Hello,
I have this Multimeter (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JFK6XC/) and it was working perfectly until last week.
Now it can not measure resistance and test diodes. It still can measure AC and DC currents properly, and capacitance as well.
I put fresh batteries in it. It changes nothing.
Any ideas why this is happening and if I can fix it?
Thanks
My multimeter stopped measuring current, so I got a new one about a month ago. Something might have burned out, or it is just old. Did you try to measure the resistance of a live circuit? You are not supposed to do that for some reason.
an ohm meter has a battery and a measuring device of some kind and some resistors to scale the current correctly for the measured device. External voltages are generally not good to try and pass through those resistors... You usually let the magic smoke escape from them when you do that, especially on low ohm ranges.
Doc
Do you suggest to open the multimeter and test these resistors? Are they not protected by the fuse?
Do you think it's repairable?
Did you try replacing the battery? Some of the cheap imported stuff ships with really awful batteries; it's surprising that they work at all. It's not beyond possible that some functions (where the meter is expected to provide some current, like in testing resistors) would stop working before others.
First thing I did. Didn't help though
Bouha:
First thing I did. Didn't help though
I hate to say it, but cheaper meters are pretty much intended to be disposable. Like cheap digital watches and calculators, these are commodity items made by the millions to meet a price-point. Something just has to give.
Open up the meter and look for the obvious signs of magic smoke escape. Beyond that, just get a new meter.
Read the reviews on Amazon. Overall it got 2/5 stars.
I got this all... it's not my first or only meter...
I am looking for someone's advice here. Maybe you got this before and a few resistors could give it a new life...
Buy a good one and buy it once, my Fluke 179 has been used continually for 4 years, had to replace the fuses once and only once as the set from anyone including Fluke is $20 + Dollars but Never anything except a battery once every year or so have I done to it... Calibration is still factory good as well. My previous meter was a Fluke 77 it worked for 10 years until someone needed it enough to steal it. That one was a great meter too took several falls of 30 - 40 feet and still was ok, case a little worse for wear as I was a field engineer for a couple of communications outfits for about 5 of those years repairing high power uhf and vhf transmitters and low density microwave comm links.
Doc
Bouha:
I am looking for someone's advice here. Maybe you got this before and a few resistors could give it a new life...
Well open it up then. But if it uses SMD parts it could be virtually impossible to replace them.
Now I understand how so many members make thousands of forums posts 
Speaking of broken multimeters, who here has accidentally tested a 120v outlet... and accidentally had it set to resistance? The outlet I was testing worked. 
Now I understand how so many members make thousands of forums posts
Yes, the numbers do rack up when pointless questions are also responded to.
meh its not really that hard, I do it all the time with a simple iron if its just simple passives, though a 15$ meter vs time and parts I dont know if its really worth it. If it were my Tektronix meter, which was at one time like 319$ new, and currently 85 bucks, beat to hell, used, I might consider it.
Its like the 200$ fluke at work ... all of a sudden 20$ for a new set of input terminals and a hour worth of time made since. The 20$ craftsman that we picked up at the local K-mart on the way to a meeting, not so much.
Docedison:
My previous meter was a Fluke 77 it worked for 10 years until someone needed it enough to steal it. That one was a great meter too took several falls of 30 - 40 feet and still was ok, case a little worse for wear as I was a field engineer for a couple of communications outfits for about 5 of those years repairing high power uhf and vhf transmitters and low density microwave comm links.
One of these days, I'll get a Fluke. I've been using a cheap-o meter for a while now; sadly my Beckman died some years ago. Speaking of falls:
Bouha:
Now I understand how so many members make thousands of forums posts
I'm working on it. 
Speaking of falls:
Yes, but will it blend?
RedSquirrel:
Speaking of broken multimeters, who here has accidentally tested a 120v outlet... and accidentally had it set to resistance?
You did that? If yes, that explains everything.
dkl65:
RedSquirrel:
Speaking of broken multimeters, who here has accidentally tested a 120v outlet... and accidentally had it set to resistance?You did that? If yes, that explains everything.
Dave did...
I bought a Beckman once... about 30 years ago...
Doc