Multimeter Advice Please

[mtb]

lidl do a reasonable one it has auto off all ranges audible large read out plus it is cheap so if you drop it in the water !
I've left this in on boat for months left it out in the rain dropped it the thing still works fine leads are **** their to short but so what
dont pay to much you dont need to

http://www.lidl.de/de/powerfix-multimeter-digital-pdm-250-a1/p101918

 

[ratbag]

entry level fluke 101 for about £40. buy cheap buy twice

 

[alan_d]

entry level fluke 101 for about £40. buy cheap buy twice

You could buy 14 of these
http://www.amazon.co.uk/DT830B-Digi...TF8&qid=1423171693&sr=8-4&keywords=multimeter
for that price.

 

[MinorSwing]

Thank you all for your advice and comments. I went to Maplins today and bought one of these http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/precision-gold-pg017-digital-multimeter-gw24b

 

[cliff]

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.

Also an AC/DC clamp on meter is invaluable on the boat for checking mains draw, alternator output, starter draw inverter outputs, circuit loading etc - most also have test leads for voltage, continuity, resistance etc.

http://www.test-meter.co.uk/ac-dc-clamp-meters/
or
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&...vptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_4uwlbr0e4j_b

 

[VicS]

Thank you all for your advice and comments. I went to Maplins today and bought one of these http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/precision-gold-pg017-digital-multimeter-gw24b

Fair enough if you need such a highly spec'd meter.

 

[nimbusgb]

My Fluke 77 must be pushing 30 years old now. Cost all of a months disposable income when I bought it. It's been to 3 continents, worked on planes, boats, cars and microelectronics. Just keeps on ticking. There is something satisfying in owning a quality tool that you can rely on.

 

[VicS]

My Fluke 77 must be pushing 30 years old now. Cost all of a months disposable income when I bought it. It's been to 3 continents, worked on planes, boats, cars and microelectronics. Just keeps on ticking. There is something satisfying in owning a quality tool that you can rely on.

If I had a Fluke I would not leave it on, or even take it to, the boat. Maplin cheapie for that!

 

[philip_stevens]

Fair enough if you need such a highly spec'd meter.

He'd have been better off with something auto-ranging.

 

[VicS]

He'd have been better off with something auto-ranging.

I dont think I have ever used an auto ranging meter. So would not bother me, on the basis that what I've never had I'll not miss esp for the small amount I use one.

 

[nimbusgb]

If I had a Fluke I would not leave it on, or even take it to, the boat. Maplin cheapie for that!

That was my point, in spite of years of (ab)use good tools still work. Your Maplin cheapie is likely, in fact expected to die because of the environment. Chances are it'll do it when you are trying to diagnose a non working starter circuit just as the onshore breeze starts to drag the anchor!

 

[ghostlymoron]

They're cheap enough that you can have 2 on board but I've found that the cheapies last a long time. Flukes are for professionals surely. Normal bods don't need precise measurements, on or off is close enough.