hpr4719 :: How to use a multimeter, introduction and basic usage

Overview of modern multimeters, introduction, probes,and how to use basic functions of a multimeter.

Hosted by number9 on Thursday, 2026-09-03 is flagged as Clean and is released under a CC-BY-SA license.
electronics. 8.

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Duration: 00:42:02
Download the transcription and subtitles.

general.

Outline of this radio program:

  • Short history of multimeters
  • Differences between VTVM, VOM, DMM
  • Why you may need a VTVM
  • Analog vs Digital
  • Current manufacturers
  • Why you may want to use an analog meter
  • Safety and CAT
  • Probes
  • Functions of the modern DMM and notes
  • Wrap up


Comments

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Comment #1 posted on 2026-09-03 07:43:52 by Ken Fallon

Thanks !

This is great and will fit nicely into the HAREC HAM series !

Comment #2 posted on 2026-09-03 09:49:32 by Archer72

Thanks! Quite interesting!

Hello number9,

I see you are a first time host to HPR, and this was a great one to start out with. The detail of each type of meters' function was intriguing.

Looking forward to hearing more.

Cheers!
Archer72

Comment #3 posted on 2026-09-03 12:52:57 by Trey

Excellent episode

Hello Number9,

Excellent episode. I have been playing with electricity and electronics since the '70s, and I still learned from your episode.

Do you follow Mr. Carlson's Lab (Youtube) at all? Very educational. I plan to build his capacitor leakage detector sometime in the future.

Keep up the great work.

Comment #4 posted on 2026-09-03 19:14:51 by xmanmonk

Great show!

Great show! As a fellow electrical engineer, I have a lot of experience with multi-meters, and I've been using electronics since I was a kid as well. Enjoyed the show! Thanks so much for sharing!

Comment #5 posted on 2026-09-03 22:39:30 by Whiskeyjack

Fluke Meters

This was a very good episode, and I hope we hear more from you.

I have a Fluke 73 Series III multimeter. It is a bit old at this point, but it has what I need.

I still have the box that it came in, including the accessory brochures.

I don't know what is in their current product line up, but they have or had both "industrial" and "electronics" lines of test probes. The industrial probes are bigger and more heavy duty, while the electronics probes are smaller and with much finer tips that are only exposed at the very end.

They also have a variety of hook and alligator style leads. It is pretty common in industrial troubleshooting, or in check out and test of new equipment, to use a hook or clip lead on the negative or neutral side, and then probe around with a regular probe on the other side.

Some other types of probes in the brochure include high voltage probes, clamp-on AC current probes, AC/DC Hall Effect current probes, pressure sensor probes, and a variety of different temperature probes.

Simpsons were very highly regarded analogue meters in the days before digital. At one time industrial electricians would sometimes get their hands on an old Simpson analogue meter just so they could show off that they were driving a "classic" meter to the admiration of their friends, but they always used a Fluke DMM for anything practical.

Comment #6 posted on 2026-09-06 12:54:51 by brian-in-ohio

welcome

Welcome, good show. I think a show about your early years working in electronics repair would be quite interesting.

Comment #7 posted on 2026-09-06 14:25:11 by Kevin O'Brien

Endorsing comment

I just want to add my +1 to the comment by brian-in-ohio.

Comment #8 posted on 2026-09-07 21:15:48 by Jim DeVore

I learned a few things!

I am not an EE, but have been using meters casually since the 70's and still own Radio Shack analog meter. While I avoid working with mains, I was unaware of the probe ratings. This alone was worth the listen, but not the only thing I learned. Thanks!

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