Good reminder. Maybe some AA et al batteries are manufactured better
than others? i.e. a HF priced battery might leak sooner than a
Duracell?

I used VOM's for years before reading of a suggestion to set meter to
Ohms, connect probes to test the meter and probes. During the test, I
move the probe wires around to test for breaks. The HF priced probe
wires tend to fail early. I'd guess that users who grew up using
analogue meters with a "Zero" pot would've made that test a habit.

I bought a new ~ $30 (on sale) RS analogue meter about 4 years ago. It
seems to be of decent quality. I carry it on trips, it works great to
test an AFM of TPS for voltage drop outs.

Neil.

On 10/25/20, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

>  So...I have 3 voltmeters.  Two freebie digital ones from Harbor Freight
> (brand name is CEN-TECH) and an ancient Radio Shack analog model, probably
> 30 years old.  I used the "tongue test" (like you used to do in Jr. High
> School) to evaluate the voltage for the 9 Volt batteries on the digital
> meters; result was abysmal.  I opened up the Radio Shack analog
> meter.....ugh....the negative terminal was overflowing with crystals of
> corrosion on the AA battery.
>
> ... No wonder I am sometimes getting wonky readings!  I
> have generally treated voltmeters like a screwdriver or wrench...just use
> them.  Wrong.
>

-- 
Neil n

VE7TBN

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