Have no idea how the hell to use it. But i know all the mechanics i know have one so i bought one to test batterys and alternators. Maybe fuses one day. Ill figure it out. Just one more step to improveing my mechanical abilities.

They are super handy. I don't know which one you bought, but hopefully it does RPM's and duty cycle. Those are nice features to have when woking with car electronics. If you need to check something and don't know how, just use google! I have learned how to use mine that way! Gotta love the internet! Have fun with you new DMM

Just a word of advice, here. The test leads that you generally get with a DMM are junk. Just like the blade you get with a saw. Get yourself a good set of test leads. Those leads should have removable ends and should come with a small assortment of ends including standard probes, alligator clips and maybe a piercer.

Just a word of advice, here. The test leads that you generally get with a DMM are junk. Just like the blade you get with a saw. Get yourself a good set of test leads. Those leads should have removable ends and should come with a small assortment of ends including standard probes, alligator clips and maybe a piercer.

 

I was wondering about that, will i need to get those from sears in order for them to fit my model of multimeter. I think the leads will be fine for todays work but ill definately want some with aligator clips in the future.

What brand & model meter did you buy? Multi-meters are good for so much more than just testing alternators & fuses

 

I got mine off ebay for a steal. I love it, but I paid almost as much for my new leads as I did the meter itself.

 

This is pretty much it.

study "ohm's law" as you should know the basics of electrical theory to understand what the DMM is telling you. otherwise its a glorified test light if you don't use it beyond simple troubleshooting

I was wondering about that, will i need to get those from sears in order for them to fit my model of multimeter. I think the leads will be fine for todays work but ill definately want some with aligator clips in the future.

 

No. They don't HAVE to come from Sears. Looks like it has the standard connectors. Just get a good set.

study "ohm's law" as you should know the basics of electrical theory to understand what the DMM is telling you. otherwise its a glorified test light if you don't use it beyond simple troubleshooting

 

 

And "'Kirshoffs Theroy" LOL

 

it's fun and makes your brain hurt.

And "'Kirshoffs Theroy" LOL

 

it's fun and makes your brain hurt.

 

By the way, it's Kirchoff's Law.

Yeah - any lead set will fit. Get a Fluke silicone set.

 

Looks like a decent unit - should do everything you will need.

 

Just remember that it's not auto-ranging so you will have to have some idea of what the range you are looking for should be.

 

Just read up on Ohm's law, resistance, AC/DC voltage, current, etc. Also you should look around the internet for a good explanation of the GM remote sensing alternator circuit. It will help you understand how to test your charging system which is by far the most common thing you will do with it for now.

 

GD

Edited January 2, 201016 yr by GeneralDisorder

By the way, it's Kirchoff's Law.

 

 

 

Geez that didn't take long....lol...after I posted it, I saw what I typed. I thought to myself..ahhh F- it. It ain't worth fixing, no one will notice...LOL

A multi meter is an invaluable tool, One the the things I use the most on mine is the Ohmmeter while doing electrical work. When I was having an alternator rebuilt the guy showed me an easy way to see if your alternator is charging without a multimeter, just take something steel, like a screwdriver, and touch it to the cap in the center of the backside of the alternator while it's running, and if it's magnetic then it is charging. Granted, this doesn't tell you how much it's charging, but is a great trick for the side of the road.

Nice meter. Looks like it will be pretty decent.

 

I don't use digital meters though. I have an old simpson 260 that I dearly love. It's bulky and combersome sometimes but I can pretty much do anything with it.

 

I have to emply math skills sometimes to use it but it keeps me sharp.

 

O-scope for everything else "difficult".

Once you learn how to do a voltage drop test, you can tell definitively whether or not it's the battery, the starter, or the cables giving you a no-crank condition. This is one of many example of what a meter is good for.

Update.........

 

Ive used this thing more times then i can count now. Wonder why i never picked one up before. I still havent mastered all of the functions but now that weather is getting nicer so ill be messin with it more.

I have 2 now. one for the garage, and one for the house and my guitar repair ops....

Pretty soon you'll be convincing yourself that you need a scopemeter.

Pretty soon you'll be convincing yourself that you need a scopemeter.

 

Still on my list of what to buy.

I have 3 of those multimeters: 1 was never returned by the neighbor he lost it, 2nd got returned by other neighbor but its melted by an exhaust manifold, and i have 1 that i am never going to loan out again without a deposit.

Still on my list of what to buy.

 

Me too:-\ Luckily there's one at work I can borrow.

I have one, I can make it work after some thinking and tinkering with the settings. If I ever have a question of what all the settings on it do I can call my dad... he is an electrical engineer