Going to try to get a multimeter... <--Noob!

Frax

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Anyone got some suggestions. I've seen the other threads where people recommend Fluke units, but it's a bit out of my range. Looking for something I can test my monitor chassis with...will probably be throwing my laptop up on CL for barter for a unit, so looking for suggestions for a good meter that would be good for a newb like myself. :p

I figure approx value of this laptop is 100-175$ as it's decently old.
 
I have my flukes :)
But if you wnat a cheapy that can tell you yes there is voltage there within 10 %
I have used the harbor frieght ones in a pinch.
They do crap out after a year or two. Leads will break. you Might loose a segment in the LCD display.
But they are cheap and replacable..
harbor freight special
http://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-digital-multimeter-90899.html
 
My $30 rat shack special does everything I need and more, as far as a DMM is concerned.

I wouldn't burn a laptop for it...
 
I have been using a craftsman dmm for years now with no problems. it has done everything I have asked it to do. they had 5 different models, I got the one in the middle price wise.
 
Seriously you do not need a Fluke, sure if one falls into your lap you should grab it but it is a bit like paying for a Lambourghini to go to the shops in.

Speaking as someone who does a lot of PCB repair work you can get away with spending $20 on a DMM. It is always worth avoiding the cheapest of the cheap in any sector (which is $10 in DMM land) and DMMs are no exception but that comes down to build quality, not features or accuracy. You may think you need insane accuracy but you actually dont't.

Don't get too woried about the features you get on higher end DMMs, such as frequency counters, temperature probes and capacitance meters. You wont need them, even the capacitance meter is less useful than it sounds as when caps go bad it is not the capacitance that changes, it is their ESR which goes high and you need a different meter for that. Have yet to see a DMM with an ESR meter in and even if there is one I would bet the price would be far more than a standard DMM and a standard ESRM.

All I would suggest is get on that feels like it is well built, has an audible tone for continuity tests (some cheapies dont), and an auto switch off, mine chews batteries and I am always forgetting to turn it off.

In fact the lack of auto-off is the only feature my $20 meter is lacking for what I do, and I wouldnt have had to spend anymore to get that feature anyway.

For board and chassis repair a DMM is just one tool you need to be successful, buying a very high end one doesnt save you from having to buy other gear too.
 
Yeah, on second thought, unless you intend to be pretty serious about delving into electronics diagnosis & repair, a Fluke is overkill. Esp if you've never owned ANY multimeter before.

Pretty much any digital meter should be OK for the type things you'll be doing (measuring AC voltage, DC voltage, and continunity test, mostly). The only question that remains is autoranging or manual. The super-cheapo Harbor Freight units I've seen are manual ranging. Autoranging might be a little easier for a newbie. Manual ranging forces you to think and understand a little more, but it also means more "probe-stop-switch range-probe again".

I had a ~$20-30 Sears/Craftsman DMM for years before I got my Fluke. Worked fine (still does). After 4 or 5 years, one of the leads started to come apart near its plug.
 
I would totally pay the extra few bucks for an autoranging meter - they're so much more convenient. I use Fluke meters at work, and they're great, but at home I just use a $40 Extech MN16A and it suits me just fine.
 
LOL, that was a lot of responses in a short time. Thanks guys.

Regarding the laptop, it's in good condition, but I've NEVER used it since the day I bought it. I used it for a week, and then figured out I was never going to need a laptop. Chalk that one up to having too much money in my pocket at the time. I've tried selling it on CL a few times now and got no hits, so if I can barter it for a good DMM that will last a while, it's good enough for me!

Good to know I don't need the super-pricey stuff though, even the used Flukes I was seeing around here are like 60-300$...was just like...I could buy the entire new monitor chassis for less than most of those, lol. :)
 
wow i was going to say a good fluke multi meter can be had for under 50$, i decided to look my Fluke 111 up and yea... $150+ i don't remember paying anywhere near that tho (then again it could have been a holiday gift). The cheap ones will work but they die often and aren't very forgiving if you use the meter wrong.

