3rd Multimeter and still my readout is all over

[ericsp]

This is the 3rd Multimeter I'm on.. I just received the Extech Mini Multimeter MN30. I'm not even at the point where I'm checking my first build. When I touch both the red and black together to see the variance I'm going to be dealing with it swings all over.. Whats going on this is my 3rd one?

Is it better just to buy one of the ohm meters from an online vendor?

 

[crxess]

Can't even find that on Their site. Their site search comes up with nothing.

Any good digital meter will read 0.0x ohms then the pins are touched together.
Do not hold the pins in your fingers, only the plastic handles.

 

[nomoe]

cheeper meters wont auto zero and wont have a zero set button. they will read a few tenths of an ohm. subtract that number from the total reading and youll be there.
also as the prior post said keep your fingers off the metal ends.

a good meter cost about $300+ i have a few of them. for less then $20 you can find an auto range dvom at radioshack or harbor freight tools

 

[ericsp]

Thanks guys. This is the one I bought.

Amazon.com: Extech MN35 Digital Mini MultiMeter: Home Improvement

This is the one I bought last week from Homedepot. I swear I was'nt trying to be cheap it was 25$ at home depot.

http://www.amazon.com/MAS830L-Sinom...Digital+Multimeter(Commercial+Electric+MAS830


I think I will buy this one next

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=Extech EX330

 

[Rickb119]

As crxess stated, do not touch the metal part of the leads with your fingers. Be sure you are holding by the plastic part and NOT touching the metal part. If you do, the meter will be reading resistance through your body as well as what ever you're trying to measure.

 

[nomoe]

Amazon.com: Fluke 117 Electricians True RMS Multimeter: Home Improvement

Amazon.com: Fluke 117 Electricians True RMS Multimeter: Home Improvement

look at the dial set up on these dvoms. you want something set up like this and one with an auto 0 button.
i would not suggest spending that kind of coin for one to do this with. I make a living with tools so for me its a must and it puts food on the table for the family. but finding one set up that is a true auto range/auto scale from radioshack,homedepot,sears, harbor freight for far less

 

[Ryedan]

What I do is put one probe on the other with a slight sliding motion. Then hold probes steady with firm force on them and wait for the reading to stabilize. With my cheap meter this takes a few seconds. Mine is quite repeatable. Every time I do this it stops at 0.8 ohms. I take readings of my RBA coil sorta the same way, but with the tips of the probes. Place onto the screws with firm pressure and hold steady till it stabilizes.

HTH.

 

[nomoe]

ok if the reading is stable you just need to subtract the value of the leads if they are not true 0ohm leads. to find that touch the 2 leads togethers. cheeper leds can have a few tenths of an ohm.

 

[Bill's Magic Vapor]

This is the 3rd Multimeter I'm on.. I just received the Extech Mini Multimeter MN30. I'm not even at the point where I'm checking my first build. When I touch both the red and black together to see the variance I'm going to be dealing with it swings all over.. Whats going on this is my 3rd one?

Is it better just to buy one of the ohm meters from an online vendor?

I've run across this issue with a cheap multimeter many times. I finally got a dedicated cartomizer/atomizer Ohm reader, and require that all my regulated devices have a Ohm meter. While you'll get some variation, it's not significant enough to pose any risk whatsoever. These are very hard to find in-stock:


Cartomizer and Atomizer Ohm Meter

Also, this Voltage Meter:


Assembled Volt Indicator, Rev 2

The trick to getting these for me was to place my name on the waiting lists of several vendors, and then when notified, buy immediately, i.e., like next 5 minutes quick. I've seen 50 of them disappear in 20 minutes many times. These devices are handy too. The Ohm meter makes a nice little platform for re-builds, as well. Very Nice. Much less than a $150 RMS, auto zero, multimeter.

 

[Bill's Magic Vapor]

What I do is put one probe on the other with a slight sliding motion. Then hold probes steady with firm force on them and wait for the reading to stabilize. With my cheap meter this takes a few seconds. Mine is quite repeatable. Every time I do this it stops at 0.8 ohms. I take readings of my RBA coil sorta the same way, but with the tips of the probes. Place onto the screws with firm pressure and hold steady till it stabilizes.

HTH.

. This ^^^^^^^^.

Rock steady for a few seconds. Any movement will throw it off

 

[ericsp]

That worked!

 

[ericsp]

ok if the reading is stable you just need to subtract the value of the leads if they are not true 0ohm leads. to find that touch the 2 leads togethers. cheeper leds can have a few tenths of an ohm.

That worked..

I'm totally going to buy that ohm meter.

For now it runs and accurate, doesn't budge once I measure ohms on a my Viva Nova or protank. Its .1 off

 

[ericsp]

ok if the reading is stable you just need to subtract the value of the leads if they are not true 0ohm leads. to find that touch the 2 leads togethers. cheeper leds can have a few tenths of an ohm.

Thats next on my shopping list. I rebuilt my first atomizer on the viva nova.. It works perfectly.

 

[Thrasher]

laugh all you want, but i use this -
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner-Bender-14-Range-Analog-Meter-GMT-318/202867892

zero setting adjustment and warranty. my dmm stays in the toolbox and this is my RBA best friend.

 

[crxess]

laugh all you want, but i use this -
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner-Bender-14-Range-Analog-Meter-GMT-318/202867892

zero setting adjustment and warranty. my dmm stays in the toolbox and this is my RBA best friend.

No laughs here - Great little meters and they will test a HC Capacitor when a DVOM can't. Just never let a rookie use it. Poof!

 

[gtbb]

No laughs here either. They will check your resistance day in and day out just fine. As long as you don't kick it across the floor too many times.

 

[Geee]

I just bought this from RTDVapor like 5min ago. They still have a few in stock hurry

This was the carto ohm tester

 

[ChristopherJamesTCB]

I just bought this from RTDVapor like 5min ago. They still have a few in stock hurry

This was the carto ohm tester

Also just bought one FINALLY from RTD Vapor. They still have some GO GO GO!!
https://www.rtdvapor.com/online-store/accessories/meters/cartatommeter-detail

 

[DavidOck]

Retired electrician here.

One thing I always did was "pencil" sharpen the probe tips with emery cloth or very fine sand paper. Gets rid of any possible oxidation on the chrome, and gets down to the inner copper.

Leads on low end meters tend to be pretty small wire, and will have internal resistance which, as mentioned, must be subtracted one way or the other. Higher end meters have a button to do it. Low end ones, well, it's math. (Simple math! )

 

[ericsp]

Also just bought one FINALLY from RTD Vapor. They still have some GO GO GO!!
https://www.rtdvapor.com/online-store/accessories/meters/cartatommeter-detail

Well I missed that one