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How to Build an Open-Ended Test Circuit

Electrical students learn to work with a variety of testing tools by practicing on simple test circuits. Unless a device has a closed electrical circuit, electricity cannot flow through it. Building an open test circuit allows students to put a device such as a multimeter in series with the rest of the circuit and learn to operate the various functions of the meter. Electrical circuits consist of a power supply, a load and the conductors used to connect these parts. You can build a simple test circuit to illustrate circuit concepts and the use of a multimeter.

Things You'll Need

9-volt battery
9-volt lamp or light bulb
Wire stripper
2 pieces of insulated copper wire, 12 inches
Multimeter

Instructions

- 1
  Strip an inch of insulation from the ends of the wire.
- 2
  Connect one end of the wire to a terminal of the battery.
- 3
  Connect the other end of this wire to a terminal of the light bulb or lamp.
- 4
  Attach the other wire to the other terminal of the light bulb.
- 5
  Add the multimeter into the circuit for testing by connecting the black test probe to the negatively charged open end of the circuit. Connect the red probe to the positively charged end; for example, to the positive terminal of the battery. Electricity flows from the negative terminal of the battery through the circuit and back into the positive terminal.

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