Up until now we have been talking about a lot of theory and learning vocabulary for electrical systems. Today we are taking the first step in learning how to make use of our new found knowledge to make electrical measurements. There are two important things to know:
First, always keep safety utmost when you are working on electrical systems. Second, and maybe too obvious, you will need a meter of some type, which is suitable for the measurement you are making.
There are several common measurements you may want to make while using your RV. These include testing fuses, checking available campground power to verify it is correct before plugging in your shore power cord, checking the condition of your battery to determine the charge level. Obviously there are a lot of other things you can do, but let’s talk about these and see if we can find a meter that is suitable for the above checks.
We’ll get into the selection process in more depth later, but for now, and in order to check the condition of fuses, you will need a meter that can measure resistance. To check the campground power post you will need a meter which can measure AC volts up to 240 volts AC. To check the condition of your battery, you will need a meter that can measure at least 12 volts DC.
A final condition I would impose on such a meter would that it be inexpensive, and reasonably rugged as well as simple to use. Such a meter can be found at Home Depot, www.homedepot.com for $19.99.
This meter comes complete with color coded test leads and several “RANGES”. The various ranges on the meter enable you to make different measurements such as described above.
If you don’t have a suitable multimeter I suggest you consider getting one to carry with you in your RV. Get a meter and study the various parts of the meter. Next week we will begin discussing the “how to” part of owning such a meter. BTW, for what it’s worth, I have this exact meter in my motorhome and find it to be more than adequate for all the checks I need to make. If you have any questions please let me know.
Larry