Check the batteries first

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102 Inspector

Senior Member
Location
N/E Indiana
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Inspector- All facets
I got called to the local campground to check a report of a lost ground on one of the pedestals. As an inspector I carry a multimeter with me and checked the pedestal to see if I could detect any problems. I was reading 142 volts per leg and had concerns. I called the municipal electrician to assist me with resolving the problem. When he got there we used his meter to double check everything. Of course his meter read that everything was fine. As it turned out, the battery in my meter only read 6 volts and when I put a new battery in the meter, it read just fine for voltage. Never even gave it a thought that a bad battery would impact a voltage reading so I learned something that day. Made me feel kind of stupid, but not the first time for that either.
 
102 Inspector said:
I got called to the local campground to check a report of a lost ground on one of the pedestals. As an inspector I carry a multimeter with me and checked the pedestal to see if I could detect any problems. I was reading 142 volts per leg and had concerns. I called the municipal electrician to assist me with resolving the problem. When he got there we used his meter to double check everything. Of course his meter read that everything was fine. As it turned out, the battery in my meter only read 6 volts and when I put a new battery in the meter, it read just fine for voltage. Never even gave it a thought that a bad battery would impact a voltage reading so I learned something that day. Made me feel kind of stupid, but not the first time for that either.
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My multimeters have low battery indication. I thought most did.
 
Besoeker3 said:
My multimeters have low battery indication. I thought most did.
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My experience is low battery indicators are kind of like the idiot lights in your car. When they come on, what they really mean is "Too late, idiot!!!"
 
gadfly56 said:
My experience is low battery indicators are kind of like the idiot lights in your car. When they come on, what they really mean is "Too late, idiot!!!"
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Yes. In my case, company owned instruments had a mandatory calibration annually. That included a battery change.
 
I believe the meter is an Ideal brand. As an inspector, I do not have to use a meter very often so I do not have a higher dollar one. I used to have a Sperry amp meter but apparently I left it on a job site or loan it to someone and never came back. I was totally embarrassed when it was determined that my meter gave the false reading. Luckily I had a fun time when the park director called my cell phone while we were there. I gave him the impression there were major problems and I could not talk. Had him going for about three minutes until I could not do it ant longer. I do enjoy my job and my community.
 
I have seen this on Flukes and cheapies. Sometimes the low battery indicator is not yet alerted. Othertimes even with the low baterry alert on it reads fine. :?

Sort of like the day I was troubleshooting a power problem on a conduit that started inside a building and ended outside in the sunshine. I had power inside, but none on the outside end of the conduit. I was about to pull the wire out, when I used a meter. Yep, non-contact would not show power live in the sunshine! Had to shield it with my hand.
 
Tool connoisseurs may scoff, but every time shopping at harbor freight will get one of the 'free with coupon' little digital meters.
Always have a couple on hand as 'spares'.

Have a couple of them in every vehicle, even the wife's car 'just in case'. Every workbench in the shop has one or 2 as spare.

Surprisingly accurate little meters, leads are POS, but workable. Free coupons for the meters are becoming less frequent, have a lot of the free LED light now :D
 
Why does a battery affect the voltage? I thought the battery was only for continuity
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AH, a Simpson 260 man!;)

Lots of electronics inside a modern DMM, like ADCs, comparators, displays, etc.

I, like Junkhound, stocked up on those free Harbor Freight ones for keeping in cars and kitchen. A great meter for free! I would not use it for 480! And no protection from trying to measure the resistance of the 120 volt line.:eek:
 
Frank DuVal said:
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AH, a Simpson 260 man!;)

Lots of electronics inside a modern DMM, like ADCs, comparators, displays, etc.

I, like Junkhound, stocked up on those free Harbor Freight ones for keeping in cars and kitchen. A great meter for free! I would not use it for 480! And no protection from trying to measure the resistance of the 120 volt line.:eek:
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My SIL called and asked about taking voltage measurements with one of those free meters. I tried to talk him through it but it was too late. I don't know what he or his dad had done but when I saw the meter a couple weeks later, it had a partially working display but did nothing else. I think they were checking voltage while in the amps range. I am surprised it just calmly quit working.
 
Knuckle Dragger said:
Okay I guess I will be "that guy".
It is good practice to test your meter on something that you know for a fact is live.
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Yes. Good practice.
We did some 11kV work. We got a test prod. It came with a tester.
Procedure.
Use the tester to make sure the test prod works (neon indicators lit up). Use the prod to check the 11kV supply to ensure that it is dead. Then, once again, use the tester to ensure that the prod is still working.
 
Besoeker3 said:
Yes. Good practice.
We did some 11kV work. We got a test prod. It came with a tester.
Procedure.
Use the tester to make sure the test prod works (neon indicators lit up). Use the prod to check the 11kV supply to ensure that it is dead. Then, once again, use the tester to ensure that the prod is still working.
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We call that, standard operating procedure, or live/dead/live, before putting a tool on any component, AC or DC.
 
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