DupermanDave

So I got a new (digital) multimeter because the analog one was too finicky. Problem is, I still don't know how to read the thing. I'm following the TPS adjustment procedures on 4crawler's page.

My multimeter has 4 settings: 20M (20 million), 200K, 2k, and 200.

On one test, I'm looking for <2.3k. So for this, I would use the 200K (since 2.3k > 2k)

I get funky readings like 1.985 and 1.678, but I have absolutely no clue how that's anywhere related to the 2.3k reading I'm looking for.

Same for another test. I'm looking for 470 ohms to about 6100 ohms. On this test, which setting is it best to use? 2k or the 200k?

I have no idea how to read the thing. No instructions. ANy help? I've used these before, but never to check resistance. Only for voltage.

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

See this section of that web page:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...oUseAnOhmMeter

The idea is to use the smallest range possible to measure a given resistance. So "<2.3K" ohms is "less than 2300 ohms" in English. Since you meter has ranges of 200, 2K (2000) and 200K (200,000) the 200K range is probably the best for the 2000-2300 ohm part of that range, but you might try the 2K range for the smaller values. So, assuming your meter reads from 0.000 to 1.999 in a given range, in the 200K range, the 1.999 would equate to just short of 200,000, or 199,900 ohms, so in a sense you are multiplying the reading by 100,000.

Best tip on the above page is to hit up Radio Shack or similar electronics shop and pick up a couple of resistors of known value.
- http://www.radioshack.com/search/ind...0resistor&sr=1

This way until you feel comfortable with the meter, you are only dealing with 1 unknown (since you know the resistance of the resistor, your only "unknown" is how well you are reading the meter). The thing with an ohm meter is it will always give a reading. It is just what you are reading that is in question

DupermanDave

so just as an example, if im on the 20k range and i get 1.86, is that basically 18,600? I think my biggest issue is the conversions

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

Yes, assuming the meter does not auto-range. So on the 20K range, it reads from 0.000 to 1.999 for resistances of 0 to 19,990 ohms (19.99K ohms).

DupermanDave

AH, it's making more sense now. It's been so long since' Ive been out of high school (still graduated, but what good does it do me when I can't remember anything?)

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

That is why picking up a couple of known resistors to practice with is a good idea. After all, if you are measuring say a 10K ohm resistor and get a reading of 0.100 on the 200K scale, you can confirm your interpretation of the meter reading with the known value of the resistor. I think the main problem with many of the digital meters is that 1/2 digit (the 0. or 1. at the left of the display). Since the meter reads from 0000 to 1999 the mfgs. like to put the full scale on the range, like the 200K. Back in the "good old days" of analog meters, the ranges were simpler 1X, 10X, 100X,... since the meter scale basically read from 0.0 to 1.0 and all the range told you was what to multiply the reading by, so 1.0 on the 100X scale was 1x100 or 100 ohms. So it may help to simply figure out the multiplier and use a felt pen to write that next to each of the range settings.