How I Use My Multimeter | Vintage Amp Repair Test Tools

In this short demonstration video, I will explain the different ways I use my multimeter to test for voltage, ohms, and continuity in vintage amplifiers. I use a Fluke 114 multimeter :-)
Follow me on Instagram to see what I'm working on! @fazioelectric

[@SkyhawkSteve]

can I offer some vintage safety practices? When the military was teaching me to be an electronics tech, vacuum tubes were still being used. One piece of advice was "always keep one hand in your pocket". This prevented having one hand grounded and then other touching a high voltage, resulting in current flowing through your heart. Another recommended practice was to not wear metal jewelry (including our dogtags). These pieces of metal might contact exposed component terminals, possibly shocking you, or just shorting out the circuit and causing damage. Trust me, there are enough ways to get hurt without exposing yourself to easily preventable risks! :-) Thanks for the video!

[@markachapman486]

I just added something similar to your comment! Sounds like we both had military training in electronic components 👍

[@libertarian1637]

While not military trained I was trained to do the same thing back in the 90s as it would lead a charge through one side of your body from your hand, typically, to a foot; when you use two hands a charge can go between both hands through your heart leading to death at her than just a painful shock. Also learned to do things in a manner that would cause a pull away rather than a grip or pull in motion as electricity can tense muscles and lead to you going deeper into the threat or gripping tighter; by planning on your position a shock would actually push you away from the electric.

[@clubTSI]

My dad was military and Bell Labs trained. He has story about a guy losing (and cauterizing) a finger because he didn’t remove his ring. I don’t thing 350 VAC would do just that, but I wouldn’t wanna be the one to find out. For the sake of setting a good example to those new to this, please remove your rings!

[@Santaheckler]

She shows and explain this hand in the pocket safety technique in her previous discharging caps video. It’s a good tip, thanks.

[@nigelrhodes4330]

Looking at it she is using Cat 3 test leads, I would recommend Cat 4 when working on valve gear. For the most part you should never encounter 1000V but I think the extra cover over the probes really helps. If you have 2 600V DC feeds close together then not so fun things can happen :\.

[@elmerfudd5511]

" Things connected together act differently when things are in isolation ". An old adage from one of my EE professors.

[@alexdeleon7135]

Colleen, I am glad to see your new shop, and I hope 2023 brings you prosperity, and abundant health. Excellent presentation! It is worthwhile material that everyone has wondered about. I look forward to your next episode with great eagerness.

[@NordicDan]

The old Fluke 114 is a workhorse of a multimeter. I'd say that and the 87V (which I have) are among the most versatile Fluke has produced. A nice feature of the 87V is that it has the ability to test capacitors (though sadly it's unable to measure ESR). Funny thing, I actually grew up right near the old Fluke plant in Everett, WA. Great work!

[@matthewbennick8450]

Nice! You break it down very easy, and no nonsense. I recently got into FENDER amp repair. I own vintage ones. Like 9 of them. This helps tremendous . The video you have on discharging the filter caps was huge for me. I did have healthy fear, so i looked up multiple videos on it. Yours was the best, by far!

[@larrychung3190]

Great content + straight-forward awesome presentation as always. My Fluke 26 is probably my most used piece of diagnostic gear (aside from my brain and maybe a metered Variac), and being completely comfortable with it and understanding what it's telling me is critical to nearly everything else that gets done. Testing known-good components outside the amp is helpful in this regard. The only time I've gotten questionable readings is when the battery was low. Ha! Thanks for the safety demo and tips, too. (:

[@genestatler2514]

It's really nice to see you back. I've missed you. I love the plain and simple way you explain things like the use of your meter. Love from Tennessee.😊

[@defaultuser1447]

Good to see a new video. Brings back my early days as an electronics engineer at Megacorp, working test and evaluation. We had a mix of Fluke digital meters and Simpson analog ones. My boss didn't trust the digital ones and preferred the analog type.

[@lostreb]

Great seeing you back!!!! I own a clone of your Fluke (which for someone that only uses a multimeter maybe once every 3 months at most and doesn't use a multimeter on a daily basis the way a professional like you does) that suits my purposes just fine. Thank you for making the time to make this video for your loyal followers! Please make more when you have the opportunity. We miss you! Your videos are always informative. Please keep them coming!!!

