time to change 12v?

Time for DVM 101 it seems.
Before connecting the probes to anything, you must FIRST set the selector switches to the right settings.
In this case, it would be DC and a the next range above 12.
If you had it set for amps or Ohms......then yes it may have been damaged.
Hopefully you just blew a fuse.

No, not correct.
There should be yet a third "red" socket for the meter lead, maybe labeled V/Ohms.
The 10ADC socket is for measuring current......is series with a load.
Applied across a voltage source, it presents pretty much a dead short.

 

Here's my multimeter:

If I'm understanding correctly, when testing the Prius 12V battery, the red lead should go in the middle socket, and the black lead should go in the bottom socket, and the selector should be on DCV 20. Do I have it correct? Thanks everyone for your help!

When I tested the battery, I had the red lead in the top socket. Did I likely blow the fuse in the meter, or just heat up the leads by causing a short?

The battery was still connected to the Prius (both positive and negative). Did I damage the car at all?

 

It's doubtful you hurt the car, but if your leads cooked, the meter is questionable. With the leads hooked up as you correctly now have them, select ACV 200 and check a wall socket, go back to DCV and check your car battery (any car) with power off, then go to Ω and test the leads to each.

 

Yes. Correct.
Test the meter to see if it works.
There probably is at least one blown fuse.....but the meter is so cheap it might not have one on the 10 amp lead.

Those are decent little meters for the price but take note that you can NOT test DC polarity with one......and there is no "negative" sign on the display.

 

whoa, that is one complicated little meter.

 

No. That 10ADC socket is ONLY for measuring current in the 10-ampere range. You shorted the battery through the meter, which was why the current was so high the leads got hot. Your 10-amp scale may or may not be damaged, or may need a new fuse if it has one.

Use the other socket for measuring voltage.

 

And it's PINK!

 

breast cancer awareness meter.

 

I see Todd Packer was your Service Advisor.

Oh, how far the mighty have fallen...

 

Many thanks to you and everyone else here. So the 10ADC socket is when I need to know Amps, not Volts, right?

I feel fortunate that I didn't burn my hands! I clearly have enough knowledge of electricity to be dangerous, but not much more! I consider myself fairly smart, but for some reason understanding electricity has always been a weak area. I've tried to learn the faucet/hose metaphor, but even that hasn't helped. It's funny, because I usually catch on to new concepts pretty well. If anyone has a basic primer on electricity that maybe can get through my thick skull, I'm very open to it!

Lol... It's actually red. Since I know it's red, the photo looks red to me. But looking at the photo again, I can certainly see why someone might think it's pink. Perhaps the color of the meter is another blue/black vs. white/gold dress debate!

 

Yes but it may not work anymore.
Very low amperage measurements has a position on the rotary switch.

Look for a book on basic electricity.
Or take a basic electronics course at a local community college.

 

Try the Simple English Wikipedia articles?
Electricity - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The regular english page on Electricity makes my eyes gloss over, and I'm an Electrical Engineer!

 

Maybe because it was written by electrical engineers?

 

Then we need a good TECHNICIAN to translate the theory into something that actually works !!

 

Yep! That's exactly my experience. And I'm obviously not an Electrical Engineer!

I've always wanted to learn more about electricity, but I've never found a resource that explains it to me in a way that sticks in my crowded noggin.

 

i think it's too complicated to simplify. i was once reading about three phase power. they were trying to simplify it by saying to imagine 3 lumberjacks chopping a tree at the same time. that's when i knew it wasn't going to work.

 

The diagram would work if you could imagine two or sometimes three lumberjacks able to line up their axes for a combined "chop", or at other times the axes interfering with each other destructively. Perhaps even with some sparks and frustrated woodsman slang. Yeah, I can see that.