Spec me...a Multimeter

OzyOly · 22 Feb 2011 at 21:27

I was on the fence between posting in here and in GH. I've decided on here as I know a few of you are into robotics/electronics.

I'm after a decent quality multimeter, but I only need it for DC voltage, Current, Resistance and Continuity.
I'm working with an FPGA embedded system and will need to measure low resistances and ttl logic voltages mostly.

The multimeters I've seen at the rainforest and a high street hobbyist store seem to be either <£10 and seem pretty cheap or £50+ and a bit overkill to what I'm going to be use it for.

It's going to be hard for you to link me to anything as the stores that sell them will likely but a competitor to OCUK so just brand names would be fine. Cheers dudes.

Dabbles · 22 Feb 2011 at 22:17

Fluke are some of the best meters out there. They are quite expensive, but are the industry standard for a good reason. However, a mulitmeter is worth nothing in the real world if it isn't calibrated regularly. (Annually in industry)

OzyOly · 22 Feb 2011 at 23:24

Thanks, I'll check them out.

p4radox · 22 Feb 2011 at 23:28

Fluke are quality, but you'll pay a premium. Farnell have a massive range of multimeters:

http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/search/br...e=en_UK&catalogId=&prevNValues=1002130+500006

The one I have is this:

http://uk.farnell.com/tenma/72-7735/multimeter-digital/dp/7430590

Which is fine for everything I use it for, even measuring fairly high currents. It auto ranges pretty quickly too.

Fuzz · 23 Feb 2011 at 00:00

+ 1 gazzilion for Fluke again.

But if you are so tight you squeak then draper do a few reasonable ones in the price bracket you mentioned.

Chaos · 23 Feb 2011 at 00:29

MikeHunt79 · 23 Feb 2011 at 00:34

I'd get 1 decent multimeter, and a few cheapy sub £5 ones, having more than one DMM can really help at times...

Freefaller · 23 Feb 2011 at 00:37

MikeHunt79 said:
I'd get 1 decent multimeter, and a few cheapy sub £5 ones, having more than one DMM can really help at times...

Agreed. I've fried a few crappy ones in my sleep deprived states (usually up a mast or hanging off a satellite dish in the middle of the Med

).

2StepSteve · 23 Feb 2011 at 02:09

When looking at spending £10-£100 on a multimeter a cheap £10 meter will almost always show the same readings as a £100 Fluke unless the meter is total crude.

It all depends on use but I refuse to spend anything over £30 on a meter for general use (reading DC/AC voltage, resistance and amp draw).

Ensure the meter is using decent quality leads and you are laughing.

Watch that video posted by Chaos as it is very useful.

Flukes are good and used by professionals but they aren't the be all and end all.

OzyOly · 23 Feb 2011 at 09:01

Cheers guys, I'll check out these recommendations now.

neodude · 23 Feb 2011 at 09:12

I use a Fluke 11 and can't fault it. As far as yearly calibration goes it's generally not needed. When I worked in the industry all the meters were checked yearly and in 10 years I never came across a fluke handheld that required adjustment.

OzyOly · 24 Feb 2011 at 16:32

I went for the Amprobe 220 in the end. Should be here in a few days. Thanks mateys.

Greebo · 24 Feb 2011 at 16:35

Draper. Middle range £24.

I had a £10 one which was naff.

randomshenans · 24 Feb 2011 at 16:57

I love and cant rate enough my Tenma one, I have the one posted above and its great

OzyOly · 7 Mar 2011 at 17:01

Well I'm still without a multimeter. I'm after an Amprobe Am220/240 but they seem to be hard to get hold of. I ordered one on the 24th and got a call from the company I placed the order with to be told there has been a hold up at Fluke in Holland and that they wont have any products from them until the end of March. : /

I'm gonna search for a radioshack or something in Manchester that might have one...