Re: [A/S] Electrical: (Was.. 220 volt surge)

[Jim Dunmyer <jdunmyer@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Nick,
 Get a couple of books such as "Managing 12 volts" by Barre and read
Fred's Poop Sheets on batteries and solar, also Mark's 12 volt files.
(URLs have been posted a couple of times in the past couple of days)

Go to Radio Shack and buy a Digital Volt Meter (DVM). Don't get the
cheapest one, but you shouldn't have to spend much over $50.00. FWIW:, I
much prefer "auto-ranging" meters. I think that R.S. also sells a
booklet that's a mini-course on DVM usage, get that also.

Practice with your meter, reading voltages and resistances. You're going
to be surprised just how quickly you catch on to the basics.

I'm gonna say this once, and once only: ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS switch
your meter to 'Volts' immediately after measuring resistance, before you
lay it down. If you don't, I'll guarantee that you'll eventually connect
it to a voltage source while it's still set on "Ohms", and that will
blow the fuse in the meter or worse. I've released the Factory Smoke in
more than one meter by neglecting this step over the past 35 years or
so.

                                   <<Jim>>