multimeters

[hendriko]

so...i'm guessing it would be helpful to get a multimeter
and i "found" a couple at futurlec (i got to order from them anyway, so i figured, why not get a DMM as well)

http://www.futurlec.com/Multimeters.shtml

but, which one of these would you recommend getting - i kinda want something to keep for longer, so i was thinking the 15 buck one, but do i really need all that crap?


sorry for the obvious n00bness, but after f*cking my FF up last week, i'm gonna triplecheck on everything now:P

cheers

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

I don't know what your budget is.
You will REALLY wish you had the $15 one when you find an unknown cap  but, personally, there is a case for having three $5 meters, so you can measure current and voltage at teh same time, plus leave one in the gig bag!

[solarplexus]

That Hfe reader... is it accurate enough to base trannies Hfe on it?

[Seljer]

That Hfe reader... is it accurate enough to base trannies Hfe on it?

I haven't had any trouble with it when measuring regular silicon BJTs

[hendriko]

I don't know what your budget is.
You will REALLY wish you had the $15 one when you find an unknown cap  but, personally, there is a case for having three $5 meters, so you can measure current and voltage at teh same time, plus leave one in the gig bag!

i could get the 15 buck one, budgets no problem
but you have a point with the 2(3) 5 buck meters

[jalien21]

if you spend 50 bucks at circuitspecialists.com, you can get a free one. it's the one i use, i rather like it

[hendriko]

I haven't had any trouble with it when measuring regular silicon BJTs

which one of those do you have?

[ulysses]

i have the cheapie $5 one - only mine is rebadged as "digitech" - works fine

my only gripe with it is that it doesnt have enough decimal points and jumps around a bit - ie, 4.569 volts will jump around with the display saying 4.56 then 4.57 then 4.56 etc..

a friend just gave me a fluke but i have not had time to sit down with it properly yet..

cheers
ulysses

[hendriko]

^yea i'll guess i'll just get the 5 buck one...i mean, its gonna do its job

thanks
cheers

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

my only gripe with it is that it doesnt have enough decimal points and jumps around a bit - ie, 4.569 volts will jump around with the display saying 4.56 then 4.57 then 4.56 etc..

I suspect that isn't a fault, the voltage is probably wobbling.