KymcoForum.com
General => Technical | How To => Topic started by: Rianna on December 14, 2010, 01:22:50 AM
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I found this in a drawer.
What is it called and what can I test on the scoot with it?
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What is a multimeter Alex?
Sorry, I must have been watching Jeopardy earlier.
You can test electrical stuff - like your auto bypass for instance.
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Thank you, oswaldters! I wanted to google the name of it, but I couldn't remember it, lol. There was a little book that came with it and the print was sooo small. I skimmed through it the best I could and never did find the name of it! :D
I reckon they figure if you buy it you know what it is. It was given to me a few years back. I don't know what I was going to use it for then, but I don't think I actually ever used it.
So...auto bypass. 8)
Anything else?
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wow thats a good find rianna hang on to that put that in you tool box.
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Thanks, blue. I'm wondering if it can be used to test the current going to that push start button. Do you know?
I should clean out drawers and closets more often, huh? No telling what I might find. :D
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yes you can use it on your scoot it well tell you which wires are + and -.
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Thank you, blue! :)
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You might want to make sure you understand how it works before you start using it :)
Measuring something the wrong way could do damage... Not sure if your instructions are good but here's a video for basics
HD Multimeter tutorial (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF3OyQ3HwfU#ws)
Edit: also keep in mind that your meter is analog, which means that if it's a negative reading, you might damage the needle as it would try and move the wrong way.
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Uh-oh...sounds complicated. :D
One more thing I get to learn about.
Thank you, aokark. :) I can't watch videos at the moment, but maybe I can convince my son to let me watch it on his computer tomorrow.
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Very nice item to have. Be aware it has a battery and a fuse. If it's been laying around a while, battery may need replacing. It's usually one triple A in one of that size. The battery is only in use when checking continuity or resistance (ohms).
Can use it to check amps or volts without battery in it.
Those manuals that come with them rarely explain the basics of electricity so you have to learn those before the meter is much use. Try an encyclopedia or some basic electrics literature. Bet you can find something online. You can begin to understand basics fairly quickly.
Or ask somebody here for help for a specific test. ;)
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Thanks, Hoolander. :)
I didn't know about the fuse. I'm sure it will need a fresh battery. That's pretty cool you can use it check some things without a battery. I had to laugh at that manual because if it did say something useful I would never know. I felt like a needed a magnifier for my magnifying glass.
I'll probably find some good info online somewhere, but if I get stuck I'll be sure to post a silly question or two.
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What can you test on the scoot with it? Many things. Only it won't test high amperage like in the starting circuit. Gotta have much bigger one for that.
Still, it's good for showing battery volts -- motor running and/or not running.
Continuity: that'd be a good test for that switch you're talking about. Continuity needs to be checked when there's no current going to/through the part in question. Otherwise you blow the meter's fuse!
A cheap little set of jumper wires with alligator clips helps many times so you can attach your leads to what you're checking. Otherwise, seems like you need three or four hands. :D
When you turn the dial into the different sections, you read a different line on the meter face. The lines are all marked at one end or the other as to what they're for.
Check the meter's battery by turning dial to the highest Ohm setting, then touch the two leads together. Should make the needle go all the way across.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimeter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimeter)
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It's a tool you'll need for working on electrical problems. Learn as much about it as you can, and later consider buying a digital one. Prices have really, really dropped.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimeter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimeter)
Thank you, axy! :)
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It's a tool you'll need for working on electrical problems. Learn as much about it as you can, and later consider buying a digital one. Prices have really, really dropped.
Thanks, Agent Bob. Yes, one with a nice digital display would be great to have.
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What can you test on the scoot with it? Many things. Only it won't test high amperage like in the starting circuit. Gotta have much bigger one for that.
Still, it's good for showing battery volts -- motor running and/or not running.
Continuity: that'd be a good test for that switch you're talking about. Continuity needs to be checked when there's no current going to/through the part in question. Otherwise you blow the meter's fuse!
