Multimeter measuring voltage with 1 prong connected

Geoff

Geoff

VIP Member
Something isn't right with that meter, because it's not possible to measure voltage when one of the leads is not connected, unless the multimeter has some sort of internal short or is not actually measuring voltage.
 
Agent Smith

Agent Smith

Well-Known Member
If you are indeed using the right contacts in the USB cable and see 5 volts, then that would be the right voltage. But why it says that I don't know. In DC you need a positive and negative. You would in this case hold the black probe to the outside of the metal on the USB connector and touch the red probe to the proper positive contact point inside the USB connector.

What kind of meter is that anyway? I bought this and it's fantastic. Measures true RMS and I made an AC line splitter to measure the amps coming from my computers. I was amazed that my desktop playing a game of BF2 only consumes about 1 amp. That's only 120 watts!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O1Q2HOQ/ref=cm_sw_su_dp


Zooming in on the pic, you are in the wrong mode. You need what appears to be the 600 = mode. Not the ~ mode. That's AC. Like in a house wall outlet. Don't make the mistake of using the DC mode to test an AC outlet. Also, you are more than likely just seeing counts. Not an actual reading.

Look here: http://i.stack.imgur.com/yxwwB.png

Ignore D. That is data. You want just the + and -. So 4 and 1.

http://pinouts.ru/Slots/USB_pinout.shtml
 
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