The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Self help for a guy with a new multimeter

Does anyone have a link to a video/website or a recommended book that explains the fundemental operations and uses of a multimeter. I just picked one up at Harbor Freight over the weekend.

As my coworker would say, "Now I'm like a pig looking at a wristwatch." There are a bunch of electrical issues with my 58 Suburban and I'd love to be able to do some intelligent work on it.

Thanks

Here is a simple short tutorial that is a good read. I would be very careful with electronic circuits but for lights, etc. a multimeter is invaluable. I would always check for voltage before I used the ohm meter function because voltage can blow the fuse or possible damage meter if induced into the ohm meter circuit(REMOVE ALL VOLTAGE BEFORE USING OHM METER ON A CIRCUIT). Think of the ohm meter as a miniature battery circuit sent down the path you choose to see if it will come back with close to the same value you sent it(understand bulbs, resistors or other components can change the ohm meter values). However you will mostly use the ohm meter to check continuity but also remember to check each conductor to ground to make sure it is free of any ground or foreign voltage. Also most automotive lights, etc. are grounded at the light so a circuit to ground will be seen through the bulb or device.

I am an expert on nothing but did retire after 35 years as a telephone cable repairman.

Larry in Mississippi

http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f85/multimeter-tutorial-49860/

Deere36:

Thanks for the tips. Sorry I didn't reply sooner. I just discovered that that this site has a feature where I can go back and look at all the posts I've made. I started a few threads and couldn't remember them all.

I copied/pasted the tutorial from the web page above and plan on printing it out for use in the garage. Looks like exactly what I'm looking for.

Radio shack has a beginners book on electrical, ohms, coils, vac, vdc etc.