- 1). Make sure there are no magnets around before zeroing out the display.
- 2). Zero out the reading.
There may be more than one reading that needs zeroing out. It will be easy to tell because you will see multiple reset buttons. Do not expect to get the zero-reading to stabilize. Bouncing between +1 and -1 Gauss should be expected for an inexpensive Hall-effect meter. - 3). Hold the probe flat against the magnet, if it's a flat magnet being measured (as opposed to an AC circuit).
Move the magnet slowly along the probe, and record the highest steady reading. The reason for moving the probe is in case the point of highest sensitivity on the probe is not known exactly. - 4). Hold the probe in place for several seconds against whatever object you want to measure the magnetic field from, until the reading stabilizes.
- 5). Change scales if the reading is too high or two low to register.
If the field is still too intense to get a reading, compare the magnet to another of known intensity in the following way: use a shim between the magnet and probe to reduce the reading, and find another magnet, this time of known intensity, that gives the same reading using the same shim. - 6). Measure the other side of the magnet also, if measuring magnets.
Averaging the two readings increases accuracy.
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