My digital multimeter's just given up the ghost.
Any suggestions as to a replacement? I don't need a golly-gee-whizz one with dB scales and transistor testers, but I'd like a large display (so I can see it when I'm hanging out of the ceiling) and it's got to be reasonably robust.
Any of these suit?
Huge typed
On the desk in front of me sits a Maplin multimter of which I bought a job lot a few years ago; they were £4.99 each but BOGOF, making them hardly more expensive than the PP3 within.
The display digits are >1cm tall and I've not yet but the meter.
The probes are not very good and my partner has had them come adrift between the wire and probe. (Mine are reinforced with insulting tape)
I have never tried the transistor tester, but this is a feature...
I don't suppose Maplin will still do exactly the same meter but they seemed to have some nice ones when we went there last week.
What do you want to spend?
There are some very good Fluke ones which have good large displays and are very solid, around £100. The leads and case etc. are substantial as well, which is something that I think is important.
Likely to be cries of 'elitist' again over high priced tools, but a Fluke is just so delightful to hold as well as use. Just be careful not to blow its internal fuse. ;-)
Pick up a SH fluke off ebay, it'll prolly outlast you !! :-)
In message , Andy Hall writes
If you are willing to take the normal Ebay risks
Rather more than HDV's GBP3.99. Say fifty quid. The old one was GBP70 and lasted about 15 years.
Ditto. I had a cheapo one as well, but every time I used it, I ended up repairing the leads, which drove me bonkers.
Fluke was the brand that sprang to mind.
Excellent, thanks. Bidding now!
May I suggest the 34XR Meterman, and take a look at
I bought mine in the U.S. some years ago and remember that the price difference was even more than the usual pound/dollar unity thing.
Considering the current exchange rate and your connections in the U.S. it might be worth taking a look at that. Even with shipping costs it might be worth it.
I don't care about that.... :-)
The other thing is the range of accessories. I have the current probe and also a thermocouple adaptor which plugs into the top - great for checking radiator temperatures with a contact thermocuple probe
These yellow meters are *awful*. The sockets on mine came loose and started to rotate (they are only attached to a thin PCB by solder) and when measuring the mains one day it exploded with a puff of smoke. Since then it is total kaput. So for everyday use, they can't take the strain.
john2
For electrical as opposed to electronic work, a digital meter isn't always ideal; with its very high input impedance you can easily get misleading readings due to induction from wiring around the place or very low leakage currents.
Probably like most things - you get what you pay for. I have a Maplin Gold which cost about 70 quid many years ago and did sterling service until it blew up when measuring mains - brass dust on the switch tracks. I repaired it - it actually had a circuit diagram - but decided to treat myself to a Fluke which is in a different league. As it should be, being newer and more expensive. But, of course, it depends on what you're going to use it for.
Seconded. Use one at work. Excellent
Dave
I also have a Maplin DVM with autorange & RS232 interface which is rugged, but it has the weight and feel of a housebrick
john2
I know everyone else has said "go for a Fluke" but I'd advise caution. I use them day in day out at work and they are indeed generally very good and reliable. BUT, they are massively overpriced. They are not
*that* robust. (No more so than my =A325 one I bought from Maplin 12 years ago anyway). The accuracy for the basic models is nothing special.You can spend much less for the same feature set and reliability.
Also, avoid the terribly designed "Fluke 16" models that have the probe connections on the bottom of the unit. This makes it impossible to stand it up when the probes are attached! Heap of useless junk! We often have to run ours sideways... =20
Jon.
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.