A cheap little set of jumper wires with alligator clips helps many times so you can attach your leads to what you're checking. Otherwise, seems like you need three or four hands. :D
When you turn the dial into the different sections, you read a different line on the meter face. The lines are all marked at one end or the other as to what they're for.
Check the meter's battery by turning dial to the highest Ohm setting, then touch the two leads together. Should make the needle go all the way across.
Wow, so I can check the battery output with this as well? Pretty cool. I haven't read up on it yet. Been too busy. I did try that test you suggested and the needle never moved. I put a fresh battery in it today and tried again. The needle still did not move. I pulled the little fuse and it looks like I won't be doing anything with this little gadget until payday. All the fuses I have are the wrong size. :(
I do think I actually have a set of wires with those little alligator clips on them. If I can find them that is...lol. I think they may have come with a power inverter I bought for the truck (or something like that...I can't remember.)
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just dont try useing it wile you are standing in a pool of water.------lol
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I put a fresh battery in it today and tried again. The needle still did not move.
Is there an on/off switch on the side? If so, try that.
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LOL @ blue. I don't have plans to be standing in any pools this time of year anyway. :D
No on/off switch on the side, Hoolander. It has a dial that spins on the side, sorta like a volume dial on an old radio. I moved the dial all the way in both directions. It doesn't actually click on and off, though. Maybe this is why it ended up in a drawer and I never used it for whatever I had planned year ago. ::) :D
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Ok. That dial on the side is for adjusting the needle once you do get it to come on.
Was it brand new when you got it?
Are the leads plugged in tight? Guess you might be looking for a fuse then. Sometimes they come with a spare in the package. Radio Shack probably has em.
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It was used when I got it. There's no spare in the package. No worries, though. I added the fuse to my shopping list. Thanks for the tip about Radio Shack.
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To see it it's working at all.. Turn the dial to OHM x1, plug the cables in and touch them to each other. The needle should jump all the way across the dial. If not.. I suspect the meter is dead. Take it Radio Shack. The nerd there may be able to help.
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Yeah, I got nothing. Thanks, TechGuy. I'll take it with me. Who knows? I may come out with a nicer model instead of a fuse. :)
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You can get a fully functional digital multimeter for like $5... I just happen to have one for $1500 lol, good but overpriced but my job paid for it so I'm not complaining
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Wow, $5, really? Sounds good...thanks, aokark! :)
Sounds like you've got a great one there...$1500! :o
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For simple things at home, a $5 or $10 multimeter would work just as good. If you have a Harbor Freight nearby they have some cheap ones like this http://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-digital-multimeter-90899.html (http://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-digital-multimeter-90899.html)
Edit: The high quality multimeters can give a more accurate reading, some have lifetime warranty and calibration, are rated for higher voltages... Most also have special functions etc but it's definitely not necessary to have a really expensive high quality multimeter in your home... With a cheap multimeter you can learn how they work and if you blow it up, you won't kill yourself over $5 :-P
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Thanks for the link, aokark.
If I blow it up, I'll be sure to make a post all about it. :D
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Well, Radio Shack didn't have the right size fuse and they kept trying to sell me the 2.5 one that was the wrong size for it so I decided not to buy anything there. I felt like asking him could he put a D size battery in television's remote control. I didn't do it, though. ;D
Any ideas where else I might could find a fuse or another multimeter? Harbor Freight's just too far away.
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Any place with a tool department like Kmart, Walmart, Sears or Ace should have multimeters.
http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_2506020100000001P?vName=Computers%20&%20Electronics&cName=HomeTheater&Audio&sName=Accessories&sid=KDx20070926x00003a&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=2506020100000001P (http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_2506020100000001P?vName=Computers%20&%20Electronics&cName=HomeTheater&Audio&sName=Accessories&sid=KDx20070926x00003a&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=2506020100000001P)
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Thank you very much, Agent Bob! I'll see if I can find a way to one of those places.
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check with a local hardware store they sale theam so maybe they have the fuse.
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Thanks, blue! There's really nothing close to where I live, but I'm going to try to get one somewhere soon.