TractorByNet.com - View Single Post - What's a good choice when buying a Multimeter?

SnowRidge · 01-12-2009, 05:37 PM

I recommend a decent but not top of the line analog multimeter. You don't say what your level of experience is, which makes it harder to make a recommendation. Digital meters can give false readings due to their high input impedance. An open circuit may read as if there is some sort of voltage present. The reading will usually be erratic, but digital multimeters can also have an erratic display on noisy circuits. It takes experience to tell the difference.

An analog multimeter with a moderate input impedance will avoid these difficulties while providing readings that are more than accurate enough for the tasks at hand. I like multimeters with a 20 amp DC current range. Unfortunately, they are hard to find. Models with a 10 amp DC range are plentiful enough that there is no reason to skip this feature. You don't need to measure DC current all that often, but when you do -- you do. I won't buy a general purpose multimeter without at least a 10 amp current range.

This Tenma multimeter available from MCM Electronics is a good buy. Tenma makes decent equipment, and MCM is a good supplier.

01-12-2009, 05:37 PM	#11 (permalink)
SnowRidge Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 3,092	Re: What's a good choice when buying a Multimeter? I recommend a decent but not top of the line analog multimeter. You don't say what your level of experience is, which makes it harder to make a recommendation. Digital meters can give false readings due to their high input impedance. An open circuit may read as if there is some sort of voltage present. The reading will usually be erratic, but digital multimeters can also have an erratic display on noisy circuits. It takes experience to tell the difference. An analog multimeter with a moderate input impedance will avoid these difficulties while providing readings that are more than accurate enough for the tasks at hand. I like multimeters with a 20 amp DC current range. Unfortunately, they are hard to find. Models with a 10 amp DC range are plentiful enough that there is no reason to skip this feature. You don't need to measure DC current all that often, but when you do -- you do. I won't buy a general purpose multimeter without at least a 10 amp current range. This Tenma multimeter available from MCM Electronics is a good buy. Tenma makes decent equipment, and MCM is a good supplier.