|
02-18-2015, 10:09 PM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Valley Park
Posts: 391
Missouri
|
Multi Meter
I have seen a few post lately with electrical questions. Being a electrician by trade, I have the skills and tools to troubleshoot and repairs most electrical problems that can occur on my rig. However, I am getting a since that a lot of people may not have a basic and important tool.. A multi meter. With this you can check 120VAC, 12VDC, and resistance.
Amazon.com: INNOVA 3320 Auto-Ranging Digital Multimeter: Automotive
I found this at amazon, I have never used this brand or meter, but for the price and based on reviews, I think it would be money well spent. It's under $20!
Using a meter is very simple. You don't have to be a master electrician to use one. The directions should help you out and I would bet that there are some good youtube videos as well.
Having this in your tool box can save a lot time and headaches.
__________________
__________________
2014 Denali 289RK
2017 Nissan Titan XD Pro-4X CC.
|
|
|
02-18-2015, 11:39 PM
|
#2
|
Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sprung Leak
Posts: 3,157
North Carolina
|
That looks like a pretty decent little meter for the money. But somehow I don't think I will trade my Fluke or Klein in on it.
Aaron
__________________
__________________
There is madness to my methods
2015 Coleman CM16FBS(traded) 2016 Concord 300DS
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid following along
|
|
|
02-19-2015, 12:25 AM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Jellystone
Posts: 489
Wyoming
|
Great advice. Mine has been indispensable!
|
|
|
02-19-2015, 01:47 AM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Valley Park
Posts: 391
Missouri
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by wahoonc
That looks like a pretty decent little meter for the money. But somehow I don't think I will trade my Fluke or Klein in on it.
Aaron
|
LOL me either... I just wanted to point that it is a good tool and not expensive for some who might not have realized it.
__________________
2014 Denali 289RK
2017 Nissan Titan XD Pro-4X CC.
|
|
|
02-19-2015, 08:43 PM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Desert Hot Springs
Posts: 1,761
California
|
Most of the time you just need a good test light to find the problem.
I have a meter too but use the test light more.
__________________
Mike
2002 42' Monaco Signature Triple Crown tow 2014 F-150
2014 Voltage V3605 Sold 5/3/17
2012 F-350 6.7l CC 4X4, Sold 10/10/17
|
|
|
02-20-2015, 02:57 PM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Helena, MT
Posts: 606
Montana
|
A multimeter combined with a basic overview of the DC electrical system in an RV.
The 12volt Side of Life (Part 1)
__________________
2012 Aspen Trail 2710BH | 470 watts of solar on the roof | 2x6V GC batteries | 1500 watt PSW inverter | Micro Air on A/C | so far strictly boondocking
|
|
|
02-20-2015, 03:11 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Sparta
Posts: 1,726
Tennessee
|
It was worth it to me just to check battery voltages. I do admit to not knowing how to use it to it's full potential. I bought a cheapie from WalMart for under $20, and my dad who's a licensed electrician was somewhat impressed by it.
__________________
2014 Aerolite 213 RBSL
2016 Chevrolet Colorado
|
|
|
02-20-2015, 03:12 PM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Dalzell
Posts: 714
South Carolina
|
ewarnerusa, that is indeed a great reference for all. Somehow that should be made into a "sticky" (I don't know how) to be kept at the top of the board for future questions. Now, if we can find a similar reference to basic AC questions, everything between pole and RV circuit breaker box, i.e. 20amp, 30 amp, 50 amp, hookups, "cheaters/adapters" and generator hookups; then we would have a reference for the other half of the electrical questions here!
|
|
|
04-26-2015, 10:15 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 100
Ontario
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by EricNSTL
I have seen a few post lately with electrical questions. Being a electrician by trade, I have the skills and tools to troubleshoot and repairs most electrical problems that can occur on my rig. However, I am getting a since that a lot of people may not have a basic and important tool.. A multi meter. With this you can check 120VAC, 12VDC, and resistance.
Amazon.com: INNOVA 3320 Auto-Ranging Digital Multimeter: Automotive
I found this at amazon, I have never used this brand or meter, but for the price and based on reviews, I think it would be money well spent. It's under $20!
Using a meter is very simple. You don't have to be a master electrician to use one. The directions should help you out and I would bet that there are some good youtube videos as well.
Having this in your tool box can save a lot time and headaches.
|
Eric.....how and where should I connect to measure the amperage draw on the system and any given time? Does a multi-meter do the job or should I get an ammeter??
