glasgow Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 Need to buy a multimeter…. Googled Maplin, Halford and Amazon… Difficult to find one with good review... ☹️ Interested in this one from Amazon HP9804. Appears to tick many boxes but only 3 reviews…. Maplin has this Automotive Multimeter but not a good review… Any experience or recommendation please… Thank you Ahmed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 I bought one years ago from a DIY store ... looks like a Fluke, but at a fraction of the price. Will have a look later and see if there is a name on it. Does voltage (ac and dc), current, resistance, audible continuity beep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadsport06 Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 To be honest a cheap one will do most jobs. I have a cheaply for the car and a more expensive one for other jobs where the resistance of the voltmeter comes into play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redlight Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 Draper tools seem to do one for about £25 that looks that it will do most DIY jobs. Might get it for less on another site. I have a cheap one from Rapid Electronics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glasgow Posted February 11, 2013 Author Share Posted February 11, 2013 The thermometer function would be helpful for my K-series.... But not sure how accurate the thermometer of a multimeter is....? or is it better to have a cheap multimeter and buy a thermometer as a separate tool? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 I have a non-contact laser thermometer from Maplin. Great bit of kit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Ford Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 I bought one of these last week. Works fine, though it doesn't have an audible resistance setting which can be handy. Has gone up though - it was only £2.99 last week. CPC do a good range, from the ultra-cheap right up to Fluke, but sadly you've missed the free delivery offer they were doing last week. This Tenma one looks like a good quality mid-priced one at just over 30 quid. See the "Bestsellers" catalogue under Publications for more options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted February 11, 2013 Member Share Posted February 11, 2013 As above, for most uses on cars you don't need anything fancy. Audible continuity testing saves time. A robust case is a good idea as it's going to hit the floor at some point. Leads with small spring clip ends are useful on the bench. I use a Draper, something like this. Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbird Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 which Multimeter, bit like asking which upgrade for 7, I have always sworn by Flukes, but been fortunate in my employer paid, having said that they are relatively expensive, excluding one I managed to loose, I have had one a good 15 years and one 10 plus years and apart from the odd new battery never had a problem with them. I suppose, to be in keeping with the ethos of sevening you should get an Avo 8 or a Bradley, both truly fine meters 😬 Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECR Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 Anyone know of one with a light indicator instead of/as well as the continuity buzzer ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Ford Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 Here you go. (Better quality instruments are available). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECR Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 Errr, thanks Roger., but I was after one built into in a meter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Titanium7 Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 We sell these but you need to add VAT + Postage here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 The 830D looks a reasonable (and cheap !) product Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Ford Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 I'd say that was the same as this one on ebay for £7.49 delivered. Different label printing, but otherwise looks the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 I upgraded my Maplin-sourced DVM with a set of extended leads with big croc-clip terminals last year. Can make a big difference to usability and safety when on tour as you sometimes need to get a reading off the battery, say, while physically being out of reach (e.g. in the cockpit, turning the engine over/flicking switches). I would like to add a clamp dvm that measures DC current to my touring kit - but they seem hard to come by (for sensible money) - it's easy to get an AC-capable one, but not DC...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Whitley Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 I made up a plug for the accessory socket to do that, allows me to read the voltage while driving if necessary. It also checks that the accessory socket is working 😶🌫️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Ford Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Quoting Myles: I upgraded my Maplin-sourced DVM with a set of extended leads with big croc-clip terminals last year. Can make a big difference to usability and safety when on tour as you sometimes need to get a reading off the battery, say, while physically being out of reach (e.g. in the cockpit, turning the engine over/flicking switches). I would like to add a clamp dvm that measures DC current to my touring kit - but they seem hard to come by (for sensible money) - it's easy to get an AC-capable one, but not DC...? How about this one from CPC? £27.90 + post at the moment (normally £34) Don't know if it's any good, but it's one I was considering getting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted February 13, 2013 Member Share Posted February 13, 2013 Can this type of meter measure DC current at the level needed to diagnose slow discharges/ immobiliser problems of the type frequently suspected on 7s? Thanks Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Ford Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Resolution is 10mA. Immobiliser drain is supposed to be about 30-40mA, so it's a bit close IMO. Searching on the meter name led me to a Merc forum discussion on that very topic. The ST-3343 that's mentioned with a 1mA resolution doesn't seem to be available from CPC anymore. In any case, I'd be very surprised if a clamp-type multimeter can really measure currents that small, or that accurately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grim Reaper Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 I've used one of these herefor a few years (got it from Maplins a long time ago to measure dwell on points distributor) and it's still going strong and just as good as my Fluke, but this here should be a reasonable equivalent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LazerBrain Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 JK - I made an equivalent to this current tester to connect to my DVM, which allowed me to measure the current flowing through a particular fuse. Obviously you need to take care not to overload your meter. My testing did not require the engine to be running - switching ignition on/off was enough to trigger the fault condition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted February 14, 2013 Member Share Posted February 14, 2013 Quoting LazerBrain: JK - I made an equivalent to this current tester to connect to my DVM, which allowed me to measure the current flowing through a particular fuse. Obviously you need to take care not to overload your meter. My testing did not require the engine to be running - switching ignition on/off was enough to trigger the fault condition.That's neat. You could put a protective fuse in series in case you plug it in a high current fuse holder by mistake. I don't have a leakage problem but it seems to come up quite often. Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LazerBrain Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Quoting Jonathan Kay: That's neat. You could put a protective fuse in series in case you plug it in a high current fuse holder by mistake. Thanks - yes, I always used the fuse from the circuit I was testing, but a 5A fuse would allow testing and protection for most meters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Is that CPC one actually capable of measuring DC current through the clamp? Only reason I ask is that it seems surprisingly cheap (from my last attempt to find one online) - and it also seems to have two conventional test-lead inputs... Can't seem to find a manual online at that site... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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