Beginner Project Voltages

[aron]

Thanks to Mike Parker (GibsonGM)

[micwatson]

hey aaron!

first of all, thanks for everything! this is really great!

i am new to electronics. how do i measure the voltages above? black end of the multimeter to ground, red end to the according solder point?

thanks a lot!

-michael

[Fortunado]

Voltage is a property of two points and thus can only be measured across two points. Depending on which component or where you want to measure the voltage, you will have to place the two ends of the multimeter accordingly. The red probe is the positive probe and so will be connected to the "source" of current and the black probe is the negative so it'll be connected to wherever the current flows to. Atleast, this is what I've surmised from various readings and knowledge of physics. I'm a novice myself, so I'm not sure if this helps, but good luck!

[phector2004]

black one to ground (if you've boxed this, an easy way to do it is to just stick the probe into a jack, assuming you've done the wiring right  )

red one touches the lead you wanna test

you'll wanna set your multimeter relatively low (20V should be fine) otherwise you'll be getting inaccurate readings

[roundman3gz]

I'm a super noob so forgive me if this sounds stupid.  I measured the voltages like the instruction manual for my meter said but they are all coming out negative.  Have I reversed something in the wiring that would cause this?  Thanks in advance for the help.

[.Mike]

You might have the red and black leads swapped on your meter.

Grab a 9-volt battery. Put the red lead on the + and put the black lead on the -.

If you get a negative value, the leads are in the wrong holes in your multimeter.

Switch. Try again.

Mike

[roundman3gz]

I don't have hole's for the leads for the type of multimeter I have.  The leads are soldered into the back of the meter.  They voltage is correct when I put the leads (red = +  |  black = -) on a 9v battery. Maybe I have the battery snap connections backwards?

[roundman3gz]

I fixed it!    Had the battery snap connections backwards.  Thanks for the help.