Looking to replace mine which frankly is a bit of a toy anyway. What do you use, so brand and model? What is a good all rounder? What functions are available AND what functions do you need? I say that because it has been years and years since I have looked at what is available and maybe probably there are units that have additional features which are invaluable. At this point I have done zero research but will once I hear from as many as possible here. TIA
It allows you to liven up individual circuits with the meter itself while the car is switched off. Great for fault finding and bench testing components.
tsjcf,
Jan 17, 8:13am
Fluke make good meters,not cheap compared to some brands out there.
franc123,
Jan 17, 9:44am
You tend to get what you pay for with multimeters, what are you looking to spend would be a good start.
intrade,
Jan 17, 10:01am
eev blog one is what to buy if you need to buy a good new one. I have a few cheap ones the problem is they can not be used on mains power. they would go puff . i use them for 12 volt automotive only to take innacurate mesurments and have a 3500$ pico scope if i need to see acurate milli volts graphed . But that would be the meter i would get if i need another one. secoundhand i would get a fluke. if you want one that you still have in 30 years thats probably it https://www.eevblog.com/product/eevblog-bm786-multimeter/ i think there is a special code for another 10% off or something this is from my email Newslist subscribers can use coupon code 15BUCKS for $15 off in the checkout. manual for specs https://www.eevblog.com/files/BM786-Manual-Original-Jan2021. pdf
intrade,
Jan 17, 10:13am
Other then that cheap ones 2$ shop stores have them for 10 bux or so the ones good enough for automotive to see if there is a voltage drop or not . never use them in anything mains power . I did read the instruction once on one of my cheap ones it said dont mesure mains voltage for longer then 5 secounds lol i know why because at 6 secounds it will smoke= do never ever use them on mains voltage. if your in to hard core research first you can watch this and read the eev blog forum. i have seen dave johnes picoscope test and it has a chip in the scope that costs 450$ us and i think its got 4 for my 4 channel scope and thats the price the manufacturer pay for the chip to make the product= why my scope cost 3500$ because 1600$ is what they paid just for them chips inside it. multimeter shoot out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3dur6UiEAw There is another guy who test multimeter if you really want to research it hard core for 3 month . before you buy a 300$ flashlight. like i did.
I have quite a few different ones my goto is the fluke 17b I think it is they are around $100 off tm. If thats to expensive I have a $17 including shipping, mastech off ebay does everything the fluke does. Both rugged. If you working on older stuff then you will prob want a automotive one with dwell i have a limit one was about $120. The most important feature for me is auto off lol saves on flat batteries.
intrade,
Jan 17, 11:18am
bf mat if i see a fluke with only voltage that be the one i will buy . the problem is in automotive you only really need 12 volt . unless you do EV then you need like a megger i know bosch made one for automotive . i got a hopi meter now for mains power . and its a fake hopi or the more advanced model the chinese sent me instead.
ockey,
Jan 17, 1:22pm
Fluke
ronaldo8,
Jan 18, 9:18am
Brymen BM235, a top quality meter better featured than its fluke counterpart at a better price. Buy direct from Brymen or from the EEVBLOG webshop.
The highest rated best quality meter you can buy in its form factor as the Amazon add says, not exaggerated, a statement of fact.
I have two of the larger models, and a benchtop fluke i no longer use
clark20,
Jan 18, 10:34am
Another vote for Fluke
realtrader1,
Jan 18, 12:10pm
Multimeters seem to have lots of added features these days. So the Brymen 235 will be DC and AC? Is it auto ranging? Do you use it or primarily use it for auto use or as an electrician? And I think it has a dedicated diode test doesn't it? Also voltage proximity beeper?
realtrader1,
Jan 18, 12:15pm
Not sure. I actually think I am going to start with what I need in a multimeter and that brings me round to what is available feature wise. It turns out that there are features that I didn't know existed and when you learn about thm you think well that would be very useful. Brymen appears to be a very good brand. Fluke obviously is but to get the same specs the $ level is a lot higher.
ronaldo8,
Jan 18, 3:56pm
Yes DC and AC auto ranging as well as resistance, current, temperature, capacitance and frequency, as with all of the Brymens. I use my meters for automation engineering, not automotive, this is not an automotive only focused meter, its an allrounder. I own a 257s and and an 869s, but they share many of the same features and build quality (high). Diode testing standard yup.
Here's a look at another one in the range, bit closer to the 235 and in comparison to a fluke 87V
most handy feature in a automotive meter is the beep for circuit conductivity (most used function) besides measuring voltage etc
mrfxit,
Jan 18, 4:48pm
Top of the line best feature I can recommend is a full cover dead short / reverse polarity/ high V-A protection.
All the features in the world are a waste of time if you can kill it with a mistake, (accidental or otherwise)
realtrader1,
Jan 18, 4:52pm
So the BM235 would be a good all rounder do you think?
intrade,
Jan 18, 5:25pm
if you dont have one and want the best for the lowest price.
realtrader1,
Jan 18, 5:29pm
Ok. Could do worse then. Can the alternator be tested with the BM235? Automotive wise what would its limitations be?
shall,
Jan 19, 2:10pm
Fluke 18B is what I have, main features i need are auto ranging, and a decent set of leads, never broken fluke leads in 30 years of using them for work
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