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DMM Lead Arc getting voltage from power strip

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DW1961:


I was checking voltage at a power strip and had an arc that partially melted the tip of my lead (It put a little melt point on it). I may have inadvertently had it on DC voltage. Would that cause an arc, or just an out of range signal on the LED? It's a good way to ruin leads, so I don't want to repeat that if possible.

Gyro:
It seems more likely that you had the meter on a (possibly mA) current range and the brief arc occurred before the meter fuse blew. What meter is it? Does it have separate terminals for the current ranges, or are the mA ranges shared with the voltage ranges (i.e. does it have 3 input jacks or 4)?

It sounds as if you were lucky!

paul8f:
Did you have the red banana plug connected to the A or 10A terminal of the DMM by mistake?

If you did, the internal fuse will have done its job, and will be blown. On most DMMs, this will happen regardless of what function you had the dial set to.

DW1961:

--- Quote from: Gyro on July 25, 2020, 08:25:13 pm ---It seems more likely that you had the meter on a (possibly mA) current range and the brief arc occurred before the meter fuse blew. What meter is it? Does it have separate terminals for the current ranges, or are the mA ranges shared with the voltage ranges (i.e. does it have 3 input jacks or 4)?

It sounds as if you were lucky!

--- End quote ---

You just put it on Volts or Amps, and then the SEL button functions as the DC /AC switch. You can also set the decimal readout with RAN button.
The meter still works. It only has two inputs. Here's a picture and link:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B087JMPTRF/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza

DW1961:

--- Quote from: paul8f on July 25, 2020, 08:25:37 pm ---Did you have the red banana plug connected to the A or 10A terminal of the DMM by mistake?

If you did, the internal fuse will have done its job, and will be blown. On most DMMs, this will happen regardless of what function you had the dial set to.

--- End quote ---

No Amp plug. I could have had the dial on Amps, which could have created a short, so yeah, maybe. Would having the meter on DC while trying to measure AC do anything except produce an out of range OL reading?

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