Can You Stick a Multimeter In An Outlet? This is a question that comes up often. The answer is yes, you can stick a multimeter into an outlet. It will show you if there is voltage, which you can use to troubleshoot your circuits.
Can You Stick a Multimeter In An Outlet
If you want to see what’s going on inside your power strip or extension cord and need to troubleshoot an issue, you can use an integrated tester (or breakout board) to test voltages, amps, and continuity in the circuits of your device.
Using a multimeter to test an outlet is safe and easy. This will ensure your outlets work correctly, or if more investigation is necessary.
What Is a Multimeter?
A multimeter (also known as a METER or ammeter) is an electrical test instrument used to measure electric current, voltage, and resistance. The main difference between the two types of meters is that an Ohmmeter measures impedance (resistance), while a voltmeter measures voltage. More advanced multimeters may test, among others:
- AC voltage and amperage
- DC voltage and amperage
- Resistance (ohms)
- Temperature
- Decibels
Multimeters come in two forms: Analog and Digital.
- Analog Multimeter: An analog multimeter is a device that measures voltage, current and resistance for use in troubleshooting electronics. It differs from a digital multimeter in that the latter only tests one parameter at a time, while an analog meter is capable of testing more than one parameter at once, providing more accurate readings than their digital counterparts.
- Digital Multimeter: A digital multimeter is a type of measuring tool used to measure voltage and electric current. You can use a digital multimeter to test electronics by plugging the electric device into the multimeter and using the controls on your digital multimeter to determine how much electricity is running through wires in the electric device, which can be helpful in diagnosing electronic problems.
How To Use a Multimeter to Test an Outlet
Please note: these steps assume you’re using a digital multimeter, not an analog one.
- Step 1: Make sure you are safe before doing anything else. Hold the meter probes in one hand so that a shock cannot travel through your body, and never touch them together—a dangerous current could result.
- Step 2: Grab your multimeter and set it to measure voltage (AC). According to Circuit Specialists, you should note down the maximum voltages of each setting. The average household runs at 120V/~240V depending on which side of the ocean you’re on.
- Step 3: Connect the probes to the appropriate inputs. The black probe, also known as a banana plug, should connect to COM (common mode), and red or orange (depending on your meter model) probe should be connected to VOLTS RMS.
- Step 4: Insert the probes into your outlet. The red lead should go in first and form an electrical connection, and then the black probe can be inserted into its slot. The voltage should measure between 110 and 120 volts—this is the average range for households.
- Step 5: Next, you should determine if your outlet is properly grounded. Insert the black probe into the U-shaped ground hole in the outlet—the shown number should match what you got before. If not, it’s possible that your wiring is backward or that this particular outlet isn’t grounded at all! If the voltage is shown with a minus sign, that means you have reversed polarity.
- Step 6: To test if an outlet is properly grounded insert the red probe into the left-hand slot and insert the black probe into any of them. If a reading appears on your multimeter’s display screen (you might need to press it firmly), then you know that your home’s electrical system has been wired correctly—and you can use this socket without worrying about safety issues.
- Step 7: If you have noticed anything off about your outlets, then you now have the information needed to investigate further.