• Digital multimeters can contain many specifications in one device.Polka Dot Images/Polka Dot/Getty Images
  
  Digital multimeters are devices that are used very extensively with electronics to test these electronics for various problems. For example, when there is a fault in a particular circuit, the digital multimeter is used to see if and how much voltage is traveling through a particular circuit. There are no regulations on multimeter manufacture, but all multimeters are made in a similar way.
  
  

Location

• Digital multimeters are designed either to be placed on a bench or to be freestanding with a casing, cabinet and integral interface. Clamp meters are connected directly to the circuit and measure current that travels through electrical wires. Some of the digital multimeters are designed to fit on a 19-inch telecommunications rack, according to Global Spec. Some digital multimeters are handheld, which are easy for the testers to carry and use at any given site. Some digital multimeters connect directly into a computer board to measure its voltage.
  
  

Protection Mechanisms

• Many digital multimeters come with protection mechanisms that are designed to protect the digital multimeter from overvoltages, according to Mas Tech.
  
  

Temperature

• Testing circuits can be difficult because variations in temperature can change the multimeter readings. Good digital multimeters must be able to adjust readings in response to different temperatures so that readings are not inaccurate, according to Fluke. Those who use digital multimeters must make sure that the multimeters have specifications designed for the temperature range and that the specifications of the multimeter are set for that temperature.
  
  

Readings

• Some digital multimeters are designed to provide the exact readings of the multimeter, while other multimeters provide percentages for an easier reading, according to Fluke. However, the percentages do not always give the tester enough details to make a diagnosis based on the readings.
  
  

Currents

• Some multimeters are only designed to measure either alternating currents or direct currents, while other multimeters are designed for measuring both, according to Global Spec.
  
  

Single vs. Three Phase

• Multimeters are usually designed to measure circuits using either single-phase or three-phase systems, according to Global Spec. The right multimeter must be used depending on how many phases the electronic device that is being measured uses.
  
  

Other Features

• According to Global Spec, other specifications that each digital multimeter has are bandwidth (the range of frequencies the multimeter operates at), sampling rate (how often the multimeter samples frequencies) and the maximum number of channels on the device. Some specifications that only some multimeters have are battery testers, diode testers and transistor testers.