Way to test your charger/balancer?

[BrianG]

Originally Posted by JThiessen

...
Why two meters, as opposed to measuring individually with one meter? I ask, because I tried measuring the current with my Fluke (I just stuck the probes into the wires). The numbers it showed didn't make sense to me at the time (remember, I was on a 10 day drinking binge....).

Because the method for meter hookup is different for voltage and current.

In voltage mode, the meter is hooked in parallel with (or "across") the component to measure. Meters in this mode have a high internal resistance to avoid it having an effect on the circuit being measured. This also means if you hook it in series with the measured component, you are introducing a very high resistance (in the mega ohms) into the circuit and things won't work right (you'd have a voltage divider with the vast majority of the supply voltage being dropped on the meter).

In current mode, the meter is hooked in series (or inline) with the component being measured. Meters in this mode have a very very low resistance (shunt), just enough to cause a voltage drop in the milli-volts when current flows through it. If you place the meter in parallel with the component being measured, you are effectively shorting it out and/or blowing the protection fuse in the meter.

So yeah, you kinda need two meters if you want to see voltage and current numbers at the same time.

[JThiessen]

Originally Posted by BrianG

Because the method for meter hookup is different for voltage and current.

In voltage mode, the meter is hooked in parallel with (or "across") the component to measure. Meters in this mode have a high internal resistance to avoid it having an effect on the circuit being measured. This also means if you hook it in series with the measured component, you are introducing a very high resistance (in the mega ohms) into the circuit and things won't work right (you'd have a voltage divider with the vast majority of the supply voltage being dropped on the meter).

In current mode, the meter is hooked in series (or inline) with the component being measured. Meters in this mode have a very very low resistance (shunt), just enough to cause a voltage drop in the milli-volts when current flows through it. If you place the meter in parallel with the component being measured, you are effectively shorting it out and/or blowing the protection fuse in the meter.

So yeah, you kinda need two meters if you want to see voltage and current numbers at the same time.

I guess my question was do I need to see it at the same time?

[_paralyzed_]

Originally Posted by JThiessen

I guess my question was do I need to see it at the same time?

nope. you could set to measure voltage and check that, and then set to measure amperage and check that. Orf vice versa.

Brian forgets not everyone has multi-meters coming out of the wazoo like he does

[JThiessen]

Originally Posted by _paralyzed_

Brian forgets not everyone has multi-meters coming out of the wazoo like he does

I think we should all pitch in some day and buy him an oscilloscope. We'd never hear from him again......

[BrianG]

Originally Posted by JThiessen

I think we should all pitch in some day and buy him an oscilloscope. We'd never hear from him again......

lol, put some boobs on it and you'd be right.