Training to use a multi-meter?

Dick2

Well-known Member
I have a 14-year-old grand-nephew several states away that I am sending a multi-meter to.

Do any of you know of a good book I should send him to educate him on electricity, both AC & DC?

I had a great book but it got away from me many years ago (loaned out and never got it back), but it is no longer available.
 
I hate to say it this way, but have him Google it. At age 14 I bet he has more resources than any of us had at that age. Anything I mention around my 12 year old grandson is subject to scrutiny and verification. I have to be very careful to be correct when I speak!!!

Don't get me wrong, we both have a lot of respect for one another, and it's neat having a smart kid around who can find facts in a heartbeat.
 
Find out if his school offers electronics classes. When my boy was in HS, I made him take advanced electronics and advanced auto so he would learn something useful. He know enough to replace brakes, battery, and chagne oil. When it comes to electrical he calls me.

We used to have basic electronics classes in Indiana before the dept of ed decided they weren't that important. Used to have many industrial arts classes too, same thing, not that important anymore. I here on news, GEE there is a shortage of people with tech skills. The skills they would have been exposed to in shop classes.
 
radio shack ( don't laugh ) used to offer mini-engineer notebooks on plenty of topics. their blue faced book was on ac/dc electronics was cheap and a good read. they also had a getting starterd in electronics book that was cheap and good. I don't know if they are still in print.

forrest mims III was the author. I just found his website.

i COMPLETELY reccomed his stuff.

plain writing, EASY to understand, sample circuits to build to observe what is being illustrated.. etc.


I see his stuff is all available and in print / ordered online.

I reccomend the getting started book, and Volume IV: Electronic Formulas, Symbols & Circuits

between those 2 books you see the how and why and what., and the vol iv shows circuit diagrams, component listings and the formulas needed to calculate.
mims website
 
I have a book like that from Radio Shack. Last time I went to Radio Shack it was all phone stuff . Not sure what Radio Shack carries anymore.
 


Dick, try these, but, remember the safety aspect


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF3OyQ3HwfU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBbgiBU96mM
 
Radio Shack still has a lot of the same stuff, but you have to actually go through the door and walk past the phones to get to it.

Won't be a problem for long, though. Last I heard Radio Shack was on the verge of bankruptcy...
 
I agree....Radio Shak.

Years ago, I found their instructional aids a great asset to understanding the "theory" classes that I attended, professionally.

John,PA Radio Shak, owned by Tandy Leather.

For further info, just ask DELL. Former BOEING electronics ENGINEER
 
I think all of the Radio Shack stores in this part of the city are all closed. I'll see what I can find though if I can find a store that is open.
 
(quoted from post at 11:37:20 09/30/14) radio shack ( don't laugh ) used to offer mini-engineer notebooks on plenty of topics. their blue faced book was on ac/dc electronics was cheap and a good read. they also had a getting starterd in electronics book that was cheap and good. I don't know if they are still in print.

forrest mims III was the author. I just found his website.

i COMPLETELY reccomed his stuff.

plain writing, EASY to understand, sample circuits to build to observe what is being illustrated.. etc.


I see his stuff is all available and in print / ordered online.

I reccomend the getting started book, and Volume IV: Electronic Formulas, Symbols & Circuits

between those 2 books you see the how and why and what., and the vol iv shows circuit diagrams, component listings and the formulas needed to calculate.
mims website

Soundguy....holy smokes now you got me going through my attic. I have a bunch of those radio shack books that i bought in grade school when i started getting interested in electronics. you just brought back a load of good memories...Thanks.
 
I think i have everything printed by mims. most of mine are moth eaton but I THINK i still got them. I know they went thru a few different printings ( 3 at least ) judging by cover designs. I think mine are all the first printing. :)
 
Soundguy,
You hit on the real issue, building circuits and understanding what you are measuring.

One can't use a mult-meter without knowing what they are measuring.

Volts, ohms, and amps are greek to most. That's obvious when someone posts an electrical issue like circuit breaker is tripping on air compressor and there is no mention of the amps.

I remember when multi-meters and ammprobes were very expensive. Now HF multi-meters and ammprobes are really cheap. I don't leave home without them in truck.

george
 
Yup and in circuit vs open circuit testing of components is different, the average person can't figure out why their dropping resistor has 12v on both sides with key in and points open... It must be broken. :)
 
(quoted from post at 09:29:39 10/01/14) Yup and in circuit vs open circuit testing of components is different, the average person can't figure out why their dropping resistor has 12v on both sides with key in and points open... It must be broken. :)

Nah...resistor is just wired backwards.
 
J FORREST MIMS BOOKS are sitll in print
as is Now your talking the ham book has loads of electrical and electronic facts and theory
 

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