Multimeters

Thank You

John

Ron

Thanks for mentioning fuses.

I let a friend use one of my cheapie analog units, and it came back with a blown fuse. Guess what -- Radio Shack doesn't carry a fuse for its own meter!

I ended up ordering a little current limiter, about half the size of a jumbo LED (don't remember the actual name of it) from Digi-Key. It was the closest value I could find that was less than the 315mA fuse. I soldered it to the fuse leads, and it's worked fine ever since.

I will more than likely ask Santa to just bring me a couple meters instead of one. One good Digial and one inexpensive Analog as Jim N.recommends.

Thanks again.

John

John

Gene

I"ve had excellent luck with Fluke DVM"s. My model 77 has worked flawlessly (and been horribly abused....) for 12+ years. I also acquired a model 87 III a few years ago which seems similarly robust.

Unlike a cheap Radio Shack unit (model unknown) I also have, the Fluke"s work fine on the "noisy" electrical systems typical of old tractors, etc. Also the Fluke"s ability to measure AC current occasionally comes in handy when working on 120/240 VAC electrical stuff.

I"d highly recommend the Fluke 77 - it"s within your price range and is an accurate, bullet proof meter.

Note that I still have and use an ancient Simpson 260 analog VOM for extremely noisy DC. You cannot beat a mechanical meter movement for following certain types of transient voltage/current swings.

Now be good for the next week and a half so Santa comes through for you!!

A digital meter has one (very important) failure. They do a very poor job of measuring intermittent (chopped) DC sources. They sample voltage and current using a sample rate that is so instantaneous that the display jumps all around the actual value. This often leads to the assumption of problems that are not there.

An inexpensive Analog Meter with an actual needle that moves on a scale (especially when adjusted or compared to the nice digital unit on a stable source of volts) will average the pulses and give usable information better.

The reason for the importance to us (YT types) is because the voltage regulators and cutout relays, and un-suppressed electrical systems on all older generator based equipment is manufactured to chop up voltage to control rates of charge and the output of DC in the armature/commutator/brushes.

Do both and be happy.

Jim (vast experience on this issue) Nicholson

I almost never use the digital. The analogs give much faster readings, and are better at showing any fluctuations in the signal. Also, if an analog meter falls victim to some danger (dropped, stepped on, fried, fan blade, etc) I can replace it dirt cheap. I'm usually just checking resistance, continuity, and presence of voltage (don't usually care how much).

If you have some aversion to anlog meters, get a digital. But my choice, if I had ONE multimeter, would be analog.

Oh, yeah, one other thing: Most analogs will not run down their batteries in you leave them on. Digitals will -- and the batteries are often oddball (i.e., expensive and hard to find). Whatever kind of meter you buy, try to get one that uses standard (AA, AAA, etc) batteries.