Am I Doing Something Wrong Here?

[Fidgits]

Okay, about to adventure with some electronics in the car - nothing too adventurous..

I decide to take a reading off the Ciggie lighter connection - really just to verify what i already know...

Except, i read across the two terminals, the fuse blows....

(happened twice).

Now, i have the multimeter set correct, and i'm pretty sure im doing it right, but for some reason, the fuse blows...

WHY????

[Zee007]

Because YOU aren't supposed to touch anything electrical or mechanical..... The car is telling you to leave it alone..... :D

[Scorpion]

Join the "mechanical menace" club with chippieStu.

[Stu]

Join the "mechanical menace" club with chippieStu.

←

'Scuse me, but thats an exlusive club!!!!!! :P

It's alright Ian, if you want to join the menace club, help yourself! :D

Stu

[Scorpion]

[Fidgits]

I'm sure there is something wrong with the multimeter!

[Whitebeam]

Multimeter leads in the 'Amps' socket?

[Fidgits]

nope, I know its been a long time since college - but i can remember how to use a multimeter...

Anyway, i have taken it back now - although i am adverse to connecting my in-car PDA kit to these two wires now as i had planned....

[Fidgits]

so....

would people agree this sounds like a faulty multimeter, or do i need to worry...

[idmax]

so....

would people agree this sounds like a faulty multimeter, or do i need to worry...

←

Ground the neagtive lead from the multimeter on the car elsewhere, then try both terminals again one after the other. This way you will find the positive. If it still blows the fuse must be something wrong with the mutimeter. I done the exact thing to wire up my sat nav and did not come across any problems.

Good Luck

[Fidgits]

Thanks for the advice

I actually took the meter back (was in that sort of mood)..

So, now i just need to annoy the LOC members for a +12v switched, +12v permament, GND...