Is this multimeter good to check for parasitic draw?

[G50]

It can measure AC colts, DC volts and resistance.
Can I use it? If so, what setting should I put it at and what readings should I expect to see?

[Bob Kontak]

No. You need one with more functions.

Here is a decent Harbor Freight unit. Not great. Decent. $23

Click on the multimeter in the link and get the larger pic. See the dial at 6:00-7:30 on the clock. That's what you need to test amp draw.

https://www.harborfreight.com/11-function-digital-multimeter-with-audible-continuity-61593.html

Plug the red cord into the "fused" port. Break a battery cable and bridge with the MM cable pointers. That will complete the circuit and tell you how much is being sucked out of the battery. 50 one thousandths of an amp (Ma - milla-amps) or less is what you are looking for when cooties are remedied.

The basic settings settings "sense" (not an electrician) the volts and resistance. The amp draw settings literally make the MM part of the circuit when you move the red probe into the fused plug-in port.

[G50]

Thanks, that’s what I thought, need one that measures amps, right?

[Bob Kontak]

Yes. The big A with the straight line and the little dashes under it to get technical.

But you have to move the red probe to the fused port.

Perhaps the 200 m spot on the dial. Others will know better.

[dad911]

Yes, Amps. Most meters have to be in the circuit, in series. That means disconnecting the wire you want to check, so the current flows through the meter. Quite a few people blow them up by using the wrong scale, or trying to measure wrong.

I strongly suggest getting the clamp-on kind. Need to make sure it can read DC current, some are AC only.

This one will measure DC current by just clamping over the wire.

https://www.harborfreight.com/cm610a-600a-t-rms-acdc-clamp-meter-64015.html

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by dad911

This one will measure DC current by just clamping over the wire.

Are you *****ting me? Just clamping on the wire? Like the positive battery terminal wire?

Sigh.

[fanaudical]

Yep - Just clamp around one wire and it measures the current flowing through the wire.

One issue with clamp-on meters is they sometimes don't have sufficient range/sensitivity to measure small currents. You can compensate for this by clamping around a wire looped several times (need a long wire) and dividing the total current by the number of passes of wire though the clamp.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Are you *****ting me? Just clamping on the wire? Like the positive battery terminal wire?

Sigh.

Yup, bought an earlier version of the HF one, years ago.....now the fluke gathers dust.

Need to be careful purchasing, many are AC only.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by dad911

Yup, bought an earlier version of the HF one, years ago.....now the fluke gathers dust.

Need to be careful purchasing, many are AC only.

Thanks. I can focus on that caveat.

How sweet that would be.

Originally Posted by fanaudical

Yep - Just clamp around one wire and it measures the current flowing through the wire.

One issue with clamp-on meters is they sometimes don't have sufficient range/sensitivity to measure small currents. You can compensate for this by clamping around a wire looped several times (need a long wire) and dividing the total current by the number of passes of wire though the clamp.

You know you are talking to laymen here. So is this scenario e.g., for the fancy radio or security system that may be sucking too much juice?

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Thanks. I can focus on that caveat.

How sweet that would be.



You know you are talking to laymen here. So is this scenario e.g., for the fancy radio or security system that may be sucking too much juice?

Here's a video on measuring and finding parasitic draw. Yes, alarm systems and fancy radios do draw juice. So if the car is parked any length of time, say a week or more, I'd suggest investing in a smart charger...one that feeds in at 2 1/2 amps or so and will shut off when battery fully charged.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwrel&NR=1&v=KF1gijj03_0

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Are you *****ting me? Just clamping on the wire? Like the positive battery terminal wire?

Sigh.

Induction baby!!

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by RWebb

Induction baby!!

You might as well be saying fission.

Watching pwd's vid now.

Edit: Watched that vid last week. He's good.

[RWebb]

is this better?

[Mike80911]

If you are checking an older car you can also use a simple test light. Disconnect the battery terminal and connect one end of the test light to the post and the other end to the cable. If the light comes on there is a draw. Just remove fuses until the light goes out and that is the circuit that has the draw on it. HF also has a cheap Multimeter that will work I have had this one for years and it works great got it on sale for like $3
https://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-digital-multimeter-63759.html?_br_psugg_q=multimeter

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by RWebb

is this better?

Yes. Thank you for the inverted delta. That always makes things crystal clear.

[RWebb]

you can always put them in integral form, you know...

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by RWebb

you can always put them in integral form, you know...

You're killin' me, Smalls.

[RWebb]

Ya gotta face reality

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by rwebb

ya gotta face reality

Agree.

[RWebb]

and that puts fields in yer face...