Need help deciding on a multimeter

[ImperialGuardWH40K]

Hello,

I need to purchase a digital multimeter. Any recommendations on a specific multimeter? Im looking for one that is suitible for robot building yet is under 120 dollars.

Thanks

 

[LegendBreath]

Me say, anything... at least that it does the job  : I only have a cheap Mastercraft that costed me around 60$ and it's really great.

 

[steven2]

at times like that it would pay to save your dollers and get a multimeter that will be ok like digital multimeter and if it has continiuity checker and transister tester to or even a thermal probe and high impeadence would be my choice

 

[MP1]

look for resolution and accuracy. Also number of digits. These are common aspects that will determine price. They are also aspects which will cause you problems if they are not good.

Also, ask for a calibration certificate to see if the meter has been calibrated to any specification. If it has not been calibrated, then it is not much good until you verify that it is reading correctly. Many electronics enthusiasts assume the new meter they purchase has been calibrated. Most meters only get a generic cal that is not very accurate. I have purchased meters which were reading several millivolts different of each other coming to me in the same shipment.

MP

 

[jstevenperry]

I'm a fan of the Radio Shack 29 Function DMM. It does everything I need. But if you want a cheap Capacitance meter, Radio Shack has a 49 function DMM that supposedly checks  capacitance within a certain range. But if you want to go that far, get yourself a good LCR meter.

 

[audioguru2]

I needed a good quality and reliable digital multimeter with auto-ranging, frequency and capacitor measurements. So I purchased an expensive Fluke one that works fine for years. My boss at work then bought a much cheaper one with about the same functions from RadioShack and it has been unreliable since the day it was bought.

I needed a cheap digital multimeter to be taken around places where it might get damaged or stolen. So I bought a cheap one at a tire store and it is accurate and reliable but doesn't have all the ranges and features of my expensive one.

With the two meters, I can measure voltage and current at the same time. ;D