Hi Anthony.

You can find an analogue VOH (volt/ohm meters) at Radio shack,
Canadian Tire, or maybe even WallMart. i.e. they're fairly common.

You don't need digital readout for simple tests of DC/AC voltages or
continuity. I keep an analogue meter in van at all times. I make sure
needle is adjusted to proper rest position.

Cheers,

Neil.

-- Please send me your Vanagon/Westfalia links!
    http://vanagonlinks.googlepages.com/home

Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia.
http://web.mac.com/tubaneil

On 8/6/07, Anthony Egeln <regnsuzanne@yahoo.com> wrote:
> After reading all the posts on solar power, I now realize that I know shockingly little about electricity.....don't know an amp from a watt from a volt.  Can someone who knows about such things please recommend a good, easy-to-read book that would be an electrical primer.  I want to learn about electricity not just for solar applications but also home and auto applications.  At some point I'd like to be able to do all these vanagon electrical tests myself and even wire my future retirement home.
>
> Also, can you recommend a good multi-meter or tester that may work for 12V systems as well as for home current?  Or do you need two different meters?  I like to buy Craftsman for serious tools because the quality is usually good and you can get them replaced or serviced easily enough, but I'll shop anywhere if there is a good reason to do so.
>
> Really appreciate the recommendations!
>
> Anthony
> '89 Syncro GL (Hidalgo)