Dr. Pepper and ICOT, I just looked up the Craftsman site, and it has pictures, so I see what it looks like.
ICOT is mainly correct. In general, the older meters have manual ranging, which means you must turn a knob so that the range covers the voltage you are trying to measure. In other words, if you are trying to measure 1.5 volts, you should make sure the range (max voltage) is bigger, say 2 volts. You select different voltages, and different functions (current ranges or resistance ranges or even other tests like diodes and transistors) with the click knob. When measuring small voltages, you will get more accuracyy when using a small range. But if you use a small range for high voltages, you may blow out the meter.
The newer technology meters have auto ranging. You just select amps or volts or whatever, and it adjusts the range so you get best accuracy, and yet don’t have to worry about blowing it out, since it will automatically switch ranges on its own.
However, there is a limit to everything. It seems that if you want to measure currents bigger than an amp (please see instruction book) you must plug the probe into a different hole than for the smaller currents. This one is able to handle larger currents safely.
The model 82312 which I am looking at, has a black terminal which is always for the ground or negative probe. The red one is for the positive probe when measuring most voltages and the lower currents. The gray one is for the positive probe when measuring high currents either DC or AC. Note that the dial is gray for the high DC or AC current settings to remind you to switch the probe into the other terminal. The other settings on the dial are red.
In addition, even with the high current settings and terminals, you can’t run it continously, only for short times. It tells you maximum 10 A and only for 30 seconds every 15 minutes, or it will fry. It must cool down in between measurements.