martymoose
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- Sydney, Australia
My old Meter just died. Was a cheapy, but lasted years. What is the group's consensus?
Multi Meter recommendations
- Thread starter martymoose
- Start date
Legs
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- Location
- Adelaide Hills
Fluke
Dellortoman
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- Location
- Tasmania, Australia
Blimey. How long is a piece of string?
Depends what you wanna do, how accurately you wanna do it, and how long you want it to last.
If you just want to do basic automotive diagnostics, then something that'll read AC and DC Volts Amps and Ohms will do. Pretty much any digital multimeter will be accurate enough. If it's likely to get nicked out of your workshop, get a cheap one.
Something I find most useful is an audible beeper for continuity testing, so you don't have to look at the meter.
A meter with a diode test facility is handy for checking rectifiers, etc.
I happen to have a Jaycar catalogue in front of me. You can get a Digitech meter with all of the above from Jaycar for $17. It'll probably do all you need and last for years. But if it goes tits-up in 6 months, or gets run over, it's no great loss.
As you go up in price, you get more facilities like auto-ranging (which I don't find particularly useful, but that's a personal preference) and perhaps a capacitance scale. A frequency scale might be useful as a tacho. Some meters are designed for special functions and have confusing scales like hFE, NCV, etc. They're for electronics nerds who wanna test transistors and stuff. If you're just doing basic electrrics, steer clear of those.
If you wanna splash out more than $17 at Jaycar. They have a nice neat little meter (item # QM1323) for $50 that has all the basic scales, plus Capacitance, Temperature and Frequency. It's auto ranging, has a backlit display and continuity beeper. It also comes in a zip-up pouch to keep all the probe cables together.
Spend $100 (Jaycar catalogue # QM1549) and you can get all of the above and more in a tougher IP67 enclosure, data memory and a bunch of other trick stuff.
Generally, the more money you pay, the better protection you get against stuff like voltage and current spikes.
Go higher up the price range and you can get wireless USB or Bluetooth connectivity. Fuck knows why you'd want that though.
However, as Terry implied with his comprehensive answer, a professional electrician probably wouldn't be caught dead with a cheap(ish) meter from Jaycar. The industry standard for those guys is Fluke. They're quality instruments, tough, reliable, accurate and idiot-proof. But you won't get much change out of $200 for a Fluke multimeter with just the basic functions.
Depends what you wanna do, how accurately you wanna do it, and how long you want it to last.
If you just want to do basic automotive diagnostics, then something that'll read AC and DC Volts Amps and Ohms will do. Pretty much any digital multimeter will be accurate enough. If it's likely to get nicked out of your workshop, get a cheap one.
Something I find most useful is an audible beeper for continuity testing, so you don't have to look at the meter.
A meter with a diode test facility is handy for checking rectifiers, etc.
I happen to have a Jaycar catalogue in front of me. You can get a Digitech meter with all of the above from Jaycar for $17. It'll probably do all you need and last for years. But if it goes tits-up in 6 months, or gets run over, it's no great loss.
As you go up in price, you get more facilities like auto-ranging (which I don't find particularly useful, but that's a personal preference) and perhaps a capacitance scale. A frequency scale might be useful as a tacho. Some meters are designed for special functions and have confusing scales like hFE, NCV, etc. They're for electronics nerds who wanna test transistors and stuff. If you're just doing basic electrrics, steer clear of those.
If you wanna splash out more than $17 at Jaycar. They have a nice neat little meter (item # QM1323) for $50 that has all the basic scales, plus Capacitance, Temperature and Frequency. It's auto ranging, has a backlit display and continuity beeper. It also comes in a zip-up pouch to keep all the probe cables together.
Spend $100 (Jaycar catalogue # QM1549) and you can get all of the above and more in a tougher IP67 enclosure, data memory and a bunch of other trick stuff.
Generally, the more money you pay, the better protection you get against stuff like voltage and current spikes.
Go higher up the price range and you can get wireless USB or Bluetooth connectivity. Fuck knows why you'd want that though.
However, as Terry implied with his comprehensive answer, a professional electrician probably wouldn't be caught dead with a cheap(ish) meter from Jaycar. The industry standard for those guys is Fluke. They're quality instruments, tough, reliable, accurate and idiot-proof. But you won't get much change out of $200 for a Fluke multimeter with just the basic functions.
AJ
Senior member
- Location
- 38°33'00.0"S 177°55'00"E
Yokogawa 7536. Compact and reliable.
