Can anyone school me on multimeters for my 69 C10?

[weever82]

Hey guys,

Santa brought me a Craftsman multimeter to use with my truck but I am pretty dense with electrical.

I was just looking for a few pointers on how to use it or if someone knows of a guide to use...

Basically I got it to be able and check to make sure wires are getting power or if they are constant for when I put in a radio.

Thanks for reading.

Weev-

[68gmsee]

Which one did you get? Is it the digital?

[Andy4639]

If it's digital here is a good read.



http://www.ehow.com/how_5307704_use-...ultimeter.html

[weever82]

It's an auto ranging (whatever that means,lol) 12 function digital one. Here's the link.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-digit...3&blockType=G3

Weev-
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[Stocker]

Didn't it come with instructions?

If all you are doing is checking voltage, look at the pic in your link and set the dial same as in the pic (pointing at V). Connect the black lead to the black (COM) port, and the red lead to the red port on the right side (600V MAX).

Then connect or touch the black probe to a known good ground, and touch the red probe to whatever you are checking for voltage.

[desertnick69]

Originally Posted by weever82

Hey guys,

Santa brought me a Craftsman multimeter to use with my truck but I am pretty dense with electrical.

I was just looking for a few pointers on how to use it or if someone knows of a guide to use...

Basically I got it to be able and check to make sure wires are getting power or if they are constant for when I put in a radio.

Thanks for reading.

Weev-

That is a "you might need to think" type of tester, but it will do anything you want. On the truck the house. I was looking at the owners manual and the basic stuff is on page 11 of the 25 pages. ALWAYS put the BLACK in COMMON, and for any thing you are doing put the red lead to the rght of it and select your mode. heck you don't even have to read this one if you want it will beep if you set it that way. Good luck and Merry Christmas.

[weever82]

Thanks guys! It didn't come with a manual which I thought was kinda crappy! Thanks for the ehow read Andy, it helped out.

Weev-
Posted via Mobile Device

[RichardJ]

I would think it came with a manual so I am thinking the package may have been opened or even that it may be a returned item.

I would take it back for that reason but also because I am not crazy about the voltage function on that meter. You turn the function dial to "V" for voltage, but then you have to select AC or DC from a button below the display. Hoaky.

Meters that are not auto-ranging have ranges that you select yourself. For DC voltage readings it may have 2M, 2, 20, 200, and 2000 volts. 2M means 2 millivolts or .2 volts. You pick the range that is higher than the voltage you expect to find. For 12 volt automotive use, you put it on 20 volts and leave it there. If you put it on 2000 V, some meters will read .012 k for 12Volts. I had an auto-ranging meter from Radio Shack that even did that. I hated using that piece of crap.

Polarity is not an issue with any of the digital multimeters sold today. If you connect the leads backwards, The display will indicate "-" (negative symbol) with the reading. The voltage will be as indicated unless you have truck battery installed backwards and then you will have bigger problems than worrying about reading the meter.

Never use the ohm meter function or the continuity function when there is power (12 V) in the circuit.