Trbocharg said:
mr bill3 thanks for the reply, what amp meter would you recomend buying?
I think what he means is to connect, for the moment, a good Digital Multi-Meter (DMM) in series with the rest of the circuit (red lead to battery + terminal, black lead to cable connection.)
If you don't have a DMM yet (and just why not?) I'd suggest you make sure to get one that will handle, at the least:
Resistance/OHMS reading
Voltage (AC and DC - you'll find yourself using it to check household electrics as well...)
Current (this is the one that we're talking about here - your current reading will likely be in DC amps, and you should get one that can handle at least 5 or 10 amps. Higher is quite expensive.)
Useful additional ranges:
Temperature (*C and *F)
Transistor Testing (this can be done with an ohmmeter, but having the transistor check it easier)
Audible Continuity Testing ("Beep" circuit testing - usually at one end or the other of the Ohms range.)
Capacitance checking (not something you'll use a lot, but you eventually might, and you'll be happy to have if if and when you do.)
Here are some links to meters you can find at Sears for around $100 or less - they should be good quality (I've got a couple Sears DMM's myself, and use them a LOT more than I use my $800 Fluke!) and you should find something useful in there...
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...00&subcat=Multi-Meters,+Testers+&+Accessories
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...00&subcat=Multi-Meters,+Testers+&+Accessories
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...00&subcat=Multi-Meters,+Testers+&+Accessories
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...00&subcat=Multi-Meters,+Testers+&+Accessories
Alsol, walk in and see what they've got. It's worth checking your local Hardware store as well - they won't have Craftsman, but they'll probably have Fluke (damn good meters!) and will probably have Gardner/Bender as well.
I've found the Craftsman units to be rugged, and survive use well.
One last thing - if you have the option (this could happen at Sears, and whatever hardware stores you've got,) you might want to consider getting a meter with an analogue (needle) face AND a digital inset. The digital portion will be good for fairly precise readings, and the analogue has a much faster response to changes - which you'll find yourself needing...
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