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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird |  |  | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2013 - 07:48 Post title : How to use a Multimeter | | | Ok ,so after having a little problem with the front light I have decided to buy one of these such devices. It sort of became a necessity. Especially when Fishy, Dave and everyone's first words are ''with your meter just check....................''.
So here we have it. I guessed this would be an average sort of meter that you could buy worldwide, and those in the know would be familiar with it.
I would now like to take this opportunity to ask anyone (for the good of the forum) WTF do I do with it ?
There must be plenty of blokes out there would like to ask the same thing. So thanks in advance for any help, tips and advice on the various usages of this device.
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
| | Post edited by mat1600 on 03 May 2013 - 07:51 |
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| mjgt | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 16/09/2011 | | Posts | : | 2,201 | | Location | : | North Somerset, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2013 - 07:56 Post title : Re: How to use a Multimeter (Re: mat1600) | | | mat, I could just try to explain that voltages are measured across a circuit, current is measured in line with a circuit etc. but it would be a lot easier for you to take a look at this link, you will get all the info you need to get you started.
Link
Good luck.
| Mick . . .  Keep the rubber side down!!
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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird | | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2013 - 08:26 Post title : Re: How to use a Multimeter (Re: mjgt) | | |  Its a start.
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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| mjgt | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 16/09/2011 | | Posts | : | 2,201 | | Location | : | North Somerset, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2013 - 08:50 Post title : Re: How to use a Multimeter (Re: mat1600) | | | Just get used to what it can do, once you get the hang of it you will find it easy. the highest voltage you will need for the bike is around 15v, as for current the highest you should see in normal conditions is around 6A, main beam is 5A (do not try to measure your starting current). As for the ohms or diode, a beep is a short circuit (but try it both ways as a diode is just an electronic one way valve).
| Mick . . . Keep the rubber side down!!
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| GerPa | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 10/12/2011 | | Posts | : | 1,919 | | Location | : | Mackay, Central Queensland, Australia |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2013 - 09:44 Post title : Re: How to use a Multimeter (Re: mjgt) | | | Oi Mat
Now this is a "Bumb "Ol" Motor Mechanic" speaking here so there could be some smart Lecky out there that might blow this explanation right out of the water.
The V with the Little Squiggle are those Real Volts that hurt you.AC so unless your playing Lecky don't use them.
The V with the ... are the low voltages , i.e. D C,The one we use.
The same applies for the A which signifies Amps.
The Upside down Horseshoe is Ohms i.e. Resistance. If you join both of your probes together in the Ohms are you should get a 0.00 reading. This is handy for checking out wires to see if there are any breaks, no breaks then you should get the 0.00 reading showing that the wire has continuity.
On the Scale Dial the bigger the number you place the dial on is for the bigger readings. Play with it on a 12volt battery to understand the differences. similarly put in across the battery of the Bird and find out what V ... you have , then flick it over to A ... and start your bird up and take a reading, then rev it up and watch the display change to show what amps the system is charging the battery at.
Have a play mate.
|  May-2011-1600, 20306 Tune, Mustang Vintage Solo Seat, Meerkat Cat Bypass, + Meerkat Modified Short TORS  ,K&N Air Cleaner,K&N Oil Filter, JBQ lifting system, Gold Plug Magnetic Sump Plug,Dart Fly screen, Rivco Risers, GiPro Gear Indicator, Breakaway Cruise Control, Avon ISO Grips, Scorpion Western Low Handlebars, Kury Switchblade Pegs, Garmin Zumo390LM,Michelin RC2 on Front RC 3 on ,Modified Rear Drive Pulley Hub Bearings (Mat1600/Alex4 Modification) Front Susp: Std & 7.5W Oil /126mm Air Gap & Rear:Hagon Nitro's with 26Kg/cm Springs + Lots of other "Bling" stuff.
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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird | | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2013 - 11:39 Post title : Re: How to use a Multimeter (Re: GerPa) | | | Thanks Gerry and mick. Nice simple instructions
Things progressed quite rapidly once I realised there is an 'ON' button.
There are 4 holes in the front to plug the pointy things into - why so many ?
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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| AleXL4 | | Chaac | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 17/09/2012 | | Posts | : | 571 | | Location | : | Gympie, Queensland, Australia |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2013 - 12:26 Post title : Re: How to use a Multimeter (Re: mat1600) | | | Mat,
You always plug the NON-RED plug lead into the COM (Common) hole.
