Rat Shack multimeter problems

Ed G. · February 10, 2006, 05:33:26 PM

I've been having the "cadillac" radio shack multimeter for a couple years, the true RMS one with the transistor checker, it's even got the little place to plug in yer resistors and caps to test without having to use the leads...
Anywho, it's acking funny on me, I can't get it to give me good readings on resistors. It seems to work for other things, but even when I switch it into 'manual' mode, it won't give me a good reading.
It also is real funny with the 'continuity' mode, it will beep if I just touch the leads. Apparently it feels the resistance across my body isn't enough to not be continuity?
I don't want to chunk it if it is something that can be fixed, so I thought I'd pose the question to you guys here since we all work with these things a lot.

MartyMart · February 10, 2006, 05:40:24 PM

Hi Ed, mine was "playing up" a while back, the two "plug" connectors, where black/red leads connect
had become a bit loose and were oxidized a little too.
A quick clean up and a "squeeze" on the metal pinch connector fixed it .. no more "odd" readings

Marty.

Paul Perry (Frostwave) · February 10, 2006, 06:17:39 PM

I had meter problems once (not this meter) & it was the battery

Ed G. · February 10, 2006, 06:43:11 PM

Yeah, I've got fresh batts and the contacts are clean. I think I maybe fried something in there, I had burnt out an internal fuse and like a dummy, I used the only ones I had, which were higher ratings. So it's possible I messed it up.

aron · February 10, 2006, 08:13:10 PM

Ed, there are fuses in that thing. I bet one or (more) are out.

Check them.

Ed G. · February 10, 2006, 09:17:07 PM

I replaced the fuses, there were two of them. The white one went out, it was rated much lower than the clear one, but the rat shack here only had the higher-rated one so I put it in (same size) and didn't worry about it, but I must have misused it again and fried something out. I guess I'll be looking for another Rat Shack special.

aron · February 10, 2006, 09:30:33 PM

When I bought it, I got the 5 year warranty. It's long over! The DIY bug continues!!!!!

Hal · February 10, 2006, 09:43:04 PM

arent fuses in meters usually just for current?

RDV · February 10, 2006, 09:43:17 PM

A suggestion. Ditch the RS meter and get a real one. You deserve it baby!

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=390-550

RDV

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Rat Shack multimeter problems