Ron(UK) wrote in message
...
N Cook wrote:
Meat Plow wrote in message
...
On Sat, 19 Jan 2008 14:42:46 +0000, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

In article ,
N Cook wrote:
Can anyone improve on the following especially reducing, even
further,
the chance of mistakingly using a meter set for current monitoring on
live kit , thinking you are measuring voltage.
Assuming others here are like me, rarely use the current function of
a
DVM/DMM. Leave a gummy bright or contrasting sticker over the ammeter
socket of the meter. When transfering the red lead to that socket
then
transfer the label to the function or on/off switch.
The ideal would be some sort of mechanical interlock but I cannot see
how.
My Fluke says 'lead' on the display when you change. Hasn't stopped me
blowing a fuse though. ;-)
Same here. I've blown a few fuses in my 77.


Its not the blowing of a meter fuse that I'm concerned about. Its
shorting
some expensive bit of otherwise working kit that I'm wary of.
I've not done it for a long time but there could so easily be some time
in
the future, probably pushed for time, and there will be a big flash and
a
bang.


I am in the happy position of having several decent meters, one of which
I use exclusively for current measurements. It has croc clip leads.

It`s very rare that my favourite Flukey gets switched to amps - So
there`s your answer, buy another meter just for current, fit it with
croc clips to remind you do to go poking around circuit boards with it

Ron(UK)

A 5 minute job and peace of mind.
Fluke 77 with hot melt glue down the 2 current sockets and a dollop on the
rotating function switch surround. so it cannot be turned to A dc or ac.

A dollop of hotmelt in the "volts" socket of the old meter and a 2 croc-clip
ended leads. instead of probes, so very unlikely to absent-mindedly use use
that one in volts test mode.

--
Diverse Devices, Southampton, England
electronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list on
http://home.graffiti.net/diverse:graffiti.net/