Meter on the fritz?

[Badasssapper67]

I've got a Cornwell multi meter. Got it out today because my Cat seemed to have two dead batteries. I put the meter on one battery and it showed 10 volts.
Before testing the other battery I looked at the meter and was waiting for it to zero out when I noticed the meter was reading "ghost voltage". I waited to see how high it would go until it got passed 240 volts dc.
when I tested the other battery just to see what it would say it read -7v. I put it back on the first battery and it once again read 10v and then went back to the second, and it once again read -7v.
Then I watched the meter skyrocket again reading ghost voltage. Any idea what causes this? Can I trust the read voltage? Did my meter bite the big one?

 

[Outlawmws]

Does it have a dead internal battery? When mine gets low it will read all voltages a lot higher than the reality (seeing 160 on your house circuit can be a bit freaky...)

 

[bwringer]

Agreed -- bad battery in the meter.

Dey all do dat when the battery gets low. It's rather freaky.

Now you need another meter for the meter battery...

 

[BigMike782]

I just had a similar thing happen. I thought It was because it is an old Craftsman meter so I'm thinking.....cool, a reason to buy a new meter. Maybe I'll put a new battery in and see if it works as it should........THEN I'll go buy another meter anyway

PS. What brands would be considered a good brand but not needing to be a Fluke?
Lowes had Southwire? Menards had Ideal and one I cannot remember.

 

[Outlawmws]

For simple batter verification, the cheap/free DVOM from HF will work fine (replace that **** 9V battery they come with before it starts leaking...), even for basic testing on cars and the like; I just hate the COO on those...