Looking for a cheap Multimeter - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: TheBla222
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 02, 2010, 11:23:33 am
content: Looking for a cheap Multimeter looking at something around the £30 marki have found this onehttp://www.wickes.co.uk/Digital-Multimeter/invt/204913what do you guys think

author: flapjackboy
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2010, 11:44:24 am
content: *waits to hear Our Glorious Leader's opinion**grabs chair and popcorn*EDIT: Seriously though, I'd avoid that model like the plague. They have terrible construction quality, use cheap components and just don't give you any confidence in the readings.

author: armandas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2010, 01:08:59 pm
content: You can find much better meters on ebay, if you can wait.Hereis one example.I can't comment on this model, but it looks much more advanced than the one you listed.

author: Hypernova
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 02, 2010, 01:12:56 pm
content: throw a $100 bill at ebay and watch multimeters fall like rain.

author: flapjackboy
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2010, 01:33:56 pm
content: Quote from: armandas on October 02, 2010, 01:08:59 pmI have that exact same meter and it is excellent.

author: TopherTheME
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2010, 05:29:36 pm
content: Quote from: TheBla222 on October 02, 2010, 11:23:33 amI have a meter very similar to this one that I got at harbor freight. Its a piece of shit. Unless you are going to use your meter maybe once a month, don't waste your money. If you can afford it you should at least get something like this as the bare minimum:http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8657

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2010, 05:57:22 pm
content: I have see noobs , to buy even worst DMM than that .Still looks ok , if its your first one .

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 02, 2010, 06:04:36 pm
content: Quote from: Kiriakos-GR on October 02, 2010, 05:57:22 pmSure, but if you can get something better for the same price, why not? That's why he's asking for suggestions.Quote from: Kiriakos-GR on October 02, 2010, 05:57:22 pmAs long as you don't use it on anything that can kill you or for any measurement that can kill you. I wouldn't use one to measure mains, or to determine if a circuit is safe to touch.

author: Zad
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2010, 06:36:41 pm
content: It all depends what you want it to do. If you are just measuting 5v or 12v, then the cheapest £5 one from Maplin is fine. If it is going anywhere the mains though, I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2010, 06:50:04 pm
content: Quote from: Zad on October 02, 2010, 06:36:41 pmNot even Google looks to have an translation of that " bargepole "So you have to do the job ..

author: orbiter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2010, 06:55:22 pm
content: I think I'd avoid that Wickes one at all costs as I'm sure you can pick those things up on ebay for less than £10.If you could stretch to say £40 you could instead be looking for something better built & probably more reliable. IIRC I'm sure some of the Extech, Amprobe and even some of the Draper Expert range of meters are around that price (try ebay too).... Whilst they may not be top of the line meters, they're brand named meters and should do the job nicely for a beginner. For electronics check the meter's specs out too!Here's our main mans guide to choosing a multimeter....

author: flapjackboy
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2010, 08:10:10 pm
content: Quote from: Kiriakos-GR on October 02, 2010, 06:50:04 pmbargepole: A pole used for propelling a barge.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2010, 12:31:23 am
content: Quote from: orbiter on October 02, 2010, 06:55:22 pmi think this was the most controversial video time ago. most cheapo DMM users complaint that Dave try to condemn their good working DMM (or at least it is just me). I've bought cheaper DMM myself before and working ok, but that was before i join EEVBlog. its just the more cheaper it is, the more un-durable it is, AKA only a few weeks/months then its dead.Since the OP has entered this EE forum, i suggest he better look around on DMM reviews and suggestions that scattered here before making decision. Otherwise, he can make any decision he like that makes him happy. For me, any DMM will do, even the $5 one, the keyword is just durability, and just a "very little" bit of reliability. The link that OP has provided is a £30 price, from the price alone i can suspect the DMM will serve better, since i have less than $20 DMM thats in service for years until now. not sure exactly the performance though.And another thing to be considered (just as mentioned by others), you have to think careful... for what purpose it is? do you need super accurate super reliable and durable meter? and you can google more, you can find more features/spec'ed DMM than you currently suggest, be be careful of "too good to be true" stuff. my general rule... avoid "too good to be true" stuff (from experience)my 2cnts.

author: PeterG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2010, 03:50:50 am
content: When it comes to buying anything, including Multimeters, you get what you pay for. For a beginner a cheap $30 meter is good enough. But when you learn more you soon realise you need a better meter. when i got my first meter it was great. It measured Volts Amps and Ohms and i thought it was the bees knees. But i soon found its limitations. It was slow to take readings and was not as accurate as i first thought.A few years ago a got myself a meter from Jaycar(before they went the way of the cheap rubbish they sell now). It cost $250 and has served me well since.I would recommend any new hobbyist buy a cheap meter. If the hobby continues and you feel it will be a continuing hobby, then invest in a good meter.Just my 2 cents worth.

author: TheBla222
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 03, 2010, 02:22:50 pm
content: its for testing PSUs batteries and maybe the mains now and againthis is theOnei got in the endwhat do you think

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2010, 03:27:08 pm
content: just add a little bit of $, u'll get UT61B with freq, duty%, rs232, 4000 counts capability. its big brother UT61D has been reviewed by Dave. but if the lower DCA, F and Ohm is your priority, then go for it. I just want to add a little bit of "Blackberry poison" herethat i ate when i was about to buy UT61D but in the end i quickly asked the seller to upgrade to UT71A, taste good!http://cgi.ebay.com.my/UNI-T-UT61B-AC-DC-Modern-Digital-Multimeter-/260668898709?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cb113bd95

author: TheBla222
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 06, 2010, 03:19:14 pm
content: ok Thanks for the help guys