[@aeyb701]

This came up on my feed. The examples you showed are very helpful, thank-you for producing this concise short video. Helps me in my DIY repair of my vintage home audio tube gear.

[@bryanharrison3889]

Diagnosing a tube amp is one of the greatest things in the world. So calming... I can just let my mind go and relax and dig through the amp and look for issues. Very meditative.

[@stevestambaugh6501]

Glad to see you are making videos again I was wondering how you was doing. I been watching a lot of different videos of yours and others for info on amps because I just built an amp kit from Stew Mac 62 Brit-JTM45 and It works great and sounds awesome. I'm going to build a MoJo Tone JCM 800 kit when it gets here. I'm trying to learn how all the parts of the amps work. I was a Master auto and diesel tech for 30 years and now it is time to learn something new that I like to do build guitars and amps and play them of course. I have Fluke 88 & Fluke 88V from when I was working. I also have some old test equipment from a closed out TV repair shop 2 oscilloscopes are some of it. Thanks for the knowledge you share very much appreciated here! Keep up the great work and as always be safe!

[@pharmerdavid1432]

This was very helpful, and appreciated. As a guitar player (an old noodle) who has WAY too many tube amps, I wanted to learn more about them, so I took a class to build a tweed Princeton type amp recently here in Portland. Matt Dawson sourced the best components available, so its a better amp than Victoria sells, which helped me justify the cost of the class (was well worth it). Matt was helpful with teaching us good wiring techniques - the electronics stuff was difficult to understand though. I've gotten several amp tech books and trying to learn, but now that I'm beginning to learn I realize how much more complex electronics is than I had thought. My dad had a PhD in electronics and physics from the 1950's, wish I could have learned more from him when he was still here. Thank you for the helpful video - liked and sub...cheers!

[@popupproducer]

Thanks so much! I’m about to breadboard my first circuit and it’s inspiring having knowledgeable passionate people explain things so practically. I hope to build an amp one day.

[@christopherweise438]

Nice to see you again Colleen. Thanks for the info.

[@mickel7b]

Great videos! Just found your channel and have been going through them. Documenting your work is invaluable and I really appreciate the time you take to do so.

[@MrSparks54]

As a bass player and retired electronics tech, I enjoy your vids and your sound and proper approach to troubleshooting and repair. Thanks Colleen!

[@ChasHoff]

Thank you for this video. I’ve had one for years and honestly only knew a few features. This helped me understand many more practical uses. Appreciate you!!

[@JackT_Music_on_Vinyl]

Glad to see you've been busy, and thanks for the walkthrough on multimeter use. All great intel for those of us non-pros!

[@walterstroup7557]

When you're working on 110 volts or higher you should remove all jewelry from both hands.. just a safety reminder.... But it is refreshing to see a young lady into restoring electronics and knowing so much about the hobby nice job 👏 👍 👌

[@D.Guitar]

Glad you found a new/better/good spot for the shop... Looking forward to Great amp repair content in Your likable easygoing Way..

[@dickstryker]

Yay! More content from Fazio Electric!

[@gahangore111]

Happy new year! Looking forward to more amps this year

[@JohnAranita]

I remember my first multimeter. I bought it at a Radio Shack. It was a kit that I had to assemble myself. Super fun soldering it and doing other assembling. Recently, I bought a ready-made multimeter from a local hardware store. It has an LED display, which I prefer to analog.

[@windwardpro]

Look! (listen!)- an educational (or any) KZbin video _without_ any "-ay"s or "thee"s! Almost unheard of! Thank you miss Fazio!

[@danielboughton3624]

Nice easy to follow examples there. Good to see a video again and I hope the new place is awesome.

[@jambajoby32]

Yessss thank you been waiting for this one! U rock! It’s nice to have most of this sorted on my own but this video is the best reassurance in bettering my relationship w circuits and amps!

