Got a multimeter for Christmas, yay....

[Adavicro]

This is what I got RadioShack 17-Range Analog Multimeter : Multimeters | RadioShack.com. Based on the reviews it's a pretty bad multimeter. I used it to test my 18650s and it was fine. The difficult part is for sub-ohm readings. I set the meter to 10x ohms setting and test the internal resistance by touching the leads together and the needle came to 9 which would translate to 90 ohms since the manual said that you need to multiply the number by a factor of 10 to get resistance. Now that's just weird. I then put the leads on my igo-w and the needle went to 9 again. So that's weird. I know my build is 0.5 ohms because I used a friend's multimeter a week ago. Does anybody have any experience with this multimeter?

 

[Thrasher]

well the very first thing to do is use the screw under the screen to make sure it is starting dead on zero

then touch the leads together and adjust the wheel on the side to make it read zero, then test the atty again.

 

[WarHawk-AVG]

http://www.radioshack.com/graphics/uc/rsk/Support/ProductManuals/2200109_PM_EN.pdf

It only has 10x, I'm afraid that unit might not be sensitive enough to read that low of a resistance accurately

Measuring Resistance
1.Set the Range Switch to a Ω position.

2.Power off the circuit under test and discharge all capacitors.

3.Touch the Test Leads together and turn the Resistance Zero Adjust control to set the needle to 0 on the Ω scale.

4.Touch the Test Leads across the circuit or component under test. It is best to disconnect one side of the component from its circuit so the rest of the circuit will not interfere with the reading.

5.Read the result on the Ω scale.

 

[Thrasher]

oh yea another thing that helps sometimes is chuck those noname batteries and get some duracells in there.

 

[Dakota Jim]

Did you buy it or was it a gift?

this was a top of the line meter when I was in high school (calculators were $300, there were only 3 networks, the space shuttle was just a concept, some beer cans still needed a church key, and it was acceptable for kids to ride on the rear deck window of cars)

take it back and either have it checked by a sales person (betcha a dollar they need to get a manager to show them how to use it) or get a refund and get a modern digital multimeter for less money at walmart

 

[Adavicro]

Did you buy it or was it a gift?

this was a top of the line meter when I was in high school (calculators were $300, there were only 3 networks, the space shuttle was just a concept, some beer cans still needed a church key, and it was acceptable for kids to ride on the rear deck window of cars)

take it back and either have it checked by a sales person (betcha a dollar they need to get a manager to show them how to use it) or get a refund and get a modern digital multimeter for less money at walmart

This was a gift. Not sure if I can return it without the receipt.