Your opinion on this multimeter please

what do you plan to use it for? 99% of what I use mine for is to simply test +5, -5, +12 DC and 110-120 AC. The only other use I might think of using it for with regards to an arcade game would be to test the high voltage at the fly back. For that you would also need a high voltage probe. If you're not testing high voltage you can get by with a $5-10 meter that you can find at a place like harbor freight or many places on the internet.
 
i love my fluke as well but i may have to pick one of these up since my fluke does not have
the abilty to test Capacitance
39$ is not bad and with the option to record data onto your pc thats awsome
 
p1899m said:
what do you plan to use it for?


I'm just starting to learn ...so at the moment just basic trouble shooting......should the need arise.


Price isn't really an issue ...but I dont really want to pay $300 for something, if a $50 multimeter will do the same job....but I would like something that is good enough to be usefull as I learn more advanced trouble shooting or repair .


I know that Fluke is the best .....but for the moment, something cheaper would be good enough for me.



john

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I love my Fluke model 12B. It'll do almost everything I need including testing capacitance. You don't honestly need to blow a ton of money on a multimeter as others have already said. I got mine off eBay for around $50.
 
meter

and they occasionally have those on sale for like 2.99
 
Ever since I started collecting, I've been using a little pen multimeter that I bought at RadioShack for a few dollars. I always thought I'd go with something a little more high-end, but have yet to find any real reason to do so.
 
Ever since I started collecting, I've been using a little pen multimeter that I bought at RadioShack for a few dollars. I always thought I'd go with something a little more high-end, but have yet to find any real reason to do so.
It certainly depends on the person as far as what meter fits their needs. I used to have a Radio Shack pocket multimeter when I first got started. The biggest problem was it had very limited length for the leads and I eventually got tired of it and got a better meter.
 
i've got a couple of the 2.99 HF meters. They're fine, my only complaint is that they don't have a beep on continuity.
This one does though -
http://www.harborfreight.com/ac-dc-digital-multimeter-37772.html
for 20 bucks is about as much meter as you'll find. It does small capacitance, as well as tests transistor gain, and diode/continuity etc.
Also, i'd recommend a logic probe, with pulse and audio.
And for capacitance testing you really need an ESR meter, especially if your doing monitor work, but truthfully, cap kits are so cheap, its hard to justify the investment in one for someone who just does repairs on a hobbyist level.
You should be able to find both the ESR meter and Logic probe on ebay or amazon.
 
Thanks guys

some good links there too.

Yeah...I will be getting a logic probe, solder station and any other basic gear that I might need.

I have purchased the Randy Fromm DVD's and books ....they contain some great information for a beginner like myself.

Is an antistatic wristband an important item to have when working on boards??....I'll get one anyway.




john


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Is an antistatic wristband an important item to have when working on boards??....I'll get one anyway.

In a pinch you can use anything that grounds your body. More than once I've used a piece of wire stripped at both ends, wrapped around my wrist, and crammed into the ground pin of an electric outlet. (Not recommending it, just admitting I've done it) More commonly, I use a jumper lead from my watch to a nearby grounded chassis like my PC.
 
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