Generally, when reading voltages you want the black lead attached to
"ground". The coax shield braid is a good ground on the MOTM stuff. the red
or Positive lead is then used to measure the various voltages you want. Hope
this helps.
Jim
>From: "David Bivins" <david@...>
>Reply-To: motm@onelist.com
>To: "Motm@Onelist. Com" <motm@onelist.com>
>Subject: [motm] Hey, look at me, I'm a dumb-ass.
>Date: Mon, 2 Aug 1999 10:13:11 -0400
>
>From: "David Bivins" <david@...>
>
>O.k., it's time to admit it. I'm bluffing through this modular-building
>thing!
>
>That's right--Every one of my modules has worked perfectly after I've built
>it, and that's because I'm extremely careful and don't do anything unless
>I'm very sure of what I'm doing.
>
>But here's the problem. I can't seem to figure out my DVM. I've read the
>manual, I bought another DVM book at Radio Shack, I've read a couple of
>introductory electronics books, but for some reason I can't get my head
>around a couple of things.
>
>For example: I was calibrating my MOTM-110 yesterday, and even without my
>probes touching anything (quit snickering in the back), I was reading
>something like 29 volts. Once I was "hooked in," I put the jumper between
>+15 and the jack (you know what I mean?), watched the meter, and turned the
>trimpot. Nothing. No change.
>
>I feel like whenever I turn on the voltmeter for anything other than
>testing
>batteries, I'm in for a rollercoaster ride of frustration. I quit using my
>B&K, which was supposedly a good instrument, because I thought it must be
>broken--I could never get predictable results. Now I have the Radio Shack
>DVM that Paul designed, and I'm just confused.
>
>Thanks for the modules, Paul! I had the most amazing groove going yesterday
>with the ring mod/vca, sub-octave multiplexer, 420, an EG, an old
>Hewlett-Packard function generator, a 606 and a 303 (for the CV out). Wow.
>I
>have never, ever, ever heard a synthesizer do that. My jaw just dragged
>around the floor for an hour.
>
>Anyway, if anyone has a pearl of wisdom about DVMs, please drop them my
>way.
>Luckily I don't actually need it as the modules work just fine and I was
>able to do the alternate (non-DVM) calibration of the 110.
>
>Take care,
>
>David Bivins
>Creative Strategist & Transistor Rhythmer
>Brandscape
>New York City
>212.285.2600.x103
>
>
>--------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ----------------------------
>
>You can WIN $100 to Amazon.com by starting a new list at ONElist.
>Drawing is held each week through August 20. For details, go to
>http://www.onelist.com/info/onereachsplash3.html
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------