What he says
Legs
Hero member
- Location
- Adelaide Hills
More comprehensive answer - Fluke.
But I guess you don't need all the bells and whistles. Go for mid priced and you'll avoid the crap and also avoid the functions you'll never use.
As Dellortoman says, an audio continuity function is very handy.
The Fluke range meets military requirements so aren't cheap.
I have an ISO-TECH IDM91E (whatever that means) multimeter and it has all the stuff I need.
Word of caution, a cheapo is fine if you are working on your bike(s) but don't use it on domestic applications.
But I guess you don't need all the bells and whistles. Go for mid priced and you'll avoid the crap and also avoid the functions you'll never use.
As Dellortoman says, an audio continuity function is very handy.
The Fluke range meets military requirements so aren't cheap.
I have an ISO-TECH IDM91E (whatever that means) multimeter and it has all the stuff I need.
Word of caution, a cheapo is fine if you are working on your bike(s) but don't use it on domestic applications.
martymoose
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- Location
- Sydney, Australia
Current one cost $40 about 6-7 years ago, so replacement now probably double that. I'll check out the Fluke ones. Thanks
breganzane
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- Location
- NSW Australia
I ended up buying a Keysight/Agilent dmm. It's for people who want to buy Fluke but are still a bit too cheapskate, I think it was about half the price of a Fluke of similar features, still a couple of hundred. I don't have particularly difficult requirements (just auto wiring really) but one feature I do find occasionally useful is the Type-K thermocouple. Ditto the backlit display, and a beeper for continuity that is in a range I can actually hear, LED torch on the back, yada yada... Also just the good build quality which you can feel when you use it, cheapo ones often have the cruddiest test leads and all that.
I replaced a $15 Jaycar special which IIRC was gifted to me by John Wilson. I used that sucessfully for ages but did eventually find it was giving strange readings.
One alternative which has been recommended to me is a circuit tester like an Autel PS100. It's actually spot on for almost everything I do, does volts, resistance, continuity, diode, beeper and all that. It will also do relay testing so the probe can output either 12V or ground to test relay switching etc. The Autel one is about $200 but there are knockoffs for ~$70 which probably work fine. Much easier and quicker to use than a DMM in an auto situation.
I replaced a $15 Jaycar special which IIRC was gifted to me by John Wilson. I used that sucessfully for ages but did eventually find it was giving strange readings.
One alternative which has been recommended to me is a circuit tester like an Autel PS100. It's actually spot on for almost everything I do, does volts, resistance, continuity, diode, beeper and all that. It will also do relay testing so the probe can output either 12V or ground to test relay switching etc. The Autel one is about $200 but there are knockoffs for ~$70 which probably work fine. Much easier and quicker to use than a DMM in an auto situation.
Autel PowerScan PS100 Electrical System Diagnostics Automotive Circuit Tester : Amazon.com.au: Home Improvement
Autel PowerScan PS100 Electrical System Diagnostics Automotive Circuit Tester : Amazon.com.au: Home Improvement
www.amazon.com.au
AUTOOL Automotive Circuit Tester,Car Electrical System Diagnostic Tool with LED Flashlight BT-260 for 6V/12V/24V Vehicle/Boat/Motorcycle/Heavy Duty/Truck : Amazon.com.au: Home Improvement
AUTOOL Automotive Circuit Tester,Car Electrical System Diagnostic Tool with LED Flashlight BT-260 for 6V/12V/24V Vehicle/Boat/Motorcycle/Heavy Duty/Truck : Amazon.com.au: Home Improvement
www.amazon.com.au
piranha-bro2
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- Location
- Melbourne
I only ever had a cheapo (say $50 from Repco or sim) but it just stopped working and refused to repair itself. Was looking at alternatives when I noticed in the gutter what looked like a battered orange multimeter out of the corner of my eye while cycling early one morning. Something made me stop and go back and look at it - seemed it might work as a free replacement so i hid it in some long grass and did my ride, then picked it up on the way home.
I googled it try and get a user manual for it and discovered it was a Fluke worth about $600-700!!! Better than I need, but I do like using it and I will eventually learn to use more of its functions.
I googled it try and get a user manual for it and discovered it was a Fluke worth about $600-700!!! Better than I need, but I do like using it and I will eventually learn to use more of its functions.
