I ate the instructions for my multi meter.....

[todwic]

I was wondering if you guys could help me out. I have a multi meter, but ohms are kinda like voodoo to me. Consequently, I have forgotten how to read my meter when it comes to the ohms section. I know that .1 is infinate. Here's where it gets tricky:

There are 5 settings on the dial

• 20M
• 200K
• 20K
• 2K and this setting has an arrow with a perpendicular line thru it
• 200 this setting has tone when not infinate ohms

Now when I'm checking my temp sender for the dash gauge, which setting do I use? I think my seder is fubar cuz I did't get any of the readings the Wilk got on his web page.

[carsonmx114]

M stands for milliohm, i think 100 miliohms = 1 ohm
the k just means 1000, so 1k ohm = 1000 ohms
the arrow with a line through it is a diode test setting.
the lower the number the less resistance to ground, down to 0.00 which would be a dead short.

[todwic]

so....let's say I had it on 1k setting. did a test that said .134. how many ohms? (Make me a chart for a couple settings?) Sorry...drinking.

[todwic]

and thanks, btw. the groundy guy I had no idea.

[Eldorado]

it would be 0.134/1000, or 134 ohms.

and M = mega, not milli.... m = milli

1000 mOhms = 1 Ohm

[todwic]

NOT milk? so I shouldn't have put cornflakes in my radiator? sheezers. Thanks man

[bigyagi]

hey todwic, you mean you dont have an auto-ranging meter?
i usually put mine on 20k, for most things, then downsize when i dont understand the readings, which is always!! lol. you can use an old 5k variable potentiometer, out of any old junk radio you have laying around. put 2 leads on it, and slide the adjuster to set the resistence to whatever the manual says, then connect it all up, and see if the gauge reads normal. on my early car, the range is something like 6 ohms, up to 73 ohms. it will give you certain resistence numbers to check, like 33 ohms=1/2 tank reading on gauge.
if someone can come up with a gauge, or a voltage test, that will point out when your next electrical/mechanical disaster is about to happen, i suggest we all club up, and buy that man a years worth of his fav brew!
bob.

[carsonmx114]

i'm pretty sure that the m is less than one ohm which would be milliohm, if were greater than, it would be megaohm. i googled ohms law and the meters i saw ranged from .1 milliohms to 200k ohms. also don't be too concerned with the settings the numbers should be the same, your just moving the decimal point.

[bigyagi]

large M=megaohm. if you look at your meter, you will see that all ranges have a scale, ie: dc volts. usually top of range 1000v, then 200v, 20, and so on. so top of your resistance range will be greatest units. mega. small m denotes milli.usually only used for low current range, or the smallest should be micro, which looks like the letter u. not sure but most meters only go down to 200 ohms on the range. still read small though.

[bigyagi]

btw, todwic. i swear by the sparky's code. red to red, black to black, then blue to f^^k