On 2017-Aug-07, at 3:43 PM, James Hamilton via cctech wrote: > Hello all, > > Is there any good advice on avoiding shorts while testing a male DIN plug > with a multimeter? I'm trying to test my C64 power supply, but I'm very > nervous about accidentally shorting it in the process. >
a few options: a) scavenge an individual pin a from scrap socket of some sort that will fit the DIN pins and insert it over the DIN pin so it effectively extends out the DIN pins one at a time. Not so great maybe if you don't have a junk box with a variety of sockets. If you're really particular use some heat shrink over the socket pin to insulate it. b) cut a piece of thin insulating material, paper even, and fold it into a tube or into half and insert it over a DIN pin so it isolates one pin at a time, and guides the test probe down to the target pin. c) cut a ~1/2" piece of insulating tubing or strip a piece of insulation off a piece of wire and use it an in (b). Common #14 house wire (loomex) might be about the right ID if it's not too thick at the OD to avoid interference with adjacent pins. (c) sounds like the most time/effort effective method.
