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Xringer · 12-17-10, 09:02 AM

That's what they used to call it years ago.. I guess it's a Digital VOM these days.

I guess all mine are DLCDVOMs (Digital Liquid Crystal Display Volt Ohm Meter)..

The Amp measuring capability is a given.?.

There is some 'Safe Use of Electrical Test Equipment: DMMs & VOMs' at this link..
Safety Procedures for Inspecting Residential Electric Panels, how to examine, how to test electric service panels, how to use volt meters and electrical test equipment safely

I like this type of meter for quickie testing..

It's uses are limited, but the leads are wired in. No way to forget to move them..

These meters,

Make life a bit more difficult. You have to change the function selector AND the probe posistion for some jobs.
Most of the meters I use are this style. Most have fuses to protect the amp circuits.

These things get zapped all the time. Mostly because people didn't sit down
and read about the differences between resistance, voltage and current measurements.

I've seen dozens of students try to measure "The Amps" of a power supply
by sticking a meter across the + & - posts.
This normally occurs just after they look at a diagram showing the load..

Which is the only way to do it..

It's easy to understand the amp meter when it's compared to a water flow meter.
Gallons-per-hour etc is a metaphor for Amps being Electrons-per-hour etc.

Current is likened to the current in a river. It's a flow rate.

Voltage is like pressure. There is 30 PSI in your tires. 3000 psi, in your scuba tank.
48 volts in my battery bank.. It's just like pressure. Or potential..

It's just a static measurement. Those volts (or PSI) have the potential
to do some work..

The key thing is to start off with Ohm's Law and understand it..
Before you start making Amp measurements..

Of course, remembering to change the leads helps save on fuses..

12-17-10, 09:02 AM	#9
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	That's what they used to call it years ago.. I guess it's a Digital VOM these days. I guess all mine are DLCDVOMs (Digital Liquid Crystal Display Volt Ohm Meter).. The Amp measuring capability is a given.?. There is some 'Safe Use of Electrical Test Equipment: DMMs & VOMs' at this link.. Safety Procedures for Inspecting Residential Electric Panels, how to examine, how to test electric service panels, how to use volt meters and electrical test equipment safely I like this type of meter for quickie testing.. It's uses are limited, but the leads are wired in. No way to forget to move them.. These meters, Make life a bit more difficult. You have to change the function selector AND the probe posistion for some jobs. Most of the meters I use are this style. Most have fuses to protect the amp circuits. These things get zapped all the time. Mostly because people didn't sit down and read about the differences between resistance, voltage and current measurements. I've seen dozens of students try to measure "The Amps" of a power supply by sticking a meter across the + & - posts. This normally occurs just after they look at a diagram showing the load.. Which is the only way to do it.. It's easy to understand the amp meter when it's compared to a water flow meter. Gallons-per-hour etc is a metaphor for Amps being Electrons-per-hour etc. Current is likened to the current in a river. It's a flow rate. Voltage is like pressure. There is 30 PSI in your tires. 3000 psi, in your scuba tank. 48 volts in my battery bank.. It's just like pressure. Or potential.. It's just a static measurement. Those volts (or PSI) have the potential to do some work.. The key thing is to start off with Ohm's Law and understand it.. Before you start making Amp measurements.. Of course, remembering to change the leads helps save on fuses..