Ok after some advice here
I want to get myself a test meter , But I know nothing about them , and I do mean nothing How to use one included !
so Im looking for something basic but realiable it wont get much use so I dont want to spend a fortune , but equally I dont want some thing thats going to brake or fail after a little while .
also need to be idoit proof ! and have basic instructions !
please if you can post a link to which ever one you'd recomend ?
Thanks people
Garyb I like the idea of the fully automatic function !
do you have a link to which one would be best as looking at the fluke Meyer site doesnt help much
this will be for mostly bike and car use but also to lend out to friends ect
cost could be any isuue but that does realy depend on how many £££££s we are talking ?
from what I can see the fluke ones seem to go price wise from around £80 bit rich but not impossible to nearly £600 ouch !
maybe maplins £10 is the way to go lol
Having a continuity (connections test is useful for tracing faults).
I think I got mine from Machine Mart but Maplin is a good option. Screwfix ? Toolstation ?
yep I have to agree with ebme, most of the cost of a DMM is down to how accurate it is over all of the functions it can perform.
yes auto ranging is a good feature (especially when investigating circuits you are unsure of). in terms of robustness some of the cheaper ones are probably more resilient than the expensive ones. for the type of thing i think you going to be using it for i.e. bike electrics and general DIY i would look for something in the £20- £30 region.
all i think you need is DC volts and Current, AC volts and current, continuity/resistance also Diode/voltage drop can be useful on some bike circuits. I think you would do well to pop into maplin and have a chat with them, they will give you everything you need (but dont let them oversell to you)
good luck
Maplins, try them out,, cheap and work well
I have a Fluke meter that is around 20 years old. The last time it was calibrated was about 15 years ago and that was the last time I believe the battery was changed too (unless they didn't bother). Great meter butall I need now is a £10 jobbie from Maplins as all I do, like most people is check the odd car/bike battery and check to see if mains voltage is on something or not. Accuracy is not important to me or most people, a simple bulb would do.
Another ex-Fazer rider that is a foccer again
Fluke's are nice yes, but eye-wateringly expensive (I've got a 289 for work) - for those using it to earn a living and using it day-in, day-out, cost is less of a factor.
If you're simply doing odd jobs on car / bike, have a look in your local hardware / DIY store for something like Draper which is more cost-effective. Halfords sell Gunson gear which will probably be decent enough for the money (never used Gunson stuff, but it always seemed to have a good rep).
If you've got a City Electrical or Edmunson Electrical outlet nearby, the sometimes have decent, inexpensive testers that are worth a look.
(24-07-13, 12:56 PM)snapper link Wrote: also need to be idoit proof ! and have basic instructions !
I don't think there is such a thing as an idiot proof multimeter. Unless you're electrically competent they're only good for telling if you have a circuit and/or voltage going through a circuit.
I mainly use mine on the "squeel if there is a circuit setting" and sometimes on the 12/24/240v test.
If you know nowt about multimeters just buy a cheap one, then go back at a later date if/when you need to IMO.
Opinions are like A**holes, Everyone has one. Some people seem to have more than one though which is a bit odd.
Opinions are like A**holes, Everyone has one. Some people seem to have more than one though which is a bit odd.