Has anyone returned a multi meter?

[Dana A]

I went out and bought one but I am not brilliant enough to figure out how to run it. The directions are even in english LOL I know I can't be the only one who can't figure it out myself. I don't want to take it back but it's too smart for me. Please help

 

[nordoe]

What are you trying to use it for? Battery voltage or Atomizer Resistance or both?

 

[conan]

Multi-Meter How to for Electronic Cigarette users

 

[Dana A]

Thanks conan but I already watched it and her meter is different than mine so I was able to test the battery but don't know where to turn the dial to test a carto. My meter is way different than hers

 

[Chris97b]

For testing a carto, I'm assuming you want to test the resistance? If so, usually there is a setting for resistance, indicated by the letter Omega (Ω).

Also be sure not to accidentally test a battery using this setting, or depending on the design of the battery, badness could ensure.

 

[Dana A]

OK guys. Here it is. Can anyone tell me where to turn the dial to check my cartos and attys ohms. Like if you zoom in and look at the choices. Somethings not right cause I tried every place on the dial and had no luck. I am touching the black one to thr threading and the red one to the post.

 

[Iffy]

200Ω position

First touch your leads together. Note reading. You should read near zero (ie 0.2). Then measure the resistance of your atty/carto. Lastly subtract your initial value from your atty/carto value.

Good luck! Get back with us if you continue to have issues.

 

[Chris97b]

Here you go, try this. I've marked the setting used for testing attys/cartos, as well as the correct scale for testing batteries.

http://www.chris97b.com/mm_marked.jpg

 

[Nomoreash]

OK guys. Here it is. Can anyone tell me where to turn the dial to check my cartos and attys ohms. Like if you zoom in and look at the choices. Somethings not right cause I tried every place on the dial and had no luck. I am touching the black one to thr threading and the red one to the post.

Yes you want to use the 200 ohm setting, it's about 6 o-clock on the dial and marked with the symbol that Chris posted above.

 

[nordoe]

I had first bought a really cheap multimeter from eBay and it would read volts of the batteries fine but not resistance. When I would test it on Ohms it would jump all over the place. Went to the hardware store and like 15 or 20 dollars and got one that works great. It may just be the meter.

 

[ChrispyCritter]

Make sure you have the wires in the right place..the black in the bottom and the red just above it..the extra plug above that is for testing higher voltages/amps up to 10a and the red would go there but you don't need it for an e cig. The black is always in the bottom where it says COM that stands for common ground.

Also with most e cigs (I only heard of one brand that was reverse polarity) the ground would be the outside threads the positive would be the center pin. Black wire is ground red wire is positive on the meter. If you get it backwards no biggie it will just read in minus numbers. With ohm readings it doesn't really matter as long as one wire touches the center and one the threads...

 

[Unforeseen]

Moved from General E-Smoking Discussion to E-Cigarette Accessories Discussion

 

[Dana A]

Thanks so much guys especially Chris. Picture was a life saver! At first it wouldn't stop jumping around on #s but I realized I was testing a DC carto. So I assume it wont read DCs? Then I did a 2.2 carto and it read 3.0. Do you guys think this is right?

 

[Dana A]

I have never met a group of strangers more willing to help strangers than on ECF. You guys rock!

 

[Fusselkater]

The multimeter doesn't care if it is a Dual Coil or not.
And a 2.2 shouldn't say 3.0.
Try to press the tips a bit harder against the contacts of the cartos.
Or try several times, sometimes it's a little bit tricky to get a good connection between the multimeter and the carto.

Edit: have you measured the resistance of the multimeter by touching the red and black probe with each other (without the carto)?
You have to subtract the multimeters own resistance later.

 

[Chris97b]

The multimeter doesn't care if it is a Dual Coil or not.
And a 2.2 shouldn't say 3.0.
Try to press the tips a bit harder against the contacts of the cartos.
Or try several times, sometimes it's a little bit tricky to get a good connection between the multimeter and the carto.

Edit: have you measured the resistance of the multimeter by touching the red and black probe with each other (without the carto)?
You have to subtract the multimeters own resistance later.

Yep, if the numbers are jumping around a lot, that's usually a sign that one of the leads isn't making solid contact with the carto. And great tip, I completely forgot to mention the resistance of the meter itself.

 

[hatfieldsmama]

Is it possible to check voltage using the same type of meter as dana a? i have a variable voltage box mod so im trying to read the voltage output of the box. thanks in advance guys!

 

[DaveP]

Thanks so much guys especially Chris. Picture was a life saver! At first it wouldn't stop jumping around on #s but I realized I was testing a DC carto. So I assume it wont read DCs? Then I did a 2.2 carto and it read 3.0. Do you guys think this is right?

ECF is a special place to be if you vape. It's family.

 

[DaveP]

Sometimes the lead connections to the multimeter will be resistive. Try holding the leads together tightly with one hand while you rotate the plugs where the leads plug into the multimeter. You'll see the reading drop as you "polish" the connection by twisting the plugs half a turn back and forth.

Then stop and look at the reading with only the leads touching each other. This is the number you subtract from the reading you get when you read the atty. Attys aren't always exactly the resistance advertised every time. You might read 2.8 to 3.2 ohms on a 3 ohm atty. My Boge cartos read 2.0 and are advertised as 1.8 ohms by the vendor.

Dual coil cartos have two coils wired side by side in parallel. You should read 1.6 or so from a DC carto since the two coils usually are each 3.2 ohms.

 

[Blargh23]

Yep, if the numbers are jumping around a lot, that's usually a sign that one of the leads isn't making solid contact with the carto.

Or it's a bad carto. (Intermittent internal connection).