A Duh moment

[KansasArt]

So I’ve had my dvm for several years. Just a cheap one from a big box store . For my uses it’s been fine. Except one thing…the test lead’s only had a small metal tip. Couldn’t test a plug without removing it to expose the wires. Leads were too thick to fit in between the plug & box. So I thought I’d trim a bit of the plastic off to make them longer. Took my knife to trim them….there’s a ******** cap on them! Pulled the caps off and now I have longer leads! Boy did I feel stupid! Have a laugh at my expense!

 

[vwpieces]

If there were caps I'd expect to see threaded ends for alligator clips. But if clips were Included you may have realized there was caps earlier.

Wasn't till about 12yrs ago I realized that most DMMs could actually light up a 3v LED in diode test mode.

 

[Just_Steve]

RTFM. lol

 

[LukeOresk]

I think some have caps to change the CAT rating, I think my fluke came with something similar

 

[CJ7VFR]

I had a similar experience with my DVM when I bought it years ago. The caps on mine were threaded for the alligator clips like vwpieces said.

It took me a while to figure out the caps unscrewed so the alligator clips could be put on. The only reason I did figure it out was because one of the caps came loose one time while I was using the DVM. I was like WTF, these things just screw on and off? Holy **** did I feel stupid!

 

[Chukster]

So I’ve had my dvm for several years. Just a cheap one from a big box store . For my uses it’s been fine. Except one thing…the test lead’s only had a small metal tip. Couldn’t test a plug without removing it to expose the wires. Leads were too thick to fit in between the plug & box. So I thought I’d trim a bit of the plastic off to make them longer. Took my knife to trim them….there’s a ******** cap on them! Pulled the caps off and now I have longer leads! Boy did I feel stupid! Have a laugh at my expense!

Always RTFM.

Read
The
Factory
Manual

 

[nadogail]

Always RTFM.

Read
The
Factory
Manual

This is the first time I saw Factory used as the “F” word in this context.

 

[Chukster]

This is the first time I saw Factory used as the “F” word in this context.

I used RTFM once during choir practice, sotto voce. Our pianist (who is also a music teacher locally, and thus has teacher's ears) looked at me, furrowing her brows like How could you say something like that, here? So I just said Factory. She laughed.

 

[Speleo]

Or, RTMF
Read the manual, fool.

 

[LopezBart]

I had the same experience the first time I used my Klein meter.

Lots of info on DVM probes: https://lygte-info.dk/info/DMMProbes UK.html

 

[dscheidt]

This is the first time I saw Factory used as the “F” word in this context.

"friendly" is what I learned, long ago...

 

[KansasArt]

Guilty as charged! I didn’t read the manual. But I knew it was stashed under all the different packs of wire ties. Lesson learned!

 

[starquestMM]

without going into embarrassing details: Thanks