[@audioacrylix5005]

Love the vid! I often use my ohms setting for continuity testing in amps with pcb traces as I've been led astray by the continuity setting . If a trace is broken but has even a tiny stray wire or solder bit it will beep , but when checked with the ohms reading it's all over the place (bad) or like .2 (good)

[@2dazetake]

Hey Fazio long time no see, can't wait for you to take us thru some great repairs again in 2023, hope you had a good holiday season and happy new year,your looking beautiful as always,keep those tubes a glowin, and your channel a growing, we want more more !!🤣👍

[@dalegroff3972]

Thanks so much. Love your breakdown and delivery style. Keep the vids coming.

[@zambot3325]

Glad you are back!

[@orionwarren4244]

Nice to see you again, Colleen!

[@mtchampion1831]

As an old tube amp repair guy myself, what a wonderful explanation for the laymen. I'm not good at teaching, but you certainly are. I used to love the smell of fried resistors in the morning. Cheers and subscribed.

[@buschovski1]

haha fried resistors for breakfast

[@mikewithers299]

Just found your channel and i love it! Ive love amps for a long time as a hobby, and learned things as i repaired each amp for friends or myself. A Fluke multimeter is the best and worth the price. There is nothing worst than measuring a cap or transister with a cheap meter and getting a false reading. Some parts are expensive now, and so is a misdiagnosis. Keep up the awesome job. I subbed and cant wait for more tube goodness, as that will be my future project. A 1974 West Avalon reverb ❤️

[@picksalot1]

Congrats on your new Shop and location. Hope every move has been a step up and better situation. Thanks for the clear explanations of how to test gear. Unless someone is working regularly with electricity and electronics, even simple tips and strategies can prove very useful. 👍

[@jozsefizsak]

I like tools that I can trust and I also like nice things, which brings me to the idea of buying a used Fluke. My original 77 purchased 20 years ago for maybe $75 is still working like new and highly recommended if you want to spend very little today. I picked up a 79 Series III to have capacitance and True RMS, but mostly because I like shiny toys. (Metaphorically shiny in this case!) I could actually get by with rubbish but not if it fails to work when I need it.

[@davep6977]

I found this channel by a Fluke. Good video. Having not watched your other vids, but I hope the jewery comes off when working with live circuits

[@jeremywilliams703]

Great to see you again. We missed you. ✌️❤️🙏🇦🇺

[@공돌이파파]

Great to see you back ! (From Korean tube amplifier DIY hobbyist)

[@BrassAmTV]

Happy new year Ms Fazio ! Glad to see you back.

[@user-km8cl1iq1u]

Safety precautions: Remove all rings, wristwatches, bracelets, chains, and similar metal items. Best regards from Odessa, Ukarina

[@NiHaoMike64]

That's an official rule in Intel labs when I worked there in 2012. Came about after someone broke a prototype board by shorting it with a ring.

[@user-km8cl1iq1u]

@@NiHaoMike64 I think that at high voltages this increases the risk of electric shock. And here is another reason: Do not use clothing containing metal zippers, buttons, or other metal fittings. Metal, passing current, can heat up and cause burns.

[@ferdberfle5069]

Welcome back! Haven't seen you since your Tone Talk appearance! Looking forward to more content from you.

[@75YBA]

Welcome back, and all the best!

[@SilentNote]

HUGE THANK YOU because YOUR demonstration and explanation was soooo useful to ME... and... now I know that THIS MODEL is the one that I have to look for / look after this MULTIMETER is very easy to use and straightforward / straight to the point... once again... CHEERS MATE / THANKS...

[@MrPnew1]

Happy New Year Colleen and thanks for the information. Always appreciated

[@steveurquhart5895]

Good to see you back

[@jasonjones5213]

Glad to see you're back.

[@bulkvanderhuge9006]

YAY!!!! Glad to see you back!

[@lesliebrooks97]

Thanks for the great lesson, learned something new today thanks to you

[@TomPauls007]

You're baaaack! Like your clean workshop. Excellent video. Some tips: I put shink tubing on my probes (exept the tip). Prevents inter-circuit shorts. I always alligator clip frame grounds - better connectivity. Nice your meter reads .635(average); most only show .707 (RMS). Keep making these great vids!!

