I have a super cheap multimeter that isn't getting the job done. Any suggestions on a basic, solid multimeter that won't break the bank?
Not basic, Solid, and easy on the bank.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0050LVFS0/ref=oh_details_o00_s02_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
$25 auto ranging. I compared about 100 parts between it an my Fluke at work. Good auto ranging and was acurrate to the .00x with the Fluke. I'm not worried about that kind of precision at home.
Thanks! Looks good so far...
What features should I be looking for in a pedal building tool? Prob won't use it for much else than battery testing.
I have that exact same multimeter and it has served me well for over a year. I would re-buy it if needed.
Cody
One feature that's really nice to have is a transistor socket for measuring Hfe. It's usually not a super-accurate way to measure transistors, especially with germaniums, but it does help you get close. It's amazing how much Hfe will differ. I've had some 2N5133's that one will measure around 150 and the next one is almost 400.
I use this one. hfe for transistors. functions perfectly for a stupid low price.
http://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-digital-multimeter-92020.html#.UxywXU2aO1s (http://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-digital-multimeter-92020.html#.UxywXU2aO1s)
i use the vc97 from ebay, pretty good for $30 delivered
autoranging
resistance
capacitance
frequency
audible continuity
voltage
hFe
current
temp
auto-shutoff to save batteries
runs on AAA's, yay!
It looks like Haberdasher and I are giving you very similar options for very similar costs.
The MM is your friend in pedal building. Voltage, resistance, continuity, checking capacitors, it's more than a battery checker. The Mastech does that in spades. The diode feature is nice, but since it's 3.5v powered don't expect it to light up LEDs very well(but you can see they're not blown), but it is reliable enough in diode mode to give an accurate voltage drop reading. As mentioned HFE on any meter is suspect, but usually good enough to sort by. The continuity function is loud and clear but not unpleasant. You can check your caps on it too. Good for finding just the right value for a tone stack or when you're making values. If you leave it on, it will beep as a warning, after a little bit it will turn it's self off, It uses 3AAA batteries not a 9v. Also a nice feature - It tells you where to plug things in based on your selection, and there's an audible noise if you're plugged in wrong. Very useful for measuring different voltages. It does do the frequency and Duty cycle as well. It doesn't do temperature. I'd rebuy this meter in a heartbeat.
Before that I worked just fine with the el-cheapo from harbor freight. It uses 9v batteries and will die overnight if left on. ::)
While you're at amazon, grab yourself a pair of xcelite 170M (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002BBZIS/ref=ox_ya_os_product_refresh_C) shear cutters.They're a great tool and worth it if you'll be spending time on the bench. For $6 you *could* get cheaper shear cutters, but why would you?
edited cause el-duderino posted between my read and post.
Yeah Clayford, that sounds like a great meter too.
and +1 on the shear cutters. i love mine- which are plato 170lx- and i am constantly using them. same thing as xcellites i'm sure.
do not use them to cut guitar strings. i put a little notch in mine doing that unfortunately. they still work great though! :)
+1 on the VC97, the only downside is the free shipping option means a few weeks wait to get your hands on it.
Andrew
Quote from: electrosonic on March 09, 2014, 08:44:31 PM
+1 on the VC97, the only downside is the free shipping option means a few weeks wait to get your hands on it.
Andrew
yeah, i waited like 3 wks for mine, but the last time i looked at them i noticed there was a usa seller or 2 now so maybe that wouldn't be an issue
Is there one that can measure pF very well? I have a fluke that will just round off to 1n on the auto range, I guess it can't read that low?
Quote from: Clayford on March 09, 2014, 06:50:04 PM
While you're at amazon, grab yourself a pair of xcelite 170M (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002BBZIS/ref=ox_ya_os_product_refresh_C) shear cutters.They're a great tool and worth it if you'll be spending time on the bench. For $6 you *could* get cheaper shear cutters, but why would you?
+1
Quote from: jighead81 on March 10, 2014, 03:54:40 AM
Is there one that can measure pF very well? I have a fluke that will just round off to 1n on the auto range, I guess it can't read that low?
the vc97 measures pretty low values, but it still isn't very good. i think the actual wires coming out of the meter must have some capacitance. no big deal if measuring 10uF, but for something like 22pF, I've found it to be useless.
the solution many of us have found is to build one of these (https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9485). it's pretty good at what it does.
Quote from: Haberdasher on March 09, 2014, 08:08:00 PM
do not use them to cut guitar strings. i put a little notch in mine doing that unfortunately. they still work great though! :)
+2
Get a good pair of dykes for that.
Quote from: Haberdasher on March 10, 2014, 01:42:45 PM
Quote from: jighead81 on March 10, 2014, 03:54:40 AM
Is there one that can measure pF very well? I have a fluke that will just round off to 1n on the auto range, I guess it can't read that low?
the vc97 measures pretty low values, but it still isn't very good. i think the actual wires coming out of the meter must have some capacitance. no big deal if measuring 10uF, but for something like 22pF, I've found it to be useless.
the solution many of us have found is to build one of these (https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9485). it's pretty good at what it does.
