How to use a Multimeter

It’s about time you learned…

By Rob Stokes – Video curtesy of Afrotechmods (https://www.youtube.com/@Afrotechmods)

Recently there have been a couple of posts on Facebook relating to electrical troubleshooting. Electrical systems can be a bit scary, but if you pretend they’re an elephant and focus on eating it one bite at a time things get simpler..

The main tool for troubleshooting an electrical system is a multimeter. These too can be a bit off-putting if you’ve never played with one, but for what we do, you’ll only ever use 3, maybe 4 if the settings on the meter. What three or four?

DC voltage (systems connected to your batteries and alternators)
AC voltage (systems connected to your shore power or generator)
Continuity (is a wire broken? Is this end of a wire I found connected to that other end of a similar wire way over there? Is this fuse any good?)
And occasionally current (i rarely do this as described in the video as most loads I want to measure are larger than an average meter can handle. But it can be done if the load fits.

Some meters have an “amp clamp” that can measure much larger loads without having to break the circuit.. But that’s for another day).

I’ve included link (not affiliated blah blah blah…) to a very good, very basic, very generic video on how to use a multimeter.. If you’ve never used a meter.. It’s time..

Enjoy!