Trying to use a multimeter to test why my electric water heater isn't working. It's just not producing any hot water. I think I am either doing something wrong with my multimeter or I need a new multimeter. I took photos of the multimeter and how I have it setup. The black lead in the COM port and the red lead in the V..mA port. The 10ADC port has nothing plugged into it. I have set the dial to 750ACV which I think is what I need to test 240 volts on a household appliance since I only have an option for 200 and 750 in the ACV section as you can see from the photos.
I first put the multimeter into a normal 120 volt electrical outlet to test it and got about 121 volts or something. So I thought the multimeter was working fine. Then I went and tested the water heater using this guide:
http://www.water-heater-repair-guide...hermostat.html
I posted pictures of my thermostats and everything at various points during my testing, but basically the tests on the upper thermostats and elements were fluctuating between -1 and 1 Volts for some reason. The upper thermostat is supposed to read 240 volts, so I was like excited that I thought I found the problem.
Then I tested the lower element and got a fluctuating reading between -1 and 1 Volts again. Then I tested the lower thermostat and got the correct reading of 120 volts for all the tests on the lower thermostats (supposed to read 120 volts according to the guide).
I then wanted to test if maybe I hadnt set my multimeter up correctly or was doing something wrong, so I went to my dryer outlet that is working at 240 volts I believe, plugged the multimeter in, and could not get a reading really. Sometimes I would get -1 and most of the time it was just stuck at 0 volts. That dryer outlet works though. I re-tested the multimeter again in a normal 120 volt outlet and got the correct 120 volt reading.
What am I doing wrong with the multimeter? Or why am I only getting proper readings on 120 volt things, and getting improper readings on the 240 volt things. I even changed the battery on it. If the multimeter is the issue, then I will go and buy another one. I just assumed it was working fine because it was giving correct readings on 120v outlets. That's kind of weird to me.
Also you will notice my reset button on my water heater is popped out, but I cannot push it in. I have pressed it really hard and it wont stay in when pressed. It may be normal for this model, but thought I should mention that since I saw photos of water heaters that seemed to have the button flush and not popped out.
Thanks again for any help. Taking cold showers is not the most fun thing to do, hahaha. I can't wait to get my water heater working again
I first put the multimeter into a normal 120 volt electrical outlet to test it and got about 121 volts or something. So I thought the multimeter was working fine. Then I went and tested the water heater using this guide:
http://www.water-heater-repair-guide...hermostat.html
I posted pictures of my thermostats and everything at various points during my testing, but basically the tests on the upper thermostats and elements were fluctuating between -1 and 1 Volts for some reason. The upper thermostat is supposed to read 240 volts, so I was like excited that I thought I found the problem.
Then I tested the lower element and got a fluctuating reading between -1 and 1 Volts again. Then I tested the lower thermostat and got the correct reading of 120 volts for all the tests on the lower thermostats (supposed to read 120 volts according to the guide).
I then wanted to test if maybe I hadnt set my multimeter up correctly or was doing something wrong, so I went to my dryer outlet that is working at 240 volts I believe, plugged the multimeter in, and could not get a reading really. Sometimes I would get -1 and most of the time it was just stuck at 0 volts. That dryer outlet works though. I re-tested the multimeter again in a normal 120 volt outlet and got the correct 120 volt reading.
What am I doing wrong with the multimeter? Or why am I only getting proper readings on 120 volt things, and getting improper readings on the 240 volt things. I even changed the battery on it. If the multimeter is the issue, then I will go and buy another one. I just assumed it was working fine because it was giving correct readings on 120v outlets. That's kind of weird to me.
Also you will notice my reset button on my water heater is popped out, but I cannot push it in. I have pressed it really hard and it wont stay in when pressed. It may be normal for this model, but thought I should mention that since I saw photos of water heaters that seemed to have the button flush and not popped out.
Thanks again for any help. Taking cold showers is not the most fun thing to do, hahaha. I can't wait to get my water heater working again