Multimeter?

M

Moose Dog

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<p>Looking for recommendations for a multimeter ... a simple one that lasts!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>This is also a simple question but I've learned to know EXACTLY what I want before I go into a hardware or auto store - they'll foist off anything...</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Thanks everyone</p>

(Edit) No idea how those magic symbols showed up in my post
 
Mornin’ Moose Dog

Magic symbols are because of a bug. I think it’s caused by hitting the back arrow in your browser, then posting. Editing is possibly part of the issue. Anyway, it’s not your fault.

Any inexpensive digital multimeter will do the job for you. Almost all will give you AC/DC voltage, amperage and resistance (ohms/continuity). Voltage and continuity are used most often. Get one that automatically senses scale so you don’t have to select voltage range. One with slip on alligator clips for the leads make things easier when probing in a tight area. A case helps for storage.

They are typically inexpensive, but real good/great models (like Fluke) can be pricy.

WS
 
Moose Dog said:
Looking for recommendations for a multimeter ... a simple one that lasts!
Click to expand...
I have a four of them:
Three Harbour Freight 'free' multimeters. These are used most often as they are laying around handy.
A Mastercraft clamp-on ammeter/multimeter, < $40 from Amazon. This one goes with me on trips.

All four have been benchmarked against a Fluke. The Mastercraft is good to two decimal places, good enough for what I do; the clamp on ammeter can be very useful. The HF multimeters can drift a little but are good enough for most troubleshooting.

jim
 
My inexpensive HF units are still working fine. Interestingly enough, I’ve found that I use them more around the house so I keep one in the truck and one in my garage toolbox.
 
Pretty much any meter will let you measure ac and dc voltage, and check continuity. The regular meters will usually limit you to no more than 10 amps of current, and you need to interrupt the circuit and put the meter in line to get even that. The clamp on type will let you measure much higher current just by clamping around a wire, but, alas, the cheaper versions only seem to measure ac current. If you want to measure dc current from your alternator or solar panels to your house batteries. you're going to have to spend some money for one of the more professional ones.
 
Get a free digital meter from Harbor Frt, just clip the free coupon. Out of my 2 analog and 1 other digital meters, it is the most accurate reading voltage when checked against my Fluke meter. I had an extra one and clipped the probes off, installed ring lungs and installed permanently to read the house battery.
 
Saw a fluke pop up on ebay reasonably priced and I grabbed that. Had too many failures on the HF meters.
 
I have used nothing but Fluke meters professionally. A clamp meter that will read DC amperage save so much time, I doubt anyone who ever had one would use anything else. Pricey yes, but they last a lifetime. And as a side note, I found the less expensive clamp meters can be off a great deal when reading amperage, so much so that I felt they were not worth the money.

My two cents. :)
 
Just purchased my first multimeter. I've been playing around with it, was able to get a voltage reading on the battery. Can anyone direct me on how to measure power usage of specific devices (ie lights, fans)? Is this possible? Tried searching around youtube and this forum with no luck. I'm obviously a total newbie here.
 
Does your MMeter have a DC current measurement option? If so, put that in series with your battery to ground connection, and turn on/off the various bits and measure the draw. With NOTHING on (or all the fuses pulled) you should have NO current draw. Some campers have their CO/Propane detectors wired in direct, with no fuse or switch, and that can be a parasitic drain. Your MMeter will show that.
 
You will likely need to move the leads to the current measuring sockets and measure only one item at a time so you don’t blow the meter fuse.

Cover the solar panels before disconnecting the battery as some charge controllers don’t do well with solar power and no battery.

Other than that, you will learn a lot about your equipment with the meter.
Paul
 
Yes, it does measure DC. Awesome good to know. I thought I had everything 'off' and detected some draw from the battery (did not have fuses pulled). Will try with pulling fuses and check. I wonder if it is the CO/propane detector.
Vic Harder said:
Does your MMeter have a DC current measurement option? If so, put that in series with your battery to ground connection, and turn on/off the various bits and measure the draw. With NOTHING on (or all the fuses pulled) you should have NO current draw. Some campers have their CO/Propane detectors wired in direct, with no fuse or switch, and that can be a parasitic drain. Your MMeter will show that.
Click to expand...
 
When I started in Aircraft Maintenance my first meter was a RadioShack clamshell analog meter, worked well for a long time. I upgraded years ago to a fluke 77, which was a decent meter. After a hangar fire at work, where my almost new fluke got roasted, I went back to old school and bought a new Simpson 270-5 precision meter. They built to last forever, literally, and are extremely accurate. Nothing beats being able to watch a needle swing when you are looking for subtle faults in an electrical system. You can find many different models of the Simpson vanguard 260 series meter on flea bay for relatively cheap money. I don’t want a digital for anything. If space is a concern a cheap digital fits the bill. If you want an analog might still find a vintage radio shack (micronta) or a Sanwa(fine Japanese meters) with smaller form styles.
 
karsonb said:
When I started in Aircraft Maintenance my first meter was a RadioShack clamshell analog meter, worked well for a long time. I upgraded years ago to a fluke 77, which was a decent meter. After a hangar fire at work, where my almost new fluke got roasted, I went back to old school and bought a new Simpson 270-5 precision meter. Re built to last forever, literally, and are extremely accurate. Nothing beats being able to watch a needle swing when you are looking for subtle faults in an electrical system. You can find many different models of the Simpson vanguard 260 series meter on flea bay for relatively cheap money. I don’t want a digital for anything. If space is a concern a cheap digital fits the bill. If you want an analog might still find a vintage radio shack (micronta) or a Sanwa(fine Japanese meters) with smaller form styles.
Click to expand...
Totally agree. I have an ancient RS meter and a new fluke. I tend to grab the old one when I need a meter....
 
I remember my uncle used a Simpson. I might get one just because they're inexpensive and look cool :)
 
In the Marine Corps, the Simpsons were the only meters we used. I thought they were great, and wouldn’t mind having one for my shop. That said, I prefer a small digital for my travel tool box.
 
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