Anyone have problems with multimeters?

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Lucky1384

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This is going to sound really dumb since I use a multimeter most days at work, but is it just me who has trouble measuring the resistance of a coil or rda? When I built my first coil, I installed it into a mini dripper and tried testing between the centre pin and thread. All I got was a reading that jumped around like crazy.

At home I use a pen style meter that has been pretty good to me so far. I tried it on a ton of resistors and it was spot on every time. Its standard setting is auto range, but I even tried fixed ranges to no avail. Tried testing on my Fluke from work, same results. I used both to test the coil on and off the rda.

If I put a coil on my Provari I get a steady reading. I don't really need to use a meter since getting the Provari, it's just bugged me ever since!
 

KY_Rob

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I have the same problem using a Fluke 87V that's not been "delta" set. All that means is to take the internal resistance of the meter in to account. Most multimeters can do this.

1) Turn the meter to read resistance

2) Touch and hold the meter leads together. Should display a dead short, but will likely show a "bouncing" small value. This is the internal resistance of meter.

3) A Fluke has a Δ (delta) button that will "zero" these fluctuations. Analog style meters should have a dial pot that will allow a similar adjustment to be made.

Get your meter good and zeroed out, and you should be good to go! Keep in mind, when measuring an unmounted coil that the placement of the leads will change the amount of resistance.
 

Lucky1384

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I have the same problem using a Fluke 87V that's not been "delta" set. All that means is to take the internal resistance of the meter in to account. Most multimeters can do this.

1) Turn the meter to read resistance

2) Touch and hold the meter leads together. Should display a dead short, but will likely show a "bouncing" small value. This is the internal resistance of meter.

3) A Fluke has a Δ (delta) button that will "zero" these fluctuations. Analog style meters should have a dial pot that will allow a similar adjustment to be made.

Get your meter good and zeroed out, and you should be good to go! Keep in mind, when measuring an unmounted coil that the placement of the leads will change the amount of resistance.

Very good advice, but my Fluke automatically accounts for its own internal resistance. It was showing a dead 0.0 every time before I tried checking the coil. Also tried it on my Kanger Aerotank, but same strange results! I've often wondered if my body puts out some kind of electrical field due to how many bizarre things like this have happened to me before. Maybe a few too many electric shocks :D
 

trouble1000

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I did get the jumpy readings myself sometimes, but only when my hands weren't rock solid. Even a little shakiness can throw the readings out sometimes. When I first started doing mico coils I would build and torch the coil take it off the drill bit and try checking the resistance, if the probes weren't rock solid on the coil legs the reading would be all over the place.

Now, after plenty of practice, I can wrap the coil and know exactly what it will come out to. I still use the multimeter though, just in case. Building a coil the morning after a heavy night, is definitely a bad idea :laugh:
 

DasBluCig

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Perhaps a different type of test lead, rather than a "standard" straight shaft??
I use "micro-clip" probes at the end of my test leads when I ohm-check coils....no slipping around/intermittent contact....
BTW...I'm using an older model Radio Shack DMM (Micronta 22-185).....
Good Luck!
Happy (vaping) Trails!
 
make sure your fingers(or any part of your body) is not touching the metal of the probes. also make sure it is setting on a non conductive, solid surface. a glass table top is great for this(make sure it is clean and dry. if you have the base on a surface(wood) that has give to it, the center pin and the shaft could be making a residual contact through the moisture in the surface causing your reading to be off or bounce around.

Andy
 
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