multimeter use

[Nina]

in response to some complaints I had made at the office, I received as a
gift a brand new analog multimeter

having googled a bit, I came across various pages with steps on "How to use
a multimeter", but a few questions remain

Assume I've connected black probe to COM and red to the other and battery is
inserted
Also assume the selector is set to 500 volts (ACV)

can I simply test a regular 115v wall outlet by inserting both probes into
wall socket holes ?

if I energize a circuit by turning on breaker (30amp), what is the best way
to test the line at the socket end? in case it matters, that plug is a
4-prong 220v (similar to dryer wall socket). can I test with both probles or
is there a sequence since I have two probes but four socket holes?

the manual that came with the multimeter is rather terse

 

[Malc]

Assume I've connected black probe to COM and red to the other and battery
is inserted
Also assume the selector is set to 500 volts (ACV)

can I simply test a regular 115v wall outlet by inserting both probes into
wall socket holes ?

Yes with care. Make sure you don't touch any exposed metal on the probes.

if I energize a circuit by turning on breaker (30amp), what is the best
way to test the line at the socket end? in case it matters, that plug is a
4-prong 220v (similar to dryer wall socket). can I test with both probles
or is there a sequence since I have two probes but four socket holes?

I'm not familiar with this type of socket being from the UK. A bit of
googling reveals that you probably have 2 Lives, one Neutral and a Ground or
Earth. So you would expect to see either 220Vac or 110V ac or virtually 0Vac
between any pair of pins if the circuit is live. Ground and Neutral are
usually connected together at the local substation and should be virtually
the same voltage (NB this may not always apply though). You may be better
off trying to find how the socket is wired before playing around as I have
no idea which pin is which.

--
Malc

"When I say 'Run like ufck and commit assault on a police officer
several times,' run like ufck and commit assault on a police
officer several times."
- Channon
Transmetropolitan