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Thu Nov 13, 2008 9:38 pm

I think the time has come where I need to pick up one of these gadgets to add to my toolbox because I need to track down a nagging no-start problem on a non-VW.

I'd like to only buy it once. I'm not a mechanic for a living so it will see infrequent use but I don't like junk tools that work once or twice and then die.

I have absolutely no first hand knowledge of these devices and would probably pick one up local (MI, USA) but that's not mandatory... so... are there any I should stay away from? Any features that are "must have" ?

Thu Nov 13, 2008 9:46 pm

I bought a cheap Centech digital VOM from Harbor Freight. It's lasted a few years already and works fine. Good enough for non-precision electronics work. For car use there is no need for more.

Thu Nov 13, 2008 9:59 pm

I keep a Harbor Freight cheapie (usually $3.99 on sale) in each of my vehicles. In my toolbag that travels with me, I have a nice little one that folds into it's own hard clamshell case. In my box at home I have a Fluke 77. The cheapies read just as good as the Fluke. I've never had one of the HF ones fail. I've dropped them and cracked the cases, but they've still worked.

Thu Nov 13, 2008 11:40 pm

Tenma has some good affordable meters.

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/content/en-US/manufacturer/tenma

I've went through about four of the harbor freight jobbies...they just fall apart in my toolbox.

Fri Nov 14, 2008 5:47 am

Bite the bullet and get a "good" digital one. I've had so many of the cheap ones that always seem to break and about 3 years ago got a professional quality one from WW Graingers. Set me back close to 60 bucks but as the old BIC pen commercial states, "takes a licking and keeps on ticking" :lol:

Worth every penny, dead accurate, came with nifty protective case to boot!
I also have a larger analog that works great but is so cumbersome I only use it rarely using my smaller digital almost all the time. It gets used as I oversee and repair 20 Acres of buildings, their equipment and rolling stock these days.

Dave

Fri Nov 14, 2008 6:00 am

I believe that ad slogan was Timex, not BIC

Fri Nov 14, 2008 7:07 am

I have two, a cheap pos and a Fluke. The fluke is the multimeter to buy if you want to buy the right one the first time.

Fri Nov 14, 2008 7:29 am

Radio Shack is another place to look.

Fri Nov 14, 2008 7:51 am

Buy it on eBay. In the past two weeks they've sold for anywhere from about $10 to $1500.

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38&_nkw=dmm

Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:03 am

I was lucky and picked up a used Fluke 77 at a surplus auction for maybe $20. it has served me well for at least 10 years, and I think I've replaced the batteries once, and had to replace one lead a while back when the probe snapped off.
But I am very pleased with it, and have used it tracking down problems in car and home. it does AC, DC, continuity, etc...I'll second the recommendation to look around and find a good used one.

Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:17 am

I'll second Harbor Freight. Get a Centech larger multi function one, then get a cheapy ( I got them on sale for $1.99, put them in my cars, one in the kitchen drawer, etc) one and keep it in your car.

Want a good quality one, buy a Fluke.

Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:17 am

I have every type of digital meter from Fluke 77's to the cheapy, Harbor Freights in every car.
Radio Shack
Beckman
Fluke 77
Snap-On
Harbor Freight
Fluke 336

Guess which one does not work?? The Fluke 77. One of these days, I need to send it in for repair. The LCD took a poop.
If someone asks to borrow a meter, I hand them a Harbor Freight, and tell them to keep it.
BTW, I found the Fluke 336 (with case) in the trunk of a WCVW that was given to me. :D

Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:21 am

Since I enjoy electrical troubleshooting, I use the Fluke 87 at work and on my cars I use the Fluke 88.

The Fluke 88 is an automotive DMM that not only used for checking AC/DC voltages, current, resistance, capacitance, diodes but also has RPM and duty cycle/dwell.

Also a good automotive DMM is the Actron DMMs (about $60) which I had for about 12 years before I got the Fluke 88.

Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:25 am

we have a few multimeters
The one that gets the most use is a small digital Radio Shack model
it is about the size of a short stack of credit cards
it has a buzzer for the continuty testing which is real handy

Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:31 am

Keep in mind those highly praised Flukes, are running in the $300's and $400's New.
You don't need that unless you are a pro.

I'm leery of used electrical items. Proceed cautiously, you don't know why they are being sold on ebay or similar situations.

Dave

Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:47 am

Anyone still use analog?

btw, May I borrow a meter Russ?

Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:50 am

69 Jim wrote: Anyone still use analog?

btw, May I borrow a meter Russ?

What's "analog"? Is that like "galoshes"?

:wink:

Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:53 am

69 Jim wrote: Anyone still use analog?

btw, May I borrow a meter Russ?

I do only in those situations I'm testing for continuity and don't care about values. It is much easier to see a needle swing out of the corner of your eye than it is to see little black numbers change.
Then again, some meters do beep when the measurement value is achieved.

Dave

Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:55 am

69 Jim wrote: Anyone still use analog?

btw, May I borrow a meter Russ?

My Snap-On is analog.
About the best analog one you can by is a Simpson 260.

Oh, I forgot, I have a Heathkit analog too. It is a bench one. Has to be plugged into 120V to work.
I also have this one too.

Fri Nov 14, 2008 11:03 am

I have the Harbor Freight one with the clamp for measuring current flow through a conductor. It is nice to have, not only for that feature but also because you can use it to hang it up so you can read it while you use it.

No complaints. I do like the buzzer feature. The banana plugs stay in securely, too. I got it on sale for less than $10. No need to spend more than $10 on a multimeter if you're just a shade tree mechanic and homeowner.