Borrowed a meter...how to use it???

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HippyGirl

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Oct 30, 2009
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Alabama
I borrowed my Dad's meter and have NO CLUE how to use it...it's an old one.

IMG_0581.jpg

Does anyone know how to set it to check battery voltage???

Thanks,

Sherry
 

wgm

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Oct 11, 2009
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SW Florida
Hi Sherry,

First, set the meter to DC volts on one of its scales that goes no higher than about 10 volts. Then place the red (+) lead on the positive (+) center of your battery and the black (-) lead on the negative (-) end. It takes a little juggling but you'll eventually get the feel for it. Now read the voltage on the face of the meter, paying attention to which scale corresponds to the voltage you set.

Have fun and good luck,
Will
 
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HippyGirl

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Oct 30, 2009
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Alabama
I "finally" managed to pull my Dad away from the TV long enough to show me how to check voltage and for continuity. Like you, he told me to set it to 10 vor voltage.

As for what kind it is...all I can make out on the back is that it's from Sears and was made in Korea. I didn't ask my Dad, but it looks like an oldie to me.

Oldie or not, it works, huh?

Sherry
 

Guitarslinger

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Oct 3, 2009
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He he-got one just like it (tho I now use a digital). Sears used to give these to their appliance repairmen (back in the day whn people actually FIXED things, lol). Mine works just fine-you just need to know what scale to read when using it-actually some people prefer the analog models due to interference factors on the digitals-soooo-bottom line is it shoulld work just fine.
 

HippyGirl

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Oct 30, 2009
407
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Alabama
Hey, where in Alabama are you? I can't be the only one in Birmingham but I haven't seen anyone here. Feeling kind of like an outcast.

I would offer to show you how to use it but it sounds like your Dad has it covered.

I'm in Phenix City...about 130-ish miles from you. There are quite a few members here in 'bama, so you're not alone! ;)

I had to take my dad's meter back to him even though he's retired, a couch potato, and NEVER uses it anymore (men and their tools...PAH!), so I went to Home Depot this afternoon and bought a Sperry DM-350A. The instructions that came with it SUCK, but I "think" I have it figured out.

I think.

I'll say this, though...all this modding stuff is forcing me to learn about electronics. I'm almost 50 and even though I knew "ohms" had something to do with electricity, it never even entered my mind to break out a book (or Google) and find out what it actually is.

Soooooo...add this to my already MASSIVE list of hobbies!

Sherry
 

randyc

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Apr 26, 2009
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Florence SC
I bought a multimeter from Radio Shack and I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong or what the problem is but I have some CR2's that I've used almost completely up but the meter is reading 2.94 volts. They were only 3 when they were brand new! I tried it on a 9 volt battery that's been in use for a long time too and it's reading 9.3 volts on it. These readings can't be true. Anybody know whats going on here?
 

bigozone

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Sep 6, 2009
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I bought a multimeter from Radio Shack and I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong or what the problem is but I have some CR2's that I've used almost completely up but the meter is reading 2.94 volts. They were only 3 when they were brand new! I tried it on a 9 volt battery that's been in use for a long time too and it's reading 9.3 volts on it. These readings can't be true. Anybody know whats going on here?

those readings are true, but realize this you can't really test a battery with a multimeter. to really test a battery requires a ZTS BATTERY TESTER (google it)

if your CR2s are non rechargables then they are not almost used up, but they may not power an atomizer if using only 1 battery because most attys are designed to use 3.7v. so i can see why you'd think they are almost used up.

as for the 9v battery, most batterys come charged higher than the rated voltage.

i have 2 cr2 rechargables that overheated and became damaged... and despite the fact that they show 3.2 and 3.4v respectivly after extensive charging, they do not have enough MILIAMPS to power an atty.

my good CR2s come off the charger at 3.4v each and power attys no problem in sets of 2 (in series) which is 6.8v. so these 3v batterys actually charge to higher than the printed voltage.

i'd suggest you read the sticky threads on batteries in the general modding section and the stickies inside the battery mod subsection of the modding section.

maybe with more info on your cr2s i can give you more definitive answers, but i need to know a few things first...

1. are they rechargable?
2. what is the maH rating printed on the batterys
3. what brand are they
4. how much have you used them (# of recharges, time they last between charges)
5. how many batterys are you using in your device
6. decsription of the device and type of atty being used
 

bigozone

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Sep 6, 2009
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Kentucky
Can a multimeter check the mah of the battery or do you need a different meter for that?

nothing can truely test the maH of a battery.

a ZTS battery tester can give you a very close approximation of a battery's condition, but a multimeter can only tell you the standing voltage of a battery which means almost nothing without knowing the AMPS or miliamps the battery is holding as well.

i have 2 CR2s that test good for voltage but can barely light an LED because they can't hold very many miliamps.
 

randyc

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Apr 26, 2009
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Florence SC
The cr2's came in a bulk pack. They are white and the only writing on them is Cr2 3v. They are not rechargeable and I use them in a Black Beauty that I bought recently from Alt Smoke. I have 8 of them left. I use 2 at the time to make for a 6v vape. I've been using them for about 2 weeks, sort of rotating them back and forth. They still work, just not as strong as when they were new. I bought the multimeter yesterday because I was just more curious than anything and like I said, they are still showing close to 3 volts. I use a 510 atty. Thats about all I can really tell you. I guess I need a battery tester like you said.
 
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