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TR2/3/3A amp meter

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S

sp53

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So I have an inexpensive HF meter and wanted to check and see if there is an amperage draw on my battery. The dial states a 10 amp max and a place to plug the amp meter in on the face. If I remember correct, amp meters go into the circuit on one wire. I guess that is what the plug in hole on the face is for, but I am not sure how to hook the meter up, or even if it will work for that application. Anyone out there know.

steve
 

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Think of it this way: you are measuring current, which is the flow of electrons, so it has to go through the device. So, disconnect the battery. Then, one wire to the battery, the other to the battery terminal. The sockets in the meter, are the 10A and Common. Then put the switch on the 10A position.

(To be correct, the top lead should go to the battery, but if you get it backward, it will just indicate a negative current instead of a positive one. But the numbers will be the same. )

That will give you a reading up to 10 amps. if you get nothing, the drain might be too low to show up on the 10A scale. Move the wire from the 10A socket to the one below it, marked V(ohm symbol)mA and switch to the 200m position in the DCA section. If still nothing, switch to 20m, 2000u(2000 microamps, which is 2 milliamps) and so on.
 
SP - take a look at page 5 and 6 of the instructions. DC Current Measurements.
 

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The big thing to remember is that the small amp reading on the meter cannot take more than 1 amp, or it will burn out that function of the meter. The 10 amp function requires a separate plug on the meter, so the higher amperage will bypass the normal circuits and will not burn out the internal circuitry in the meter. Most meters will also have a fuse for the 10 amp function, to prevent burning out that function also, should you accidentally run too many amps through it.
 
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