Mate, you're way ahead us there with the "ON SWITCH" 
Alex
| Enjoying the Journey
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| mjgt | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 16/09/2011 | | Posts | : | 2,201 | | Location | : | North Somerset, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2013 - 16:43 Post title : Re: How to use a Multimeter (Re: mat1600) | | | It kind of tells you on the front  
| Mick . . . Keep the rubber side down!!
| | Post edited by mjgt on 03 May 2013 - 16:43 |
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| davetac1 | | Thunderbird | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,379 | | Location | : | Haverhill, Ma., United States |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2013 - 17:29 Post title : Re: How to use a Multimeter (Re: mjgt) | | | Every meter I've bought or used comes with instructions.So you start by reading those instructions and then play with the meter,testing basic things and exploring just what it can and cannot do.Once you become familiar with it,and actually use it to solve a few problems,you'll discover that it's one of the better investments you'll ever make.But for serious use,if you're a pro,ya want a REAL GOOD meter which is why I bought my Fluke88.It cost me a grand,that's a thousand bucks[USD],but because of what I do,I need it and it's worth every penny.
And don't forget,no matter which meter ya buy,or what ya paid for it,you still MUST TAKE CARE of it or it won't work right,giving false readings, and you'll really get confused. Dave!!!
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| John | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 20/05/2012 | | Posts | : | 84 | | Location | : | Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2013 - 17:45 Post title : Re: How to use a Multimeter (Re: mat1600) | | | If your really keen bring it with you on the 11th! Not that you'll remember much by Sunday
| Addicted to the TBird
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| fishy | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 15/09/2012 | | Posts | : | 440 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2013 - 18:39 Post title : Re: How to use a Multimeter (Re: John) | | | Matt-to check mA you have to put the red probe in the mA red hole.
Then you would have to put the black and red in the circuit your trying to measure.
If you could measure the mA on Fuse 7 that would be great for me. I kept getting dead batteries and isolated the key off draw to fuse 7. I just measured the slots that the pins of the fuses plug into-red lead on one side and black on the other and read the meter.
I measured .72 mA. I thought this was too much so figured my Speedo cluster was bad. Bought another speedo cluster and it also measured .72 so I'm still not sure what the normal load is with key off on fuse 7.
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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird | | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2013 - 19:26 Post title : Re: How to use a Multimeter (Re: fishy) | | |
fishy wrote:
Matt-to check mA you have to put the red probe in the mA red hole.
Then you would have to put the black and red in the circuit your trying to measure.
If you could measure the mA on Fuse 7 that would be great for me. I kept getting dead batteries and isolated the key off draw to fuse 7. I just measured the slots that the pins of the fuses plug into-red lead on one side and black on the other and read the meter.
I measured .72 mA. I thought this was too much so figured my Speedo cluster was bad. Bought another speedo cluster and it also measured .72 so I'm still not sure what the normal load is with key off on fuse 7.
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Ok. Sounds like a good place to start. I guess I put the turny knob thing round to the A (with the little wavy line next to it) 20A
Will give it a go and report back.
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird | | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2013 - 19:28 Post title : Re: How to use a Multimeter (Re: John) | | |
John wrote:
If your really keen bring it with you on the 11th! Not that you'll remember much by Sunday |
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I'm not going to look my coolest sat in a pub with a pint and a multimeter.
I can see myself getting probed somewhere where it hurts. 
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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| davetac1 | | Thunderbird | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,379 | | Location | : | Haverhill, Ma., United States |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2013 - 20:09 Post title : Re: How to use a Multimeter (Re: mat1600) | | |
mat1600 wrote:
I'm not going to look my coolest sat in a pub with a pint and a multimeter.
I can see myself getting probed somewhere where it hurts. |
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I'd like to be a fly on the wall for that event!! Dave!!!
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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird | | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2013 - 20:38 Post title : Re: How to use a Multimeter (Re: fishy) | | |
fishy wrote:
Matt-to check mA you have to put the red probe in the mA red hole.
Then you would have to put the black and red in the circuit your trying to measure.
If you could measure the mA on Fuse 7 that would be great for me. I kept getting dead batteries and isolated the key off draw to fuse 7. I just measured the slots that the pins of the fuses plug into-red lead on one side and black on the other and read the meter.
I measured .72 mA. I thought this was too much so figured my Speedo cluster was bad. Bought another speedo cluster and it also measured .72 so I'm still not sure what the normal load is with key off on fuse 7.
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Ok, time to get serious. I measured the mA reading across the contacts of the fuse 7 and it reads zero with ignition off. That is of course if I had the turny knob thing pointing to the right setting on the meter.
