Which Multimeter

I need to replace my broken multimeter, it was only a cheapo one anyway.

Im after opinions as to what to go for, not wanting to spend a lot up to £30.

Is it worth going for something automotive specific. ie

Automotive Digital Multimeter with Inductive Pickup : Multimeters : Maplin

or standard ie

Digital Multimeter with Temperature Test : Multimeters : Maplin

--|DT830D|DIGITAL MULTIMETER + CONTINUITY | CPC

When they cost a few quid then you can afford to blow them up. Honestly though we've never had any issue with those ones and they're more than enough for Land Rovers.

I'd get a cheap one with a needle on it. Analogue meters are useful if you've got fluctuating values - digital ones can get horribly confused - and they mostly work if their battery goes flat. I've got both and use them about equally.

sgt wilko said:

I need to replace my broken multimeter, it was only a cheapo one anyway.

Im after opinions as to what to go for, not wanting to spend a lot up to £30.

Is it worth going for something automotive specific. ie

Automotive Digital Multimeter with Inductive Pickup : Multimeters : Maplin

or standard ie

Digital Multimeter with Temperature Test : Multimeters : Maplin

Click to expand...

If it was my money neither.

I'd always go for an auto ranging one.

Secondly, the main time you're gonna realize it's weaknesses, it's when you're upside down in a footwell or hanging over the bonnet, you've got got both hands occupied by holding the probes or whatever wires you can bearly get to and no hands to hold the meter in a position where you can see it or where the vibration of the engine is rattling it off of where you've balanced it and it's dark.

At that time you'll be thinking why didn't I get one with the pincers so I can clip it to something so it's dangling somewhere i can see it, and i wish the LCD
was backlit.

Also don't be fooled by the fact that it says it's an automotive one. Most of the time you're only gonna measure voltage and resistance (usually for continuity testing), possibly current on occasion (but not on anything over 10 amp or it will blow the internal fuse).

I cant think of a time ive ever needed to measure dwell, or use any of the other pointless functions these automotive meters seem to have.

That said, I still haven't gotten round to buying myself one with pincers.

just buy the pincers that push on the ends of the probes

gegs88 said:

just buy the pincers that push on the ends of the probes

Click to expand...

Sorry, I meant the pincers to take the weight of the meter. They're really there to measure current. But double up as a way to hang the meter so you don't have to hold it or balance it on something.

Push on crocodile clips are a must also.

mundungus said:

Sorry, I meant the pincers to take the weight of the meter. They're really there to measure current. But double up as a way to hang the meter so you don't have to hold it or balance it on something.

Push on crocodile clips are a must also.

Click to expand...

yep, i use a clamp meter so i don't have to hold it when i'm working at height. crackin job

mundungus said:

Sorry, I meant the pincers to take the weight of the meter. They're really there to measure current. But double up as a way to hang the meter so you don't have to hold it or balance it on something.

Push on crocodile clips are a must also.

Click to expand...

if your gonna go to the expense of buying a meter with "pincers" on it, spend a bit more and get a dc one. invaluble when you want to see what the alternators kicking out.
there more referred to as clamp meters, or tong testers.

or an amp clamp

multimeter/clamp meter/dc amp Fluke True-rms Clamp Meter 600 A AC/DC 336 on eBay (end time 06-Feb-11 13:38:47 GMT)

Thanks for your advice guys, so another basic one it is..

Oh and ill defiantly be getting some of those clips, as i can never find an extra pair of hands when i need one

Snap-on Blue Point Multimeter EEDM501B on eBay (end time 07-Feb-11 18:59:30 GMT)

this is the one i use and ive had it for about 5years you can buy other leads and clips for the ends. as a hgv mechanic ive never had any problems with it and its simple to use

mundungus said:

If it was my money neither.

I'd always go for an auto ranging one.

Secondly, the main time you're gonna realize it's weaknesses, it's when you're upside down in a footwell or hanging over the bonnet, you've got got both hands occupied by holding the probes or whatever wires you can bearly get to and no hands to hold the meter in a position where you can see it or where the vibration of the engine is rattling it off of where you've balanced it and it's dark.

At that time you'll be thinking why didn't I get one with the pincers so I can clip it to something so it's dangling somewhere i can see it, and i wish the LCD
was backlit.

Also don't be fooled by the fact that it says it's an automotive one. Most of the time you're only gonna measure voltage and resistance (usually for continuity testing), possibly current on occasion (but not on anything over 10 amp or it will blow the internal fuse).

I cant think of a time ive ever needed to measure dwell, or use any of the other pointless functions these automotive meters seem to have.

That said, I still haven't gotten round to buying myself one with pincers.

Click to expand...

Learn to eat with chopsticks - then you can operate yer probes one-handed. As for which meter, I use a Fluke.