Need recommendation for good low priced meter

Started by aron, October 19, 2006, 05:51:32 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

aron


coitmusic

Harbor Freight has one on sale right now for $3.99....not sure about the quality, but hell...it's only $3 friggin' .99!
I have one that I got free from Circuit Specialists when I bought my soldering iron....It's a bit large, but it works well.
Most meters have them now, but I really reccomend getting one with transistor test sockets. Very handy when trying to figure out what those house numbered trannies are...

Alex C

I don't know how good these are, but they're cheap, and can't be too bad for just tinkering.

http://circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/8747  -$9.99
http://circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/8883 - $24.99 - this one has capacitance.
http://circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/8135 - $24.99 - measures capacitance too.
http://circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7457 - $24.00 - no capacitance, but it comes with a holster!
http://circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/2698 - $19.00

Those are the cheap ones from Circuit Specialists. 
They also have a powered breadboard and DMM package deal: http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/8884
Were you looking for personal recommendations?

burnt fingers

I just picked up the $3.99 job at Harbor.  Works fine so far.  DId some HFE measusring on some trannies.  Voltage readings were in line with what I expected when probing a pedal.  seems Ok for our purposes. 

Scott
Rock and Roll does not take a vacation!!

www.rockguitarlife.com
My Music

petemoore

  3.88 @ Marc's discount store [s?]...they just got a big batch in.
  Small, has Hfe socket, the two I have work good.
Convention creates following, following creates convention.

Paul Perry (Frostwave)

Whatever you get, check that it has the continuity buzzer. Because you will hate it if it doesn't, at least if you are like me & 95%+  of problems are shorts & opens
the other thing is, if you have TWO cheap meters, you can measure power drain & supply voltage at the same time, that can help sometimes.

343 Salty Beans

Futurlec has a meter for 5.95, I believe. It's the one I'm using  ;D

wampcat1

A caveat for those who work on amps too, though -- make sure to get a good high quality meter that can handle the voltage requirements of an amp. :)

bw

MetalGod

After going through four cheap DMMs and wasting around £75 I just bit the bullet and bought a Fluke 175.  That was around four years back and it's rock solid - definately worth buying a Fluke DMM (imo).  Think I paid around £135.

8)

nikStomp

I have an uni-t ut61e and is very good!! and relatively cheap (50 euros on ebay)

autoranging, frequency meter, capacitance meter, etc etc

very good!!!

CodeMonk

+1 for Harbor Freight
They often have sales, so you can get something for even less.

Gurner

Quote from: nikStomp on July 20, 2011, 03:38:02 AM
I have an uni-t ut61e and is very good!! and relatively cheap (50 euros on ebay)

autoranging, frequency meter, capacitance meter, etc etc

very good!!!

+1.

Bearing in mind most folks buy a meter once every 8-10 years, I'd say push out the boat, splosh the dosh & buy something that gives you a warm cosy feeling like being back in the womb everytime you use it.

robmdall