Red Seal Electrician Practice
Meters and troubleshootingQuestion 687 of 1506

A digital voltmeter has its red lead on point 4 and its black lead on point 3. It reads −32 V. What does this tell you?

  1. There is no voltage between the points
  2. Point 3 is the more positive point
  3. The meter is defective
  4. Point 4 is the more positive point
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Correct answer: Point 3 is the more positive point

A negative reading means the red lead is on the more negative point, so the black-lead point is the positive one.

Source: Lessons in Electric Circuits I: DC (Kuphaldt), 6.2: Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL)

Practice meters and troubleshooting

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026