The 1.04 reading is out to lunch.. 
How to read amps on a Multimeter?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Franklin TN
How to read amps on a Multimeter?
Okay - I've followed Bill Curlee's advice/threads on Battery Drain Tests.
He mentions 20 milliamps is good - once the car has gone to sleep.
I'm showing the following:
When meter is set to A - .104
When meter is set to mA - 1.04
Does this equate to 104 milliamps? or am I at 10 milliamps?
I checked every fuse under the hood and the footwell - not one fuse changed the reading.
Thanks
He mentions 20 milliamps is good - once the car has gone to sleep.
I'm showing the following:
When meter is set to A - .104
When meter is set to mA - 1.04
Does this equate to 104 milliamps? or am I at 10 milliamps?
I checked every fuse under the hood and the footwell - not one fuse changed the reading.
Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 34,479
Likes: 532
From: Central PA. - - My AR15 identifies as a muzzleloader
I believe in the Beer Fairy
.104 A = 104 mA
On mA scale, are you sure it read 1.04?
for the purpose of what you are doing, setting to the A scale is just fine. You've got 3 digits of resolution, and probably a 5% accuracy. Close enough for this. If you want to get fussy later, then switch to mA and get a more accurate reading. For now, you just know the draw is too much.
Leave it sit for a minute that way, and see if the reading doesn't go down some. Mine starts at 300ma, then to 150, to 80, and some time after drops to 25.
On mA scale, are you sure it read 1.04?
for the purpose of what you are doing, setting to the A scale is just fine. You've got 3 digits of resolution, and probably a 5% accuracy. Close enough for this. If you want to get fussy later, then switch to mA and get a more accurate reading. For now, you just know the draw is too much.
Leave it sit for a minute that way, and see if the reading doesn't go down some. Mine starts at 300ma, then to 150, to 80, and some time after drops to 25.
Last edited by K-Spaz; Oct 3, 2012 at 11:06 AM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Franklin TN
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
Are the fuses in the meter good. Some meters have no fuse for the A scale and a small fuse for the mA scale. I would be suspect of the meter unless you can get both ranges to read similar values.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Are you POSITIVE that you have the meter set up properly and,, are you in { SERIES } with the circuit???????????????
If it were 1.04 AMPS,, you could NOT see .104 ma
Look at it this way .999 milliamps is ONE micro amp less than 1 amp.
SO,,, your .104 ma can NOT be 1.04 amps. That reading does NOT make any sense..
I suspect the meter OR the method in which you using the meter OR an improper meter set up.
The NEGATIVE cable on the battery MUST be disconnected from the battery and the meter leads MUST be placed between the battery terminals and the battery neg cable.
The meter mode selector MUST be in the AMP or Milliamp position. Most meters have a specific separate jack to read current.
Recheck your set up. 20 milliamps should read out as .020 on the AMP SCALE OR 20.0 on the milliamp scale.
If it were 1.04 AMPS,, you could NOT see .104 ma
Look at it this way .999 milliamps is ONE micro amp less than 1 amp.
SO,,, your .104 ma can NOT be 1.04 amps. That reading does NOT make any sense..
I suspect the meter OR the method in which you using the meter OR an improper meter set up.
The NEGATIVE cable on the battery MUST be disconnected from the battery and the meter leads MUST be placed between the battery terminals and the battery neg cable.
The meter mode selector MUST be in the AMP or Milliamp position. Most meters have a specific separate jack to read current.
Recheck your set up. 20 milliamps should read out as .020 on the AMP SCALE OR 20.0 on the milliamp scale.
Last edited by Bill Curlee; Oct 3, 2012 at 03:17 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,412
Likes: 15
From: Richardson TX
99% sure it was on "200 ma" setting with the 1.04 reading. This is why I always buy digital autoranging multimeters! I'm an electrical engineer, and I still trick myself out on what the reading actually says sometimes.
Like the other's said, just leave it on "Amps", and let the car sit for a bit and get another reading.
Also make sure you leave the hood open and unplug the underhood light
Like the other's said, just leave it on "Amps", and let the car sit for a bit and get another reading.
Also make sure you leave the hood open and unplug the underhood light
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,204
Likes: 4,187
From: Kannapolis NC
Are you POSITIVE that you have the meter set up properly and,, are you in { SERIES } with the circuit???????????????
If it were 1.04 AMPS,, you could NOT see .104 ma
Look at it this way .999 milliamps is ONE micro amp less than 1 amp.
SO,,, your .104 ma can NOT be 1.04 amps. That reading does NOT make any sense..
I suspect the meter OR the method in which you using the meter OR an improper meter set up.
The NEGATIVE cable on the battery MUST be disconnected from the battery and the meter leads MUST be placed between the battery terminals and the battery neg cable.
The meter mode selector MUST be in the AMP or Milliamp position. Most meters have a specific separate jack to read current.
Recheck your set up. 20 milliamps should read out as .020 on the AMP SCALE OR 20.0 on the milliamp scale.
If it were 1.04 AMPS,, you could NOT see .104 ma
Look at it this way .999 milliamps is ONE micro amp less than 1 amp.
SO,,, your .104 ma can NOT be 1.04 amps. That reading does NOT make any sense..
I suspect the meter OR the method in which you using the meter OR an improper meter set up.
The NEGATIVE cable on the battery MUST be disconnected from the battery and the meter leads MUST be placed between the battery terminals and the battery neg cable.
The meter mode selector MUST be in the AMP or Milliamp position. Most meters have a specific separate jack to read current.
Recheck your set up. 20 milliamps should read out as .020 on the AMP SCALE OR 20.0 on the milliamp scale.
Last edited by 65GGvert; Oct 3, 2012 at 05:55 PM.
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