Author Topic: Recommend a multimeter (Read 7189 times)

jaabot · « **on:** May 03, 2009, 07:44:13 PM »

I am on my way to Radio Shack tomorrow. Can anyone recommend a good multimeter? Is Radio Shack the best place to go or should I order online somewhere?

Thanks.

SmAsH · « **Reply #1 on:** May 04, 2009, 12:38:56 AM »

most multimeters will do you fine as long as they have:
voltage reading,
current reading,
resistance reading,
continuity setting
and maybe a capacitance setting...
radioshack should have these things but im Australian so i don't know that much about radioshack...

TrickyNekro · « **Reply #2 on:** May 04, 2009, 02:48:31 AM »

If you have the bucks, see if it can connect to a PC for data logging...

jaabot · « **Reply #3 on:** May 04, 2009, 07:21:56 AM »

OK, I will look for those features. Thanks.

SmAsH · « **Reply #4 on:** May 04, 2009, 03:04:22 PM »

just make sure you get a decent one

jaabot · « **Reply #5 on:** May 04, 2009, 04:29:37 PM »

Decided to splurge. I went to Radio Shack and they had one that had all of the above features including the PC Interface.

http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=22-812&origkw=22-812&sr=1

Now I just have to learn how to use it...

SmAsH · « **Reply #6 on:** May 05, 2009, 12:52:23 AM »

man that is an expensive one! mine is like 5 years old and cost about $20us! but i don't use it for anything much...
great score mate!

jaabot · « **Reply #7 on:** May 05, 2009, 07:17:19 AM »

Yeah, I have defiantely spent more than $50 on the this robot... I didn't have any electronics tools when I started. I had to buy soldering irons, desoldering iron, nippers, the multimeter... $$$

The only thing I had already was wire strippers. Oh well. Now I have everything for the next one will.

SmAsH · « **Reply #8 on:** May 05, 2009, 02:30:26 PM »

hah, when i first got into robotics all i had was a corroded soldering iron and a multimeter....
now i have tonnes of stuff

oh and maybe a drill...
ive only just recently bought all my stuff, but it was worth it to spend more and get the better stuff.

galannthegreat · « **Reply #9 on:** May 05, 2009, 03:54:06 PM »

You'll find yourself after many years that things will start to collect, you'll even find yourself buying tools that you may not use for a number of years.

jaabot · « **Reply #10 on:** May 05, 2009, 04:51:21 PM »

Yeah, it was the same for me with home improvement. I had a screwdriver and an exacto knife when i bought my first house. Now I have all the cool toys: miter saw, compressor, nail guns, all sorts of hand tools, etc...

Time to do the same for electronics/robotics now.

SmAsH · « **Reply #11 on:** May 06, 2009, 12:28:09 AM »

Quote from: jaabot on May 05, 2009, 04:51:21 PM

Yeah, it was the same for me with home improvement. I had a screwdriver and an exacto knife when i bought my first house. Now I have all the cool toys: miter saw, compressor, nail guns, all sorts of hand tools, etc...

Time to do the same for electronics/robotics now.

you lucky bastard

damn i hope i can get those when im older!

jaabot · « **Reply #12 on:** May 06, 2009, 08:45:01 AM »

SmAsH · « **Reply #13 on:** May 06, 2009, 02:38:59 PM »

i have one hacksaw, two hammers, one drill with heaps of bits, file, screwdrivers and that's about it! but sometimes i get access to my schools shops so i can make parts which is good too

dellagd · « **Reply #14 on:** May 06, 2009, 05:26:39 PM »

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103176
this is mine.
don't gen a bad one as it will bite you in the butt later (month later- "shoot I need to measure amps! I wish I got the better one...)
thats what happend to me. BEWARE that you MUST switch the + lead to the other hole to measure amps. will blow the meter if you dont.

also my dad lets me use his tools so I am lucky. billions of screw drivers, hammers, pliers, cresent wrenches, jigsaw (well thats actually mine) really good saws, tons of nails.
then theres my computer tools kit...

SmAsH · « **Reply #15 on:** May 07, 2009, 12:57:34 AM »

mine cant measure amps

i just go in to school and use either the ones in my science lab or the ones in the electronics room...
if i ever do something with electronics as a career i will start to invest in this kinda stuff...

unicoder · « **Reply #16 on:** May 07, 2009, 01:02:40 AM »

https://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200326546_200326546

is the one i use. Mainly because it was free. I won it at skillsUSA

lanamor · « **Reply #17 on:** May 07, 2009, 01:04:24 PM »

Hey I was looking for a multimeter the other day and one of the things I noticed was that most of them only measured up to 10A or current. Most of the motors I see for medium and larger platforms can draw more then double that as stall. I just wondered if 10 amps was enough or am I missing something?

unicoder · « **Reply #18 on:** May 07, 2009, 01:54:52 PM »

you wont find many small electronics motor applications that will need more than 10Amp measurements. Multimeters like the one I mentioned above are used for industrial AC application using Clamp Meters instead of leads. Mine is rated for 1000 Amps AC current.

helpful tidbit. 1hp = 746 watts.
1 hp @ 277 volts = 2.6 amps
1 hp @ 480 volts = 1.5 amps

SmAsH · « **Reply #19 on:** May 07, 2009, 02:50:24 PM »

1000A, wow... mine is rated for something like 550A only

but then again its from the stone age

unicoder · « **Reply #20 on:** May 07, 2009, 06:40:38 PM »

Haha during the day. Im one of those people that has to work on things like 2000 amp switchgears and 50 hp motors etc. Its nice to not have one thatll blow up in my face :PPPP

SmAsH · « **Reply #21 on:** May 08, 2009, 01:47:55 AM »

better safe than sorry mate

lanamor · « **Reply #22 on:** May 08, 2009, 06:54:05 AM »

Quote from: unicoder on May 07, 2009, 01:54:52 PM

you wont find many small electronics motor applications that will need more than 10Amp measurements.

Well, almost all the Banebot motors seem to draw more than 10A at stall. I know this because I've been looking for a pair of motors to drive a differential robot weighing about 20-25 lbs.

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Author Topic: Recommend a multimeter (Read 7189 times)