Which multimeter?

[Cowabunga]

The Tacklife is pretty much automatic and is as simple to use as it gets.

 

[Right-arm fast]

Machine mart do a decent one that's not silly money. There are several unless you are an electronics engineer most have too many functions

 

[Cowabunga]

Machine mart do a decent one that's not silly money. There are several unless you are an electronics engineer most have too many functions

That's the beauty of modern ones. They even set the range and function automatically for the most part. No confusing dials and the minimum of switches to worry about. It might look 'modern' but that is the advantage. It is modern, versatile and simple use, although a basic understanding of the different circuit necessary to test voltage as opposed to current consumption is essential

It also shouldn't explode in a ball of flame and arc out to kill the user if overloaded like some cheaper ones might. Not unless you are particularly cack-handed.

I should warn people that aren't maybe aware of it, that DC electricity is far more dangerous and potentially deadly than AC, although great care should be taken with both.

 

[Adeptandy]

Fluke 116

 

[335d]

Some reviews here
https://www.markhennessy.co.uk/budget_multimeters/

 

[Gapples]

https://www.maplin.co.uk/p/amprobe-digital-multimeter-and-battery-tester-a48wb

Looks like a good bit of kit for price.
Or spend £100 plus & buy a fluke.

 

[jamj]

I went into Malpin and asked which was the best multimeter and the chap said Fluke but we don't sell them.

 

[Cowabunga]

If you want one that you could Hand down to your grandchildren, or you are a professional electrical engineer, get a Fluke. Otherwise these things are commonly available from £20 to £55 from multiple brands and they generally work fine. However, they are not particularly intuitive to use and need some basic knowledge of how electricity works and what the common measurements are and how they interact. The Fluke is no different in this respect.
The easiest ones to use are the most advanced automatic ones which mostly don't have a dial on which the novice user can mistakenly select the wrong range for the job.

 

[Phil P]

+1 for a fluke, you won’t get any better but if your just working on 12/24v stuff have you considered a power probe?
Although you really need both as a the standard probe won’t test resistance. Not sure wether the new one dose though.

 

[Mursal]

Cheap (£7) are good, but always check the voltmeter across a battery before use.
If you can get something with an amp-clamp so much the better, as the amp meter can be delicate if not connected properly.

 

[Robt]

Just bought a fluke 115..... hope they are as good as you all say

 

[Cowabunga]

Just bought a fluke 115..... hope they are as good as you all say

They are well built with a proper fuse. They actually do the same job as any cheap one. You should leave it in your will, because unless you abuse or lose it, the thing should last that long. The main advantage in my opinion is that it actually has a resale value, where the others are dirt cheap to buy but are of no resale value and no great loss if some accident happens or they are nicked. So there are pros and cons both ways.

 

[TheTallGuy]

Good choice - have one myself, the only thing missing from the package is a pair of croc clips to go on the end of the probes (built in 4mm plugs on the probes), but they are cheap enough from the usual sources. I've never known a Fluke to die from anything other than major blunt trauma. Proper fuses help to protect the internals & the battery lasts for ages.

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

They are well built with a proper fuse. They actually do the same job as any cheap one. You should leave it in your will, because unless you abuse or lose it, the thing should last that long. The main advantage in my opinion is that it actually has a resale value, where the others are dirt cheap to buy but are of no resale value and no great loss if some accident happens or they are nicked. So there are pros and cons both ways.

There is a bit of badge about them but also get what you pay for with Fluke. Generally a better built instrument, tend to hold their calibration better. Leads and accessories are good quality. But they aren’t cheap.

 

[Mursal]

Consider one with an Amp clamp, never use it. But if you have a need, very easy to use, compared to the wire in type. Accuracy will be an issue below 0.5A

 

[manhill]

Consider one with an Amp clamp, never use it. But if you have a need, very easy to use, compared to the wire in type. Accuracy will be an issue below 0.5A

There's always the option of a DC clamp that gives mV output proportional to DC current and you can plug it into the multimeter to read. They have their own battery power supply. Handy for reading starter cranking current

 

[Mursal]

Good idea ............
If I remember correctly a 1 ohm resistor will give voltage drop proportional to current flow in Amps.

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

Good idea ............
If I remember correctly a 1 ohm resistor will give voltage drop proportional to current flow in Amps.

Ohm’s law. Give that man a prize

 

[Robt]

Got it now, £70 from schpock, still has plastic film over screen and has a case..... result. Don’t think the chap that bought it knew how to use it.... not that I do either

 

[Cowabunga]

For anyone who wants to learn how and when to use a multimeter, there's no better place to do so than with this series of video tutorials which start from the very beginning.

The internet is a marvellous resource. Use it for your edification.