Strange VOM Issue

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I think the 'analog' discussion is valid simply because of what 1969383S said. If you look at some procedures in the FSM, it will caution against using a digital meter. The high front end impedance of a digital meter doesn't load the circuit up enough to prevent false readings. If someone doubts this I can start going through FSM's but trust me, it's in there.
Oh I wasn't saying it was invalid. I'm glad it came up.
 
This EXTECH DVOM is pretty sharp as well. I got it specifically for capacitive readings. But a good all around DVOM I keep in the Motor Coach! It also has a temp Probe!

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When I think my digital meters may be lying to me, I go back to my old standby, a light bulb. I have probably done more troubleshooting on cars with light bulbs than I have with meters.
 
I did read that using a digital VOM to measure the resistance of the secondary winding of an ign coil can be inaccurate. Not sure why, something do with the circuitry in the VOM.
 
Lamps can be very useful. I many times advocate putting a large wattage bulb in series with battery ground when finding shorts, to protect the system/ wiring. "My favorite" test lamp is an old "Cal-Van" (I think) lamp which uses a cartridge style bulb. Some of the "modern" LED lamps can get you into trouble, as they sometimes don't draw enough current to "help you" if looking for intermittent fuses, etc.

Two lamps I will not be without is an old headlamp, and a stop/ tail socket. You can parallel or series various combinations of the two filaments to provide various loads

Years ago, I had no small trickle/ maintenance charger that was safe for small motorcycle batteries. I used to charge them with my 10A charger, using a tail or stop filament in series to limit current
 
I have an update. ......and it's a goodun. LOL Took the meter in today and one of my old coworkers graciously swapped it out. However, they don't offer the Bosch (Actron) any longer, they now have "Performance Tool". So, I get it home, and set it to the 200Vac scale and measure the house current. So I gots 183.4 volts AC comin into the house. LMAO Then, I took it out to the shop to measure Vixen's battery. 18.6V dc. SAME PROBLEM, different meter. And yes, I broke out my trusty Fluke 73 series II and confirmed 122.4V ac in the house and 12.55V dc on Vixen's battery. So, tomorrow, I'm just takin this cheapass SOB back for a refund. I swear, China is gonna be the end of us.
 
I used to argue with a friend of mine, he was "all in" on the cheapo Horrid freight cheapie meters. I've run across 3 or 4 of them that were "off" and at least one, the owner didn't know that
 
I used to argue with a friend of mine, he was "all in" on the cheapo Horrid freight cheapie meters. I've run across 3 or 4 of them that were "off" and at least one, the owner didn't know that
All I was wanting was a backup in case the battery died in my Fluke.....which it did right after I checked the well voltage.....which led me to believe I might have damaged it, but I didn't, the battery just crapped out at the same time, it's working fine again with a new battery now. I just got this one tonight, on evilbay. I know it's not a high end one, but it will be fine for a backup, plus it gives me an analog one to do "different things" with. Notice it does have a 15V DC scale.
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RRR,
I am sure I have one of THOSE on shelf buried somewhere. Wasn't that the brand that Tandy sold?
 
RRR,
I am sure I have one of THOSE on shelf buried somewhere. Wasn't that the brand that Tandy sold?
Yes, it's an older Radio Shack brand. They sold some decent stuff at one time. I'm kinda hopin that's one of um. We'll see. It was cheap, so.....
 
I have a couple of Southwire meters that I bought at Lowe’s off the clearance rack. They seem to be good quality and were reasonably priced. I like Fluke & have bought them at work (somebody else’s money), but too cheap to buy them at home.
 
Rob since I used them both everyday in the USAF Sometimes they definitely go out of calibration. We used to calibrate them to +or - 4 twice a year. The standards I use on meters are spot on as far as I know.
 
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All I was wanting was a backup in case the battery died in my Fluke.....which it did right after I checked the well voltage.....which led me to believe I might have damaged it, but I didn't, the battery just crapped out at the same time, it's working fine again with a new battery now. I just got this one tonight, on evilbay. I know it's not a high end one, but it will be fine for a backup, plus it gives me an analog one to do "different things" with. Notice it does have a 15V DC scale.
View attachment 1715802483
Hey I have one of these. I still use it once in a while. But my go to meter is a Fluke 87. Great meter.
 
