How to Check Earthing Connection Using a Digital Multimeter

Owned by Tan Rong Wei (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Dec 31, 2020
2 min read

Problem (Issue) Statement:

How to check earthing connection using a digital multimeter

Description:

A guideline to check earthing connection using a digital multimeter.

Earthing is commonly known to be very important, especially to electronics and circuit boards, and is designed to protect electrical wires and components from damage caused by sudden power surge.

Related Software:

Related Hardware:

  • XP-SNETLID LK v4.11b-thyssen
  • XP- SNETv2 v3.71 and above
  • Plato P80 v3.22 and above
  • Plato C80s v5.03 and above

System Application:

  • High Level Lift Access

Symptom and Finding:

NIL

Cause:

A guideline for checking earthing using digital multimeter.

Solution:

Summary:


Step-by-step Guide:

  • To prepare a multimeter:

Step 1: Ensure that the RED probe is connected to VΩma terminal while the BLACK probe is connected to COM terminal. 
Connecting Red Probe to VmA and Black Probe to COM Terminals
Figure 1: Connecting red probe to VΩma and black probe to COM terminals


Step 2: Turn the dial to V measuring mode.
Turning the dial to V measuring mode 
Figure 2: Turning the dial to V measuring mode


Step 3: Press SELECT to change the voltage mode to AC (Alternating Current)
Pressing SELECT to change voltage mode to measure AC voltage
Figure 3: Pressing SELECT to change voltage mode to measure AC voltage


Tip

The display screen will show the following symbol when the multimeter is in AC voltage mode. 
Symbol Showing AC Mode in Multimeter Display
Figure 4: Symbol showing AC mode in multimeter display

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  • To perform earthing test:

Step 1: Touch the BLACK probe to the EARTH terminal and touch the RED probe to the NEUTRAL terminal on the switching mode power supply unit.
Neutral (white arrow) and Earth (red arrow) terminals
Figure 5: Neutral (white arrow) and Earth (red arrow) terminal (in that order)


Touching the Probes on the Correct Terminals
Figure 6: Touching the probes on the correct terminals


Step 2: Switch ON the power supply, and you will be able to read the voltage values displayed on screen.
Reading the Voltage Values
Figure 7: Reading the voltage values

Note

Theoretically voltage difference between neutral and earth will be zero, but practically it will be between 2 to 4 AC volts. The closer you get to zero voltage, the better earthing you have provided to the system

 


YouTube Reference Video

How to check earthing with multimeter

Common Issue

NIL

Date Documentation:

16/10/2018 (Rev 1.0)

PROOF-READ

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