Digital multimeter

Let'sgoflying!

Let'sgoflying!

Touchdown! Greaser!
Joined
Feb 23, 2005
Messages
20,772
Location
west Texas
Display Name
Display name:
Dave Taylor
Time to replace mine.
I'm not looking for the fancy one that you real Sparkies use.
Very Simple
Very Inexpensive (if it's over $50 I will skip your post)C

DC volts up to 50
AC volts up to 240
ohms: most voltage regulators need good accuracy in the 0.5-10ohm range to troubleshoot
Continuity test is good
dont need amps

Is this even possible, AND to avoid plastic Chinese crap at the same time?
 
Fluke 101. Is designed for china market, and built in china, but designed in the US, with decent specs for $41.

https://www.amazon.com/Fluke-101-Mu...UTF8&qid=1541215353&sr=8-2&keywords=Fluke+101

I have a range of other more expensive meters. But I'm slowly adding these to the trunks of the various cars. I have somewhat more confidence that they will work and be accurate after baking in the trunk than most of the cheaper meters out there.
 
Southwire has some stuff for under $50... you can pick them up at lowes... but you probably already know that... Fluke is my favorite but $50 might get you a vintage but nothing reasonably new IDT...
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
400 ohms? I need 0.5-10 ohms - see OP.
Click to expand...
Bottom end of ohms is often challenging on many meters. But check out the specs on the link I provided. I would think that with a resolution of 0.1 ohms on the 400 ohm range, it may be ok for 0.5, unless you are actually looking for more like 0.01 resolution, which I would not expect or trust on anything under a $100 meter. I would give mine a try around 1/2 ohm, but the one I have is currently in storage with the boat, and I'm not sure what the smallest resistor I have on hand happens to be.
 
Was going to say fluke but your gonna pay. I love our flukes at work...get a free one from HF. Haha
 
I like my Fluke. Not the cheapest but mine has the temp probe included. I use that more than the electrical functions.
 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007FZFTZO/

$40. Amprobe is a good brand. Don't know what you mean about "plastic Chinese crap". They are all plastic and made in Asia at that price point. Maybe a used Simpson on eBay?

s-l1600.jpg
 
Measuring very low resistances requires a different lashup than simply a DVM. A four wire test lead setup is necessary, with two leads carrying a substantial current to the test points, and two more leads to carry the zero current voltage drop back to the meter. This is the only way to eliminate the typical test lead resistance from the measurement.
 
I like my Fluke 117. It cost a bit more than you are looking to spend, but you can do a lot more with it than a less expensive unit. There is a long list of accessories to choose from. The temp probe and amp clamp ac/dc really comes in handy.
fluke_117_efsp_multimeter.jpg
 
SoCal RV Flyer said:
It's both cheap and Chinese, but hard to beat for $6.

https://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-digital-multimeter-63604.html
Click to expand...

Heh. There are two types of people in this world: those who buy expensive tools and test equipment, and those who don't. I'm in the latter group. That way, if I lose or break something, I'm only out a few bucks.

I've had good luck with those meters, and I use them constantly for a living (radio engineer). I keep one at all of my transmitter sites, along with spare batteries.
 
While there are literally dozens of meters that can be recommended, the best practical feature available for a good all around choice is a combination multimeter and clamp on ammeter with the capability of measuring DC current. Most inexpensive clamp on meters measure AC current only.

The DC current function is a valuable feature in determining if the charging circuit of your airplane or automobile is working properly. Instead of just being able to read a DC voltage meter and saying "Well, the charging voltage is 14.6", the charging rate measured in amps can be determined. It's a very useful function, and the prices are easily affordable.

I have about six different Fluke meters, including one that's a handheld oscilloscope, and they perform just about every measurement imaginable. But that's not what the OP asked for or needs.

When it comes to value and functionality, having the ability to capture DC current readings is really nice. This one performs that function and all other measurements the OP asked for, and does so with accuracy as good as any Fluke. I know he said measuring ampacity isn't important, but I made this post for to inform anyone looking for a good tool.

