Frequently Asked Questions About Digital Multimeters
A digital multimeter, or DMM, is an electronic test instrument used to measure a variety of electrical properties, including voltage, current, capacitance, and resistance. DMMs display measurements on a screen, allowing for more precise readings than analog instruments that use gauges. Advanced DMMs may include additional capabilities, including continuity testing, diode testing, and an isolated digitizer mode.
Digital multimeters are commonly used to measure the electrical properties of automotive systems, aircraft electronics, printed circuit boards (PCBs), and consumer electronics. DMMs are used throughout the product lifecycle, including design, verification, validation, and maintenance.
PXI DMMs are modular digital multimeters purpose-built for automated test. They combine metrology-class accuracy with the speed, scalability, and software workflows engineers need to build modern test systems—from validation through production.
Unlike traditional benchtop DMMs, PXI DMMs are designed to scale: add channels, mix measurement types, and synchronize with other instruments in the same chassis. The NI PXI DMM portfolio spans entry-level to high-resolution options, with up to 7½ digits of resolution, voltage ranges up to 1,000 V, and sample rates up to 1.8 MS/s—fast enough to visualize transient waveforms without adding an oscilloscope.
Every PXI DMM is supported by the same NI software—InstrumentStudio for interactive measurements, LabVIEW and TestStand for automation, and Nigel AI to accelerate automation— so engineers can move from first measurement to fully automated test on a single, scalable platform.
Regardless of form factor, NI digital multimeters deliver precision, advanced measurement functionality, and a software-defined architecture to customize tests and scale systems. They integrate with NI software such as LabVIEW and InstrumentStudio to build custom measurement solutions.
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