multimeter advice

KUB3 · Post by **KUB3** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:03 am

Can anyone suggest a multimeter please? There's so many and I have no idea. Must be:

on ebay
buynow
New
under £20?

Thanks!

KUB3 · Post by **KUB3** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:27 am

ps

Is this any good?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 2565wt_941

freshkryp69 · Post by **freshkryp69** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 6:44 am

get a Fluke multimeter and dont look back! you get what you pay for and will last for yr's...

Post by **Eric D** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 7:15 am

Fluke all the way, IMO.

KUB3 · Post by **KUB3** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 7:27 am

Ok, that seems like the ideal brand then. My local place quoted me £80 for Fluke this morning, but I thought it was steep. Then I looked online and they are the same everywhere.

Someone else just mentioned this one too...

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?moduleno=222041

gridracer · Post by **gridracer** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 11:02 am

I know everyone recommends fluke and yeah they are one of the best but I have a blue point (snap on) and it is also top notch but costly.

Post by **ttocs** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 2:17 pm

I would never recomend a bad meter. It is important to have a quality tool that you know is reading correctly. I would equate it to a torque wrench for a mechanic, or a sharp knife/chisel for a wood carver, you better know it is right or you will do MUCH more damage with it.

KUB3 · Post by **KUB3** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 2:24 pm

I'm only going to be using it for the most basic things. Like checking my PG circuit board via's and caps swaps are all ok

Post by **joerg** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 2:35 pm

Spend some more money and get a FLUKE

Post by **Eric D** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 3:26 pm

Look in the USA as well. It is a small enough item, you may be able to justify buying it in the USA and having it shipped to you. I don't know much about customs or anything else like that though, so maybe this would really be a very bad idea.

freshkryp69 · Post by **freshkryp69** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 6:36 pm

One advantage to our shitty economy is that the pawn shops are loaded with all kinds of tools..ie: multimeters. that can be had for the cheap,a fraction of retail price even...and as "gridracer" said the Snap-on (blue point) dmm's are great and cost less than a Fluke,and most are a true RMS dmm. I picked up a blue point #eedm501b for $25 at the local pawn shop..not sure if they have pawn shops in your area, if they do save ur self some $$$ and go there first! I also have a craftsman with the laser pointer temp gauge built in and that one cost about $100..im savin for the fluke 97 or the like with the built in oscilloscope,used of course and there about $500 on fleabay or about $1000 or so new retail..
you may only be wanting to check via's and cap continuity and other basic things right now,but in the future ur needs may be greater than what a elcheapo dmm can do so whatever you spend for a quality dmm is money well spent..

.02

Post by **ttocs** » Wed Jan 06, 2010 9:16 am

I would buy a good used one before a cheap new one. Again with alot of the measurements you are doing it is important to KNOW that it is reading correctly. When people buy good meters they tend to take care of them so I would not be suprised if you could find one with out a mark on it that even with an unknown history will last longer then a new cheap one.

I would compare it to PG amps, would you like a nice shiney new ryval, or would you prefer a gently used zero point, m, mps or ms series amp?

thought so....