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re: "... What is going on here? Why is the meter behaving this
way?"<br>
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I'll take a SWAG (worth what you paid for it): Measuring DC current
is more difficult than measuring AC current, which is usually done
with an inductive pickup. Because DC doesn't create
inductance--except initially--it usually has to be measured inline;
i.e. you have to break the circuit and insert the leads between
ends. I suspect the DVM passes the current through a known-sized
resistor, and measures voltage drop. The DVMs I've seen/used can
only measure a few milliamps, anything more <i>could</i> cause the
meter to go bonkers, and just a few milliamps would take more than a
couple days to drain a fully-charged starting battery (my Mustang
has electrical stuff running even when 'off,' and I've gone several
weeks without a dead battery). Again, just a guess.<br>
<br>
Bob<br>
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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 2/12/2021 4:52 AM, jim via Healeys
wrote:<br>
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<div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">not helping on meter
question, but 12 volt lights with clip-leads attached will
show current flow quite nicely....remove fuse...clip light
bulb across removed fuse...if circuit is conducting current,
the light bulb will "glow" (simetimes called a "bug-lite"
by the old Telephone Company Central-Office-Techs)<br>
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<div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Jim<br>
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<div> On Wednesday, February 10, 2021, 4:04:57 PM PST,
llennep--- via Healeys <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:healeys@autox.team.net"><healeys@autox.team.net></a> wrote:
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<div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight:
normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 10pt;
line-height: normal; font-family: arial;
font-size-adjust: none;">Hello Listers,<span></span>
<div>I am seeking to tap the knowledge of the list on
this general auto matter.</div>
<div>I bought a hot rod last year and from the get go I
have had a battery drain. If system is left on the
batt will get too weak to start engine in a couple
days or so. Recently I have been chasing the problem
in earnest. I did find one issue and resolved that
with the hope that the drain was fixed. No. Still
there.</div>
<div>So yesterday I began preparing for the standard
search method - pulling fuses one at a time and noting
the drop in amps running through the system. However
I needed a dependable multimeter. I have 3 but do not
trust the amperage reading on any of them. I secured
a known good meter today and here is what I am
observing.</div>
<div>The reading starts out reading a few tenths amp
fluctuating wildly and then drops to almost 0 in 2-3
seconds. This happens time after time. What is going
on here? Why is the meter behaving this way?</div>
<div>Any help much appreciated.</div>
<div>Keith</div>
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