Multimeter functioning [newbie question]

One additional note -- The 110-120 volts AC I spoke of above is the standard in the U.S. I see you ordered from a NZ company. Does this mean you are not in the U.S.? If so, your wall socket voltages may be different (higher). Set your range accordingly. That "world wide" thing caught me again.

Nels

Was there no manual?

The "->|-" I bet looks like the common diode symbol, and is there for checking the junctions of diodes and other semiconductors. It's a variant of the ohmmeter function, in that it applies small voltage to the probes so you can measure resistance. But it is arranged so it can better check those semiconductor junctions. Put a diode across the leads, and set the function switch to that function, and in one direction you will get a maximum reading (ie the same as if nothing is connected to the leads) and in the other direction you will get a low reading. That's for a good diode. A shorted one will show a low reading in both directions, an open diode will show a high reading in either direction. The reading you see if it's a good diode will let you determine the type of diode (ie germanium which you aren't likely to come across much, silicon and schottky, since each have a different voltage drop). Since a transistor is two junctions, you can use the function to check the junctions of those, though you'll have to check the base-emitter junction, and then the base-collector junction.

The "HFE" is for measuring transistor gain. There should be a socket to plug the transistor into for doing the measuring. I've had a meter with the function for almost ten years, and other than playing with the function at the beginning, have never used it.

Michael

I'd say "unfortunately" for you! You learn a *lot* more when something doesn't work and you have to debug it!

There are on-line tutorials like these:

Books abound as well, visit your local library or uni library.

Dave :)

Hi, total newbie to electronics, I just built a kit which worked first go fortunately for me, all I basically understood was that capacitors store a charge and resistors resist the current.

The kit said the test the voltages and so I went ought and bought this cheapie multimeter . . .

I didn't need to use it as the kit worked fine even with my rudimentary soldering skills, but I identified the parts correctly and even if my understanding of electronics was minimal it was a rather mechanical process.

With the multimeter, the instructions are pretty basic with this thing could anyone point me in the right direction of understanding it's functionality, once I touch the red and the black pointie things numbers appear and I'm lost from there,

Thanks in advance for your help.

numbers

Thanks for all your help !!!! :-)

Yeah there was a warning on the (lacking) instructions about measuring that sort of thing. There's also a "hFE" setting on the bottom as well on the lower right qudrant, and another setting that looks like this "->|-" (sorta). Could you suggest what these might be for ?

Cheers.

go

a

process.

Actually, I do have to adjust the voltage on T2 and T4 so this will assist ! (It's a theremin kit BTW)

You got some good answers about how to use your meter. Beyond that, I would suggest you look up Ohm's law and the other laws that relate current, voltage, resistance, and power. You will understand much better what those measurements you get with your meter really mean.

That's for testing transistors and seeing how well they work, for that use use the small round socket labeled E C B E PNP NPN etc

the ->|- symbol the diode symbol it'll measure the forwards voltage drop. it'll give you a reading og 0.6 (approx) for a silicon diode and abour 0.2 for a germanium diode.

always remember to turn it off bacase the cheap DSE multimeters don't power down automatically and so will run the battery down if left on overnight a few times.

get a few spare fuuses for it cause it's pretty easy to blow them if you mis- use it on the mA scale. (there is room inside the case to store them if you wrap them in plastic)

Bye. Jasen

That was your first kit, and it works? well done!

(I'm assuming it was either the Jaycar or the Altronics version of the Aug

2000 Silicon Chip mag. Theremin kit) and not a classic theremin with vlaves and all.

Bye. Jasen