amp draw
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Midwest
amp draw
My battery keeps going down after a day of not driving it. When I use my multimeter to check amp draw do I use the ac or dc setting on it. Haven't done this in a while and need a refresher.
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
Neither one. You should have a amp or ma(milli-amp) setting. And you will also have an extra plug to move your probe and plug it in.
Not all meters have this feature. If yours doesn't, you can use a testlight.
Not all meters have this feature. If yours doesn't, you can use a testlight.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 19,760
Likes: 1,079
From: St Louis
More specifically, DC Amps
Use the highest possible range setting to avoid damaging your meter. Take steps to ensure that no unwanted power draws are activated while the meter is in circuit, ie, door or hood lamps, etc...
Failure to follow this will likely be fatal to the meter.
Steve
Use the highest possible range setting to avoid damaging your meter. Take steps to ensure that no unwanted power draws are activated while the meter is in circuit, ie, door or hood lamps, etc...
Failure to follow this will likely be fatal to the meter.
Steve
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 429
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Originally Posted by projectSHO89
More specifically, DC Amps
Use the highest possible range setting to avoid damaging your meter. Take steps to ensure that no unwanted power draws are activated while the meter is in circuit, ie, door or hood lamps, etc...
Failure to follow this will likely be fatal to the meter.
Steve
Use the highest possible range setting to avoid damaging your meter. Take steps to ensure that no unwanted power draws are activated while the meter is in circuit, ie, door or hood lamps, etc...
Failure to follow this will likely be fatal to the meter.
Steve
Most multimeters are fused to prevent damage from excessive current. However, it's possible that the fuse may have been replaced at some point in the past with a larger one, so Steve's warning is good advice.
Also, if your meter reads zero current, check the fuse. And be sure to connect it in series, as Franklin's illustration with the test light shows. I've seen lots of people connect an ammeter in parallel, and POOF goes the fuse!
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