended primarily for automotive use, shown here larger than actual size.
Or similar. A blade-type fuse is easier to grip with alligator clips than a round cartridge fuse.
Potentiometers
Panel-mount, single-turn, 2K linear, 0.1 watt minimum. Quantity: 2. Alpha part RV170F-10-15R1-B23 or BI Technologies part P160KNPD-2QC25B2K, from Mouser.com or other component suppliers (Figure 1-13).
Figure 1-13. Potentiometers come in many shapes and sizes, with different lengths of shafts intended for different types of knobs. For our purposes, any style will do, but the larger-sized ones are easier to play with.
Or similar. The “watt” rating tells you how much power this component can handle. You don’t need more than 0.5 watts.
Resistors
Assortment 1/4-watt minimum, various values but must include 470 ohms, 1K, and 2K or 2.2K. Quantity: at least 100. RadioShack part number 271-312.
Or search eBay for “resistor assorted.”
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
Any size or color (Figures 1-14 and 1-15). Quantity: 10. RadioShack part number 276-1622 or All Spectrum Electronics part K/LED1 from Mouser.com.
Or similar. Just about any LEDs will do for these first experiments.
Figure 1-14. Typical 5-mm diameter light-emitting diode (LED).
Figure 1-15. Jumbo-sized LED (1 cm diameter) is not necessarily brighter or more expensive. For most of the experiments in this book, buy whatever LEDs you like the look of.
Experiment 1: Taste the Power!
Can you taste electricity? Maybe not, but it feels as if you can.
You will need:
9-volt battery
Snap connector for battery terminals
Multimeter
No More Than 9 Volts
A 9-volt battery won’t hurt you. But do not try this experiment with a higher-voltage battery or a larger battery that can deliver more current. Also, if you have metal braces on your teeth, be very careful not to touch them with the battery.
Procedure
Moisten your tongue and touch the tip of it to the metal terminals of a 9-volt battery. The sudden sharp tingle that you feel is caused by electricity flowing from one terminal of the battery (Figure 1-16), through the moisture on and in your tongue, to the other terminal. Because the skin of your tongue is very thin (it’s actually a mucus membrane) and the nerves are close to the surface, you can feel the electricity very easily.
Now stick out your tongue, dry the tip of it very thoroughly with a tissue, and repeat the experiment without allowing your tongue to become moist again. You should feel less of a tingle.
Figure 1-16. Step 1 in the process of learning by discovery: the 9-volt tongue test.
What’s happening here? We’re going to need a meter to find out.
Tools
Setting up your meter
Check the instructions that came with the meter to find out whether you have to install a battery in it, or whether a battery is preinstalled.
Most meters have removable wires, known as leads (pronounced “leeds”). Most meters also have three sockets on the front, the leftmost one usually being reserved to measure high electrical currents (flows of electricity). We can ignore that one for now.
The leads will probably be black