The Craftsman Model 82372 costs around $60-$75, and will provide pretty much all of the information a beginning or intermediate do-it-yourselfer can effectively use. The Sears website says they are unavailable, but there are other sources like Amazon.

Craftsman-Digital-Clamp-On-Ammeter-82372-NEW.jpg




https://www.sears.com/craftsman-digital-clamp-on-ammeter/p-03482372000P

This is a link to the Model 82372 manual on the Sears website. The capabilities and specifications are listed. The performance specs are equal to meters costing two or three times as much money.

https://c.shld.net/assets/own/03482369e.pdf
 
Last edited:
Stephen Poole said:
Heh. There are two types of people in this world: those who buy expensive tools and test equipment, and those who don't. I'm in the latter group. That way, if I lose or break something, I'm only out a few bucks.

I've had good luck with those meters, and I use them constantly for a living (radio engineer). I keep one at all of my transmitter sites, along with spare batteries.
Click to expand...

Yeah, mine has worked great too. I use it only occasionally, but very handy to have.
 
3393RP said:
...

The Craftsman Model 82372 costs around $60-$75, and will provide pretty much all of the information a beginning or intermediate do-it-yourselfer can effectively use. The Sears website says they are unavailable, but there are other sources like Amazon.

...
Click to expand...

This one might be equivalent and it is available:

https://www.sears.com/craftsman-cm/p-A028382415

prod_19944393212
 
I've got the same Fluke I've been using for decades. Not sure of the model. I also have a greenlee (well I used to work for the same company) clamp-on and a couple of cheapass little ones that I've accumulated over the years.
 
I bought new probes from an auto supply store with sharper tips. Still under $30 total.
 
I can’t stand Harbor Freight Meters.
Actually the little Clamp on one isn’t bad, but the batteries cost as much as the meter and it doesn’t have an auto shut off.

I have a few of these... Home Depot sells them or can get them on line for under $25.
Not a fluke, but having several I usually have one were I need it.
Like that auto ranging and auto shut off. Haven’t identified any accuracy issues with what I work with.
BTW this a terrible photo of it as it is tilted 45 degrees making it look much shorter/smaller than it is.


Brian
upload_2018-11-4_8-15-1.jpeg
 
hm and maybe a US company

brcase said:
I can’t stand Harbor Freight Meters.
Actually the little Clamp on one isn’t bad, but the batteries cost as much as the meter and it doesn’t have an auto shut off.
I have a few of these... Home Depot sells them or can get them on line for under $25.
Not a fluke, but having several I usually have one were I need it.
Like that auto ranging and auto shut off. Haven’t identified any accuracy issues with what I work with.
BTW this a terrible photo of it as it is tilted 45 degrees making it look much shorter/smaller than it is.
Brian
Click to expand...
 
I use my Craftsman clamp on similar to the one above all the time for troubleshooting. Versatile, cheap, easy to use. If I need better accuracy to certify something (like a gcu set-up), then I break out the Fluke.
 
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
Bought a few of these for my lab at school: https://www.amazon.com/AstroAI-Mult...TF8&qid=1541249999&sr=8-1&keywords=B071JL6LLL
Dunno how good they are down in the <10 Ohm range - I could check them out Monday (If I remember - feel free to remind me).
Click to expand...
OK, FWIW...
I took 4 of the above AstroAI WH5000A meters and one Agilent 34405A bench meter and measured a couple resistors.
A 1 Ohm 5% resistor measured 1.013 to 1.014 on the Agilent holding the resistor against the typical pointy probes with my fingers and wiggling about to get the reading to stabilize as best I could. The four AstroAI all measured 1.0 Ohms using the same procedure. (The resolution of the display was 1/10 of an Ohm.)
A 1 Mega Ohm 5% resistor measured 0.9875x Meg on the Agilent with the resistor lead wrapped around the probe and stretched tight (the last digit was still dancing quite a bit). The AstroAI measurements ranged from 0.989 to 0.991 Meg using the same procedure.

So, I would say the primary shortcoming of the lower cost meters was a lack of resolution (1/10th Ohm) at the low end - but unless you put some effort into it, it's hard to get good measurements down there anyhow.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top