The multimeter is a great tool to have in your car kit. It can tell you the state of charge (SOC) and whether or not something needs replacing, but different settings on each type need attention when using them for this purpose.
Here’s a quick guide to the different multimeter settings and how they work:
The voltage range for a car battery falls between 15 and 20 volts. You can test your multimeter by setting it to the DC level of 20 V, which will let you know if there are any problems with getting power from an outlet in question or even just checking that everything works properly when turned off at night.
Be Careful
The current you are about to deal with is potentially dangerous, so be careful. First, make sure your car’s keys and ignition switch have been removed from the vehicle before disconnecting the negative cable on the battery using a wrench or socket tool! Connect black probe of multimeter onto the metal part near post where cables attach-this will give us readings in amps (or voltage).
Connect the red probe to your car battery’s positive terminal using another wrench or socket. Your multimeter should now be connected across both terminals.
Set your Multimeter to the Right Scale
To get accurate readings, ensure your multimeter is set to the correct scale for measuring voltage. Set it on 20 volts and then read both 12-volt batteries as well as 6-volt ones; if you have an analog type of meter with a needle that needs to be zeroed before taking any reading – do this step! This way, your errors will show up differently than what’s shown by offsetting its sensitive area (which could be due to either overloading or inaccurate measurements).
Test the Battery with a Low Load
Now that you’ve charged your battery turn off all accessories in the vehicle and test for voltage. You’ll want to determine which terminal is positive (red) versus negative(black). Connect one lead from each color with a wire or cable so they can be connected directly to their respective terminals on an electrical device such as another laptop/charge port, USB outlet, etc.- make sure these connections will hold strong before using.
You can see how well your car’s charging system works by looking at its battery reading. If it has 12 volts or more, then you know that everything is going smoothly and there aren’t any problems with either yourself (the driver) OR YOUR VEHICLE! Those with readings below 11v might need to charge their batteries again soon, while those around 10 suggest 20%.
Test the Battery with a High Load
When testing the battery under a heavy load, you must use an accurate high-load tester or risk flipping your lights out. A 100-watt light bulb will suffice as a substitute for this purpose, and it draws about eight amps when turned on, but only one-off – so keep that volume down.
One way to test your car’s battery is by removing it from the socket and connecting one end of a light bulb to an exposed metal spring. Touching both ends should cause current flow through this circuit, which could give you insight into whether there might be something wrong with either terminals or wires.
Start by watching the meter while your assistant turns on the ignition. If there’s no voltage drop, then both batteries and the electrical system are fine; if more than 0.5 volts is lost from any part of this chain (battery-starter motor connection), it could be an issue with that specific component or cable–so check them all out.
DC vs AC
DC is the typical type of power used in cars, but AC can be important too. Make sure your test equipment works with both types.
Resistance (ohms)
When you turn on your circuit, this setting tells us how much resistance is in the wires and other components. The standard unit for measuring these resistances is ohms (O). This means that if we label our settings with “ohms,” then they will usually be able to measure R-Value changes within a component or system at hand.
Voltage (V)
You can use this to measure the pressure of electricity between two points in your circuit. You will test it with a battery and alternator, which should work properly if you’ve set it up correctly- but don’t forget that DC (direct current) means we’re testing car batteries here.
Amperage (A)
Find your multimeter and set it to measure amperage. You’ll see a little symbol like this—the “snake biting its tail”–which means you’re looking for a rating called “amperes.”
Positive and negative terminals are often marked with “+” or “-.” If they’re not, look for a symbol with two circles at their center.
To measure the voltage of an electric current, put one multimeter lead on its positive terminal and another onto its negative. The red-tipped end should go towards generating electricity while black is for receiving it from other devices or wires in your circuit.”
If you have a battery that’s not showing numbers higher than 10 or 13, it might be time for an upgrade! But don’t worry—even though batteries lose charge over long periods of use (and they’ll stop taking voltage readings once the car turns off), these low-amps signs mean only one thing: Your old pack needs replacing.
How to Use Craftsman Multimeter
Top 5 Best Multimeter for Automotive
Fluke 325 Clamp Multimeter Review
