Learning to use a voltmeter (actually usually a volt/amp/ohm aka "multimeter") is within reach of everyone. Here is one tutorial: http://www.ladyada.net/learn/metertut/ I've bought several inexpensive digital and analog multimeters. On sale they are from $5-10. For those in Canada: Both Canadian tire and Princess auto sells the generic Chinese multimeters. IMHO they work as well as brand name Fluke etc. I somehow couldn't find the particular one I use most on the web as a single item, but it is a part of this package: http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER<>folder_id=2534374303523048&bmUID=1238881907764&PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524442202191&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true (Comes up when searching for multimeter in Canadian tire) For the multimeter alone, Princess Auto charges just over $10 normally and $5-8 on sale. There's also a version with a temp sensor. Lowest sale price I have seen at Candian tire is $12. Martin (Owner of at least a dozen multimeters...) (Have at least one in your VW at all times!) --- On Mon, 8/6/07, neil N <musomuso@GMAIL..COM> wrote: > From: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM> > Subject: Re: LVC: Learning Electricity & Testers > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Received: Monday, August 6, 2007, 1:06 PM > Hi Anthony. > > You can find an analogue VOH (volt/ohm meters) at Radio > shack, > Canadian Tire, or maybe even WallMart. i.e. they're fairly > common. > > You don't need digital readout for simple tests of DC/AC > voltages or > continuity.. I keep an analogue meter in van at all times. I > make sure > needle is adjusted to proper rest position. > > Cheers, > > Neil. > > -- Please send me your Vanagon/Westfalia links! > http://vanagonlinks.googlepages.com/home > > Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia. > http://web.mac.com/tubaneil > > > > On 8/6/07, Anthony Egeln <regnsuzanne@yahoo.com> > wrote: > > After reading all the posts on solar power, I now > realize that I know shockingly little about > electricity.....don't know an amp from a watt from a > volt. Can someone who knows about such things please > recommend a good, easy-to-read book that would be an > electrical primer. I want to learn about electricity > not just for solar applications but also home and auto > applications. At some point I'd like to be able to do > all these vanagon electrical tests myself and even wire my > future retirement home. > > > > Also, can you recommend a good multi-meter or tester > that may work for 12V systems as well as for home > current? Or do you need two different meters? I > like to buy Craftsman for serious tools because the quality > is usually good and you can get them replaced or serviced > easily enough, but I'll shop anywhere if there is a good > reason to do so. > > > > Really appreciate the recommendations! > > > > Anthony > > '89 Syncro GL (Hidalgo) > __________________________________________________________________ Get the name you've always wanted @ymail.com or @rocketmail.com! Go to http://ca.promos.yahoo.com/jacko/ |
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