Ooh I want one. I was looking at dedicated cap meter on MCM and was thinking of springing for one but they're like $140 and I don't really need to be able to measure ESR. For $14 + enclosure it will be mine!
Edit: Make that $9.75 at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Jyetech-Capacitance-Meter-DIY-KIT/dp/B00C5TRI3Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394464473&sr=8-1&keywords=capacitance+meter+kit) assuming this is the same kit.
Quote from: Leevibe on March 10, 2014, 03:13:41 PM
Quote from: Haberdasher on March 10, 2014, 01:42:45 PM
Quote from: jighead81 on March 10, 2014, 03:54:40 AM
Is there one that can measure pF very well? I have a fluke that will just round off to 1n on the auto range, I guess it can't read that low?
the vc97 measures pretty low values, but it still isn't very good. i think the actual wires coming out of the meter must have some capacitance. no big deal if measuring 10uF, but for something like 22pF, I've found it to be useless.
the solution many of us have found is to build one of these (https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9485). it's pretty good at what it does.
Ooh I want one. I was looking at dedicated cap meter on MCM and was thinking of springing for one but they're like $140 and I don't really need to be able to measure ESR. For $14 + enclosure it will be mine!
Edit: Make that $9.75 at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Jyetech-Capacitance-Meter-DIY-KIT/dp/B00C5TRI3Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394464473&sr=8-1&keywords=capacitance+meter+kit) assuming this is the same kit.
yeah, you'll probably like it. it's a brainless build and it works great. i don't even have mine in an enclosure, although it would be nice to have it that way.
pre-build advice: read the comments and adjust the resistors like some people suggested. i can't remember which resistors they are, but the purpose is to make the led readout brighter. you definitely should do that.
pre-troubleshooting advice: the thing is center pin pos, so remember that or you'll be scratching your head, lol. i rummaged around & found an old 12v wall wart for the purpose and it works fine.
I was thinking of boxing it and running off board wires to the usual adapter wired center neg. I wonder what else I could enclose with this to make an even more clever tester.
Just ordered the capacitance meter diy kit off amazon, should be here Monday
That jyetech Cap meter is a great thing. Another hint for the build: I added a 9V battery clip in parallell with the DC jack. Makes it more portable, and a battery "never" runs out in a device like this.
Cheers
Quotethe vc97 measures pretty low values, but it still isn't very good. i think the actual wires coming out of the meter must have some capacitance. no big deal if measuring 10uF, but for something like 22pF, I've found it to be useless.
I have a VC97 - for low capacitance values either make a note of the capacitance with the test leads connected and without the capacitor and subtract that off the measurement or don't use test leads, use the component connector thing. (in the blue circle)
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/30050282/VC97.jpg)
Of course a dedicated cap meter would be better, but the VC97 is good enough for my purposes.
Andrew.
I made one of those kits. It works pretty well. Dremel-Fu in full effect.
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/855/exq4.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/nrexq4j)
Mines "up market" but I like it a lot:
http://www.bkprecision.com/products/multimeters/2709B-auto-ranging-true-rms-tool-kit-digital-multimeter.html
I looked into it after watching dave jone's shoot out and he ended up giving this dmm...well...'the thumbs up' :D Its probably overkill for guitar pedal electronics but its an excellent dmm.
One thing to look out for is latching on the continuity tested. It can be DAM ANNOYING have a continuity buzzer that lags by a sec before it latches, particularly when checking etched traces on a pcb and I would go as far as saying, pretty much useless. The BK precision cont tester is latched (it holds the beep instead of crackles which is 'unlatched') and incredibly fast. Its just one feature I use all the time I thought I would mention.
Good luck in your search. :D
Paul
Quote from: atreidesheir on March 09, 2014, 06:19:02 PM
I use this one. hfe for transistors. functions perfectly for a stupid low price.
http://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-digital-multimeter-92020.html#.UxywXU2aO1s (http://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-digital-multimeter-92020.html#.UxywXU2aO1s)
I bought this one as well and find it to be kind of finicky / annoying when testing hfe for transistors. I have to wiggle the transistors around a lot / the reading jumps around / the pins have to go really deep / etc. Is this par for the course with transistor testers or are there better options?
I bought the vc97 a while back at Keef's suggestion. Totally happy with it! It's as much of a multimeter as I'll need for a while.
Another vote for the VC97, fantastic for the price.
For capacitance, I got a Tenma for $26 at MCM. Works great for small values that my Fluke doesn't cover very well. It has a zero adjustment to compensate for lead capacitance.
http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/TENMA-72-8150-/72-8150 (http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/TENMA-72-8150-/72-8150)
FWIW, I use this one for quick capacitance/hfe/pin_orientation purposes (especially the latter). ZIF socket makes it a breeze to use. I still use regular dmm for continuity/resistance, it's a really old Voltcraft unit that's out of production so it's nothing to brag about.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/171310003614?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
EDIT: forgot to add why I mentioned it in the first place.... ::)
It's also killer for checking smd components. The bare metal areas are great for testing say 0805 capacitors that have absolutely no markings on them. Also great for doublechecking your SMD BJT hfes. Just hold the component down on the pads, press a button and presto!