Beginner DMM in $50 for guitar related diy - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: beachbuminthesun
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 10, 2019, 05:11:27 pm
content: I’m at my wits end finding a multimeter that’ll function for everything I want to do. I am just starting out with DIY Ing guitar pedals and making my own tube amps. Heres the recommendations I’ve been trying to it i’ve been trying to adhere too from small bear electronics:DC and AC Voltage - To 750 volts500 millivolts voltage scaleDC and AC current - low-current scale, like 2 to 3 milliamps top, as well as a high-current range of several amps.I also understand that TRMS would be good for testing out amps but I’m not sure if I would be better served by purchasing an affordable oscilloscope (if anyone knows a good value affordable one please jump in).I was looking at the uní-t UT-139c but it’s not rated past 600 and there’s so many recommendations that it’s easy to get lost. Looking to spend as little money as possible and have a functional unit I won’t have to upgrade for many years.Thanks

author: MosherIV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2019, 06:23:01 pm
content: Hi. Welcome to the forum.Yes, the UniT139 would be a good choice.You could look at Amprobe multimeters, they are not as cheap as UniT but will be safe and reliable.If you are interrested in waveforms, then yes a scope would be best.Not sure if trms is useful for audio work.Have you considered getting one good meter and one cheap one, like the cheap/free from harbour frieght?

author: beachbuminthesun
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 10, 2019, 07:36:25 pm
content: I already have a fairly cheap one, but it is really really basic no name one. But I don't do enough work at the moment to justify anything over $50..

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2019, 07:59:34 pm
content: This subforum is more for precision DMMs and whatnot (a bit out of the $50 pricerange), but in the main Test Equipment forum there's a couple of pinned posts that have overview comparisons of dozens of models of multimeter, and since they tend to be of interest to folks on these boards, there should be a thread for most of the ones you'd consider for potential issues/features that they have. If you're going to search, don't use the bar on the top right, use the search icon on the top left, then enter your terms - for whatever reason it finds a lot more stuff than the other search bar.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2019, 09:23:26 pm
content: If you would like to measure audio, a meter with higher bandwidth could be useful. However, these are more expensive (a new reasonable meter would be the Brymen BM857/BM867)Did you look at the Klein MM600? It is not true RMS, but it goes to 1000V and it is a sturdy meter. The MM700 is TrueRMS variant. Both have lower bandwidth, though (probably around 1kHz).Greenlee also has some very good 1kV multimeters (re-branded from Brymen), but they are more expensive. Look at the DM-200A, DM-210A, DM-510A.

author: beachbuminthesun
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 11, 2019, 02:11:40 am
content: Thanks. I’ll check out all those suggestions

author: magic
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2019, 07:44:11 am
content: If you want something cheap and only care about poking in circuitry isolated from mains by transformers, some older UNI-T multimeters had 1000V ranges but only at CAT1 rating. Typically without autoranging and TRMS, but on the upside some models go up to 20k counts resolution.And yeah, wrong forum, unilkely to get many answers. There is a "move topic" button somewhere in the bottom left.

author: Paul Moir
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2019, 04:08:05 pm
content: Not many options in Canada. However try to keep your eye open for a used one of the Canadian Tire multimeters shown in the top-left here:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/canadian-tire-mastercraft-dmm-new-and-old-revision-teardown/That True RMS version of the 052-0052-2 does 1000VDC/750VAC, has a microamp range, and though you have to manually range it, a millivolts range. Also it has probe input detection which is a really nice feature: it warns you if you have the probes in the wrong sockets for the measurement you're making. These things went for $25 on sale so you shouldn't have to pay much for one.Unfortunately the latest 052-0052-2 is completely lackluster Mastech.

author: boffin
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 11, 2019, 04:17:20 pm
content: Home Depot Canada have the Extech EX320 for $73.50and you can get the EX330 (which has capacitance ranges) for similar from Amazon Canada. I have a 330 and it's not bad at all.If you're looking for inexpensive, buy an Aneng AN8002 from China, although I'm not sure home comfortable I'd be with that measuring the +450 line on tube equipment.

author: Valver
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2019, 03:00:15 pm
content: Aneng V8, under $50 Can on Banggood. 8000 count, 1000v, ma, ua, temp, NVC, Battery checker, flashlight, silicone probes, etc. Amazing display.