From: theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk   
      
   micky  wrote:   
   > I have an Agilent U1241A VOM that I bought at a hamfest for only $20,   
   > new, but the previous model and it seems to be missing its tilt stand.   
   > It is so fancy I don't even understand all the ratings:   
   >   
   > The amperage measurement is:   11A/1000 V 30 kA/fast-acting fuse   
   >   
   > The milli and micro amp measurement is similar.   
   >   
   > What does 30 kA mean?  30,000 amps?  I dont' think so. ;-)   
      
   It does mean that. It's a "30 kA fast-acting fuse".   
      
   In other words, if you apply more than 11A (or whatever the fuse rating is)   
   but less than 30,000 amps the fuse promises to become open circuit.  If you   
   apply more than 30kA then there is a risk the fuse blows closed-circuit.   
   Due to the destructive power of putting so many kW into a small space, you   
   could have problems like vapourising metal parts in such a way that it fails   
   'closed', or creates a sustained arc that means current flows even though   
   the fuse has supposedly 'blown'.   
      
   TL;DR: if you are measuring something that might allow more than 30kA to   
   flow if you accidentally shorted it, don't use this meter to measure it.   
   However you would probably know if you were in such a situation.   
      
   Theo   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)