Recommended multi-meter

[FPGT72]

One in #1 post is more than sufficient for average person doing miscellaneous measurement around vehicle and house/barn....

Have two digital meters one cheap, one expensive....Have two analog meters, one cheap, one expensive... But for automotive/tractor work (no computers) I grab this first.....

That can lead you to think something is ok but it is not. Some things like relays for flashers need a specific voltage, something over 10v. If you are in the dark under a dash and the bulb lights up you think it is good, but it is not as the stupid blinkers will still not flippin blink. So you figure it is the flasher, you buy another and it does the same thing. You can't take back electrical parts so now you just get another one, they are cheap enough, it does not work, well hell the light lights up. No way all could be bad. So you start looking for bad grounds....it has to be that right. Only at the end when you can't figure out why the stupid thing will not work do you run a new wire from the stupid battery straight to the flasher and it works. But the "12v" wire that plugs into the flasher will not work.

Most crazy thing I have ever found.

 

[tacticalturnip]

I've got an old Fluke that left the Army with me; it just works, so long as there are batteries.

 

[Carl_NH]

I have several multimeters but my go to is my Amprobe - digital clamp on - also have the old style analog amprobe unit. Simple to use and reliable.

Amprobe ACD-10 Ultra Digital Clamp On Voltage Tester w/ Probes + Case NEW | eBay

Was salesman sample.

www.ebay.com

 

[TN8Man]

I still have my old Fluke 77 that still works and a HP Logic Dart that measures dc voltage along with a digital logic analyzer.

 

[oosik]

I have a general purpose FLUKE. It's more than 30 years old but still does everything I need. Back that long ago there were not all the exotic ones that are available today.

 

[WranglerX]

That can lead you to think something is ok but it is not. Some things like relays for flashers need a specific voltage, something over 10v. If you are in the dark under a dash and the bulb lights up you think it is good, but it is not as the stupid blinkers will still not flippin blink. So you figure it is the flasher, you buy another and it does the same thing. You can't take back electrical parts so now you just get another one, they are cheap enough, it does not work, well hell the light lights up. No way all could be bad. So you start looking for bad grounds....it has to be that right. Only at the end when you can't figure out why the stupid thing will not work do you run a new wire from the stupid battery straight to the flasher and it works. But the "12v" wire that plugs into the flasher will not work.

Most crazy thing I have ever found.

Maybe for a newdie... Been doing electrical for 40 years in telecommunications and in retirement last 23 years.... Sort of know what I am doing.... With test lamp a dim bulb is low voltage, a bright bulb is high voltage (12 volt systems) ....Just like learning to read a meter....

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

You know I'm an old electronic technician when I have a Fluke 11 like this on ebay. It works great and measures capacitance.
An analog meter I use also to see changing voltages or resistance, otherwise you're just watching numbers flash.

 

[caver]

I started my career with a Simpson 260. Standard issue in the US Navy.

 

[TN8Man]

USAF electronic tech here, then aerospace electronic tech and then electrical engineer.

 

[TJP440]

If you haven't bought anything yet I have a couple of near new meters. One is an Innova, Meter (click on link) Don't think it's ever been used, 60.00 shipped w/ insurance

the other I'm not sure of the brand right now possibly a KAL? 30.00 shipped.
The Innova is literally new. can get pic's if interested. message me here or at

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