When the electricity goes directly from one portion of an electrical system to another without going via the load, this is called a short circuit.
In the absence of a solution, a short circuit can cause significant issues for homes and businesses. Using a multimeter, even someone who isn’t an electrician may diagnose this issue.
A multimeter will make locating a short circuit a breeze. If you hold one of the multimeter’s probes in each hand, the device will indicate a short circuit when there is one.
Contents
What Is a Multimeter?
If you’re an electrician, you need a multimeter. You can use it to examine the frequency response of an electrical device or to measure AC and DC voltage, current (amperes), capacitance, resistance, and inductance, among many other things. All of these measures can be taken by a VOM in a fraction of a second, with accuracy on par with human vision.
Engineer Donald Macadie worked for the British Postal Service. So that he wouldn’t have to lug around as many tools, he devised a multimeter that could read amperes, volts, and ohms while he worked on telecommunications circuits.
Because it can measure amps, volts, and ohms, it is commonly referred to by its original name: the Avometer (AVO). Analog meters, which employ hands or needles pointing at various points on an indicator dial to illustrate measures, and digital gauges, which display numbers digitally using LCD screens, are the two types of standard meters in use today.
The standard meter is an analog multimeter with a needle that may be moved. Using a miniature ampere (ampere) gauge that moves when electric charges pass from one end to the other, it is able to measure current in circuits and display the results on its tiny screen.
This straightforward tool can display either voltage or current, and it can also be used to gauge frequency.
Digital voltmeters can do the same thing, albeit they display numbers rather than needles; when used properly, they provide accurate readings of voltage and current, with an accuracy rate of within 1% deviation at 20 mA input impedance.
Short Circuits Causes
The common causes of a short circuit include:
- Damaged or deteriorating insulation on wires can cause live and neutral wires to short out. As a result, there’s a chance of a short circuit.
- A loose wire connection
- Equipment with faulty wiring
When a short circuit is suspected, a crucial technique can be carried out to pinpoint its precise location.
- The broken circuit breaker must be located.
- All plugs leading to the tripped breaker must be checked for damage.
- In order to reset a tripped circuit breaker, you must first turn off the breaker and any lights or appliances that are nearby.
- Turn on one outlet at a time, such as a lamp or appliance, until you locate the faulty circuit.
- Use a multimeter to determine if the circuit or wiring is the source of the problem.
Current, resistance, and voltage can all be gauged with either a digital or an analog multimeter.
Locating a Short Circuit Using a Multimeter
Check your equipment
A short circuit can be located by first seeking visible indicators of its presence. Burns, melted metal on cables, smoke, and flickering lights are all signs of an electrical fire.
When you think you’ve located a short, utilize the resistance mode on your multimeter to double-check the voltage levels versus the expected range. A lower reading suggests that the current has been redirected away from a potential leak site.
Test and Repair
Once the origin of the short circuit has been determined, the power to the circuit must be cut off by switching off the breaker. To troubleshoot a malfunctioning plug or toggle switch, you should use the continuity setting on your multimeter and insert its metal probes into the device.
If there is no current in this section of an electrical system, the voltmeter will read zero; however, current may still be flowing in other sections, thus, it’s important to double-check by switching to a different breaker.
Check Terminal Boxes
Remove the battery from the multimeter so you may test for continuity in the absence of power. If the meter reads infinite ohms or OL, the breaker has tripped due to an overcurrent condition that has caused a short circuit. If this is the case, the main panel must be accessed, and the breaker, if discovered to be defective, must be replaced.
If the continuity indicator on the multimeter reads “1,” then the circuit is open. It is possible that a wire has broken or the circuit breaker is set incorrectly. In either case, the receptacles and switches in the area should be checked and possibly replaced.
If the multimeter still registers a resistance, check for bare copper between any wires that could come into contact with one another and trigger a second issue.
In the modern day, electricity has become indispensable in the home. However, electrical issues are common and can affect just about anything.
Some people would rather not deal with the trouble or expense of calling an electrician and would rather take care of it themselves if they have even a basic level of expertise.
However, for those who are interested in putting their electrical expertise to use, such issues present a welcome challenge. The increasing accessibility of multimeters makes it simple to track down one and take care of the issue before it becomes worse.
If you intend to use this gadget for complex purposes, it is worth your time to shop around for a high-end model that meets your requirements.
Conclusion
You can’t be an electrician without a multimeter. It is capable of gauging alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) voltage, current (amps), capacitance, resistance, and inductance. A multimeter can be used to measure frequency in addition to displaying voltage or current. Looking for outward signs of a short circuit is the first step in finding it. Signs of an electrical fire include burns, smoke, melted metal on cables, and smoldering lights.
Use the continuity function on your multimeter to identify the source of a faulty plug or toggle switch. When the meter shows infinite ohms (OL), the breaker has tripped because of an overcurrent condition that has caused a short circuit. A broken wire or improperly set circuit breaker could be to blame. All of the plugs and switches in the area need to be checked, and possibly replaced.
Content Summary
- In the absence of a solution, a short circuit can cause significant issues for homes and businesses.
- A multimeter will make locating a short circuit a breeze.
- If you’re an electrician, you need a multimeter.
- The standard meter is an analog multimeter with a needle that may be moved.
- The broken circuit breaker must be located.
- In order to reset a tripped circuit breaker, you must first turn off the breaker and any lights or appliances that are nearby.
- Use a multimeter to determine if the circuit or wiring is the source of the problem.
- A short circuit can be located by first seeking visible indicators of its presence.
- Once the origin of the short circuit has been determined, the power to the circuit must be cut off by switching off the breaker.
- Remove the battery from the multimeter so you may test for continuity in the absence of power.
- If the continuity indicator on the multimeter reads “1,” then the circuit is open.
- It is possible that a wire has broken or the circuit breaker is set incorrectly.
- In the modern day, electricity has become indispensable in the home.
- However, electrical issues are common and can affect just about anything.
- The increasing accessibility of multimeters makes it simple to track down one and take care of the issue before it becomes worse.
- If you intend to use this gadget for complex purposes, it is worth your time to shop around for a high-end model that meets your requirements.
