Alarm going off suggests that you didn't successfully maintain the circuit until the clamp was back down on the battery post.

Any chance you've blown a fuse in the meter? Can you check it?

Yeah I figured I must have slipped. Thanks for confirming. 
 

a fuse in the multimeter ?

Yes, current ranges generally have replaceable fuses in the back of the meter, so overloads don't completely destroy. Reading 0.00 sounds suspiciously like a blown fuse (easily done).

May be a screw or two to remove to get there.

 

That 10.something volts battery is not likely to have a future, sadly.

Just now, Wino said:

Yes, current ranges generally have replaceable fuses in the back of the meter, so overloads don't completely destroy. Reading 0.00 sounds suspiciously like a blown fuse (easily done).

May be a screw or two to remove to get there.

 

That 10.something volts battery is not likely to have a future, sadly.

Ah I see. I’ll take it out and have a look tomorrow. Thank you 

 

in terms of the 10 something volt battery. If that’s the case I’d like to return it as it hasn’t behaved since I bought it two weeks ago. Unless the overriding opinion is the problem with it was caused by being in my car. .!
 

 

You may as well try to return it; no need to mention any suspicions you might have about causation.

(10) Multimeter Fuse Replacement and Checking - YouTube

6 minutes ago, Wino said:

You may as well try to return it; no need to mention any suspicions you might have about causation.

Great I’ll give it a go thanks. 

3 minutes ago, Wino said:

(10) Multimeter Fuse Replacement and Checking - YouTube

This looks very helpful thank you!

Interesting issue, wonder if the boot light or other one is staying on and draining the battery?

 

There are alot of duff cheap end batteries floating around so well worth buying something like a bosch or lucas battery but any tire, battery garage should be able to load test your battery and tell you if its ok or not.

 

I had my money on the exciter battery wire being broken but as Wino points out that looks fine, mmmmmmm