The danger of multimeters!!!

[Jabbajaws]

Hi all, just a few lines to moan about using multimeters to test for 'dead'. Plenty of us have done this in the past, myself definitely at the top of the list, prior to completing all the quals and finding out some of the dangerous things l had actually been doing in my life.

These days l wouldn't dream of it. However, something did happen today that made me think.

I moved a socket for a friend of mine today, a mere 150mm, from it's original position. I had to use crimps and heatshrink and then capping, so l was happy to get it all over and done with.

I wanted to check the polarity was correct but couldn't be bothered to go to the other side of the room to get my approved voltage indicator, so l used my cheapo £5 multimeter, which was in my pocket. I was looking for a live measurement anyway and thought to myself, it will be quicker this way. I was a bit puzzled though when 0V was the reading. I did this several times and 0V each time.

Now was the time to re-check using my voltage indicator which gave me a 230+ reading.
Turns out the fuse inside the multimeter had blown.

Now l was looking a live measurement but what scares me the most, is that once upon a time, l would have used this same mulitmeter to test for 'dead'.

Anybody else have any scares with situations involving multimeters?

 

[james.cumming]

A good multimeter will tell you if the fuse is blown. The leads are not fused but the meter is.
I use a Fluke 1653 it does not let you do stupid things. Tip for Fluke users buy heavy duty leads as the ones provided are crap and break down.

 

[MarkieSparkie]

James I think you have missed the point. The OP of the thread was about the use of Multimeters in general and cheap ones specifically. Not about the use of Multi-Function Testers which have sophisticated safety measures built in. The high current ranges on most cheap multimeters are NOT fused and have non compliant leads/probes hence the danger highlighted.

 

[Silly Sausage]

why oh why are the neon testers still sold?...............

The NICEIC must think they're OK, here's one of the toolkits you can get from them:
NICEIC - approving excellence
see 3rd item from the bottom of the list.

 

[sparky3366]

I know an electrical technician who went across 2 phases on the incoming busbars to a local college with a little multimeter. Surprisingly, he is still alive...he did however blow a phase and the college had to be closed until it was repaired.

 

[Ponty Massive]

I know an electrical technician who went across 2 phases on the incoming busbars to a local college with a little multimeter. Surprisingly, he is still alive...he did however blow a phase and the college had to be closed until it was repaired.

I had a belt across 2-phases in 1994. Was the last shock I ever had, was very lucky it wasn't the last breath I had!

 

[james.cumming]

Stop it you are scaring me. Putting yourself in circuit with a live conductor. Is never a good idea.

The NICEIC must think they're OK, here's one of the toolkits you can get from them:
NICEIC - approving excellence
see 3rd item from the bottom of the list.

 

[topquark]

Multimeters are not dangerous. They are a tool, like many others, that needs to be used both correctly and for what they are designed for, by a person competent to use them.

 

[wade88]

Multimeters are not dangerous. They are a tool, like many others, that needs to be used both correctly and for what they are designed for, by a person competent to use them.

Who invited him?

 

[knasher]

i found this article the other day about safe meter usage (hope this link works!). www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_1/chpt_3/9.html

 

[alarm man]

However, the potential of an arc flash is the reason that you should NEVER wear contact lenses when testing...

thats a very valid point ken,id never thought of it like that,few lads at work wear lenses,i'll bring that up at next meeting..