__________________
2014 Denali 289RK - 2013 F-150 XTR, Ecoboost, SuperCab 6.5 foot box, 4x4, max tow pckg + Air Lift air bags
|
|
|
04-26-2015, 10:31 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 600
Nevada
|
With that meter you will have to measure Amperage in series with any circuit that you want to test. I would suggest that you get an Volt/Amp clamp on meter similar to this so you can measure both AC/& DC amps.
http://www.amazon.com/Greenlee-CM-90.../dp/B00125FAGG
__________________
2017 Dodge Ram 3500 DRW
2014 Voltage 3200
2005 FLHTCI
|
|
|
04-26-2015, 10:33 PM
|
#12
|
Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sprung Leak
Posts: 3,157
North Carolina
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Retired Mountie
Eric.....how and where should I connect to measure the amperage draw on the system and any given time? Does a multi-meter do the job or should I get an ammeter??
|
An ammeter and Volt/Ohm (VOM) also called a multi-meter are two different devices. Most ammeters that I have used have a loop to clamp over the wire so you can see how many amps you are drawing. They do make some that can be put inline but those require some wiring and other odds and ends.
Aaron
__________________
There is madness to my methods
2015 Coleman CM16FBS(traded) 2016 Concord 300DS
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid following along
|
|
|
04-26-2015, 11:58 PM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 100
Ontario
|
Great guys...thanks for the advice. I was aware of the type that you clamp around a wire but was hoping to use my multi-meter to get it done. I guess I ill need to invest in a more expensive ammeter!
__________________
2014 Denali 289RK - 2013 F-150 XTR, Ecoboost, SuperCab 6.5 foot box, 4x4, max tow pckg + Air Lift air bags
|
|
|
04-27-2015, 01:51 AM
|
#15
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Canon City
Posts: 860
Colorado
|
Mountie,
You will need to have a Multi Meter that has an "amp clamp" that you can clamp around the conductor and read the current flowing in the conductor.
On its face, dial, or whatever...it will have a setting for reading AC or DC amps.
Mine is a Craftsman that I bought years ago, and works great!
Pirate
|
|
|
04-27-2015, 02:08 AM
|
#16
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Valley Park
Posts: 391
Missouri
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Retired Mountie
Great guys...thanks for the advice. I was aware of the type that you clamp around a wire but was hoping to use my multi-meter to get it done. I guess I ill need to invest in a more expensive ammeter!
|
You can do it with you multi meter! This all depends what your purpose is. If you want to see what you load is on your battery, like I did with everything off (.3amps), disconnect the + lead on you battery and hook it to one lead of your meter, then put the other lead of your meter on your + battery terminal. This will give you your current. and the meter ends up in series on the DC circuit.
Word of caution. Most multi meters can only hand 10 amps. So you wouldn't want to operate your slides or anything that has a large load. Also you usually have to move the leads on the meter to the amp ports..
Most clamp on meters are A/C only, but they do sale D/C clamp on meters.
If this is something you want to continually monitor, they do sale amp meters that are typically wired in series just like a explained with the meter.
Hope this helps.
For me I have only done this once to see what the load was on the trailer with everything off. I have not had a need to do it for anything else.
__________________
2014 Denali 289RK
2017 Nissan Titan XD Pro-4X CC.
|
|
|
04-27-2015, 06:26 PM
|
#17
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: North of the 49th
Posts: 223
British Columbia
|
I can attest to the battery monitor that Wanderer has posted, I've had mine since 2012 and it has been the best addition that I've installed in my trailer. I works like a capacity gauge for your battery and once setup it will continuously tell you the draw, how much has been removed or added and if something was is out of sort and drawing too much power. Below is a link to the manufacturer webpage:
TriMetric Model Descriptions, Present and Past | Bogart Engineering
Cheers
Daryl B.
|
|
|
04-29-2015, 02:54 PM
|
#18
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Edison
Posts: 104
New Jersey
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by dawniewest
It was worth it to me just to check battery voltages. I do admit to not knowing how to use it to it's full potential. I bought a cheapie from WalMart for under $20, and my dad who's a licensed electrician was somewhat impressed by it.
|
I've got a top of the line fluke meter but I also have an old analog meter from Radio Shack that I use for "field work". It still works great.
My opinion is if you know very little about electricity you should leave this work to someone who knows a lot more until you've learned enough to do things safely.
Ken
__________________
__________________
Ken & Lin-Marie
2013 Chevy Traverse + Factory Tow Package
2014 Coleman LT CTS16QB + Anti-Sway Hitch
High-Energy JRT (Jack Russell Terrier)
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|