Which of these would be the best way to measure the voltage of a motherboard power rail with a multimeter?
A) Set the multimeter to AC and check the voltage at the wall power source
B) Set the multimeter for DC, place one probe on a ground pin and the other on the voltage pin to be measured
C) Set the multimeter for AC, place one probe on the negative voltage pin and the other on the positive voltage pin to be measured
D) Set the multimeter for DC, place one probe on the negative voltage pin and the other on the positive voltage pin to be measured
E) Power is scary
The answer: B) Set the multimeter for DC, place one probe on a ground pin and the other on the voltage pin to be measured
The proper way to measure voltage is to choose a ground pin with one probe of the multimeter and the voltage pin with the other probe. Your multimeter will complete the circuit and display the voltage that flows through it. Since you are measuring DC voltages on the motherboard, you’ll want to make sure the multimeter is set to show DC voltages in the display.
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Want to know more? Watch “Installing and Configuring Power Supplies.”Troubleshooting power supplies requires some specialized tools and some common troubleshooting techniques. In this video, you’ll learn about circuit testers, the value of a good multimeter, and how to use these tools to troubleshoot power outlets and power supplies. |