How to use a bloody multimeter

[Wood Borer]

Jamie,

I buy my woodwork gear from MIK in South Australia and I just didn't want to get on the wrong side of them. Geez, what would they send me if I ordered an LN plane? Something in a plain parcel?

[barnsey]

WB
Yeah - that's happened to me :confused: Where do I put the batteries

[Wood Borer]

Exactly, but Christopha could probably answer that one - check out his profile.

I am sure he knows how to use a multimeter to check the batteries in such devices.

[Peter R]

You blokes are right, there are a few things that would have done Stinky, like the 12 volt probe as technically described as a 'thingy', and there are some good cheap voltmeters that would be suitable for 12 and 24 volt systems....but the question was about using a voltmeter and that was answered very well, I thought.
I spent 30 years working with electricity, and I can say with pride that I never copped a bad dose of current either by accident or by carelessness. However, I have seen the effects of a survivors 240v experience and the burns of a 415v burst. It is not good, believe me.
Many times you will hear people that they have been thrown accross the room from a power supply, well in those cases you have probably only had a small bite as a full grip of 240V will make your muscles contract to a point where it is sometimes necessary to break an arm to get the hand to release. The toss accross the room is your own nerves reacting.
If you are a handyman a good voltmeter is a worthwhile tool and like any worthwhile tool it should be a good one.
The one clear electical killer of home renovators is a reversed polarity and a good voltmeter will pick that for you and that alone is worth the expense.
Am I preaching safety, you betcha!! I didn't get to this age by being clumsy.
Peter R.