[@deanoguitarguy2171]

Nice informative straight forward explanation. More please 👍🏻

[@johnkemas7344]

Glad to see you back!! Happy New Year. Have you ever done a tutorial on checking for noisey components such as resistors or caps with a signal tracer?? Also usint a an ESR for caps?? A lot of times values may not be bad but a cap component can be very noisy too. Also testing Electrolytics with an ESR meter to check to see whether caps are actually bad too. I usually replace all parts but don't restore (Amps) very often.

[@pauldncn1]

Thanks really like your videos looking at older amps 👍🙏❤️

[@aloisiolopesdesouzasouza5378]

Ola , muito bom seus vídeos, gosto muito da maneira que trabalha, adoro amps, e que 2023 , venha com grandes realizações. Congratulations fron Brasil.

[@cgavin1]

Great video. Having the right setting on your multimeter really helps. Measuring HT voltage at the pilot light for example .. 🤣 I got lucky and just the artificial center tap resistors assploded that time ..

[@greghowarth7879]

Great to see you back,,, Hi from Syd Australiaxx

[@markachapman486]

You are very good with describing what you are doing and how to do the measurements! A couple things I would recommend is to not wear jewelry while working or measuring voltages or amps, or really any measurement. Plus, I know it’s not easy, but it is safer if someone else is around just in case you need help. This means they need to be able to see you. Also, keep one hand in your pocket so you don’t accidentally complete the circuit and get shocked or worse, electrocuted. If no one else is around, it is critical to be vigilant and stay safe.

[@NiHaoMike64]

That LoZ setting on the multimeter comes in handy for discharging caps.

[@gregorya326]

Nice to see back with a video.

[@AndyGerome]

Really helpful video! Thank you so much for your time! Much appreciated!

[@pete3897]

Wow! With an opening smile like that, I'm an instant subscribe :)

[@nonamejones2321]

🥰😍🤪She's back! I needed this lesson tbh, I suck at remembering stuff like this.

[@raywood8187]

Very valuable information, knowing how to use a multimeter. Just a fun comment, my old Radio Shack circa 1991 multimeter that I bought new for electronics classes still works. I do have a newer one but I don't know that it would last 30 years. Oh well, I probably won't either. 😂 I do miss the old Radio Shack when you could go get what you needed to fix a radio, TV, whatever. Or an old amp of course!

[@christophervillanti1417]

I like the new space!

[@Eddy63]

Congrats on your new shop ... I wear my Fazio hat all the time ... Thx for sharing ...

[@aricfritch5333]

Fantastic! thank you! This helps us newbies!

[@michaellichter4091]

very educational, very well explained. 👍

[@TonyThomas10000]

I used to sell Fluke meters for years for a major international electronics distributor. They make great stuff!

[@arshadameen464]

Very nice way to explain the multimeter functions and very beautiful personality as well bless you.

[@charlesjoynes9497]

Ms Fazio is back!!! We missed you!

[@emilyharpist]

this is amazing!

[@juliochingaling5824]

Excellent video, thank you for your helpful knowledge. God bless. Peace

[@lukewarm5356]

Well good to see you again. Very useful video, thanks

[@savoirfaire8979]

HOTTIE. Music-related technical knowledge too? Never thought possible. 😮

[@bennettamplification]

Nice vid! Glad to see ya back on youtube land😊

[@nickdevriese]

Nice. A Fluke will never let you down. I personally use Klein tools, but even ones from Harbor Freight are great for beginners. Flukes are top notch. 👍🏽

[@acmefixer1]

I have a Fluke 75 which I bought new. A year or so after I got it for use occasionally at home, I turned it on and when I turned it to off position, it stayed on. I checked the manual and it was warranted for 3 years, so I sent it to Fluke and they repaired it, calibrated it and sent it back. I've used Fluke meters at work for decades and up until mine went bad, I believed as you do, that ""a Fluke will never let you down."" Well, I don't believe that any more. I have 4 or 5 five dollar DMMs from Harbor Freight and they're just as reliable as the Fluke meters.

[@samielreydeljudo]

Lit! learned so much in short time.

