Understanding Specifications for Precision Multimeters

Digital multimeters are the workhorses of the electronics industry. Almost all of the electronic products we use in our personal and professional lives are built or serviced using multimeters.

Different DMM applications require different degrees of attention to specs. A technician checking a logic power supply can use his trusty bench DMM confidently to verify that the supply is within a few percent of 5 V. However, when the job requires testing critical circuits, checking precision components, making fine adjustments in production, verifying compliance with industry standards, or taking measurements outside the controlled environment of the lab, then you’ll need to evaluate specifications carefully.

A solid understanding of specifications is critical when you’re evaluating the suitability of DMMs for an application, or when you must be confident that your readings accurately reflect reality. This application note discusses some of the thinking behind DMM specifications and spec sheets. It defines the various elements of DMM specs and gives tips on how to apply them.