Multimeters

[Floody]

Bought my first multimeter yesterday as this week I came cross my first ever encounter with this particular problem...

"which one is the god damn switch wire"

Having never been told how to work it out if its not labelled, I done a quick google in work and found a real handy way with a multi meter...

1. Set the multimeter to 'continuity bleeping setting thing'
2. Put crocodile clips on live & neutral
3. Flick switch on and off

if you get a bleeping sound, then you have found your switch wire. If not, try all the live & neutral combos of the other cables. You will eventually find it.

Was really easy to work out in the end. So I bought a basic multimeter yesterday for £15, a Draper one. Not the best thing in the world but for little things like that it will be priceless and so much saved time scratching my head. This is the one I bought,

so my question is, are there any other really helpful uses of a multimeter, and could you name a few?

Cheers

 

[Paul.M]

Good to find out if a tranny for a light is kicking out the correct amount of dc current and dc volts.

 

[KWCFC]

I just use a voltage indicator with the continuity setting.

 

[Resu]

Good for measuring voltage on a serious note I was checking for dead in an agricultural shed the other day with the main switch off and tested 100V across live-earth and neutral-earth!

I've got the exact same meter btw, good choice haha.

 

[Floody]

Ill have to get some tips off u Resu I've still not mastered it yet,

 

[Resu]

To be fair I very rarely use mine, just generally to put my mind at rest that things are dead when I'm doing small homers. The continuity/buzzer has come in handy though for the reason you listed above.

 

[Baker1988]

I just use a voltage indicator with the continuity setting.

Yeah im the same I have a fluke t50 voltage and continuity tester that I use to bell out wires and check if it is live it really does come in handy haha