On Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:24:02 -0400, "Robert Green"
wrote:

"Doug" wrote in message

Can I use a voltmeter with probes to measure what the refrig uses? Do
I just measure the 2 sides of the refrig's electrical plug? Or how do
you do this measurement?

No. You need a "tong" meter and a special cord that isolates the hot from
the neutral to measure only instantaneous current. Or a special cord that
lets you put an ammeter in series with the unit. Most pocket meters can't
handle that sort of current, anyway. Look on your meter, if it reads amps,
it should say 10 or 20A max on the jacks. That's why the Kill-a-watt is so
useful. None of that is required. Plus, even the cheapest ones can read
power use over time in kWh which no common multimeter I know does. The more
expensive units have memories and cost computers built in, but unless you
have lots of power blinks or outages, that's overkill, IMHO.



I should have said multimeter not voltmeter... my mistake.
Specifically can the Fluke 117 do it using it's amp meter?


I know some are wondering how is a Fluke 117 in my hands with my lack
of knowledge but let's just say that the price was too good to not buy
.... and no I didn't steal it, got it on ebay new.