We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
All The Science
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Engineering

What is a Multitester?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated May 21, 2024
Our promise to you
All The Science is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At All The Science, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject-matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

A multitester or multimeter is a device which can be used to gather data about electrical circuits. A basic multitester can measure resistance, voltage, and continuity, while more advanced versions may be able to provide additional data. This tool can be very useful to have around the house, and anyone who plans on doing electrical repairs should most definitely use a multitester for safety reasons. Multitesters can be used with the current off or on in most cases, although using the device with the current on can sometimes result in damage to the device.

This device is hand held, and powered by batteries. It consists of two probes attached to a central pack which can be digital or analog. The device has a series of buttons or switches which can be used to set the type of measurement being performed. A rubber housing may be used to make the multimeter easier to handle.

Continuity, the most basic measurement provided by a multitester, determines whether or not a circuit is complete. For a continuity test, the device is set to “ohms” and AC or DC, depending on the current being measured, before the probes on the device are inserted into the circuit. If the circuit is complete, the readout will measure between 0 and .05 ohms. A measurement of infinity indicates that the circuit is open, which means there is a problem.

In addition to being used as a basic continuity tester, a multimeter can also be used to test for a ground fault, a very dangerous electrical problem. To use the device to look for a ground fault, the “ohms” setting should be selected before one probe is inserted into a terminal, and the other is placed on the housing of the circuit. The reading should be infinity, indicating that the circuit is open. Next, the probe should be moved to the other terminal, returning another reading of infinity.

Using a multimeter can help to narrow down electrical problems quickly, and to test repairs to an electrical system. Multimeters usually come with instructions providing information about all of the measurements which the device can perform, and indicating whether the power should be off or on before the tests are performed. As always, it is a good idea to know where the circuit breakers or fuses for a house are, so that power can be turned off quickly in the event of an emergency.

All The Science is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a All The Science researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

See our Editorial Process Share Feedback

Related Articles

Discussion Comments
By anon281475 — On Jul 24, 2012

@john1478: Are you sure?

By anon251457 — On Mar 01, 2012

@john 1478: What is the multi tester that you used to test the flow of current? I've only used multimeters and they are used mainly for voltage, continuity and resistance.

By sehiggins — On Jun 17, 2011

Multitesters come in two varieties, digital or analog -- I use these things all the time in my work, and let me tell you, when it comes to accuracy between the two readers, there can be a major difference.

On average, analog mulitesters measure with about a three percent chance of error. Digital multesters, on the other hand, have an accuracy of about 0.5%. So when you have a choice when it comes to which type of multitester to use, I would recommend using a digital one.

Additionally, reading an analog mulitester can be difficult, especially for someone who is unfamiliar with using one. You don't want to take the chance of misreading the multitester, so it's best to use a one that has a digital reader.

By john1478 — On Jun 15, 2011

Not only can multitesters be used to test the flow of electric current around the house, but they can also be used in educational or laboratory settings.

During my college physics classes, my classmates and I used multitesters frequently in our labs. We were assigned to build a complete circuit, and the multitesters were used to test if current was flowing continuously in our system.

Not only are they very useful, the most basic yet effective multitesters can be purchased for around ten dollars. They are an inexpensive way to monitor electric current.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
All The Science, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

All The Science, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.