Gerald
Hero member
I have a El Cheapo that I inherited from my father. It's a ALDI DMM with all the features that Cam listed, minus the diode check. Compared it to a Fluke at work, voltage and resistance readings are not far off. Rugged outer case and my preference in the garage for automotive checks.
chrisk
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- Location
- Brisbane, Australia
What they say. My Fluke is the best I’ve had. I reckon it’s about 8 years old, the only problem I’ve had is that the zipper tab on its bag broke off. Cable tie fix hasn’t failed.
Marty
for what you do look at a power probe it has a meter of sorts but they are quick for basic diag stuff I must admit I love mine and its got circuit protection. only get the Fluke out ( which I bought i 1992 ) when I need to get in depth such as checking CAN networks and such .
www.endeavourtools.com.au
for what you do look at a power probe it has a meter of sorts but they are quick for basic diag stuff I must admit I love mine and its got circuit protection. only get the Fluke out ( which I bought i 1992 ) when I need to get in depth such as checking CAN networks and such .
ETPP3EZ Power Probe 3EZ Kit
The Power Probe PP3EZ includes all the powerful testing modes and features of the Power Probe III plus now includes 2 new modes - EZ Learning Mode and EZ Diagnostics Mode. The PP3EZ speeds you through the diagnosing of 12 to 24 volt automotive electrical systems. After connecting the PP3EZ's...
www.endeavourtools.com.au
... can't you check a diode by doing a continuity check in both direction?
martymoose
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- Sydney, Australia
Hi Steve, looks interesting, would be handy for work. Long lead for circuit testing.
Andy
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- Location
- Auckland, roughly
'Course Fluke isn't the only decent brand... I own and have used various from Hioki, Kyoritsu, Avo, Kaise etc etc. I also have a cheaper brand multi from APPA which works well. They do a little pocket meter for less than a hundy, which also has capacitance (recalling a previous thread). Search appa imeter5, it might be what you're looking for?
Valid point Andy just that Fluke are the best 
mines got 30 years of service and for a long time gets used most days though now I have a power probe it gets less but still works everytime and is accurate which is a key in diag .dont start me on the amount of times have rocked up to a dealer to do testing and they have some elcheapo meter and then wonder why they get strange readings.. you only get what ya pay for. Plus Marty you can claim it on tax as you are in the trade 
I suggested Power Probe as its not made in well hmmm
where the cheaper ones are so need to keep our mate TC happy…
as we all know how much he loves PRC and the quality goods which come from there
shh don’t mention Delta now will you
mines got 30 years of service and for a long time gets used most days though now I have a power probe it gets less but still works everytime and is accurate which is a key in diag .dont start me on the amount of times have rocked up to a dealer to do testing and they have some elcheapo meter and then wonder why they get strange readings.. you only get what ya pay for. Plus Marty you can claim it on tax as you are in the trade I suggested Power Probe as its not made in well hmmm
where the cheaper ones are so need to keep our mate TC happy…as we all know how much he loves PRC and the quality goods which come from there
shh don’t mention Delta now will you
martymoose
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- Sydney, Australia
Thanks brett looks worthwhile
Dellortoman
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- Tasmania, Australia
I bought about 5 little cheapo meters a few years ago. I think I paid around $5 each for them on ebay. They're small enough to carry one in each of the tool kits of various bikes/cars. I actually had occasion yesterday to dig out the one I had stashed in the glove box of my car. I needed to do a bit of diagnostics on someone's ride-on mower that had refused to proceed. The shitty little yellow plastic meter did the job and we got the mower going again. So even the crappiest meter has its uses.
For those of you that have young kids, give them a cheapo meter to play with. They can check the batteries in their electric toys and learn something. My dad was an electrical engineer. He gave one one of his old (analogue) meters when I was about 10. It got me thinking about how electricity works long before we started to learn that stuff at school.
For those of you that have young kids, give them a cheapo meter to play with. They can check the batteries in their electric toys and learn something. My dad was an electrical engineer. He gave one one of his old (analogue) meters when I was about 10. It got me thinking about how electricity works long before we started to learn that stuff at school.
breganzane
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- NSW Australia
Sure it's not MIC?? Nowhere on their website does it mention country of manufacture, and that pretty much always means (like TC's jacket) it's MIC.I suggested Power Probe as its not made in well hmmm
as we all know how much he loves PRC and the quality goods which come from there
Might be a USA company, but any US company that actually manufactures in USA will quite rightly promote that fact very heavily. Much like TC's wardrobe, donating to the CCP is almost inescapable in those sort of products.