I have several harbor freight volt meters. The price was right for them, buy something and they give you one for free, with an ad sometimes. They have worked fine for me in the past, but for simple things.Currently trying to solve auto elec problem with very slow pedal response. I have to measure something to see if between 0.01 to 0.03 AC volts. Thinking I need something better than cheapies. The choices for a new meter are somewhat endless and many have capabilities that are much over my head. So not sure what to get.Would like recommendations for better volt meter. Lets say under $100.00 and has good instructions. Thanks for any input.

Your target voltage (0.01 to 0.03 VAC) is not at all practical outside of a very sophisticated lab environment. IMO. I have a fairly expensive Fluke 115 True RMS Multimeter which is auto ranging. On the AC Volts range with the probes shorted together the meter reads 0.022 VAC when ideally it should read 0.00 VAC.

Harvard wrote:Your target voltage (0.01 to 0.03 VAC) is not at all practical outside of a very sophisticated lab environment. IMO. I have a fairly expensive Fluke 115 True RMS Multimeter which is auto ranging. On the AC Volts range with the probes shorted together the meter reads 0.022 VAC when ideally it should read 0.00 VAC.Maybe your right. Here is test I'm tryinghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-z-_7t_Zco

Maybe my meter could be zeroed but I do not know how..... I paid over CDN $200 for this puppy so I am not impressed when I see the older Fluke model do 0.00 in the video.

Harvard wrote:Maybe my meter could be zeroed but I do not know how..... I paid over CDN $200 for this puppy so I am not impressed when I see the older Fluke model do 0.00 in the video.Thanks. My reason for testing in first place is to make sure voltage is within spec's. I understand over voltage shorts life span of ECM. "Most electronics are killed by high AC noise. 0.4 AC volts is a automatic fail... Normal good alternator is 0.01 to 0.03 AC volts. Marginal is 0.05 AC volts. Then a complete fail is 0.1 and aboveThanks again

path1 wrote:Harvard wrote:Maybe my meter could be zeroed but I do not know how..... I paid over CDN $200 for this puppy so I am not impressed when I see the older Fluke model do 0.00 in the video.Thanks. My reason for testing in first place is to make sure voltage is within spec's. I understand over voltage shorts life span of ECM. And they're not cheap. Thanks againYes, I see that you are trying to verify the AC ripple riding on the DC Volts.

Recommendations for volt meter | Good Sam Community

15 Replies

Harvard
Explorer
Sep 25, 2016
path1 wrote:
Harvard wrote:
Maybe my meter could be zeroed but I do not know how..... I paid over CDN $200 for this puppy so I am not impressed when I see the older Fluke model do 0.00 in the video.

Thanks. My reason for testing in first place is to make sure voltage is within spec's. I understand over voltage shorts life span of ECM. And they're not cheap.

Thanks again

Yes, I see that you are trying to verify the AC ripple riding on the DC Volts.
path1
Explorer
Sep 25, 2016
Harvard wrote:
Maybe my meter could be zeroed but I do not know how..... I paid over CDN $200 for this puppy so I am not impressed when I see the older Fluke model do 0.00 in the video.

Thanks. My reason for testing in first place is to make sure voltage is within spec's. I understand over voltage shorts life span of ECM.

"Most electronics are killed by high AC noise. 0.4 AC volts is a automatic fail... Normal good alternator is 0.01 to 0.03 AC volts. Marginal is 0.05 AC volts. Then a complete fail is 0.1 and above

Thanks again
Harvard
Explorer
Sep 25, 2016
Maybe my meter could be zeroed but I do not know how..... I paid over CDN $200 for this puppy so I am not impressed when I see the older Fluke model do 0.00 in the video.
path1
Explorer
Sep 25, 2016
Harvard wrote:
Your target voltage (0.01 to 0.03 VAC) is not at all practical outside of a very sophisticated lab environment. IMO.

I have a fairly expensive Fluke 115 True RMS Multimeter which is auto ranging. On the AC Volts range with the probes shorted together the meter reads 0.022 VAC when ideally it should read 0.00 VAC.

Maybe your right. Here is test I'm trying

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-z-_7t_Zco
Harvard
Explorer
Sep 25, 2016
Your target voltage (0.01 to 0.03 VAC) is not at all practical outside of a very sophisticated lab environment. IMO.

I have a fairly expensive Fluke 115 True RMS Multimeter which is auto ranging. On the AC Volts range with the probes shorted together the meter reads 0.022 VAC when ideally it should read 0.00 VAC.

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Recommendations for volt meter

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