Multimeter: Memory trick to remember (AC = house = V~) vs. (DC = car = V--) ?

Mathlete said:

AC = house = V~
DC = car = V--

I only use my MM 2x a year, so it's not a habit.
How did you memorize this?
Any clever tricks/mnemonics?

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AC is alternating current, the voltage moves up and down = ~

DC is direct current, the voltage does not fluctuate = ---

I have no special tricks for remembering a house is AC while a car is DC. I guess part of my core knowledge includes this bit of trivia. I also remember that batteries are DC, which tends to help me remember that car electrical systems are generally DC (at least when fed via the battery). I also pretty regularly notice on power supplies and electrical applicanes that input power is usually specified as AC (100-250VAC, 50/60hz, for example), which I take as a reminder that household power is, in fact, AC. The hum in some lighting and audio equipment could also act as a reminder that we are near AC power.

Mathlete said:

AC = house = V~
DC = car = V--

I only use my MM 2x a year, so it's not a habit.
How did you memorize this?
Any clever tricks/mnemonics?

Click to expand...

Really not trying to be cruel or snide but if you can't remember that very simple thing, you should not be working on electrical equipment.

Get a sharpie and write it on the back of your meter...

Mathlete said:

How did you memorize this?

Click to expand...

To be honest I think the symbols are representative of what you're measuring as Dave632 mentioned.

Dave632 said:

AC is alternating current, the voltage moves up and down = ~

DC is direct current, the voltage does not fluctuate = ---

Click to expand...

TTW said:

...Asking an electrician is kinda like asking someone who drives a car what a stop sign looks like...

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Right! Or which pedal in a car is the accelerator and which is the brake.

Things I use everyday, I remember. Things I seldom use, I forget.

With that said, I seldom wire up phone jacks. And I forget the wire color codes for multi-line cables (Lines 1, 2, 3, 4). With that said, I have a phone and cable TV tool box and in that tool box I have a printed sheet with those color codes on it.

So tape a note on your multimeter. Or if you keep it in a tool box, stick a note in there.

Ahhh... remember the good 'ol days when multimeters simply said AC volts and DC volts? The symbols on my new fluke threw me off for a second or two as well after I first bought it and I've been using meters since I was a kid....

Maybe you don't need to remember which is which....hook it up...try both modes...the one that gives you the highest value is most likely the mode you want to be in.....

Now...if your doing that with a battery....and you have it on AC.....you might want to start running.....the flux capacitor is about to go.

Mathlete said:

How did you memorize this?
Any clever tricks/mnemonics?

Click to expand...

I used my brain to memorize it. By the way, memorization is the simplest (lowest) form of learning.

TTW said:

Just remember AC - Atlantic City, lots of houses, it's on the wavy ocean ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~~~~
.

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That is perfect, and exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!!!

I have memorized this 5 times, and I have forgotten it 5 times, b/c I use my MM about once every 2 years.
I have to re-Google this crap every time. No more!


Let's test myself right now:
AC = Houses = ~~
DC = cars = ----- (the dashes look like the highway divider marks)

AC = Houses = ~~ DC = cars I taped a 'Post it' to the back of my MM overlaid with clear Selotape

It's not memorizing, it's understanding the basics.

kwilcox said:

The symbols on my new fluke threw me off for a second

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Fluke meters are made for International use, not just the English speaking Countries.

I wonder if the OP still remembers it after starting this thread 10 years ago?