Is multimeter fetish a common ailment? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ecowarrior
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2011, 06:50:00 pm
content: I see that Dave has a whole boxful of meters, and this appears not to be uncommon amongst you! Is there a reason for having more than one or two, or is it just one of those things engineers get excited about?I need to know for my own financial safety because I find myself curiously interested in them myself, have enjoyed Dave's group tests, and inadvertently bought a new Amprobe 220 recently to befriend my dad's old 40 year old (?) Micronta Range Doubler 22-204B (which, by the way if anybody has a copy of the manual for this one I'd be very interested in a copy!).Damn you Dave, you've already cost me money :O)

author: Zad
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2011, 07:07:30 pm
content: It is all to do with the fact that it is only a few thousand years since we were cavemen. Whilst (in general terms) the wife stopped back home looking after the children, it was our job to feed and clothe them. If you had hunting gear that was just that bit better than your fellow Neanderthals, it was your children who survived. Result? The male DNA is hard wired to collect tools, on the offchance that one may just give you an edge over the next guy.

author: dengorius
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2011, 07:16:40 pm
content: As Dave explained many times in his videos a good number of meters is four. This way you can measure input and output voltage and current at the same time, or cross reference them if you need accurate readings.Beyond that you don't need more meters unless you have very specific needs. But that doesn't mean that you won't get more of them

author: ecowarrior
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2011, 07:40:33 pm
content: Great, so I've got two, and I need two more plus some spares ! I'll tell the wife, once she's stopped messing around with that woolly mammoth!

author: Lance
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2011, 08:11:27 pm
content: If mammoths are becoming a problem some sharp probes and the resistance setting should take care of that.http://www.darwinawards.com/darwin/darwin1999-50.html

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 13, 2011, 08:35:39 pm
content: A good number of multimeters is as many as you need to achieve the results you wish. Two is a good idea for slow measurements of power as you dont need to interrupt the circuit.If you have a multimeter fetish or collect multimeters an infinite number of multimeters is good. It is not common though.4 inaccurate readings are not better than one accurate and precise reading. Unless you use 10s of multimeters and start applying statistical methods on the measurements this isnota reason to have many cheap multimeters.Zad, I take it you have seen the play 'Caveman'?I am suffering from the 'Caveman' effect too, but I have moved beyond multimeters to instruments that hurt the wallet even more.I guess I belong to the school of though that believes the cheapest tools in the long run are the most expensive ones.Lance, battery ESR and blood resistance are too high for 9V to even disturb the heart. Myth busted!

author: Lance
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2011, 08:53:25 pm
content: Quote from: Alex on February 13, 2011, 08:35:39 pmI don't know...it only takes 50mA to cause a fibrillation. Has anyone actually tested this?

author: Zad
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2011, 09:31:42 pm
content: I must admit I haven't seen that play Alex. It is a usual bet that when someone says "why do men (or women) do <x>" then it can be traced back to caveman behaviour.

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2011, 10:45:41 pm
content: Quote from: ecowarrior on February 13, 2011, 06:50:00 pmAwareness does cause to us, to spend more money , and getting worthy products.And so I also agree that all those videos , they do effect our own choices.But someone who is an professional , he will appreciate the fact , that at the end of the day ,he will end up to have reliable testing equipment, next to him .

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2011, 11:39:06 pm
content: As previously said, four is a fairly optimum number, but you don't necessarily want four the same :At least one should have high resolution (5+ digits), and precision (for checking calibration of the others), with 4-terminal ohms.At least one should be connectable to a PC, for when you want datalogging (e.g. battery discharge tests)At least one that is rugged, reasonably compact and has a good backlight, for on-site work.At least one with reasonable capacitance range, otherwise you also need an LCR meter.Obviously there will often be overlap between the above, but no one meter type covers all requirements.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 14, 2011, 12:10:36 am
content: Quote from: dengorius on February 13, 2011, 07:16:40 pmLike one for the car, and a pocket one.That's 6 at a minimumBefore the blog I used to buy and sell multimeters on ebay to get my fix!Dave.

author: zaoka
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2011, 12:17:04 am
content: Some people have big shops and work with garbage soldering stations and crap multimeters.. I could not understand this.. maybe thats why they have big shops

author: BrickBoiler
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2011, 01:20:24 am
content: Quote from: Alex on February 13, 2011, 08:35:39 pmThis is too true. I'm going through it now, replacing some less-safe gear with more-safe gear.

author: Excavatoree
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2011, 02:18:43 am
content: I have no idea what you people are talking about.......

