Chuck(G)
25k Member
Why is the amazon ad in Spanish? Do they require payment in pesos?
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Need a new voltimeter
- Thread starter Nathanieltolb331
- Start date
You lost me there. Everything is in english on my end, but I also have an add blocker, so maybe I'm not seeing the ad you mention?
Chuck(G)
25k Member
That's weird--somehow my account preference was changed to US-Spanish. The wonders of the interwebs... 
Chuck(G)
25k Member
For me, there would be two considerations (after accuracy) wrt buying a general-purpose DMM:
1. Measurements available and range
2. Autoranging or not
I prefer manual ranging to autoranging--I've used both, but like manual a bit better--it can be too easy to miss the range indication.
1. Measurements available and range
2. Autoranging or not
I prefer manual ranging to autoranging--I've used both, but like manual a bit better--it can be too easy to miss the range indication.
Nathanieltolb331
Experienced Member
Does that have the continuity beep along with the continuity test? I think the one I have does continuity, but it doesn't beep, so I don't always recognize when it has continuity.
Dwight Elvey
Veteran Member
An analog meter works better for checking continuity but usually doesn't have a beeper. For most of my digital meter work, I use a cheap $10 meter from Harbor Freight. For serious digital work I use a 5 digit John Fluke.
Dwight
Dwight
Yes it does.
These meters are made for the Chinese market so don't expect any warranty support, but the price is king.
Does the OP ever need to measure current?
You can get a Fluke 101 for $44 at Amazon (and likely eBay). It is adorably tiny and has decent safety ratings and a solid design.
https://www.amazon.com/Fluke-101-Mu...ld=1&keywords=fluke+101&qid=1612292045&sr=8-2
There is a Fluke 107 if you _have to have_ current measurement and a backlight, here is the 107 for $103.
https://www.amazon.com/Fluke-107-Cu...ld=1&keywords=fluke+102&qid=1612292187&sr=8-2
Here is a picture of both for a size comparison (the 101 is smaller):
Does the OP ever need to measure current?
You can get a Fluke 101 for $44 at Amazon (and likely eBay). It is adorably tiny and has decent safety ratings and a solid design.
https://www.amazon.com/Fluke-101-Mu...ld=1&keywords=fluke+101&qid=1612292045&sr=8-2
There is a Fluke 107 if you _have to have_ current measurement and a backlight, here is the 107 for $103.
https://www.amazon.com/Fluke-107-Cu...ld=1&keywords=fluke+102&qid=1612292187&sr=8-2
Here is a picture of both for a size comparison (the 101 is smaller):
Agent Orange
Veteran Member
These meters are made for the Chinese market so don't expect any warranty support, but the price is king.
Does the OP ever need to measure current?
You can get a Fluke 101 for $44 at Amazon (and likely eBay). It is adorably tiny and has decent safety ratings and a solid design.
https://www.amazon.com/Fluke-101-Mu...ld=1&keywords=fluke+101&qid=1612292045&sr=8-2
There is a Fluke 107 if you _have to have_ current measurement and a backlight, here is the 107 for $103.
https://www.amazon.com/Fluke-107-Cu...ld=1&keywords=fluke+102&qid=1612292187&sr=8-2
Here is a picture of both for a size comparison (the 101 is smaller):
Alan nailed it. You can't beat Fluke for the price or quality. I still have 3 of them and one was from 1986.
Chuck(G)
25k Member
Dave of EEVblog on Youtube has some reviews of these meters, checking them against standard bench meters, as well as on his usual blog.
I look at them as being a first-line "good enough" consumable, much in the same way that I use the little $15 component tester for capacitors and semiconductors. HF bubble-pack freebies are perfectly adequate for many tasks--the big negative is that they lack an audible continuity check.
If I wanted a lab-grade DMM, I'd get a bench unit, not a portable one. It depends on the application--for TTL stuff, 4.95 volts is as good a measurement as 5.00 volts.
FWIW, I still have my VTVM from the 1960s--it still works, but other than for the analog meter, it's been eclipsed by progress.
I've been tempted to get one of these, as you have everything within eyeshot.
I look at them as being a first-line "good enough" consumable, much in the same way that I use the little $15 component tester for capacitors and semiconductors. HF bubble-pack freebies are perfectly adequate for many tasks--the big negative is that they lack an audible continuity check.
If I wanted a lab-grade DMM, I'd get a bench unit, not a portable one. It depends on the application--for TTL stuff, 4.95 volts is as good a measurement as 5.00 volts.
FWIW, I still have my VTVM from the 1960s--it still works, but other than for the analog meter, it's been eclipsed by progress.
I've been tempted to get one of these, as you have everything within eyeshot.
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Dwight Elvey
Veteran Member
Chuck, you can always hot glue one of the probes to the side of your meter.
Dwight
Dwight
Chuck(G)
25k Member
Well, I'd have to glue a small flashlight to it also...
I still have memories of using one hand to push away a mat of wires, the other hand with 'scope probe and a penlight in my mouth... Good old days...
I still have memories of using one hand to push away a mat of wires, the other hand with 'scope probe and a penlight in my mouth...
Good old days...Dwight Elvey
Veteran Member
Well, I'd have to glue a small flashlight to it also...
I still have memories of using one hand to push away a mat of wires, the other hand with 'scope probe and a penlight in my mouth...
I hate that when that happens.
Still a little more hot glue, a white LED, a resistor and a switch connected to the cheap $10 meter's battery, solves that problem. I may even try it my self, as I have an extra meter that had a broken probe wire, at the connector. Soldering a needle to the probe and it well be perfect.
Dwight
Chuck(G)
25k Member
Years ago, I had a probe tip break. I drilled a hole through the (brass) probe stub and soldered in part of a stainless bicycle spoke, ground the end to a fine point and still have the probe today. (Use phosphoric acid as a soldering flux).
Nathanieltolb331
Experienced Member
Thank you for all of the suggestions everyone. I did manage to purchase one of the Flukes. I haven't used it yet as I am not fully versed on how exactly to use them to diagnose various parts to make certain they are working correctly. I am reading and watching videos to help with the process, and hopefully I will have more to be able to say regarding this in the near future. Again, thank you for all of the help and suggestions.