How to use a multimeter?

Any info on how to use a digital multimeter to test the RR and connections. I purchase one but it has a many positon to switch to and the instruction manuel is useless. Searched the internet and all I found was rocket scientist lingo. Very confusing. I just need to know which setting to click it on and where I should place the ground and where I should place the positive and what kind of reading should I get for a good current and what reading should I get for a bad current. I tried it out by testing the battery and the display showed a 1. Does 1 mean good and 0 bad. Thanks in advance!
Mavrickjubei

 

You should have a setting that says 20V, turn the dial or press the button for that setting. With the bike off, touch the black testing needle to the negative battery terminal and touch the red testing needle to the positve battery terminal. You should get a reading on your LED screen. If not let me know. This is just a quick test of the battery and it will help familerize yourself with the multimeter.

You want the setting on 20V because your battery is a 12 volt battery and (What VFR are you testing?) your charging system should be around 13 to 16 volts at 3-5000 rpms. So start your VFR up! Let it run for a few minutes or take it for a quick ride and then, this may take two people, place the multimeter testing needles on the appropriate terminals with the setting still on 20V and have someone rev the engine between 3500-5000rpms and hold it at those rpms and see what the LED screen says. As stated it should read between 13.5 and 16 volts.

Report your findings and we'll go on from there!

BZ

 

The most important thing I can tell you is don't test anything that is hooked to a live wire on the ohms setting. it looks like a little upside down U with feet on it. I think it is also the symbol for omega or something. Only test connections that are not hooked up to power. I've seen kids in my Auto Tech class smoke thier meters by doing this and if you have a nice meter you can be out some $ quick. I had a nice Fluke 88 that can cost up to $500. You can bet I tested everything for voltage before switching to Ohms.

 

Be sure you always have the meter on the correct setting. To test 12v, put it on the closest setting it has to 12 (20 or so) direct current. The DC setting is usually a dotted line over a straight line. The AC setting is a wavey line. Use it for testing household current. The symbol that looks like a horseshoe, is ohms of resistance. You'll use that for tons of things as you learn how to use it. If you'll take the time to learn all about it, you'll wonder how you'd lived this long without one.:biggrin:

 

I have found that digital multi-meters work best on the "O N" position, otherwise it is hard to read the display.

Also, alligator clips will let you keep one of the meter's leads connected to a wire/ground/thingy. Then you may hold the meter with one hand (where you can actually see the display) and the other hand can pokes at the circuit with the pointy end, make sparks, measure electricity.

 

What about insurance ........ :lever:

 

VFR electrical trouble-shooting

someone on this forum posted this before, but very helpful indeed...

http://www.electrosport.com/Images/fault_finding.pdf

i used this fault finding chart with a multi-meter (having never used one) and found that i had a bad stator. i'm no rocket scientist, but i was able to firgure it all out. good luck!