Multimeter Advice Please

MinorSwing

MinorSwing

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I intended to buy a multimeter on Amazon today, and discovered that there are dozens of models available ranging in price from £2.79 to £179.00. Somewhere in there is the one I need.
Can anyone advise on the best type/model to buy please? I only require it for boat maintenance.
 
About £5 to 7 should do you. Make sure it has a resistance [ohm] and a continuity [ circuit check] facility - this preferably with a loud audio signal. Obviously good range over 12v DC and the possibility to check 240v.
Cheap batteries too, nothing too exotic or you may end up throwing it away when the battery is flat.
I had a Steinel which was fantastic, then the battery ran out and the replacement was more than the unit cost.

Lidl & Aldi, Maplins, CPC good sources
 
Thanks for the replies. Very helpful. I'll let this run for for a day or two before I buy anything, just to see what people suggest. Clearly though, I don't need to spend too much.
 
one very handy feature is a backlight, another is a memory to hold a reading, and a continuity tester with a beeper, and a squidgy rubber cover in case you drop it. Draper about £15.
 
MinorSwing said:
I intended to buy a multimeter on Amazon today, and discovered that there are dozens of models available ranging in price from £2.79 to £179.00. Somewhere in there is the one I need.
Can anyone advise on the best type/model to buy please? I only require it for boat maintenance.
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Auto ranging digital multi meter. This is one that I have used when working on a merchant ship.
http://cpc.farnell.com/tenma/ten010...&whydiditmatch=clone&matchedProduct=IN0615820

You would be advised to go for an auto ranging multimeter.
 
Aurai said:
Boat Electrics

Are pretty straightforward, even if you add AC Shorepower. This one has great similarity to the £10 one I use and does everything I have ever asked of it. Voltage readings and continuity testing.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003NEGZ...m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=0S5WF9MYPNDQE29F9VR1

No need to spend any more in my book!
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Bought this exact mo.del on ebay for £4.69 after 2 days lead pulled out of probe and unable to solder it back in and display went u/s.Opened it up and there was no 20ma fuse as advertised,ended up binning it.
 
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The display and analogue to digital converter is likely to be the same for all of the low to medium priced multimeters so accuracy is likely to be the same. So much can be said for 2 or 3 cheap ones for comparison if you want accuracy.
It is the additional ranges that make the difference. So almost certainly you won't want transister Hfe (transsitro testing) or inductance or capacitance.
You may find a 20 amp current scale useful compred to often only 10 amps.
As said a continuity or low ohms range witha buzzer is really usefull.
A large display may be good for you.
Auto ranging is a nice luxury but I doubt worth the money for simple boat checks.
It is the uderstanding the circuit you are testing and what ot expect of the MM that takes a lot of understanding. That is not easier witha complex MM.
It is quite a common mistake (mine anyway) to go to volts testing from current and fail to change the lead socket or the switch. This either blows the internal fuse, shunt resistor or something else in the meter so beware. good luck olewill
 
William_H said:
It is quite a common mistake (mine anyway) to go to volts testing from current and fail to change the lead socket or the switch. This either blows the internal fuse, shunt resistor or something else in the meter so beware. good luck olewill
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A very good reason for the novice to choose an inexpensive meter. If someone with William's experience can wreck a meter in this way a novice certainly will. I know I have wrecked a few, including a nice digital Avo. Also of course it no great financial loss if a cheapie goes for a swim or is drenched in seawater.

I bought a couple of Maplin's cheapest when they were 2 for £5. An earlier one had poor leads but I have made a pair of long leads, using "extra flexible" wire and croc clips anyway.
 
I bought one from CPC Farnell. They have dozens on their website and deliver free if order over £10 very speedily. I was advised to avoid the very cheap ones. A spare set of leads with croc clips is often useful as is an audible continuity tester.
 
philip_stevens said:
Auto ranging digital multi meter. This is one that I have used when working on a merchant ship.
http://cpc.farnell.com/tenma/ten010...&whydiditmatch=clone&matchedProduct=IN0615820

You would be advised to go for an auto ranging multimeter.
Click to expand...

Always go for an Auto-ranging you just have to check you have set the correct input, AC or DC which is a no brainer when working with 12v DC saves a lot of head scratching and getting a false reading if you are not on the correct range.
 
Big John said:
Always go for an Auto-ranging you just have to check you have set the correct input, AC or DC which is a no brainer when working with 12v DC saves a lot of head scratching and getting a false reading if you are not on the correct range.
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I would guess the most common problem stems from trying to test voltage with it switched to a current range, thereby blowing the fuse, then having to source a suitable replacement.

The very cheapest are bound to be rubbish, but there are some decent meters available for less than a tenner.
 
elton said:
I would guess the most common problem stems from trying to test voltage with it switched to a current range, thereby blowing the fuse, then having to source a suitable replacement.

The very cheapest are bound to be rubbish, but there are some decent meters available for less than a tenner.
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If the person does not understand the difference between voltage and current they should not be playing around with it. They should employ an electrician who does understand.
 
elton said:
I would guess the most common problem stems from trying to test voltage with it switched to a current range, thereby blowing the fuse, then having to source a suitable replacement.

The very cheapest are bound to be rubbish, but there are some decent meters available for less than a tenner.
Click to expand...

This is the same as the ones I bought ( several years ago) at 2 for £5 from Maplin . Only things lacking are an audible continuity check and AC current other wise perfectly satisfactory and would buy again


http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Ele...t+Equipment/sd3348/Digital+Multi+Meter/p11867
 
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Big John said:
If the person does not understand the difference between voltage and current they should not be playing around with it. They should employ an electrician who does understand.
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I know exactly what I'm doing, but on more than one occasion I've accidentally tried to measure voltage with it switched to a current range, thereby blowing the fuse. I put the mistake down to the selector being somewhat unclear, in that it's easy to mistake one end of the knob from the other (Maplin cheapo).
 
elton said:
I know exactly what I'm doing, but on more than one occasion I've accidentally tried to measure voltage with it switched to a current range, thereby blowing the fuse. I put the mistake down to the selector being somewhat unclear, in that it's easy to mistake one end of the knob from the other (Maplin cheapo).
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Ive marked the pointed end of the switches to make it clearer
 
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