Teach me to use DT95B Multimeter please?

[Racehorse]

My DT95B multimeter arrived w/out instructions. As I understand it, they don't come with.

I want to perform:
1) Test on batteries (both the ego style as well as replaceables like the 18650 and 14500s) when they come off the charger
a) what should readings be off the charger?
b) what will they be when they needs recharging?

2) Impendence test my atties, cartos, etc. to make sure I don't short out my batteries
a) what should readings be (for LR atty/carto, SR atty/carto)
b) how do you take a reading on a clearomizer (LR?SR?)
I don't use anything over about 2.4-2.8 ohms.
3) how do I test the multimeter itself?
4) I see it takes batteries, how often would I need to check those and what does it take?

Talk to me like I"m a 4th grader because I have never used a multimeter before. Here is the photo.
Literally, I need to know "set dial to ____, then put red lead _____ and black lead ______ and it should read _______ and step-by-step please.

I know this is hard to do on the internet but I have nobody else to show me. I'm sure there are other who can benefit from this tutorial.

 

[yzer]

Here you go...

AltSmoke.com | Personal Vaporizers | Electronic Cigarette | Ecigs | | Multimeter - How to test your Electronic Cigarette Parts

I believe these little $13 DMMs use a 9V button cell battery. The battery may last you a couple of months before needing replacement. Depends on how much you use it. These button cells can cost almost as much as the DMM itself because they are usually sold only in pairs.

Somewhat larger and better DMMs use the standard, larger alkaline 9V battery. These batteries have the two snap terminals. The older type 9V batteries last a long time, like a year or two.

On the plus side these little Chinese DMMs are probably all the meter most people will ever need for vaping purposes.

Most DMM displays will show a low power icon when the battery is weak. Erratic readings are also a symptom of low battery power.

When metering voltage on an eGo type battery remember that almost all e-cigarettes are wired case negative. That means the minus side (B-) is carried by the case (outside of the device). B- is the flat bottom end of the battery. The plus side (B+) is carried on the inner or center connector. B+ is the button top end of the battery.

To meter voltage from an eGo type battery place the B- test lead (black) on the connector case. The threaded section will work fine. Then place the B+ test lead (red) on the connector center post.

I guess I like to live dangerously when metering my Li-ion batteries. I use the 20V setting on my meter and not the 200V setting recommended at the link above.

Error correction. You will probably only need to do this when metering resistance. Turn the meter on and set the dial to the resistance (Ohm) range you want. Touch the two test probes together and write down the value. Subtract this number from the value you get when metering a circuit resistance.

 

[LucentShadow]

That's a pretty good guide that yzer posted.

I would just add a few pointers.

- It doesn't really matter which probe goes to where for checking resistance. It will read the same either way, but it's probably a good practice to know what is positive on your gear. That's the center contact on 510 stuff.

- Usual resistance is between 1.7 ohms and 3.2 ohms for a single coil. It should read pretty close to what it's rated as. Anything much less than 1.5 could be harmful to an ego battery. If it's close to zero, it's shorted somewhere.

- When checking DC voltage, the same goes, but it'll just read negative if you reverse the leads. But, as in the case of 510 devices, the outer case of the device should never be the positive.

- You shouldn't get very much more than 4.2 volts off of the charger.

- Always set the range on the meter to higher than what you would expect to read.

- The multimeter can be tested using known standards for voltage and resistance. This is not easy to do at home. When I did that for a living, something certified as at least 4 times more accurate (traceable to the NIST) was used. It really shouldn't be much of an issue for our purposes. As yzer mentioned, erratic readings will usually indicate a low battery, though.

 

[kiwivap]

I think yzer covered it. Here's a ten minute video on using a multimeter for ecigs - as a visual addition to what yzer posted:

 

[Racehorse]

double post

 

[Strontium]

Post #4
Good video, but those 18650 batteries are overcharged.