Help with Multimeter please......

[Podney]

Good morning.
Whatever setting I put it to,my multimeter just shows: -1
Well actually the minus sign is higher than I’ve shown.
There is also a little black square that moves left and right if I turn the dial.

As you can probably tell I am a complete dunce when it comes to leccie...........so feel free to laugh,cry,take the mickey,and treat me like I know absolutely nowt!!

I’ve had the back off and there appear to be 2 very small white fuses,but I can’t read the tiny writing next to them.

The battery should be ok as it’s only a year old............I can’t test it coz my multimeter isn’t working.

It’s a Workzone M92D

Tia!

 

[funflair]

So for starters where have you got the leads plugged into, Black in common and Red in V/Omega, or Red on the right and Black next to it,

Martin

 

[ryan_flea]

If its a battery issue with this unit the screw release is under the quality control sticker.

 

[Yorkshire Puds]

Here’s a good video for the basics. Get a few little gadgets or batteries ready Pause, rewind and have a play with yours at the same time.

Take your time and you’ll pick it up in no time.

 

[Odd-no-more]

Does it have a hold button? Is it on? If not it sounds as if it is FUBAR try taking the batteries out, and if you have them put new batteries in. If all that fails, you may need a new one

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[Gellyneck]

It’s a Workzone M92D

Probably from Aldi (mines is and bought about a year ago) with a three year warranty. Before you start dismantling it might be better taking it back for refund (believe they're out of stock) and buying a new one elsewhere?

 

[The Wino]

Which setting is the dial in the middle on?. I think I've got one in the garage I'll get it in a bit and see if I can get the same. Sounds like operator error to me I often get that with things!

 

[BwB]

Looks like this multimeter is available under several brand names but with the same model number. The manual from one of these says...

"If the LCD shows ‘1’ or ‘-1’, it indicates that you need to switch to a higher range setting. "

 

[Podney]

So for starters where have you got the leads plugged into, Black in common and Red in V/Omega, or Red on the right and Black next to it,

Martin

Yep,black in com,red in V/omega

 

[The Wino]

Just looked mine is a Maplin one so will differ.
Theres an article about multimeters in this months mag. I think if the battery was flat the display would be blank although there might be a display before that to show its getting low.
On mine if I set to read resistance ( thats the ohm symbol omega on the dial) the display shows 1 for an open circuit and 0 when the probes are touched together so there no resistance. Try that. Theres usually one socket for the black probe to fit in. If there are two for the red lead you want the one labelled V ohm mA not the other which on mine is labelled 10ADC

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[Richard n Ann]

Looks like this multimeter is available under several brand names but with the same model number. The manual from one of these says...

"If the LCD shows ‘1’ or ‘-1’, it indicates that you need to switch to a higher range setting. "

It will read 1 or -1 when on the resistance scales and not connected to anything then.

 

[icantremember]

From the instructions for this unit "If the battery icon appears on the display, it indicates the battery should be replaced "

Is the "black square" you refer to the battery icon?

 

[Podney]

Which setting is the dial in the middle on?. I think I've got one in the garage I'll get it in a bit and see if I can get the same. Sounds like operator error to me I often get that with things!

It doesn’t make any difference where I put the dial.....the reading is the same!

 

[Podney]

Looks like this multimeter is available under several brand names but with the same model number. The manual from one of these says...

"If the LCD shows ‘1’ or ‘-1’, it indicates that you need to switch to a higher range setting. "

Thanks.
The queer thing is that it shows -1 wherever I put the setting

 

[Podney]

From the instructions for this unit "If the battery icon appears on the display, it indicates the battery should be replaced "

Is the "black square" you refer to the battery icon?

No,it’s not a battery icon. Just a very small square,about 2mm square. It moves to the left and right as I change the dial/setting.
Thanks.

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[Richard n Ann]

Thanks.
The queer thing is that it shows -1 wherever I put the setting

Return it then, should read zero on most scales, or at least some millivolts if it is sensitive.

 

[The Wino]

Heres mine with the switch on the 200k ohm range the probes in the correct sockets then with the probes touching showing zero resistance. If the display stays on 1check the leads are plugged in.

 

[Podney]

It will read 1 or -1 when on the resistance scales and not connected to anything then.

Yes!

 

[The Wino]

No,it’s not a battery icon. Just a very small square,about 2mm square. It moves to the left and right as I change the dial/setting.
Thanks.

Thats normal as you alter the resistance range

 

[Podney]

Perhaps I should add........if it’s makes any difference:
The minus sign flashes.....and..
If I press Hold,the minus sign disappears i.e.just shows: 1

It’s a mystery! (made in China )

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[Richard n Ann]

Get one of these, got very useful scales including DC amps and even a neon indicator in the end of the jaws

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=283882488770

 

[autorouter]

Set it to 20V DC. The wavy twiddle under the V means AC. The solid line and dotted line under the V means DC.

Test it out on the terminals of a car battery. You should get a reading of between 10V and 15V. This should work even if there's not very much power left in the meter 9V battery. If it doesn't work, press the HOLD button on and off to see if that makes a difference.

Don't try using the ohms or amps ranges until you've watched the Youtube videos. If you are one of those plebs ignorant of classical Greek (like me) then the 'headphone' symbol is the Greek letter Omega, and stands for 'Ohms', which are units of resistance.

Definitely do NOT set it on Amps and try to measure battery amps by probing the battery terminals. If you can't see that's a bad idea you need to watch more videos.

And yes, I should have said 'hoi polloi' not 'plebs'.

 

[IRHP]

I had a problem with mine recently. I was checking a 12v battery and getting a reading of 17v, got me a bit worried so tried it on my car battery and got the same. I changed the 9v battery in the tester and tried them again. This time getting 12.7v. I tried it on the 9v battery from the tester and it showed 5v. I’d try a new battery in your tester whether it’s a year old or not.

 

[The Wino]

Did you get any joy with the meter?

 

[Podney]

Did you get any joy with the meter?

Not yet.
I’m going to have another fiddle with it.
Busy at the mo with doing jobs for The Duchess

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[The Wino]

Not yet.
I’m going to have another fiddle with it.
Busy at the mo with doing jobs for The Duchess

It's a wise man who knows his place!

 

[Neil Bedwin]

If you're on Ohms and the leads are not connected to anything then it will show 1 or -1 as that indicates an open circuit. Try touching the leads together....should go to 0 or close enough. The black square moves with the switch as it shows a change of range.

 

[Reallyretired]

If its still the original batteries I would change them, the ones supplied in most of this stuff are really low quality and could be quite old too.

 

[Podney]

Did you get any joy with the meter?

In a word..........No!
I had a mate fiddle with it,a guy who knows all about leccie,and he said it’s no good, Chuck it away. Well,they were not his exact words.
I might buy another one,but I am still sulking over this useless bit of kit,and my own ineptitude when it comes to the techie stuff.
I am now thinking I may need it to help solve another problem I have,with the hab door lock.....see other thread. But what I shall probably do is get the guy to look at it when the van is in for a service next month

Thanks to all for your help.