Scruff you know more than me, so I will take any help and advice I can get!

I do have the instructions, will try to decipher them...

Post a pic of the multimeter, and someone will tell you where to set it, if, your not sure.

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Right, the instructions for the multimeter are fairly straightforward but I don't understand what the different measurements are used for. It's a Rapitest DM10 multimeter and I can, apparently, measure DC voltage, AC voltage, DC current, resistance. It also does a diode test and audible continuity test. Are any of these useful? If so, which one(s) do I need to do and do I need to turn of the electricity at the mains before using the multimeter?

Don't you just hate n00bs?

Here's the gizmo in all its yellowy glory. Remember that I'm an eejit so will need very simple, step-by-step instructions on where to position the dial and probes.

In my toolbox I've also found what looks like an electronic temperature probe with a screwdriver blade on the end - apparently this thing does 'direct test' and 'induction break-point test'. No idea what that means either...

What has it got on the top where the leads plug in.

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Not quite sure what you mean, Scruff. The outer casing has a groove where the leads wrap around the body of the meter. On the top front of the meter, under where it says 'rapitest' is a display screen for the digital readout. Otherwise there is nothing else that I can see.

Show me where the leads plug into the meter.

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Afternoon all!

I agree!

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Measure twice cut once!

Post a pic. of where the red & black cables enter the multimeter...

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Measure twice cut once!

Pity I didn't have time to do my nails before taking this pic... do my fingers look fat in this?

Can I ask why you need to see where the leads go into the meter? The leads are attached at the bottom left of the meter (below the upside down fir tree picture on the front of it, in the pic above). They are about 20" long.

My multi-meter has different holes for different types of measurements

S

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Measure twice, cut once!

On the front of the meter is a function switch that slides side-to-side so I can change the function. There is also a dial that is called the 'range switch' so that I can select different ranges.

Not on this one they don't Simon.

Can't see too well from the pic but put the slider right over to the left, and the dial on 200

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Function switch:

V~ AC voltage measurement (left position)
V= (bottom line is dotted on the casing) DC voltage measurement (2nd left position)
A= DC current measurement (3rd left position)

On the right is another symbol, like headphones or an inverted U with fat feet, that is for resistance measurement.

Scruff - you think AC voltage measurement is what I want to do? Do I need to turn the mains electricity off before doing this?

If you turn the electricity off you can't tell whether it's live.

You are doing an AC voltage measurement.

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