Multimeter recommendations

[Dostradamas]

Need something
Want digital and auto don't know what else I might regret not having
Under $100


Any better value / features you all know and love?

 

[Dostradamas]

 

[jwin615]

Search your local pawn shops for a fluke with a frequency counting function(Hz) and make sure the leads don't cut out when you jiggle them at the meter.
And check the battery compartment.
I have seen dozen of flukes in pawn shops that look brand new.

 

[Robert]

There is a Fluke 12 on eBay for $90 shipped.... if you don't buy it I probably will.

My Fluke 10 is my favorite meter of all time, the 12 is an upgrade because of the capacitance function.

It doesn't have a frequency counter like @jwin615 recommended, so keep that in mind if it matters to you.

 

[pricklyrobot]

I’ve amassed a few meters over the years, the one I use most often these days for pedal stuff is this little pocket one:

Pocket Autoranging Digital Multimeter

When we're on the go, we like to keep a multimeter in our purse and this model is by far the best pocket meter we've found. It's so good you'll end up using it as your main ...

www.adafruit.com

Reads Capacitance and Hz, which you definitely may want once in a while. It looks a bit Iike a cheap toy, but mine’s been ticking along for several years now

I use a Fluke at work. Think it’s probably way overkill for pedal stuff, and I wouldn’t buy one with my own money, but if you find a cheap one in good shape…why not

 

[Robert]

It looks a bit Iike a cheap toy, but mine’s been ticking along for several years now

You ever seen my capacitance meter? ....

 

[pricklyrobot]

You ever seen my capacitance meter? ....

I’m picturing something with a potato…

 

[Robert]

I’m picturing something with a potato…

It was like $50 and outperforms my Flukes that cost more than 20x.

 

[pricklyrobot]

Spongebob had a rough night in Tijuana!

 

[Dostradamas]

So the Klein will be fine

Thanks all

 

[GAStan]

Klein makes great Professional Electrician tools, I'm sure their meters are good quality.

For capacitors I use a LCR meter that measures inductance, capacitance and resistance. The LCR meter is more accurate for resistance and capacitance than my Fluke.

 

[falco_femoralis]

I have this one. Things I like:

big screen
does capacitance, diodes, freq

things I don't like
battery saver alarm and auto off that you can't disable
I don't trust the auto range
selection button is annoying in that it defaults to AC when selecting volts

 

[DDad]

I have this one. Things I like:

big screen
does capacitance, diodes, freq

things I don't like
battery saver alarm and auto off that you can't disable
I don't trust the auto range
selection button is annoying in that it defaults to AC when selecting volts

I have an Astro AI that seemed to work fine, but hated the auto-power off - it says due to inactivity, but 'activity' means twisting the dial or pushing a button - NOT taking readings. It shuts off during a reading...So I bought this one, and it does the same damn thing. The sound it makes to tell you it is going to shut off is very annoying. No like.

 

[Erik S]

I have an Astro AI that seemed to work fine, but hated the auto-power off - it says due to inactivity, but 'activity' means twisting the dial or pushing a button - NOT taking readings. It shuts off during a reading...So I bought this one, and it does the same damn thing. The sound it makes to tell you it is going to shut off is very annoying. No like.

I don't love when my DMM auto-offs itself, but given what 9v batteries go for these days, I'm not sure I'd disable the feature if I had the option.