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unusual meter readings

rick in Alaska
rick in Alaska Member Posts: 1,474
in Gas Heating

Just came across this old video I took and was wondering if anyone had any thoughts as to how this could happen? The readings are microamps, and the only thing that changed is I grabbed the meter itself, and with gloves on. I am not understanding what is going on here.

Rick

image.png

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 25,267

    microamps?? Flaky connections!

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • rick in Alaska
    rick in Alaska Member Posts: 1,474

    But why would touching the meter make the readings change? It would seem like a rubber jacketed meter, and my rubber gloves, that it should not interfere with anything. Some kind of a capacitance thing it seems, but not making sense.

    Rick

  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 9,718
    edited December 2024

    Because of your electrifying personality?

    But you already knew that Rick

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

    rick in Alaska
  • ratio
    ratio Member Posts: 3,819

    One microamp is 0.000001 amps. That's a pretty small signal for a consumer-grade meter. I'd guess it's being influenced by a static charge, or it's picking up some RF energy when that big antenna grabs ahold of it.

    rick in Alaska
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 9,718

    So, Now Rick is an Auntenna?

    I would have guessed this nieces and nephews call him Uncle Rick. Have you had a change in pronouns since you moved to Seattle?

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

  • rick in Alaska
    rick in Alaska Member Posts: 1,474

    Ok, I am confused where the aunt part of that came from, but I have only had one cup of coffee, so need some enlightenment.

    Currently in Seattle,but moved to the middle of the state, in farm country, so no pronoun changes here😁

    Rick

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 11,149
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1830385#Comment_1830385

    not even rf energy, there is a lot of amplification going on there, you change the capacitance and inductance of the components and even the wiring by being close to it. i bet what you're reading is far less than the accuracy of the meter

  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 1,909

    What video ? The meter reading in the picture looks pretty sable to me at 6.3 microamps.

    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
  • rick in Alaska
    rick in Alaska Member Posts: 1,474
    edited December 2024

    Hm. Didn't realize the video didn't load. Trying to figure it out. For some reason it wants to just load it as a picture only.

    Ok, looks like I can't load a video, and i don't have a link to a place I can put it.

    So, what is happening is the reading will go from a 6.3 to a 12.4 just by me touching the meter.

    Rick

  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 1,909

    Still just seems like a .JPEG picture to me, maybe it is my old computer.

    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 16,850
    edited December 2024

    Pic is blurry. Looks like your set on UA for micro amps but can't tell if your meter is reading an AC or DC current.

    If I had another meter as a backup I would try that to see what you get. Maybe the meter leads are tired?

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