I swear by my Fluke meter, i have a bluepoint meter (super expensive paper weight) from when i went to school for automotive repair and i remember it died within the first 3 months of use.... I still haven't gotten it fixed even tho it's warranted for life.
 
Auto ranging, Automatic turn off and Audio noises are good features to have.
Are they worth the Extra Dollars? That your choice.
A good battery in a fluke meter will last you years and years. A cheapie is going to last a year.

I have used 16 DMV and a bed of nails to quick check through boards.
Most don't need that many but having more than one does make sence.

While adjusting your power supply you can check the voltage coming out of the Power supply and check the volatge that gets to the motherboard.

Or

You can watch different voltages at the same time to track down that odd problem of a board reseting.
 
I started using Fluke meters (73 III and the 179), but just recently here I replaced my aging 73 III with an Extech EX530. Way happier with this thing. I also kept it for myself. :D

You can get them for ~$250 everywhere.

But! If you hit up Fry's website, you can get them for $150. No idea why.

Autoranging AC/DC, Frequency Counter up to 100Mhz, Temperature (Comes with Thermocouple and K-Type Adapter), Capacitance to 5000mF (Milifarad, not Micro!), and a slew of other functions.

http://www.frys.com/product/5160876
 
Get this one from Harbor Freight. It will handle anything you can throw at it (and no, it's not the "free" one): http://www.harborfreight.com/ac-dc-digital-multimeter-37772.html

I have 2 of these. One i keep on my repair bench and one in my truck. The only thing it doesn't have is auto ranging, but to me that's not a big deal. For the 20 bucks, it is well worth it, and i've yet to see one with comparable features for anywhere near the price.
My favorite part is the flip up lcd screen. You can leave the unit laying flat, and still read it. Much better than a wire stand on the back that most have.
 
I actually do not like Fluke. Their build quality is awesome, sure, and they're silly accurate... but they're not worth the asking price, IMO. Not even close.

What to look for:
  • Make sure it has standard size "banana plug" sockets. Most do, some don't. You will need these sockets should you ever buy an HV probe, or wreck your probes, or want a different kind of probe for tight spaces... the list goes on.
  • Auto-ranging is a BIG plus as it removes the biggest source of user error from the equation.
  • A backlit display is a big plus too. It's dark inside these cabinets.
  • Current (amps) test has limited application, but you can use it to interpolate the values of unknown fuses. If you're gonna use it for this, make sure the meter itself is fused, and try to find one that's rated for 15-20A.
  • If it's *NOT* made in China, it's probably a keeper.

I personally have a Gardner-Bender autoranger with a backlit display, and I honestly couldn't ask for more, besides a current test but that's really not a big deal.
 
I personally use and would recommend a Fluke. They're built tough and are real easy to use, plus once you start figuring it out you will find all sorts of uses for it. I always spring for the high end stuff if I know I'm going to be using it more than once or twice, as a good quality tool will last you many, many years.
 
No doubt about it, Fluke is the best when it comes to meters. They last forever, and are reliable. Watch out though, there are a fair number of fake Fluke meters out there - a friend of mine wound up with one.

But... do you really need one? For working on arcade games, checking power supplies, etc - you don't need huge precision, four thousand features or fancy accessories. A $20 meter is fine. Autoranging is a really nice feature - especially if you've never used a meter before. I'd spring for that. Auto off, temperature, capacitance, transistor tester socket, etc, etc - you'll never use. You can test transistors with any meter in the diode check function, the capacitance meter function is nearly useless for checking electrolytics in monitors, and auto off... well, just shut it off when you're done. Even if you leave it on, the battery in a meter lasts a very long time.

Get a $20-$40 meter, learn how to use it - I wouldn't spend huge money on an expensive Fluke unless you really get to the point where you need such a tool. More often then not, I know people with hundreds of dollars worth of expensive test equipment and tools they don't know how to use, or just plain don't use.

Features I would look for : autoranging, standard banana plug lead sockets, and test leads that stay plugged in without falling out (some of the cheapest of cheap meters have these horrible little test lead sockets that the connectors just fall out of).

-Ian
 
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