[@markbernier8434]

Something too many people do not appreciate is that professional quality tools, such as Fluke (my personal favourite) are very robustly built and meet the CAT II ratings. Many cheap multimeters do not have these certifications.. The test leads don't either. They may work properly when used properly but if you make a mistake no one knows how they will fail and how that failure will affect you. Buy once, cry once, use for many years.

[@emerituse3390]

Yeah! It's pretty amazing what you can do with just a basic, bare bones, VOM. Personally, I prefer to have one that includes the diode test feature, just because it makes life a little easier. 🙂

[@peehandshihtzu]

Happy new year and best of luck with your new location! :)

[@SDS-1]

Sooo good to see ya!!!!!!!!!!😀😀

[@edd2771]

She’s back!

[@soniclab-cnc]

I love my fluke meters. I have a 115 on my bench at all times and a 117 for my tool bag. Love my fluke clamp meters too. Rugged and reliable. My daily drivers.

[@matthewf1979]

Those Brown Concerts are pretty dang sweet amps!

[@DS-nw4eq]

Good stuff. Thanks for posting

[@miguelruiz8183]

Your new place is cool!!!

[@xCaLLMeGHeTTo]

Colleen!!!!! You rule!

[@Grant_Ferstat]

Welcome back!

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

Happy New Year!

[@nickk6109]

1. 1000V probes are useful, you can get aftermarket 4mm probe sets that will give you 1kV with clips. 2. AC probing, careful of the capacitor in the multimeter storing charge from HV and then going to low voltage without discharging can be an issue (tube-solid state hybrid this can be an issue!) I got myself a Brymen 869s for tube amps (a bit cheaper than the Flukes) but for DIY tube amps it handles 1000V and has some good features for testing solid state too. (can detect frequency which is useful for a tone input and then trace the signal, it's TrueRMS and does capacitance). I have two from the store, one 300V, one 600V but not sure on the insulation at HV from those.

[@gonr.2426]

Welcome back !! even if you never left !!

[@george-st-george]

how wonderfully.......technical!!!!!!!!!

[@TheGmr140]

Nice work, keep the videos coming

[@Vbeletronico]

Great and very concise video. Congratulations! I only wish I could be that succint... :) Just one remark that I suspect you already know by working on high voltage amplifiers for so long: when using the ohmeter, power down the amplifier and make sure the capacitors are fully discharged. Although the Fluke wouldn't be destroyed by this, cheaper models would be close to a death sentence to the equipment.

[@hybridjohn1]

amazing! Thanks for this.

[@user-or9xl9vg6r]

Хоть и не понимаю а чем ты рассказываешь , просто приятно смотреть. Молодец.

[@user-jz6yj9rd6e]

Согласен

[@user-yg1ow3yp4f]

Thank You for your job. I started to learn soldering whith your help. I am from Ukrain. And I was about to learn english. When I see your videos and listen your voice I get very imortant information for me and improve my speacking skills. Thank You so much.

[@redemptionbreaking]

So rad. Thanks!

[@petediamond7263]

Wow I didn't think there were any knowledgeable humble ladies left ! You are a breath of fresh air.

[@outbacktraveller58]

I don't believe I've seen any of your videos before, but I'm already impressed!!! Why, you may ask? Well, it's NOT because you're a pretty lady! I mean, you are, but at my age all that stuff is just so much flotsam and jetsam. It's not even that I'm a technocrat (coz I'm not - yes, I am an Amateur (Ham) and have been for a bit over 4 decades, but even if I wanted to be messing about with building and repairing, because my occupation is as (what we call) an Interstate Truckie (OTR Truck driver to you lot) I am always extremely time poor. Nah! What I liked about this, right from the start is that as a general rule, electronics as often as dry as the Kalahari Desert and boring as watching grass grow, but you have such a personable demeanour that it actually makes the viewer not want to just skip the hell ahead! I know this is hardly rocket science... simple stuff, but I am conscious that many new hams are largely in need is from the ground up deliveries. Thank you for presenting as you do! I've subscribed and I will watch as I can and when I can in the future! Kindest regards Indy VKXB