How do I use this multimeter??

[kbreeze]

I have a bunch of 14500 and 18650 flashlights with Trustfire 14500’s and Panasonic 18650A’s and B’s. I charge them with two new Nitecore D2’s and want to test the batteries to make sure the chargers are doing their jobs and that everything is safe. Bought an Innova 3320 multimeter but have no clue what I am doing. What setting do I put it on and how do I properly attach it to the batteries? Can someone please take me through it step by step?

[AlexGT]

How to use a Multimeter for beginners: Part 1 - Voltage measurement / Multimeter tutorial

How to use a Multimeter for beginners: Part 2a - Current measurement

How to use a Multimeter for beginners - Part 2b - Current

How to use a Multimeter for beginners: Part 3 - Resistance and Continuity

[unit311]

Just set the multimeter to DCV and put one lead on each side of the battery. It should read about 4.2v when fully charged.

[kbreeze]

Thanks but just to be sure, I plug the black in the middle and the red to the right? (To the left is DC10A)

Also, when I turn it to DCV with nothign plugged in it’s giving all these various numerical readouts that are not 0 is that normal?

[ryansoh3]

@kbreeze

Thanks but just to be sure, I plug the black in the middle and the red to the right? (To the left is DC10A)

Also, when I turn it to DCV with nothign plugged in it’s giving all these various numerical readouts that are not 0 is that normal?

Yup, that’s fine. It’s just reading some noise and it’s perfectly normal.

I’d recommend you also not to connect anything to the left terminal (10A) until you’re sure of what you’re doing.

Hooking a battery directly to the 10A current terminal will blow its fuse.

Edit: It’s actually unfused, so doing so will cook the DMM and/or damage the battery.

[kbreeze]

@ryansoh3

@kbreeze

Thanks but just to be sure, I plug the black in the middle and the red to the right? (To the left is DC10A)

Also, when I turn it to DCV with nothign plugged in it’s giving all these various numerical readouts that are not 0 is that normal?

Yup, that’s fine. It’s just reading some noise and it’s perfectly normal.

I’d recommend you also not to connect anything to the left terminal (10A) until you’re sure of what you’re doing.

Hooking a battery directly to the 10A current terminal will blow its fuse.

Edit: It’s actually unfused, so doing so will cook the DMM and/or damage the battery.

Thanks, I am glad I asked and didn’t fry one of my batteries!