I purchased the Fluke 116 a while back off of ebay for a fairly good deal. I haven't had any problems with the meter, but I feel it isn't the right one for digital circuits. Fluke made this meter for HVAC specialists, and I am not planning choosing that as a career path. I was hoping someone could suggest a good meter that can obviously measure VDC, VAC, mVDC, resistance, mA (milli Amps), and uA (micro amps). The Fluke 116 can not measure mA which is my main gripe, and I feel being able to measure mA is a big part in building/troubleshooting digital circuits. Any thoughts?
Or, the Bargain Level, which still has all the features and good accuracy for $7.50:
BUT: Shipping to USA is probably $10 or more, so not so good for a single item =( http://arduino-direct.com/sunshop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=150
DISCLAIMER: This is in my store...
I looked through about 5 or 6 different low-cost multimeters for one to carry. This has some things I wanted:
Audible continuity test for circuit checking without looking.
Transistor and Diode test
Capacitance measurement
High current (20A) measurement as well as low (20 Ma fullscale)
I think it would be more like $17.50 to $20 shipped; you can put it in the cart and set a shipping address and see 3 different shipping options.... No commitment to buy...
It might be a little less shipping; I'll have someone weigh it exactly tomorrow...
Stuff like 1 or 2 Arduinos only weigh 50 grams or so each....
That is a good deal. Little light on the frequency counting... but it has features mine does not. I have the UT60E and am happy with it. It cost me $600NM as I recall (600 Pesos)
I use the Frequency counter a lot more than I thought I would have...
The transistor and diode checking capacity is nice. The ability to read capacitors is good.
They are sold in many countries under many brand names.
Sounds good! I'll try to find one like this I can sell for $5. Shipping is the kicker. OK if you're buying other stuff too. But this one (I have a couple personally like this) is lighter than the one I sell, (140 grams compared to 350) so it could go cheap HongKongExpress
What I really want to find is a much more excellent multimeter for maybe $40 or so...
WillR:
That is a good deal. Little light on the frequency counting... but it has features mine does not. I have the UT60E and am happy with it. It cost me $600NM as I recall (600 Pesos)
I use the Frequency counter a lot more than I thought I would have...
The transistor and diode checking capacity is nice. The ability to read capacitors is good.
They are sold in many countries under many brand names.
Unless you are filthy rich it is always a trade-off.
Well $50 shipped seemed like a good deal, so I decided to go with the UT60E multimeter. I chose this one over others because it seemed to have quite a bit of features and the sub $50 multimeters appeared to be missing a stand, which is something I was using a lot with my Fluke. Not to say a simple stand was the deal breaker, but the $50 USD price was hard to argue with especially when their selling for $70 on ebay.
I am a big fan of the cheap imported DMMs sold by Harbor Freight (and others.) They periodically go on sale ("Half Price!") and I picked up my last several for something like $3 each. (The dollar has been declining and the current sale is $5 each. Hmmph.) http://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-digital-multimeter-90899.html
Get two; it's handy to be able to measure current and voltage at the same time.
With a cheap meter like this, you tend to be willing to use it a lot more often. But don't expect great accuracy; shorting the probes hardly ever yields a zero ohm reading, for instance, and the reading you get doesn't look very likely.
I feel being able to measure mA is a big part in building/troubleshooting digital circuits. Any thoughts?
I find I very rarely use the current ranges on my meters.
I'm far more likely to use the voltage and resistance ranges, and the continuity tester.
YMMV
I feel being able to measure mA is a big part in building/troubleshooting digital circuits. Any thoughts?
I find I very rarely use the current ranges on my meters.
I don't often use the meter for measuring currents in digital circuits, because it tends to be "intrusive" and a bit of a pain to set up (I should create some fixtures where to make it easier to insert it into standard power supplies.) (like, use a meter to measure the current your arduino is drawing via the USB cable? painful!)
On the other hand, I have one of those "lab style" power supplies that has meters and limits for both current and voltage, and I really like being able to see (and limit) the current there...
CrossRoads:
The one I use is EXTECH brand, model EX330.
Was $35-40, very nive meter.
Holy ^%@&*, I actually have something in common w/ CR I also have the EX330, and it's great. I use the temp sensor way more than I expected. Beats using a finger to test motor driver chip temp.