How do you measure voltage using a multimeter?

To measure voltage using a multimeter, switch your multimeter to one of the voltage settings. Plug the black probe into the COM port and the red probe into the into mAV omega. Press one probe firmly into each contact. The multimeter now displays the voltage measured across those terminals.

Unless the digital multimeter in use is autoranging, the correct voltage setting must be selected. Several options are typically available: 2VAC, 20VAC, 200VAC. Select the correct range that the voltage is expected to be in. Home wiring requires the 200VAC setting, whereas small electronics require the 2VAC setting. In addition to the range, select AC or DC, depending on the application. Home wiring is AC. AC has a curved line symbol, while DC has a straight dashed line symbol.