A bit confusing in the fuse box as it seems the first two fuse are spare (ta Sean) but its good to get involved in the inner trickery workings of the bird.
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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| fishy | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 15/09/2012 | | Posts | : | 440 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2013 - 20:56 Post title : Re: How to use a Multimeter (Re: mat1600) | | | 
You have to move the black and the red leads to a different place than for Volts and Ohms.
There seems to be both AC mA and DC mA. The AC has the ~ squiggle line and the DC ... with the line over it
Then the black and red leads have to have the current passing through them to be part of the circuit. I say just look in the fuse box on the bike to start as that is something that is good to know about. If you take out the green 30 amp fuse 2nd from the front and put the meter there you can see what key off load your bike is running. The front green fuse is a spare as is the is the rear most fuse also a spare.
Your going to want to find out at first
1. how many volts does my bike have right now when it's not running.
2. start up the bike and see how many volts the bike shows when it's running at idle and 2000 rpm's.
To measure the volts you would put the red probe to the middle of the red holes and then move the dial to the 3 o'clock on 20 V DC setting.
You could measure volts best by pulling the seat and putting the read lead on the + terminal and the - lead on the negative one. It's best to get the volts right at the battery. Like Dave said it's really good to keep an eye on your volts with a built in gauge or meter.
Do you have a battery tender on your bike? That is a great way to have a connection right to your battery and you don't have to pull the seat to check volts.
Only too happy to help from this side of the pond.
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| | Post edited by fishy on 03 May 2013 - 21:13 |
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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird | | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2013 - 22:12 Post title : Re: How to use a Multimeter (Re: fishy) | | | I do have an aux socket wired direct that I could use.
Ok , so I must have had the setting wrong when I checked that fuse. I will go for round 2 in the morning and see what I get.
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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| AleXL4 | | Chaac | | | | Reg. Date | : | 17/09/2012 | | Posts | : | 571 | | Location | : | Gympie, Queensland, Australia |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2013 - 23:23 Post title : Re: How to use a Multimeter (Re: mat1600) | | | Hey Mat,
You would have to be the keenest Electrical Apprentice I have had the pleasure to watch in many years.
After your 3 month probationary period, I reckon we could take you on in the industry.
Mate, what are you like at organising BBQ's.
Alex
| Enjoying the Journey
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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird | | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2013 - 23:44 Post title : Re: How to use a Multimeter (Re: AleXL4) | | |
AleXL4 wrote:
Hey Mat,
You would have to be the keenest Electrical Apprentice I have had the pleasure to watch in many years.
After your 3 month probationary period, I reckon we could take you on in the industry.
Mate, what are you like at organising BBQ's.
Alex |
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Couldn't do it for a living. I just don't trust what I can't see. I can sort a good BBQ though.........................and can soon see off the beers.
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird | | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 04 May 2013 - 09:24 Post title : Re: How to use a Multimeter (Re: fishy) | | |
fishy wrote:
Your going to want to find out at first
1. how many volts does my bike have right now when it's not running.
2. start up the bike and see how many volts the bike shows when it's running at idle and 2000 rpm's.
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Ok. I measured the fuse slot No7 and got .06 But... I forgot which position to put the switch to and had it on the 20A (the one under your advice) so would my .06 actually be .6mA ?
With ignition off I got 12.6V and with bike running at idle it showed around 14V. This went up to around 14.5 at higher revs. I guess if I had spent a bit more on a meter I could have got a max and min reading and a hold function.......... but that can come later if I blow this one up.
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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| mjgt | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 16/09/2011 | | Posts | : | 2,201 | | Location | : | North Somerset, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 04 May 2013 - 09:48 Post title : Re: How to use a Multimeter (Re: mat1600) | | | Don't use the 20 A position mat, this is for high current readings of up to 20A. The mA position will be fine for this measurement, more accurate as well.
| Mick . . . Keep the rubber side down!!
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| BlueNose | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 29/09/2009 | | Posts | : | 2,478 | | Location | : | United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 04 May 2013 - 09:50 Post title : Re: How to use a Multimeter (Re: mat1600) | | |
mat1600 wrote:
fishy wrote:
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Hook Midge up to the red one and turn on and then see what happens!
Gonna get messy next week mate!
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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird | | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 04 May 2013 - 10:27 Post title : Re: How to use a Multimeter (Re: mjgt) | | |
mjgt wrote:
Don't use the 20 A position mat, this is for high current readings of up to 20A. The mA position will be fine for this measurement, more accurate as well. |
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Yeah. I sort of gathered that when I realised some people were talking milliamps.
Cheers for that.
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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