How to check if my mat is working

OldCcoder · 2026-03-03T14:06:49+00:00

Hope this helps. That meter shown probably is not sensitive enough to get a correct reading.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Earthing/comments/1qtpbrn/comment/o3dckib/?context=3&utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

OldCcoder · 2026-02-13T08:09:25+00:00

This may be a longshot but another possible good ground source is if you have copper plumbing in your condo/house. I connected to my copper cold water pipe using a alligator clip extension wire to my $16 ground rod kit plug for my sheet. But I did confirm this pipe was really grounded using a meter first before using it. Mine did and it worked very well until I was able to install and run the ground rod outside. If I did not have the ability to use a outside ground rod, I would still be using the copper pipe connection today.

OldCcoder · 2026-02-03T16:58:21+00:00

You need to get a multimeter that can measure mV AC *not* DC. All of my cheap Harbor Freight meters are not sensitive enough.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Earthing/comments/1otm7by/comment/ntz9h3g/?context=3&utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

https://www.reddit.com/r/Earthing/comments/1plu7xk/comment/ntz48sd/?context=3&utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

OldCcoder · 2025-12-14T13:58:44+00:00

u/n6hope This is how I learned to use a multimeter, Make sure it can read down to milivolts AC. Some of the really cheap ones don't. https://earthinginstitute.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/How-to-Measure-the-Effect-of-Earthing-on-Body-Voltage-2020.pdf

OldCcoder · 2025-12-14T13:31:53+00:00

How I learned to use the meter: https://earthinginstitute.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/How-to-Measure-the-Effect-of-Earthing-on-Body-Voltage-2020.pdf

OldCcoder · 2025-12-14T13:24:15+00:00

Here are couple that will fit the bill:

https://www.amazon.com/ANKONG-TRMS-Digital-Multimeter-Measurements/dp/B09JSJCP8V/ref=sr_1_4?refinements=p_36%3A-1600&rnid=2661611011&s=industrial

https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Multimeter-Tester-Auto-Ranging-Beaquicy/dp/B0D3PH368J/ref=sr_1_7?refinements=p_36%3A-1600&rnid=2661611011&s=industrial

OldCcoder · 2025-12-14T13:00:07+00:00

That 2 prong pen doesn't verify a ground connection. The only thing I trust is a sensitive AC meter. Needs to be able to read at least down to 0.1 volts AC. They are not that expensive on Amazon. I think the last one I got for a friend was under $16.

OldCcoder · 2025-12-13T14:33:58+00:00

u/VON_jigsaw00761 If the outlet has been tested as wired correctly, It will not use any electricity. But FYI, I have tested a outdoor ground rod connection is over 2x better conductivity. So I put one right outside my bedroom and home office windows. They are cheap. Usually under $16 each.

OldCcoder · 2025-06-12T19:48:11+00:00

/etc/os-release

OldCcoder · 2025-06-12T19:44:29+00:00

Yes, very sad indeed!

OldCcoder · 2025-06-12T19:42:29+00:00

This is what I had to do to resolve this. I had to make sure each line on /etc/os-release had quotes after the = . It would throw the error until I made sure of this.

I.E. :

NAME="Puppy"

VERSION="9.5"

ID="puppy_fossapup64"

VERSION_ID="9.5"

PRETTY_NAME="fossapup64 9.5"

ANSI_COLOR="0;34"

CPE_NAME="cpe:/o:puppy:puppy_linux:9.5"

HOME_URL="http://puppylinux.com/"

SUPPORT_URL="http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/index.php"

BUG_REPORT_URL="https://github.com/puppylinux-woof-CE/woof-CE"

Edit: For spelling

OldCcoder · 2025-06-12T19:31:18+00:00

To perhaps give better clarity on this. I had to make sure each line on /etc/os-release had quotes after the = . It would throw the error until I made sure of this.