On Mar 12, 1:14*am, wrote:
On Wed, 11 Mar 2009 21:47:37 -0700, "scorpster"

wrote:
"Tony Hwang" wrote in message
...
Hmmm,
Your mistake was using that Fluke with too an input impedance.
One reason I still often use Simpson 260. Some times El Cheapo
anlog meter is better in such as our case.

Which readings would have most likely been different if I had used a better
measuring device? *I thought the Fluke multimeters were pretty good but it
sounds like high voltage electrical is more tender.

Digital meters pick up capacitance, which is an induced low voltage
across wires close to each other. *
They're made for working on
electronics more than AC supply voltages.

Capacitance is not an induced voltage. And there's no reason you
can't use a digital VOM on AC. That's what I always use.


*They're too sensitive to
these oddball voltages like the 8 volts you saw at the dryer recp. *If
you get used to them, you ignore those small voltages.

Rather than ignore them, what you should have is an understanding of
basic electricity so that you can correctly interpret what you are
reading. As others have said, you can get a voltage reading with a
digital unit because it has a high input impedance compared to a
typical analog unit. Which means that it disturbs whatever it's
measuring a lot less. The analog VOM actually loads down the line
it's measuring enough that the 8 volts becomes .8, or whatever. You
can turn the digital VOM into a less precise instrument if you want to
by putting about a 1K resistor across it's terminals, effectively
lowering it's input impedance.



*I much prefer
a Wiggy as well as the cheap analog meters you can buy at places like
Walmart for under $10. *My digital meter is used for electronics only.

However, you solved the problem, so be proud of your efforts. *(Of
course we all helped !!!! ). *I'm glad we could help !!!!

I also like to use my homemade testers. *One is 2 lightbulbs wired in
series (must be same wattage). *They get dim on 110, bright on 220. *I
put aligator clips so I can hang them from wires and watch what they
do as I work downstream. *The other is a doorbell and transformer on a
block of wood with a plug as well as aligator clips. *With that I can
make it buzz in a distant room and go to the breaker box and flip
breakers and know which breaker controls that outlet or wires. *A
cheal plug in radio works too, but they dont always stay on the
station and require antenna adjustments. *I like the doorbell better.
(for 110 ONLY).