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The digital multimeter is one of the most versatile electrical instruments, capable of acquiring a variety of measurements. Digital multimeters are easy to use and are a necessity when testing and debugging electronics or electrical circuits. Digital multimeters have multiple functionality and serve as a voltmeter, ammeter, and ohmmeter combined in one package. Hand-held digital multimeters are sufficient for simple electrical measurements.

Common questions

1-Are the $3-10 varieties good enough for the average weekender?
2-Should I pick a Digitial (text numbers) or Analog (with a needle)
3-Any specific meters that are recommended for a hobbiest budget?

The $3 throw-away is perfectly adequate and they have surprisingly
good accuracy.

For some testing, an old analog is better. For example, using a
meter to watch the points opening and closing. The analog neeedle
will follow the action but the digital is waaaay too slow and the
analog suits the human mind better.

So this $3-5 one is good enough..

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=92020

Average blokes don't need a Fluke?

Also, for those that are not overly familur with analog meters, you can damage them by hooking them up incorrectly. With a digital, if you connect it backwards, it just reads a negative number.

Yep, get two of 'em at that price...

im saving up for a cool yellow fluke

anyone know where the best prices are on them? my matco price for the 88 alone is 279, and 405 for the kit with thermometer, mag pickup etc..

Tako the fluke stuff is top of the line, but i with speedy jim i don't spend a whole lot of money on my meters primarily because we go through alot of them i have had good sucess with stuff in the 20 to 30 dollar range

i find that with newbies digital mutlimeters give more tangible results

Remember not to try to read current (amps) that might exceed the meter's capacity. Few meters can take more than 10A without frying (or at the least popping an internal fuse if they have one).
It is possible to read large currents with a low-range meter, but only through the use of a "shunt" which handles most of the current - the reading on the meter is then proportional to the total current, although far less.
http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_1/chpt_8/4.html

I perfer meters with removable leads, usuall a step up from the real cheapies. My old Beckman has been through H#$%^ & and back. And I still use my old Simpson 260 once in awhile. My Beckman has a thermo couple that is convienent, also. The auto ranging Flukes at work sometimes get people confused.

Tom Notch wrote:The auto ranging Flukes at work sometimes get people confused.

I have been biten with my OTC it was around 2 bills only thing I really like about it is that it will read frequency on a mass air flow sensor and the 4 or 5 cheap ones I have don't have the capability.

David58bug wrote:I have been biten with my OTC it was around 2 bills only thing I really like about it is that it will read frequency on a mass air flow sensor and the 4 or 5 cheap ones I have don't have the capability.

thats the kinda stuff i need a fluke for, that and the auto ranging is pretty cool.

I had one of those Radio Shack digitals, then one time I was helping a friend diagnose his charging problems and the readings seemed low and din't make much sense. Then we put a Fluke on it and got accurate readings. I threw that Radio Shaft one right in the trash. I now have a digital Fluke. We use them at work and the only downfall to them versus an analog unit, it the LCD displays won't work in extreme cold
So we keep one of the old analog units around just for that purpose. I find the analog much harder to use due to having to constantly set the range.

takotruckin wrote:

David58bug wrote:I have been biten with my OTC it was around 2 bills only thing I really like about it is that it will read frequency on a mass air flow sensor and the 4 or 5 cheap ones I have don't have the capability.

thats the kinda stuff i need a fluke for, that and the auto ranging is pretty cool.

Auto ranging is what can screw you up when you are looking at voltage. I prefer the cheaper meters. As was stated by a couple others if you use one a lot you will break them, drop them, get them wet, lose them, Lend them out and forget to who. I have done all of the above. Buy you a fluke, but use a cheap meter or have it for back up.

Big Dave wrote:I had one of those Radio Shack digitals, then one time I was helping a friend diagnose his charging problems and the readings seemed low and din't make much sense. Then we put a Fluke on it and got accurate readings. I threw that Radio Shaft one right in the trash. I now have a digital Fluke. We use them at work and the only downfall to them versus an analog unit, it the LCD displays won't work in extreme cold
So we keep one of the old analog units around just for that purpose. I find the analog much harder to use due to having to constantly set the range.

I have had the same problem when the battery in the meter needed replacing.