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Best practices for not damaging DMM?

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bird333:
I'm new to using a DMM.  Are there steps I should take between switching to different modes to prevent damage to the meter or to the equipment?  Thanks for any suggestions.

Excavatoree:
I've got two related suggestions:

When you turn the meter off after make a current measurement, move the leads back to the "volt measuring" position.  Don't just set the meter down and go about your business. 

Before you probe a voltage, make sure you didn't forget to do the above.  I've blown two or three too many current fuses in my multimeters just from laziness/carelessness.  Develop good habits from the start so you don't have to work to develop them later after making embarrassing mistakes. 

joeqsmith:

--- Quote from: bird333 on January 08, 2023, 02:25:17 am ---I'm new to using a DMM.  Are there steps I should take between switching to different modes to prevent damage to the meter or to the equipment?  Thanks for any suggestions.

--- End quote ---

Never send one to me.  I have a history of damaging poorly designed meters beyond repair.


--- Quote from: Excavatoree on January 08, 2023, 02:35:10 am ---... Develop good habits from the starts ...

--- End quote ---

Agree.  Best solution is put that gray matter to use.   If you can't be bothered to understand what you are trying to measure and how to measure it,  it's a foregone conclusion.   

Of course, some meters can handle far more abuse than others.  Higher cost doesn't suggest the meter will be more robust.  The last meter I looked at was a very high end Keysight.   Testing suggests that meter's switch with just normal use would fail prematurely when compared with other higher class meters.    If you want a meter that will last, start with buying a good meter.   

Enjoy your new meter.

J-R:
I think a good habit to form is disconnecting the leads from what you are measuring before changing modes.  With typical DMM test probes, this can be as simple as letting go so they break contact with whatever you were measuring.

But most DMMs have input protection for all functions, so the worst that should happen to the DMM on a typical electronics bench is you could blow a fuse (a typical DMM will have a high-current fuse around 10A and a low-current fuse around 500mA).

However, there are some DMMs that do not have a fuse for the 10A range, so that might be worth discovering now on purpose rather than later by accident.  This could damage the DMM, probes or your other equipment.

A common misunderstanding among new users is how to measure current with a DMM, which is a series circuit, not parallel.

What DMM(s) do you have?

BeBuLamar:
One way to damage the DMM is to have the battery leaked in it.

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