For all of you who have a multimeter thrown in a drawer or toolbox but don’t know how to use it, these instructions will help in your search for missing voltage.

A multimeter or digital multimeter (DMM) is one of the most essential and common pieces of lab equipment. Multimeters are used for taking basic electrical measurements related to Ohm’s Law.

Want to know how to use a multimeter properly? Here are five common ways to put your digital multimeter to good use. Note: These instructions are applicable to most multimeters.