Multimeter advice

[the-hat]

Hi Guys,

after finding out that my multimeter (cheapo #5 one) is giving false voltage readings i think i ought to buy a new one. any recommendations ?
I dont wanna spend a fortune, but on the other hand i dont wanna risk any more boards when im adjusting 5v supply settings !

 

[sukhbir]

hi! try changing your battery in your multimeter,if it is low it can give you wrong volt readings.

 

[andyman]

As above, its usually the battery Kev but if you do want to replace and you can find a Maplins

This one is pretty good, I've had one for a few years (and it tells you battery is low

)

 

[guddler]

Maplins again: http://www.maplin.co.uk/digital-multimeter-with-frequency-and-capacitance-test-4404

I've had one of these for 12 years and I would buy another in an instant if it ever went wrong...

I also have a £60+ auto ranging, Lionel Blair model (all singing all dancing) that my father gave me when he retired and the Maplin one is better!

But yeah, battery first

 

[Guests]

You recommended one of those to me Gudd 5 or 6 years ago....it's a great tool, still going strong and i would buy another if it crapped out.

 

[the-hat]

thanks guys. i had a spare #5 meter so im ok for today, but would like to get one that i can rely on !

There aint no maplins here in spain lol but im over the week before xmas so maybe its time for a early pressie

 

[Level42]

Get a real Fluke for really cheap !:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.28658
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.28659

Includes free delivery

 

[Ace`]

Those look fake? another vote for a fluke. I got a second hand one cheap off of ebay.

 

[PaulSwan]

I've seen occurances of EBay fraud that go like this...

1) A 100% good feedback account not used for a long time lists a pile of random multiple quantity stuff that's ~50% under market value.

2) As a result, all the items sell quickly.

3) The seller dissapears.

I got caught by this once for a soldering iron but was able to revert the transaction before the money was claimed. It's a fraud that's quite hard to spot without a bit of digging on the users account and other listed items.

Paul.

 

[Level42]

I thought they were fake at first too, but they are NOT. You can find them on the official Chinese Fluke site:

http://www.fluke.com/fluke/cnzh/digital-multimeter/fluke-15b.htm?PID=56017

The reason why they are (much) cheaper is because of the local market...

Not exactly what you mean Paul, I'm not pointing to Ebay but to Dealextreme, a very well known and trustworthy site.

Level422012-10-23 22:57:01

 

[JohnnyChaos]

I've got a couple of these

 

[guddler]

So have I - but they consume far too much precious bench real estate

Tried selling one of them on ages ago but no-one was interested. Not sure how well they'd take to being shipped to be honest.

 

[bbz149]

I've got a couple of these

Now thats a real multimeter! I used one of these back in the day

 

[Level42]

Sorry, but those things are what I am really not nostalgic about.....I really fail to see what they have better than a modern digital DVM.

The ONLY thing is when measuring changing values, but how often do you do that....

I love analogue VU meters though

 

[RaveN]

I'd go for the Fluke 15B, excellent multimeter for the price posted above. If you can stretch a bit further, the Fluke 179 is great. It retails for £300, but you can usually pick them up for about £120 on ebay if you're patient. It sounds like alot, but you'll have it for 20 years.

The deal-breaker for me is that the 179 can reliably test caps up to 10000uF, which is dead handy for power supply and monitor fault finding. I've not found a use for the temperature capability yet, but the frequency setting is handy for checking crystals for the times you can't be bothered to dig out the scope (or haven't got one).

If you're just going to be checking voltages though, I agree that most £35 ones with a rugged case are fine and tend to last years.

 

[Level42]

Cap measurimg with a multi meter is pretty pointless. Even IF it produces reliable capacitance values (which is doubtful, even for a Fluke)the problem is usually the ESR, not the capacity.
You need a seperate ESR meter to really know if caps are good or not.

Another alternative would be getting a good used Fluke. Indeed, Flukes seem to last forever. The one I use today is from my work and I've had it more than 7 years. It's been used about every day and been dropped at least 10 times. No problem....
Level422012-11-02 23:12:43

 

[RaveN]

It has its uses, I never said it was a thorough test.

A cap can read good capacitance values and yet terrible ESR, although it's pretty rare. If the cap in question is a main filter cap then the capacitance is just as important as the ESR; There's a good reason why on a lot of old monitor chassis (for example) the smaller caps after the main power section leak and it's not due to ESR.

The fluke states a 2% tolerance so although it may not be the most reliable test out there, I can't see how it would be any worse than other means a DIY enthusiast might have.

It's there as an extra whether you use it or not, you can't knock it really.