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2011, 03:34:45 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on February 14, 2011, 12:10:36 amThat's explains of why you have so many reference sources ( devices )Calibration or test.But I am not feel jealous , I have also my own collection too.Smaller but good enough.

author: Excavatoree
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2011, 03:47:12 am
content: Quote from: Kiriakos-GR on February 14, 2011, 03:34:45 amWhat is this "good enough?" I'm afraid I don't understand!Seriously, as long as I am around, you can always point to me and say "I don't have too many meters. That guy, HE has too many meters!!!"

author: PetrosA
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2011, 04:20:09 am
content: Some people are into guns, some are into cars and there are lots of other collectible hobbies.The only strange thing about collecting multimeters is that we're probably the only people who want our entire collection to perform exactly the same at the same time when hooked up to the same thing

author: johnwa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2011, 09:25:32 am
content: I have managed to limit my multimeter collection to something fairly reasonable - 1x analogue, a couple of cheap digital ones, one 'good' digital, and an old fluke bench meter. They all have different strengths - analogue for measuring varying DC levels (The digital ones were so bad at this, I used to hook up the scope just to monitor DC), one of the cheap ones has the fastest continuity tester, etc.Though I have a tendancy to collect bench power supplies. I think these are more useful to have in quantity - designs under development that need multiple supply rails, as a voltage reference, charging batteries, temporary replacements for faulty built in power supplies in equipment, etc.

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2011, 04:10:39 pm
content: Quote from: Excavatoree on February 14, 2011, 03:47:12 amThe specific "good enough" goes for the reference devices , useful exclusively for test and calibration.To own even 10 multimeter s its not a crime ...But to own reference devices , it is something that indicates that you are more " involved " than the usual..

author: lowimpedance
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2011, 02:26:47 am
content: Quote from: Kiriakos-GR on February 14, 2011, 04:10:39 pmI'm glad its not a crime, I would have been locked up years ago. And involved yes, just dont tell the wife!.Seriously when you forget where you put a meter with a specific function you know you have then perhaps you should slow down a little.

author: TeslaGirl
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 13, 2012, 12:44:11 am
content: Well... I've watched his blogs and stuff and I kept joking about it a lot. Then... well I know this is an old thread and all, but I need to put that Dave Jones, if he really does have one, isn't alone. I mean... I'm only 15. I can't exactly buy a box full of them. I have one working one, plus one that doesn't really work that I got when I was in 5th grade, my dad's old one. Nevertheless, I still have a meter fetish. Of course, I don't think it's common at all. I speculate only Dave Jones and I are the only ones that have one, and that too, Dave Jones, I don't really 100% know. It feels lonely over here...but to give some response to your question, it does exist, and I have a pretty strong one. (By the way, I'm a girl.)

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2012, 01:31:51 am
content: Quote from: TeslaGirl on September 13, 2012, 12:44:11 amAll the time i feel like i'm having a massive meter fetish - apart from this i still have 15meters on my wishlist. All with a different intended feature, so yeah it's normal at least for meWell i don't say so much about my DM5XL ... it's a pick off the floor meter, nearly got thrown into the refuse truck, but it's not any good anyway, with weird input resistance across both AC and DC, weird as in RANDOM! Well it's a not a 7106 based, it's faster and more accurate

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2012, 01:34:28 am
content: engineers, and men in general, are like little kids. They want the most toys. ( and with aging the price of the toys goes up )For me, it only start getting weird if you actually have a multimeter , on a greek marble column , in the living room , flanked by red velvet curtains and aestetically lighted by a spotlight . Kinda like an art connaisseur would spotlight his ost prized painting, you prominently display your best mulitmeter as a centerpiece , eye catcher and conversation starter for anyone who walks into your living room.that , or you put a mulitmeter under your pillow at night.. just in case you might wake up in the middle of the night becasue of a weird sound and decide that the first thing you need is a multimeter.LOL. i just envisioned a scenario where an enineer is reunited with his , 3 years ago , lost multimeter and starts crying hysterically . Sorta like the kid and the blue monkey ( look it up on youtube) .then it starts getting weird. Having 10 mulitmeters is not a sign of mental instability.And now excuse me , i have to go fold a new tinfoil hat

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2012, 01:34:57 am
content: Quote from: TeslaGirl on September 13, 2012, 12:44:11 amDon't worry too much about meters,but there is the danger it might be "the thin edge of the wedge" leading to more serious addictions such as to Oscilloscopes!

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2012, 03:24:35 am
content: Quote from: vk6zgo on September 13, 2012, 01:34:57 amSpectrum analyzers ... vector network analyzers ... you name it you have it, there's definitely somebody with those addictions

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2012, 04:54:58 am
content: First you have to go through the different steps of meteritis. Simple meters, odd meters, occasionally an analog meter, precision meters, precision brand meters (this is when it starts to get serious), bench meters, precision bench meters, historic meters.There are of course side strains. Only red meters, only yellow meters, only yellow Fluke meters, etc.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2012, 08:40:07 am
content: I must be a weirdo because I find multimeters quite boring. But anyway, here are a few of mine.

author: MetraCollector
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2012, 09:35:14 am
content: I own about 25 multimeters, most of them are bench.They cover wide spectrum of age, functionality, value and country of origin.It is interesting for me to collect them, I discover them and it is educational for me. Many of my multimeters do not work and I bought them with mark "for parts or not working".Just for example, I own almost every czechoslovakian multimeter from USSR era and there are only few I miss. Manufacturer Metra Blansko. (my avatar logo).It is a passion.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2012, 09:44:09 am
content: Quote from: T4P on September 13, 2012, 03:24:35 ami dont understand this except if they are "museum's collector" or "soon to be claimed bankcrupt"

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2012, 10:59:57 am
content: Quote from: Mechatrommer on September 13, 2012, 09:44:09 amOr just addicted ...