All I was wanting was a backup in case the battery died in my Fluke.....which it did right after I checked the well voltage.....which led me to believe I might have damaged it, but I didn't, the battery just crapped out at the same time, it's working fine again with a new battery now. I just got this one tonight, on evilbay. I know it's not a high end one, but it will be fine for a backup, plus it gives me an analog one to do "different things" with. Notice it does have a 15V DC scale.
View attachment 1715802483
I've got one of those, except it is blue and I think from Heathkit. I put it together from a kit as the first lab project to learn soldering when I went through tech school for Industrial Electronics in 1985. Soldered every component in it to the PCB. I brought it into work a couple years ago during calibration time and they said that it checked out fine and all it needed was a fresh battery for resistance. Those old analog meters are not perfect for everything, but do most very well.
 
I have a couple of Southwire meters that I bought at Lowe’s off the clearance rack. They seem to be good quality and were reasonably priced. I like Fluke & have bought them at work (somebody else’s money), but too cheap to buy them at home.
The Fluke I have, I have to thank Del (@67Dart273) for. He saw them on ebay and sent me the link a couple or so years back. Guy had them stupid cheap so I had to get one. It's a good meter and will do everything I could ever ask and then some, I am sure.
 
My "collection" missing ONE

Top one is a 10 I bought cheap for in a vehicle, it does does not measure current

Far left is a 79, only one I've bought new In the mid 90's it was over 300 bucks

Next one is a 77 I bought used of egag, I've forgotten, 50 bucks?

Next 2 are model 73 III, there is one missing. Bought them of C/L from an old guy S of me and talked him into shipping them. They are VERY dirty outside, fine inside the cases. Used in ?? dirty invironment of some kind. There is one more "someplace" One of they stays in the boat toolbox. I paid something like 20-25 bucks each for them

Last one at far right is a model MD78 sold through MATCO tools. It is specialized automotive, can measure sensor pulses, duty cycle, and tach function and so on, on top of doing most "normal" multimeter measurements. I've forgotten, I paid 80-100 for this used, they are (were) an expensive meter. The "MD" indicates the "MATCO" thing

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Wow, Del, you have quite the collection! I agree, fluke is the best. We pretty much buy fluke 87s at work. Great meters, the only problem is keeping track of them…..they seem to get borrowed a lot…..
 
Pick yourself up a Power Probe 3. Volt meters and test lights went out with the telephone.
PP3 is a good tool, but test lights and volt meters are still useful, espicially for our old cars. Sometimes (many times) you need to load a circuit to find the problem. A PP3 will not do that, but a test light will.
PS: I wouldn't use a test light on a modern "computer" car.
PPS: I also still have a landline telephone. The last time we had a power failure due to a storm, it worked, and the cell towers didn't.
 
Then it was bad when new. It's the first time I've ever used it.

Where was it made?

I have an update. ......and it's a goodun. LOL Took the meter in today and one of my old coworkers graciously swapped it out. However, they don't offer the Bosch (Actron) any longer, they now have "Performance Tool". So, I get it home, and set it to the 200Vac scale and measure the house current. So I gots 183.4 volts AC comin into the house. LMAO Then, I took it out to the shop to measure Vixen's battery. 18.6V dc. SAME PROBLEM, different meter. And yes, I broke out my trusty Fluke 73 series II and confirmed 122.4V ac in the house and 12.55V dc on Vixen's battery. So, tomorrow, I'm just takin this cheapass SOB back for a refund. I swear, China is gonna be the end of us.

I was going to ask again but you beat me to it. I've gotten to the point that if it says Made In China, I don't even give the pricks my money. I'm honestly surprised you're not at that point yet.

And people here rail on me when I suggest not buying the trash.

For me, personally, I think this is part of the strategy. Fill the country with unreliable trash, so nothing works when we're under attack.
 
PP3 is a good tool, but test lights and volt meters are still useful, espicially for our old cars. Sometimes (many times) you need to load a circuit to find the problem. A PP3 will not do that, but a test light will.
PS: I wouldn't use a test light on a modern "computer" car.
PPS: I also still have a landline telephone. The last time we had a power failure due to a storm, it worked, and the cell towers didn't.

Power Probe will load a line. Its just a matter of learning how to use all the functions.
 
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