Onliest Smeg David Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 Other day I wanted to test a battery, but my meter wasn't working consistently - clearly failing. So - What do you recommend as a good all round home/car multimeter?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Kinder (Bagpuss) - Joint Peak District AO Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 If it's just for hobby use on the car- something like this should be fine- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sealey-TM100-Professional-Digital-Multimeter/dp/B003KJ0BFC/ref=sr_1_40?dchild=1&keywords=multimeter&qid=1601574554&sr=8-40 Run away from all the dirt cheap 'Fluke' look a likes on Ebay etc. They're cheap for a reason. You won't get a genuine fluke item for less than £200! Even something like this will be fine, though the current range is low- https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/digital-multimeters/1469086/ or this- https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/digital-multimeters/1611625/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pistonbroke Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 I would look for one that does auto ranging , cant be doing with all that range select stuff when your trying to hold one meter lead in each hand and swop ranges with yer mouth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onliest Smeg David Posted October 1, 2020 Author Share Posted October 1, 2020 Ta @Ian Kinder (Bagpuss) - Joint Peak District AO, It's for house and car. Those look ok price wise. @pistonbroke What are 'ranges' for auto ranging?? The old one I have only very basic has battery on/off , AC/DC , circuit test Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Colonial Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 I bought one from Amazon very similar to this nine years ago and it’s still going well: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Multimeter-Resistance-Transistor-Continuity-Electrical-Black-Yellow/dp/B07BMQ578Z/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2N8GO6QOGSHWT&dchild=1&keywords=multimeter&qid=1601626317&s=diy&sprefix=Multimeter%2Caps%2C159&sr=1-3 I only needed it for testing voltages and continuity and it’s perfect for that. I’ve since used it to check alternator outputs and dryer thermostats and heating elements. If I was using it on a frequent basis then I’d indeed pay more and buy a Sealey-type unit. YouBoob is excellent for how to use videos to show you how to get the most out of multimeters. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Kinder (Bagpuss) - Joint Peak District AO Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Auto range means the meter will automatically set the best range based on what the measured voltage is. If it doesn't have this, you have to manually select the voltage higher than you expect to measure e.g. If you intend to measure 12V the 600V range will work, but won't display the voltage down to several decimal places e.g. It may show 12V, instead of 12.02V for example. If you have it on the 30V setting, it will show 12.02V. If you try to measure a voltage higher than the range, it will display a message such as OL, to indicate out of range and you simply select the next range up on the rotary switch until you can see your reading. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Man On The Clapham Omnibus Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 A buzzer continuity setting is handy, and fused current ranges. It's all too easy to dead-short the ammeter setting by accident. I use both a digital one from the old Maplin, and an analogue one bought in Tottenham Court Road in the 1970s. Analogue meters have their advantages with varying values which cause a digital meter to fail to settle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onliest Smeg David Posted October 2, 2020 Author Share Posted October 2, 2020 What about range KAIWEETS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Kinder (Bagpuss) - Joint Peak District AO Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 36 minutes ago, Dave (OnliestSmeg) - Manchester AO said: What about range KAIWEETS Never heard of them or used one, however the reviews are favourable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Car Electronics Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 I've got a few multi-meters, but the one I use most is the cheapie Vici VC97, very similar to this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Proster-Multimeter-VC97-Capacitance-Resistance/dp/B00EYYJQOO/ref=sr_1_10?dchild=1&keywords=vici+multimeter&qid=1601651972&sr=8-10 No complaints for around £20 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Doesn't have a digital readout but a Fluke T90 is inexpensive and hey, it's a Fluke... https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/voltage-indicators/7508438?cm_mmc=UK-PLA-DS3A-_-google-_-PLA_UK_EN_Test_%26_Measurement_Whoop-_-Voltage+Indicators_Whoop-_-7508438&matchtype=&aud-832474874771:pla-494668894272&gclid=CjwKCAjwn9v7BRBqEiwAbq1Ey-d6q0vbJtaIevEp4UEinflqDkhHJKaoSx6pcCEhfUhIidpWRpAoDBoCLPAQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds I have a cheap-ish multi-meter for the house, testing continuity, fuses, voltage etc. For the car I have come to love power probes with the ability to back-feed circuits. Very handy, but not especially cheap... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsechris Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 The meter I use in the shed for 99% of the jobs on the car cost me all of £6. I also have a genuine Fluke 75 but that tends to get used when absolute accuracy is important. Most jobs on the car are generally handled perfectly well with the cheap job, and at £6 it’s entirely disposable in the event of an accident. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SootySport Posted October 4, 2020 Share Posted October 4, 2020 If you only want to test low voltages, current and resistance then any old cheap AVO meter will suffice. Testing ac mains and more accurate resistance you’ll need a better branded meter and digital readout. Battery testers are a different beast and a lot more expensive if you want to test for battery loading , drain etc. If you just want to test the voltage a normal AVO is fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lyonspride Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 Look at the Uni-T range, really good meters for the price, so good in fact that Farnell rebrand them and sell as their own. I'm using a Uni-T UT61E, it was £50 and the only thing is struggles with is fine current measurements (as in under 100 micro/u Amps). The letter at the end is the precise model in that range and it matters, the E I think has a backlight and RS232 connection for data logging via a PC (so for example you could monitor a voltage/current level all night long, and produce a graph). Heres the UT61A https://www.rapidonline.com/Uni-T-UT61A-Modern-Digital-Multimeter-85-4067?IncVat=1&pdg=pla-301834726750:kwd-301834726750:cmp-757438067:adg-44804851896:crv-207912323492:pid-85-4067:dev-c&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8fr7BRDSARIsAK0Qqr7P7bOk1aD7d7j0rBg7JjohZ8Req0wqtt6x4ikw3ePRN-hq4ddQjFYaAjlmEALw_wcB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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