DIY: Do you own a multimeter and how is that working out for you?

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › DIY: Do you own a multimeter and how is that working out for you?

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shk292

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#3072109 4-May-2023 09:51

I've always had one, think I bought my first one in order to diagnose a faulty alternator in my first car at age 18. Blew my dad's one up when I was a kid by trying to switch really fast through the current measuring range without disconnecting it first. But managed to repair the damaged track in the selector switch with a soldering iron. Now using a digital one from Jaycar and have a second one that lives in the boat for projects there. Need to get clamp-on probes or grow a third arm

ajbw

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#3072172 4-May-2023 10:52

I have about 5. One in the campervan for diagnosing electrical faults (not just mine, either), one fixed high-resolution one for calibration, a very old Fluke (still working after 40 years) and one on each workbench. They are useful for checking batteries, for example, even if you're not really into electronics.

A couple of tips:
Do not get one with a 9V battery. If you use it infrequently you will find the battery is always flat.
Do get one with an automatic turn-off after a few minutes. See above.
A beeper option is handy for checking continuity.

My latest one is an Aneng AN8008, which (I think) I got from Aliexpress. It's still running on the two AAA NiMh eneloops I put into it several years ago.

hsvhel

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#3072212 4-May-2023 12:33

Own a variety, but i work in the electrical industry.....

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gzt

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#3072397 4-May-2023 17:57

chatterbox: I'm considering getting a multimeter.

A variety of probes make all the difference for efficient and safe use. There's even a big difference between supplied cheapo probes and reasonable aftermarket. Tldr; cheap meter ok it's amazing what you get for $20. Spend extra for probes at Jaycar or somewhere like that.

As mentioned by three other posters - mixing voltage and current measurement is so easy to do and makes a mess. Even if the meter survives it may be inaccurate afterwards. Buy some spare fuses to match the meter immediately at time of purchase. They can be odd and hard to find some places.

tweake

2391 posts

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#3072425 4-May-2023 19:20

i have a few.

really miss my old fluke which i dropped and broke (one of the early auto sensing models). so now have a few cheapies. have one with temp sensors which comes in really handy.

gazzerwgtn

52 posts

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#3073177 6-May-2023 18:05

Very handy, one in the camper, one in the workshop.
Autorange is a must, also voltage sensor.
This would be a good place to start;
https://www.jaycar.co.nz/economy-autorange-multimeter-with-non-contact-voltage-sensor/p/QM1529

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