Which multimeter should I buy for farm use ?

[Pilatus]

As above, do you get what you pay for?

 

[Phil P]

As above, do you get what you pay for?

For testing mains, 12/24v DC or both?

 

[Pilatus]

For testing mains, 12/24v DC or both?

Both. Thanks.

 

[Brisel]

I had a Draper one until it disappeared when an employee left. The best one I've had was £5 in a Tandy closing down sale - it's still going strong 15 years later! Fluke are the best but the price makes them professional sparky level only.

What do you need to measure? Voltage? Current? Resistance? Capacity?

 

[deleted user 837354]

Fluke or Kewtech. There are some cheaper versions around but don't have the same functionality. I got given a nice kewtech one by my old man, some tradesman left it behind at his work so that was promptly zoinked.

 

[Pilatus]

I had a Draper one until it disappeared when an employee left. The best one I've had was £5 in a Tandy closing down sale - it's still going strong 15 years later! Fluke are the best but the price makes them professional sparky level only.

What do you need to measure? Voltage? Current? Resistance? Capacity?

I have never had on before, but would like one to try and find the odd simple electric faults on my old MF 390, MF 6290 and Ford 3910. So nothing too ambitious, but sometimes cheaper to buy a descent one in the first place to give me scope should I get more ambitious,ONCE I find out how to use the thing without being electrocuted!!!
So will steer clear of mains electricity to start with

 

[jacobl741]

Im a spark by day and it’s got to be a fluke, get what you pay for they are the best

 

[Phil P]

I have never had on before, but would like one to try and find the odd simple electric faults on my old MF 390, MF 6290 and Ford 3910. So nothing too ambitious, but sometimes cheaper to buy a descent one in the first place to give me scope should I get more ambitious,ONCE I find out how to use the thing without being electrocuted!!!
So will steer clear of mains electricity to start with

I’d get a Fluke as you won’t get any better. However If the majority of the things you’re testing are tractors 12/24v DC systems I’d get a power probe, they’re excellent for fault finding. I wouldn’t be without mine it gets way more use than the multimeter! But I still have the multimeter as well.

 

[Netherfield]

I was going to say Robin aren't bad, but it looks like they don't exist now. I've mine some 30 years or so. Also have a Kewtech clamp meter(cheap off eBay) and a Weston clipper clamp meter from the ark.

 

[defender]

You will got one good enough to do all you need for £20
Don't need Fluke or anything expensive to do basic or beginner type stuff
I have fluke as well but the one used most cost £14.50

 

[Brisel]

What do you need to have to test alternator current output? I’ve seen roadside mechanics clip something onto the cable to measure the current flow. I wouldn’t want to be disconnecting anything to put a 10A max ammeter in series with a tractor alternator.

 

[bobk]

I'd like to be able to use one ... can't be difficult can it .

 

[Forkdriver]

I'd like to be able to use one ... can't be difficult can it .

It's what you do with the readings that matter. Basic 12 volt stuff is straightforward and unlikely to kill you. Serious mains stuff leave to the qualified.

 

[Netherfield]

Durite 0-534-30 Clip-On Induction Ammeter 30 - 0 - 30 amp - Auto Electrical Supplies

Clip-On Induction Ammeter

www.aes.group

Durite Hand Held Digital Clamp Multimeter AC / DC - Auto Electrical Supplies

Hand Held Digital Clamp Multimeter AC / DC

www.aes.group

Both will test alternator output, obviously the cheaper one only goes to 30 amp, but a quick clip on and off will give a clue if the alt is charging or not, whereas the othe is probably no different than a mains clamp on.

 

[TechWise]

As above, Fluke is the defacto standard for professionals but you don't really need such a thing for basic stuff. Outside of an electronics lab, there's seldom any reason to demand the sort of absolute accuracy or precision that the expensive stuff provides. 99 times out of 100, you're just going to be seeing if you've got 12V getting to somewhere or checking continuity. You can do both of those things just fine with a £10 Amazon/eBay type tool.

 

[Steevo]

I have a cheap Tacklife version from Amazon. @Cowabunga recommended them on here a while back and can’t really fault it.

Non contact voltage detector comes in very handy at times.

 

[Wisconsonian]

What do you need to have to test alternator current output? I’ve seen roadside mechanics clip something onto the cable to measure the current flow. I wouldn’t want to be disconnecting anything to put a 10A max ammeter in series with a tractor alternator.

I've never seen a need to check amp output on an alternator. If you turn all the lights and accessories on and it can maintain the voltage close to 14V, then it's fine.

The Power probe is handy, you can do everything it does with some test leads and a $3 multimeter, but it's so much handier with the clamps and switches built in. Most of us don't do electrical diagnostics enough to be good at it, a little help goes a long ways.

 

[Pilatus]

Many thanks for all your posts, plenty to think about .
The first thing I must do , is some internet surfing on how to use a multi meter for very basic tasks on equipment.

 

[tomlad]

I bought a better one to do a resistance test on a coil of my quad , it proved it was at fault so 30 quid or whatever seemed cheep. For meter.
Quad dude too busy to fix but happy to offer advice. He got it rewound.
Id be thinking middle ground 30 40 quidy ..
Digger muppet mate uses a probe thing with led alot , so thats on my list too.

 

[milkloss]

I've got a fluke 179. It's a well built tool but in reality does nothing more than a cheapy......... will confidently use it on 3ph stuff where I would'nt dare go with a chinesium special though.A backlight for the screen is handy.