Looking to get a multimeter to use for the car and around the home. Ideally will need an audible continuity buzzer.

 

Seen these http://www.autosessive.com/products/61218/digital-multimeter-8-function-with-thermocouple?gclid=Cj0KEQiApbunBRDs0fba3dz484cBEiQAMsx-pwAA8Sx9irBF_pUOHv-EW7938lH_-1dd-E3GE5an9RwaAorm8P8HAQ

http://www.screwfix.com/p/philex-83002r-s-digital-multimeter-with-temperature-probe/88381

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/uni-trend-ut30b-digital-compact-multimeter-n15by?gclid=Cj0KEQiApbunBRDs0fba3dz484cBEiQAMsx-pxZc9BuMdFLQL6MqeJEbfbLAHLBLkHOcQpk09TcqwHkaAojx8P8HAQ

 

But if anyone can help with something better I'd be grateful. The more rugged the better

Budget; £30 max

 

Thanks.

http://m.rapidonline.com/ProductSearch/ModuleDetails?ModuleCode=544286

Got one of these, been very impressed so far.

I just went to Screwfix and bought a £20 for cars

Does have a Beep for test too

http://m.rapidonline.com/ProductSearch/ModuleDetails?ModuleCode=544286

Got one of these, been very impressed so far.

My first thought was 'urgh, it's Skoda Atlantic Green'

 

I just went to Screwfix and bought a £20 for cars

Does have a Beep for test too

got a linky, Wayne?

I have one of these

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-50024-Digital-Automotive-Analyser/dp/B0001K9UKK

Sent from my Galaxy S5

Audible continuity is always a plus (very good for checking wiring looms), along with decent length of wire on the probes.

I have one of these

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-50024-Digital-Automotive-Analyser/dp/B0001K9UKK

Sent from my Galaxy S5

Thanks for that but looks more aimed for automotive use than home use.

I've got a fluke banging about Lee. Fluke 12 I think it is

Audible continuity is always a plus (very good for checking wiring looms), along with decent length of wire on the probes.

well, it was more for dual purpose as I'd buy another for work only for testing continuity on the pairs  between the cab and the DSLAM.

I've got a fluke banging about Lee. Fluke 12 I think it is

any good as a brand, are they?

Fluke are good but nothing near £30, most are north of £150 I used to use them at work with additional probes to check for temperature etc for calibrating hot drums on printing presses.

Fluke are good but nothing near £30, most are north of £150 I used to use them at work with additional probes to check for temperature etc for calibrating hot drums on printing presses.

that's still cheaper than one I saw for over 1K :no:

got a linky, Wayne?

£20 from Screwfix (with Battery Tester - as wanted to test small gadget batteries too)

http://m.screwfix.com/p/philex-83001r-s-digital-multimeter-with-battery-test-function/80537

Cheaper from eBay

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Philex-Digital-Multimeter-83001R-Test-Equipment-with-Battery-Tester-/111336235016

Fluke are good but nothing near £30, most are north of £150 I used to use them at work with additional probes to check for temperature etc for calibrating hot drums on printing presses.

+1

Fluke are very good - but expensive :(

I have an old Precision Gold M125, along the lines of this - http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/precision-gold-pg10b-digital-multimeter-gw18u - bought from Maplins around 15 years ago. Still going strong.

I have an old Precision Gold M125, along the lines of this - http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/precision-gold-pg10b-digital-multimeter-gw18u - bought from Maplins around 15 years ago. Still going strong.

Thanks, Martin. I like the rubberised case, I can be clumsy

I have an old Precision Gold M125, along the lines of this - http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/precision-gold-pg10b-digital-multimeter-gw18u - bought from Maplins around 15 years ago. Still going strong.

I got one more than 15 years old

My Dad has that one too. It is well more than 15 years old, at least 40. His was given to him when he moved jobs by his old company in the mid 70s!

Several thoughts on meters, and my wish list.

 

1) - AUTO RANGING if possible - so if working on car, you select volts DC and forget. in house, select AC volts and forget -means it's a bit ore difficult to select wrong rage.

2) with HOLD if possible. very useful if checking solenoid for voltage drop problems.

3) Back lit with auto switch off.

4) Alarm function on amps range if probes not in correct place.

5) seperate diode test and ohms range,with selectable beep function.

but thats from my top of the range, all singing all dancing Fluke. Not the sort of thing most folks would need.

Some places will try and tell you that you need the meter with the highest ohm/volt reading - used to be true on old analogue kit, where the Avo shown would be about 20k ohm/volt, whereas the cheapo i keep in the car ( free gift from a sales rep possibly worth about £2.50) is around 50-100 times that.

Advantage of digital is that it's idiot proof as regard polarity and almost idiot proof as regards range.

 

 

i've also got a Rapid which cost less than £20 and a cheaper Fluke and a cheapo which I keep in the car . It doesn't matter on the quality of meter for most jobs,just how well you can understand what it's telling you. Lamps /fuses will give a go /no go test. A charging circuit will /should be around 14v at decent revs ( and preferably with all electrics on).

At home- ( IN CAPS AS MEANT TO BE A WARNING) - DO NOT TEST LIVE CIRCUITS, WITH A METER-USE A TEST SCREWDRIVER INSTEAD.

Edited 26 February, 201511 yr by VWD

I have three two digitals (one normal sized and a tiny pocket one) and an analogue. All were less than a tenner from a local electronics shop and have worked great for years. If your not after anting too precise and just want the basic functions pretty much anything should do. If you have a local electronics shop pop in and see what they have...

At home- ( IN CAPS AS MEANT TO BE A WARNING) - DO NOT TEST LIVE CIRCUITS, WITH A METER-USE A TEST SCREWDRIVER INSTEAD.

What's the reason for the warning? I always check circuits for live with a meter before I touch them having once turned power off and found a circuit to still be live the hard way.

Never had a problem with a Meter (but have killed one long time ago admittedly when I had the wrong range set)

Fed up with the Jdsu try a 9083 ,one of bt's best bits of kit

Fed up with the Jdsu try a 9083 ,one of bt's best bits of kit

we've got one on the van, a bit more battered looking than that though No JDSU, we do have an EXFO though

 

I keep looking on ebay for myself but they seem a bit pricey :(

Engineers have been buying off eBay for years because being analogue it can be left on waiting for an error to show where the digital meter only looks for an instant in time.also there are 18c meters which are a lot bigger ,more sensitive but will also measure faults.