Testing New Multimeter-What to Measure

[gwcowgill]

 

If you can remember the names of the books, please post.  There are a few things I'd like to be able to do.  But I'm trying to avoid being shocked into the afterlife as I do them. 

Gary, ask one of your nearby instructors which book they are using/ You may even be able to find a used one in a book store because the basics don't change but new ways of doing things does. I retired in 2002 from teaching and I know they have updated the textbooks since then. One of the current students showed me a new textbook the other day which is just an updated version of the old book. I just got out of the hospital but will ask one of the current instructors when I can drive again. (My knee gave out)

 

[Dreamsend]

Linda, I owe you a very big apology.

Kdbgoat -- Nah, not necessary at all, but you are gracious and kind to think so.  I just figured you may have mis-read my inquiry.  All I was after was ideas of some things to measure so I could make sure the meter was working and would not need returning.  I did read the owners manual so I knew how to operate the meter, just not what to measure to see if it worked.  Probably a fine distinction that I didn't make clear in my post.  And you did help-you said not to try to measure amps in my household outlet, so I didn't and now I understand why!  While I do understand the physics of electricity and dif between amps, volts, ohms, conductors, insulators, etc., I've just not had need to ever measure those things.  Again, something I probably didn't make clear.

I did also pop for the $3.50 book Molaker posted and it IS really basic-took me all of an hour to read it, but that's okay because it drove home a few more points and I did learn 2 new things from it .  I won't be re-building  a classic car engine or re-wiring my RV,  but I think, (after having read a hundred posts here when some electrical unit of some kind went on the fritz, the advice usually began with using a multimeter to check for voltage, or continuity, or an open circuit, etc) that having a meter and being familiar with it might be worthwhile.

Thanks for your thoughtfulness, anyway. Hope all is well.

Linda