Hobby DMM

Staats

Good Evening! I am in need of some suggestions from my fellow stampers... I am seeking advice on a Multimeter purchase. I'm not after Top of the Line - a full featured Fluke is not an option. Basically, I am after a good DMM that will perform most functions that are frequently used in electronic circuit design. I have the parralax scope kit - I really loved the idea of using my PC for my scope. (Its right by my electronics work bench.) I'm not out to bust my wallet either·- anyone have any brand/model suggestions - or at least some pointers on what brand(s) are OK and what brands would make better door stops... Thanks a lot in advance!
~GS

Paul Sr.

Ebay! I recently picked up a brand new Extech MM-560 for $61.00! most outstanding deal and a very nice meter. There were quite a few more that I wouldn't have minded owning. I even missed out on a Fluke 45 for jst a little over $200. I actually dozed off and missed the close. Just throw "Digital Multimeter" (and variants) at Ebay....

Staats

I checked on eBay - there are a lot of decent prices on meters.. I didn't thin kI could get a fluke for under $100 - there are quite a few on there for under 100... WHat functions are the most important to have for basic stamping and robotics? I have a cheap one i nthe garage - I used it for car stereo installs. Its cheap though - no dc current aor anything above a VOM with a transistor checker...

steve_b

You really just need voltage AC/DC and resistance settings.
Although handy is having the diode/continuity checker and the amperage section!

Another bonus, but really not all that accurate, is the conponent tester. You can put a capacitor across the leads and it'll give you the value...or there are ones with the transistor plug in to tell you the gain..etc.

You can also get meters that will tell you basic frequency.

A Fluke 44 is basic enough although a bit $$!
My favorite meter is the AMPROBE AC/DC 3000 (I think)....it's a clamp-on amperage meter that works wth AC and DC amperages. But also has your basic voltage/resistance checks too.

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Steve

"Inside each and every one of us is our one, true authentic swing. Something we was born with. Something that's ours and ours alone. Something that can't be learned... something that's got to be remembered."

Bean

I have some good meters, but I hate to admit it but the meter I use the most is one of those $3.99 specials from Harbor Freight. I bough a dozen of them when they were on sale.
I took a couple to work to see how accurate they were. Believe it or not they were right on the money with our "calibrated" meters.
The downside... They're disposable. The upside... They're disposable. I kills me to even replace the battery. I'm tempted to just chuck it and get an new one out.
Bean.

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"Never under estimate the importance of being nice when you don't have to be."
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MikeK

And I felt guilty because I bought 3 of the Harbor Freight meters. They're great, and you can't beat the price.

steve_b

Was just thinking....it's ALWAYS good to have an old analog meter in your kit.
If the battery on your Digital meter fails....it's a paperweight until you replace the battery. But in an analog meter, you don't need a battery for voltage measurements (not sure about current though!)....but you would need a battery for resistance checks!

Also, Digital meters tend to average their readings.....so if you want to see what your RS232 line is doing (if it's sending data and at approx what level) you can connect your analog voltmeter and see the needle bounce, where a digital meter will try to update it's display but usually the transmission is gone by then....so it's not too useful there!
If you have an oscilloscope...well, then you're fine!

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Steve

"Inside each and every one of us is our one, true authentic swing. Something we was born with. Something that's ours and ours alone. Something that can't be learned... something that's got to be remembered."

bobledoux

Harbor Freight has a sidewalk sale on Saturday. Perhaps those DMM's will sell for $3.99.

I have half a dozen multimeters. For RF tuning I have a Radio Shack Fet meter with an analog scale. Otherwise, any of my meters seem to do the job. The only other reason to spend more money is if you need capacitance, inductance or temperature reading.

What really counts are the meter leads. Most multimeters have these heavy, nondescript leads with 8 penny nails for test points. Get a good pair of thin leads. I prefer leads with clip on test points. A good set of leads will cost more than the meter.

Bean

The Harbor Freight ones has fair thin probles. The other nice thing is they have a transistor checker (hFe) which I use to find which lead is which.
Bean.

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"SX-Video·Module" Now available from Parallax for only $28.95

http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=30012

"SX-Video OSD module" Now available from Parallax for only·$49.95
http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=30015

Product web site: www.sxvm.com

"Wise men know when they're right. The wisest also·know when they're wrong."
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Tom Walker

...and if you think about what you typically DO with a meter in developing Stamp applications (check resistance, find out if there is any voltage HERE, is there current flowing), then it's easy to see that a "cheapie" DMM will generally fit the bill.

BTW, the Harbor Freight sale looks like there are going to be some fairly good deals...

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Truly Understand the Fundamentals and the Path will be so much easier...

Bean

I just got back from Harbor Freight and bought a cheapy meter for $3.99.
It even has a backlight now, but you have to push a button and it lights for a 5 seconds. I wish it would stay on. Oh well.
I guess this is a sale price because on the web site it is $9.99.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92020
Bean.

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
"SX-Video·Module" Now available from Parallax for only $28.95

http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=30012

"SX-Video OSD module" Now available from Parallax for only·$49.95
http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=30015

Product web site: www.sxvm.com

"Wise men know when they're right. The wisest also·know when they're wrong."
·

Staats

Thanks for all the input - and saving me some cash too... I didn't want to waste money on stuff that won't be useful. I've been doing basic ttl logic circuits since the 7th grade - this is my first home try at developing MCU stuff... I think I am definitely leaning towards some robotic projects. I have access to a CAM programmer and a "specialty shop" of CNC's. I am working on developing my own hex crawler design - but it will not load the servo spindles, and all joints will be ball-bearing. Plus, I a mgoing to try to "segment" the body to allow for better obstacle navigation... Lots of CAD and CAM work to do - but I have a lot of learning to do with the stamp! [noparse]:)[/noparse] Exciting hobby really. There are tons of things I tried to do in high school and middle school with logic chips that I could barely do/couldn't do because of the limitations involved. I built a time delayed rocket launcher w/ settable delay via BCD switch with a hex read out, and a dark room timer too.. Lots of ttl chips on those projects! WIth a MCU, those are cake! Second project is designing a semi-automatic pellet gun to mount on a turret on the beast... Powered using threaded CO2 cartridges for bike pumps... The machine shop will be put to use! :-D