Need help with my multimeter

[PilouPilou]

1 hour I try to measure mA with my multimeter but nothing works! it's a 3xCXB in serie.. the light works well but when I try to connect my multimeter.. no light... no measure. I follow all the advices I've seen in the excellent video of @ledgardener and I tried many possibilities of connection with the multimeter but nothing! Here are 2 pics.. if someone can help, maybe I did a mistake... idk! thanks in advance for your replies.

 

[freemanjack]

1 hour I try to measure mA with my multimeter but nothing works! it's a 3xCXB in serie.. the light works well but when I try to connect my multimeter.. no light... no measure. I follow all the advices I've seen in the excellent video of @ledgardener and I tried many possibilities of connection with the multimeter but nothing! Here are 2 pics.. if someone can help, maybe I did a mistake... idk! thanks in advance for your replies.

View attachment 3996593 View attachment 3996594

It could be the fuse in your meter, it only fuses the current circuit so the other functions of the meter will work but current will not. I have an almost identical meter but I always use a clamp meter to measure current, any cheapo one will do, you only need 'fairly accurate' I use something like this for my current measurements;
https://www.maplin.co.uk/p/uni-trend-current-clamp-multimeter-used-b76nw

 

[RM3]

you're in the 10 amp slot for lead and meter is set to milli amps

either turn the knob to one of the 10's or put the lead in the MA slot

you're also set to DC

 

[PilouPilou]

you're in the 10 amp slot for lead and meter is set to milli amps

either turn the knob to one of the 10's or put the lead in the MA slot

you're also set to DC

so I need to turn the knob on number 10? the lead.. you mean the red wire of the multimeter?

 

[RM3]

so I need to turn the knob on number 10? the lead.. you mean the red wire of the multimeter?

yes, if you want to measure amps up to 10 amps (if over it'll blow a fuse)

put the red lead + in the MA/Hfe slot if you wanna measure milli amps (millionth of an amp)

the A --- 10 (to the left) is DC the A~ 10 (to the right) is AC

 

[PilouPilou]

like this?

 

[PilouPilou]

under the mA/HFE slot I see "max 200mA fused".. does it mean I can't measure more than 200mA?

 

[RM3]

under the mA/HFE slot I see "max 200mA fused".. does it mean I can't measure under 200mA?

not under, it means over

 

[RM3]

like this?View attachment 3996653

yeppers

 

[PilouPilou]

yeppers

well it seems my multimeter is broken because it doesn't work! this morning with ones of my first measurement the light switched on.. I turned the potentiometer and bim! the light switched off... I'm not sure but I think I was on the mA/hfe slot...maybe now my multimeter is broken

 

[PilouPilou]

@RM3 thank you for your replies.. my knowledge in electricity is as "good" as my english level!!

 

[SouthCross]

well it seems my multimeter is broken because it doesn't work! this morning with ones of my first measurement the light switched on.. I turned the potentiometer and bim! the light switched off... I'm not sure but I think I was on the mA/hfe slot...maybe now my multimeter is broken

Pawnshop and rent' one. Find a decent one at the pawn. Test it, buy it, use it, then go back and pawn it back to them.

Before you buy, ask them how much they'll buy it back for....


'Pawnshop rental'

 

[rkymtnman]

I'm not sure but I think I was on the mA/hfe slot...maybe now my multimeter is broken

you probably just blew the fuse. there should be 2 fuses when you remove the cover

 

[RM3]

@RM3 thank you for your replies.. my knowledge in electricity is as "good" as my english level!!

was an electronic tech for 47 years before retirement

 

[dabby duck]

The fuse is blown, otherwise the entire meter would not light up or act funny....ask me how many apprentices I have seen toast a good $400 meter ....more than you would think

 

[ChiefRunningPhist]

Multimeter from Wal-Mart...


Is it 250v or 500v, what's the 2nd volt range setting? Am I crazy or is this goofy??

Only 1 set of lead receptacles?

Trying to determine what to drive these at (30w actual draw is manufacture default) if I used the LEDs to build my own light..


Original post with pics of built-in driver..
https://www.rollitup.org/p/14639943/