Multimeter recommendation?
I'm looking to buy a multimeter, as my rig's refrigerator doesn't work on electric but still works on gas. There is power to its outlet (of course, that would be too easy of a fix..) and I know my ne...
Forum Discussion
There are many meters that will do most of what you are able to use starting at around 5.00 at harbor freight... NOW.. These measure AC and DC current usually up to around 10 amps. AC and DC voltage.. Most are peak reading meters on AC then multiply by Square Root(2)/2 (.707) to give you RMS voltage... This is good so long as it's a clean sine wave...
More expensive meters actually do the math and compute the RMS.. but you do not often need that (if you get strange voltage readings on a MSW inverter... that's when you need the better meter. about the only time)
More expensive meters add Frequency (Useful) Temperature probes. (Usefull but less so) and other features (Ability to test some components, measure capacitors and such).
Then there are clamp on ammeters. These often can read up to 400 amps on the clamps (you do not need to insert them in the curcuit just clamp it over say a battery cable.. Most of these the clamp only does AC. came in handy to figure out what was going on with an Air Conditioner (20 amp range)
Some can do both AC and DC on the clamp (mine) It cost about 65 bucks and is a Craftsman model. The "Gold Standards" are Simpson and Fluke. But again you don't need that good. (just the carry case for a fluke is almost what I paid for my crafstman and it has no electronics.. Just plastic)
I've got meters up to around 250 dollars list... But Electronics is .. My hobby.
(Among other entries I'm a certified electronics technician and extra class ham radio operator) Actually other than ruggedness the 5-10 dollar Horrible Freight does over 90% of what I need.... If I were working in the field. (Not a shop) it is likely what I'd take in my tool box... I mean.. if it gets lost stolenm stepped on.. no great loss.
More expensive meters actually do the math and compute the RMS.. but you do not often need that (if you get strange voltage readings on a MSW inverter... that's when you need the better meter. about the only time)
More expensive meters add Frequency (Useful) Temperature probes. (Usefull but less so) and other features (Ability to test some components, measure capacitors and such).
Then there are clamp on ammeters. These often can read up to 400 amps on the clamps (you do not need to insert them in the curcuit just clamp it over say a battery cable.. Most of these the clamp only does AC. came in handy to figure out what was going on with an Air Conditioner (20 amp range)
Some can do both AC and DC on the clamp (mine) It cost about 65 bucks and is a Craftsman model. The "Gold Standards" are Simpson and Fluke. But again you don't need that good. (just the carry case for a fluke is almost what I paid for my crafstman and it has no electronics.. Just plastic)
I've got meters up to around 250 dollars list... But Electronics is .. My hobby.
(Among other entries I'm a certified electronics technician and extra class ham radio operator) Actually other than ruggedness the 5-10 dollar Horrible Freight does over 90% of what I need.... If I were working in the field. (Not a shop) it is likely what I'd take in my tool box... I mean.. if it gets lost stolenm stepped on.. no great loss.
