One of the most basic tools for tinkering with electronics is a multimeter. Today, even a cheap meter has capabilities that would have been either very expensive or unobtainable back in the 1970s.

While using a digital multimeter to diagnose electrical problems on customers’ equipment, I frequently hear the comment, “I’ve got one of those multimeter things, but I never learned how to use it.” ...

My meter, Wavetek Meterman 35XL, came with Pomona test leads and I use the banana patch cords, BNC patch cords, and adapters (BNC->Dual Banana and BNC->Dual Mini-Grabber). The cords are of sufficient ...

It’s remarkable how tiny electronics have become. Heaven knows what an old-timer whose experience started with tubes must think, to go from solder tags to SMD in a lifetime is some journey. Even the ...

Let's start with DC voltage, one of the simplest and most-used multimeter measurements. The DC voltage measurement is used to determine the difference in electrical potential between two points in a ...

Not knowing how to troubleshoot electrical issues is a death sentence for any DIYer’s bank account. Your only other option is a wild goose chase by throwing money at your car until the problem’s fixed ...

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us? A digital multimeter is an indispensable tool for testing, diagnosing, and ...

When your car doesn’t start, often a low or dead battery is the culprit. Unfortunately, most vehicle owners do not check their battery until it fails. As preventative maintenance, the suggested best ...

MEASURING live voltages and current in today's high-energy environments can result in a severe hazard to equipment and users if proper precautions are not applied. Given the risk of transients, surges ...

Using a digital multimeter (DMM) to verify that a circuit is de-energized is a good safety practice. Let’s walk through the steps Carl takes before replacing a motor starter. With this test, he does ...