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Date:         Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:14:26 -0700
Reply-To:     Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject:      Re: Multimeter help for the idiot
Comments: To: Courtney Hook <courtneyhook@SHAW.CA>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=original

I wouldn't do it that way myself.. are you looking for a significant key-off current drain ?

if so, I like a plain ole 12V test light. It's very possible a small digital volt gauge wired in full time to Batt + may not show with your current meter. Vanagons usually have a clock wired in to Batt + as well.

the electronic guru's may comment more in depth.

what symptom are you seeking to repair or address ? your basic method sounds all right .. amps don't have negative or positive ..so I wouldn't think polarity matters in a digital read out on DC current. Good ole test light is very useful in this type of test. Did you RTFM ? .............'read the manual' for the meter ?

Scott

----- Original Message ----- From: "Courtney Hook" <courtneyhook@SHAW.CA> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Friday, October 21, 2011 5:03 PM Subject: Multimeter help for the idiot

I was trying again to see if I had any current draw so did some internet sleuthing to help me figure this out. I can rebuild engines fine, tune motorcycles, etc, etc, but when it comes to multimeters I am an idiot. I think I did it right, but want some backup on this. I put my MM between the + terminal on my new battery and the + cable. I then set my RadioShack MM to the notch marked 200 DCmA which also had a solid line beside it with 3 dots under it. I then took the reading, and it said 00.0 ??? I reversed the leads and it then said -00.0 Does that mean I have no current draw at all?? I am lost, because I have a small digital volt gauge plugged into the lighter that MUST be drawing something?? The MM reads voltage across the battery fine, at 12.74volts, so I think it's working fine. What am I doing wrong?? Courtney


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