So...I have 3 voltmeters.  Two freebie digital ones from Harbor Freight (brand name is CEN-TECH) and an ancient Radio Shack analog model, probably 30 years old.  I used the "tongue test" (like you used to do in Jr. High School) to evaluate the voltage for the 9 Volt batteries on the digital meters; result was abysmal.  I opened up the Radio Shack analog meter.....ugh....the negative terminal was overflowing with crystals of corrosion on the AA battery.

I am such a dufus!!!  No wonder I am sometimes getting wonky readings!  I have generally treated voltmeters like a screwdriver or wrench...just use them.  Wrong.  Thanks so much for the heads-up on this Alex!  

Rich
San Diego

    On Sunday, October 25, 2020, 11:25:18 AM PDT, alex@mevay.org <alex@mevay.org> wrote:  
 
 Digital meters can start to give wonky readings if the battery gets
low, so you might want to try a new one before writing off the meter.

(Looks like I'm going to be on the east coast through the
holidays...really missing my van in CA.)

Best,

Alex