Auto Multimeter for dummies (me)

The only thing you can really test for (on RCR or any other type of cell) is Voltage. In this, you can't go wrong.
Auto ranging is just icing on the cake as you don't have to change the dial while testing for different type of voltage.

I don't have this one but all DMM (at least the cheaper ones such as this or craftman from sears) will be good enough for us (budding flashaholics!).

Goodluck.
 
If you haven't pulled the trigger yet, you might also keep an eye out for a sale at Harbor Freight on their entry-level 'Cen-Tech" digital multimeter (Item No. 92020, Item No. 90899 or similar). It tends to go on sale for $3.99 just about every other week. Like most other cheap meters, it measures DC and AC voltage, resistance, and DC amperage up to 10 amps - plenty for most CPF hobbyist purposes.

I've bought half a dozen of them over the past 6 months, and every one of them worked flawlessly - The calibration was spot-on, matching the measurements taken on a much more expensive Fluke 73-III meter. One heck of a meter for the money!
 
If you're a budding flashaholic and chargaholic, you may become a "dmm"aholic. I hate to admit this, but I own 4 different models. I bought an "El Cheapo" DMM at a local store, then both of the models on Dealextreme.com, and finally the Craftsman model that was on sale for $17.99 at the beginning of Feb. I like to have options . . . ;

I use the DMM in combination with a ZTS tester when testing my cells.
 
I have an old Eurosonic ES-214MT. I've had it about 10 years and it still works very well, but it is on the large side and the battery is an absolute PIA to change -- you have to unscrew the back (4 screws) and take the whole back off, being careful not to disturb the wiring. It takes a PP3 9v battery.
 
coppertrail said:
If you're a budding flashaholic and chargaholic, you may become a "dmm"aholic. I hate to admit this, but I own 4 different models.
Hear hear. :laughing:
I think I have 4 different Flukes, 1 Appa and countless chinese meters(7 at least)
 
I was initially looking at the Sear's

Craftsman Digital Multimeter with AC Voltage Detector

Sears item #03482146000 Mfr. model #82146
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@0780886755.1173187483@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdhaddkgeihihkcefecemldffidfjm.0&pid=03482146000&sid=I0084400010000100383&AFFL=Y&cat=Electrical+Shop&subcat=Multi-Meters,+Testers+&vertical=TOOL&ihtoken=1

It was on sale on 3/05, for $12.

But being an illiterate to MultiMeters. It wasn't overly apparent to me on how to measure the various RCR123As. i.e. 3.0v & 3.6v, with their various capacities.

So I bit the bullet on the Auto Meter @WallyWorld
 
TORCH_BOY said:
The Fluke meters are great, they also have a good diode tester

I am still using cheapo made-in-China ones, but I am going to get a Fluke (or anything professional grade) sooner or later...

Does any "dmm"aholic here have recommendation for a good yet affordable DMM?
 
I like this one, can't beat the price. I don't use it for anything other than testing cells, but it works fine.
 
I think that auto-ranging come in handy since you don't have to pick and choose what voltage range you are measuring. Beyond that, you would want fluke. So find a auto-ranging DMM for reasonable price. After you get bored with it than you can upgrade.

Have fun.
 
I have recently bought the Fluke 87V and awaiting it to be delivered. It may be my last investment in a multimeter for a long while.
 
I can say from experience that quality multimeters are simply much better tools than cheap ones, like the different between a Surefire and Chinese eBay knockoff. Fluke's probably overkill for non-exacting stuff, but I'd at least go with a "real" brand. Extech, Meterman/Wavetek, UEI, Beckmann, Greenlee, etc.

And if you're careful, you can get great deals used. I just got an original Fluke 87 in mint condition for $55 off eBay. Just needed the LCD contacts cleaned.
 
I had to toss in two "Buffy" tapes (seriously) and the 87's display was flickering like many do. A little cleaning solved that. Other than that and a couple missing screws it's perfect.

Oh yeah, I also traded two penknives for an old Fluke 27/FM. :sold:
 
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ABTOMAT said:
I had to toss in two "Buffy" tapes (seriously) and the 87's display was flickering like many do. A little cleaning solved that. Other than that and a couple missing screws it's perfect.

Oh yeah, I also traded two penknives for an old Fluke 27/FM. :sold:
We can't do that, since we are not really any good like you!
As for me, budding flashaholic! Changing Led in a torch is the most I've attempted to do and failed. :rant::rant:

Darnit!

Anyways.....You can spare us some if you have spares! :rock:

Wishfull thinking.

Regards.
 
Yeah, I picked up a mint fluke 87 from a friend of mine about 3-4 years ago, for $100, he was a mechanic in between jobs who didn't have a clue what to do with it when he WAS working. Sick little piece of equipment, when I was having power problems I put it on an outlet for 24 hours to record high and lows, etc. does some cool stuff.

You know when you really appreciate how good the fluke is? Just change the battery. A work of art inside.

I bought a rubber lined pelican case for it, was cheaper than the fluke pouch. I also have a craftsman clamp on ac/dc ammeter/dmm, it was like $99 and frankly it's a steaming POS. hardly ever wants to zero out, the on/off swich is so poorly designed it goes on and off by itself in the pouch, (until I glued a protective collar over it- how stupid are they that I have to do a mod like that myself?) though a clamping ammeter is a neat piece of equipment- rememember AC/DC is a lot more $$$ than AC only. With it you can track down leaks that make your car battery die, etc.
It replaced a craftsman graphic DMM I bought to check waveforms when setting up car stereos with multiple amps and processors, to avoid clipping. It, too, was a POS for the money.
Since my fluke is so nice I don't want to have it get ****ed up or stolen working on my car in the driveway it rarely gets used. What does? A little home depot card sized DMM, was like $20-25. Says "commercial electric pocket-pro HDM2" and does the job.

someday I will have a fluke scope-meter, they are the bomb. a color one if I'm still single and I have no wife to put the "common sense" brakes on.

FWIW it's nice to have a continuity tone feature on your multi-meter. I'm glad my fluke has that, I'd feel silly owning a $300 meter that only gets used to do a job a $5 battery checker could do.

At least the fluke's tone is DAMN LOUD.

Any serious wannabe tech also has this in his tool box: A Fox/Hound wire tracer. Look into one, they are like $60 at Fry's, when you really NEED one they pay for themselves the first time.

Cheers.
 
LGCubana said:
(I have no idea where to properly post this)

Is the INNOVA Auto Ranging, EQUUS 3320 a suitable/accurate metering device for the various Lithium RCR batteries ?
http://www.iequus.com/product_info.php?product_id=3320&category_id=1_60

$25 @ Walmart

After looking at this, (and I expect dissent.... but-) in my experience the green-yellow-red battery checkers in the several applications I've seen have been as useful as a bowl of snow to an eskimo. I have a little analog meter battery tester I picked up for $5 that is far more informative, as often as not the G-Y-R thing is just wrong.


To each his own. (as a meter it looks fine, just don't get all excited about that battery tester feature, it's a gimmick at best, at worst used only by those with trouble counting from 1 to 10)
 
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