To Measure AC or DC Current
1. Turn off power to the circuit and discharge all high-voltage ca p a c i t o r s .
2. Insert the black lead into the “
COM
” terminal and the red lead
into an input terminal appropriate for the measurement range.
NOTE:
To avoid blowing the meter’s 440mA fuse, use the mAµA
terminal only if you are sure that the current is less than 400mA. It is
best to start in the higher ra n ge when unsure to take the initial
m e a s u rement. 400mA is displayed as 0.4000A in the 5.000A ra n ge .
3. Open the circuit path to be tested.
4. Touch the red lead to the more positive side of the break and the
black lead to the more negative side. (Reverse connections will
only display a negative reading for DC current, but will not
damage the meter).
5. Turn on the power to the circuit and read the display.
6. After measuring the current, turn off power to the circuit and
discharge all high-voltage capacitors.
7. Disconnect the meter and restore the circuit to normal operation.
Wrong Input Warning Feature
If the display shows “
L EA d
” or “
FUSE
”, be sure the meter is set up
correctly and test the meter’s fuses as described under
Auto Fuse
D e t e c t i o n
. If the rotary switch is not correctly set to one of the current
measuring positions, the beeper warns you by making a chirping sound.
This warning is intended to stop you from attempting a measurement other
than current when the test leads are plugged into a current terminal.
Placing the probes in parallel with a powered circuit when the leads are
plugged into a current terminal can damage the circuit you are testing and
b l ow the meter’s fuses. This is due to the fact that in the current range the
resistance through the amps terminals is low, and the meter acts like a
short to your circuit.
Auto/Manual Range Operation
Press the “
RANGE
” push-button momentarily to select manual and the
meter will stay in the range it is in when the LCD icon “
AUTO
” turns off.
Press the button momentarily again to step through the ranges. Press
and hold the “
RANGE
” push-button for two seconds or more to
resumes auto ranging.
Auto Power Off
The auto power off feature has two steps. The first step has the meter
automatically go to the power saving mode to extend the battery life
after approximately 15 minutes with no activity. When the meter enters
this mode, the meter beeps waring tones every minute. To turn on the
meter, press any button or move the rotary switch to any position. The
second step is to automatically turn the meter completely off. This
occurs approximately 15 minutes after the meter entered the power
saving mode. To turn the meter back on after a complete power off you
must rotate the selector to
OFF
, and then to the required range.
You can disable auto power off by using the setup menu. Both the auto
off time and the power saving mode beep alert time can be adjusted
from the setup menu.
M a i n t e n a n c e
Periodic Service
WARNING!
Repair and service of this instrument is to be performed by qualified
personnel only. Improper repair or service could result in physical
degradation of the meter. This could alter the protection from
electrical shock and personal injury this meter provides to the
operator. Perform only those maintenance tasks that you are
qualified to do.
These guidelines will help you attain long and reliable service from
your meter:
• Calibrate your meter annually to ensure it meets original
performance specifications
• Keep your meter dry. If it gets wet, wipe dry immediately.
Liquids can degrade electronic circuits
• Whenever practical, keep the meter away from dust and dirt
that can cause premature wear
• Although your meter is built to withstand the rigors of daily use,
it can be damaged by severe impacts. Use reasonable caution
when using and storing the meter
Cleaning
Periodically clean your meter’s case using a damp cloth.
DO NOT
use
abrasive, flammable liquids, cleaning solvents, or strong detergents as
they may damage the finish, impair safety, or affect the reliability of the
structural components.
Clean the input terminals as follows:
1. Turn the meter off and remove all test leads.
2. Shake out any dirt that may be in the terminals.
3. Soak a new swab with alcohol and work the swab around in
each terminal.
DM397-MAN
P. 9
Rotary Switch
µA
A
mA
I n p u t
mAµA
mAµA
A
R a n g e s
500.00µA, 5000.0µA
50.000mA, 500.00mA
5.0000A, 10.000A
-
