Need help in buying a meter.

First multi meter? I've been using multi meters for a little over 60 years. Buy a cheapo meter like Harbor Freight sells. Go to the library or book store and get a book on multi meters. Once you learn how to use it go buy a better quality meter. I still grab one of my cheap harbor freight meters when taking readings outside where it can be dropped and damaged. Better to frop a $6 meter than a $50 to $100 meter. Plus it isn't like these measurements are rocket science. In fact in the lab we used a Tektronics scope for most voltage measurements not a volt meter.

BTW anyone can basically take meter readings. How to use that data and aquiring further data about the circuitry you are looking at requires a little more skill. Those pesky little electrons can trick even the smartest tech.:B That is why I recommend a book on the subject.

Lowes has a $80 clamp on amp meter that will measure DC amperage. They also sell a $40 one that does not.

IT has a 40 and 400 amp DC rating, and is fairly accurate, enough for testing purposes anyway. Without cutting into the wire, you just clamp this meter over a DC wire, and it will tell you how many amps are going through it. It also works on AC lines too.

It can measure ohms, volts, and such. Temperature too. . .

Good luck,

Fred.

I like this one:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_17?url=search-alias%3Dautomotive&field-keywords=etekcity+msr-r500&sprefix=etekcity+msr-r500%2Cautomotive%2C278

I have a Craftsman multimeter. It was about $30 and does a good job.

You can often get one free at Harbor Freight, with a coupon. They do an okay job.

Check YouTube for instructions on how to use a multimeter.

I do like the one RJsfishin built for 12 volt use. :)

Harbor freight has a wide variety of multimeters from free to around 50 dollars. Take your pick, but less than 20 dollars is sufficient for 99% of your household and RV needs.

This one is B/C 2 is better than 1 ????,....no idea really !

I have a multimeter too, but I like this one the best for 12v. I make them for just a few $s,....a meter off ebay, a pc a plastic from a elec box, a twin lead wire w/ clamps.
You can not hurt it, just doesn't fire up on reverse polarity.

A basic multi-meter should do. You can get them on Amazon or at Radio shack. They come with an instruction manual. Pretty simple to operate for what you need.