Tips on DMM for a newbie?

[Jamie]

Bill Bowden wrote:

On Jul 14, 2:48 am, Rui Maciel <rui.mac...@gmail.com> wrote:

Can you spare any tips on DMMs for newbies?

Thanks in advance,
Rui Maciel


Harbor Freight - 7 function - DMM - $1.99

http://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-digital-multimeter-90899.html

Only problem is using it in direct sunlight which adds about 0.5 to
the reading.
Use in shaded light only.

-Bill
those things are sold and have been sold in a variety of inners with

all kinds of different names on them...

I still have some older ones I got that allows you to tie the
common of the bat to the common input. Makes for a quick hack display..
Most of the ones they have now won't let you do that, even though they
look the same on the out side. Different board.

I think I paid like $3.00 each from a tool flea market.
I got a arm full that day... They make good wheel wedges and
don't hurt so much when they fail!

 

[Fred Abse]

On Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:51:06 -0400, Tom Biasi wrote:

"Rui Maciel" <rui.maciel@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:4c3d8810$0$505$a729d347@news.telepac.pt...
Can you spare any tips on DMMs for newbies?


Thanks in advance,
Rui Maciel

Check the position of your probes every time. Many meters have no fuse in
the 20 Amp. position and trying to measure line in this condition will be
dangerous.

They're the ones to avoid. I wouldn't countenance a meter with an unfused 20
amp range. There's a video on the Web (Link from the Gossen site, IIRC) of
a TÜV test on a DMM that'll make the point.

The Fluke 80 series (fused) alarms if you have a lead in either current socket with
a voltage or resistance range selected. Not totally foolproof, but it's
better than nothing.

--
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence
over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled."
(Richard Feynman)

 

[Fred Abse]

On Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:11:12 -0400, Michael A. Terrell wrote:

He's in SA, not the US

Portugal.

--
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence
over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled."
(Richard Feynman)

 

[Fred Abse]

On Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:48:58 +0100, Rui Maciel wrote:

Can you spare any tips on DMMs for newbies?

Do you mean advice on which DMM to buy, or advice on using a DMM?

--
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence
over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled."
(Richard Feynman)

 

[The Phantom]

On Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:48:58 +0100, Rui Maciel <rui.maciel@gmail.com> wrote:

Can you spare any tips on DMMs for newbies?

Have a look at Dave Jones' EEVBLOG:

http://www.eevblog.com/episodes/

in particular the "$50 Multimeter shootout", and the "$100 Multimeter shootout,
parts 1 & 2".

Thanks in advance,
Rui Maciel

 

[Tom Biasi]

"Fred Abse" <excretatauris@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
newsan.2010.07.15.11.27.33.287982@invalid.invalid...

On Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:51:06 -0400, Tom Biasi wrote:



Check the position of your probes every time. Many meters have no fuse in
the 20 Amp. position and trying to measure line in this condition will be
dangerous.

They're the ones to avoid. I wouldn't countenance a meter with an unfused
20
amp range. There's a video on the Web (Link from the Gossen site, IIRC) of
a TÜV test on a DMM that'll make the point.

The Fluke 80 series (fused) alarms if you have a lead in either current
socket with
a voltage or resistance range selected. Not totally foolproof, but it's
better than nothing.


Agreed, but since he is looking for a cheap one it is likely that he will

come across such a meter and I thought he should be warned.

Tom