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 13, 2012, 11:41:18 am
content: Quote from: ecowarrior on February 13, 2011, 06:50:00 pmI stumbled on Dave's EEVblog by accident the other year, looking for a cheap DMM to occasionally test fuses in my plugs; now I got, 5 DMMs, 2 LA's, 2 Scopes, a 4-in-1 and lots of other crap! I'm now addicted to electronics!Someone stopped me in the street the other day and asked me for the time, i replied it's 3e+11 nS past 12.Is this normal?

author: Short Circuit
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2012, 11:59:24 am
content: What is '12' ?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 13, 2012, 12:05:41 pm
content: Quote from: jucole on September 13, 2012, 11:41:18 amNo, you are a nerdy freak society outcast, just the rest of us hereThe muggles do not understand...Dave.

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2012, 12:37:45 pm
content: It get's better when you start to develop your own meters because the ones sold aren't able to suit your needs :-)

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 13, 2012, 01:36:17 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on February 14, 2011, 12:10:36 amOh that's just great!! Dave's a Multimeter addict turned pusher! no wonder we're all test-gear smack-heads!! ;-)

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2012, 03:14:20 pm
content: Quote from: Bored@Work on September 13, 2012, 04:54:58 amPooh poh. That's for wannabe's. Those in the know are going after the non-yellow fluke meters. The yellow ones are too cooomon...

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2012, 04:01:07 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on September 13, 2012, 03:14:20 pmToo mainstream!

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2012, 04:52:34 pm
content: I like this color

author: PbFoot
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2012, 05:13:22 pm
content: The problems come when you start to combine your fetishes..."Oh yeah baby... probe me! Ohhh! Put it on the resistance range! That's the stuff... Mmmm, Cat III!"What do you call that? "Fifty Shades of Yellow and Grey"?-PbFoot

author: nitro2k01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2012, 05:25:02 pm
content: "Oh yeah baby... probe me! Ohhh! Put it on the resistance range! That's the stuff... Connect me to mains... BEEEEEEEEP! Oh baby you make polyfuse feel HOT!"

author: david77
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2012, 06:31:16 pm
content: Does this count? It certainly is a collectors item and not yellow

author: poptones
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2012, 07:11:58 pm
content: I actually have a fetish for old scopes. Before my house burned I had several including a small portable from 1945 that even had a cool leather case. I don't have space or money for them now, so I have to sate myself with oscilloscope porn collected from ebay.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2012, 07:51:47 pm
content: I think I only have around a dozen multimeters....... I have bought a few over the years, including a few OHJ specials that were not accurate at all, or even close to it. Most use a 7106 or clone chip.

author: mzacharias
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2012, 01:17:15 am
content: Digital:Fluke 85-3, 87-5, 289, 27II, 8800A/AF, 8840A (NASA surplus w/ cal sticker)Agilent U1253B, Tektronix TX-3, Beckman HD-153 (2ea.) UNI-T UT-70D, Beckman RMS225, Simpson 360 Series 2.Amprobe AM-18A, Amprobe AM-15A.Analog:Simpson 270 Series 2, Bach-Simpson 635AVO 8 Mark 5, AVO 9 Mark 4Craftsman Range doubler w/ battery testerMicronta 22-260, 22-206, 22-207, 22-152, 22-216, plus a couple I can't remember the model numbers...(I prefer the Japanese Micronta's to the Korean ones)A couple miscellaneous VTVM's.Probably left out at least a few...no problems here...

author: ErikTheNorwegian
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2012, 02:21:00 am
content: Its just turns me realy on, when my wife pushes her body into mine and says.."Is that a Fluke clamp meter that is in your pocket OR???"

author: steve30
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2012, 08:20:58 am
content: Quote from: david77 on September 13, 2012, 06:31:16 pmThat's cute

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2012, 05:22:58 pm
content: Quote from: david77 on September 13, 2012, 06:31:16 pminsides PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE pretty PLEASE ....

author: david77
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2012, 08:23:49 pm
content: Allright then. Here's some old school DMM porn for you guys. Search for it on the forum and you'll find my original report on it.I spent some more evenings on fixing it since then but now it's fine again and works a treat. It is a really good meter.

author: PA4TIM
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2012, 09:08:01 pm
content: You are all sick, nobody needs 6 multimeters, or 2 scopes. And collecting VNA's and SA's and references is real sick.Thank god, i'm normal.IW just have around 30 meters, 10 scopes ( i think) , 4 vector network analysers, 3 SA's, around 6 Voltage references, some other standards. Oh, besides that I collect measurement bridges ( got 6 of those) and several counters, generators ( around 8 pulsegenerators), around 10 powersupplys, three solder stations and Some stuff i can not recall at this moment.Nice little meter. My nicest one is a GR1800 from 1948. Beautifull wooden cabinet and shielded with copper inside.