E30 Zone

Looking to get a multimeter - anyone got any recommendations on what to get, and what I should be looking for features wise?

SD wrote:Looking to get a multimeter - anyone got any recommendations on what to get, and what I should be looking for features wise?

This is completely down to skills of the user and the use intended.
If its only for ocasional basic or general readings a cheap nasty meter will do you.
Even some low end meters can have a lot of functions or you can go totally daft with one of the all singing all dancing jobies.

But as you had to ask the question, go with el cheapo.

Is it not worth getting a medium spec one that he can start to explore?

First ask yourself if you want an analogue or digital MM. Analogue ones have the advantage of making it easy to see fluctuations in measurement (can be very handy!). Digital ones are just plain easier to read, and most of them are auto-ranging, so it's just a case of selecting the measurement type, and go.

Secondly what are you going to use it for? Just the car? If so, look at the models that are specifically for car use. They usually have automobile specific functions not found on general purpose meters, and come with a comprehensive guide on how to use it.

Stuart

Morat wrote:Is it not worth getting a medium spec one that he can start to explore?

A lot of the old el cheapos (Digital not the ultra cheap needle ones) are fairly well spec'd for the average Joe anyway and always a handy back up (Which a LOT of pro's do.) I know guys who upgrade and never dispose of older ones as they can still have their uses.
Profesional meters CAN run to a horrendous amount of money.

Let's say you are learning to ride a bycycle, you start off with something basic.
Would you go and buy a high spec mountain bike when you really
want to go road racing ?

Plenty to learn from a cheap meter. FIRST !

Just want something that I can learn on really - just wanted to make sure that I get something that covers the bases and won't need upgrading for a while. It will just be for the car - I'm going to have to put a new radio at some point (now that I have a bunch of wires hanging out of the dash where the radio was two days ago) - so thought it would be a good excuse to start learning the in-and-outs, and get to the point where I can at least perform basic diagnostics with the help of a service manual and the zone.

Would something like this work then:

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product.asp?p=010910065

SD wrote:Just want something that I can learn on really - just wanted to make sure that I get something that covers the bases and won't need upgrading for a while. It will just be for the car - I'm going to have to put a new radio at some point (now that I have a bunch of wires hanging out of the dash where the radio was two days ago) - so thought it would be a good excuse to start learning the in-and-outs, and get to the point where I can at least perform basic diagnostics with the help of a service manual and the zone.

Would something like this work then:

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product.asp?p=010910065

That will be fine to start off with okay.
Sorry, I would refer to the likes of that one in the "el cheapo's".
This stuff can run to many many beer tokens. OR ALCOHOLISM !

SD wrote:
Would something like this work then:

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product.asp?p=010910065

Looks fine. And it has an audible continuity tester, which is extremely handy. You might want to get yourself some crocodile clips for the probes. You can usually get a bunch of short leads with crocodile clips on them from ebay very cheaply.

Stuart.

FlappySocks wrote:

SD wrote:
Would something like this work then:

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product.asp?p=010910065

Looks fine. And it has an audible continuity tester, which is extremely handy. You might want to get yourself some crocodile clips for the probes. You can usually get a bunch of short leads with crocodile clips on them from ebay very cheaply.

Stuart.

I had the probes once but antibiotics cleared it up.

I've owned one very similar to that Machine Mart version (the Sealey MM12), and it helped out alot on my cars, is nice and light and portable but a bit flimsy - mine's now packed up! I think the switchgear wears out. The leads don't stow very well in transport either (they're supposed to clip into the housing, but easily become detached. Cheap & cheerful though...

So many out there.
As above, basic or does everything, just for the car or for mains too.
If just for the car, Draper do some nice units for about £24-£30. Does everything from RPM, dwell angle etc Automotive only though, no AC.
Even as a beginner, is it not worth getting something a bit better rather than buy a cheap one and then buy a better one? You can get some really good ones really cheap nowadays.

£20 should be enough to spend on one.
Having a meter is essential to diagnose car electric faults sometimes. (Alternator output and battery drain problems mainly), but most of my electrical diagnostics is done with a) a 12V5W bulb attached to a couple of pieces of wire (actually an old E30 front indicator repeater), and b) a six foot length of wire with a crocodile clip on one end for clipping onto the battery and feeding power to where ever. Probably should have an in line fuse near the croc clip, but I like to live dangerously.

gortour wrote: is it not worth getting something a bit better rather than buy a cheap one and then buy a better one? You can get some really good ones really cheap nowadays.

Not until you've learnt not to connect them across a car battery on a current range!

You're not supposed to do that then? Maybe that's what killed mine...

Testing the HT ignition output is a great destroyer of digital multimeters too...come to think of it, does anyone offer a meter capable of reading HT?

Brianmoooore wrote:

gortour wrote: is it not worth getting something a bit better rather than buy a cheap one and then buy a better one? You can get some really good ones really cheap nowadays.

Not until you've learnt not to connect them across a car battery on a current range!

Yup, fair comment Brian. They don't like it up em...

i can reccommend a fluke ,but maybe ott if its hobby use,i had mine ten year plus -use it for vehicle electrics every day...not many features but built to last...

useful features...that i would want in a new one.

large display
prop up back
rubber protecting armour type case
audible continuity test
auto range
diode test

these usually feature on a 20 quid job....sealey are a good buy on a budget.

Nice meters gcorky.
But I wouldn't recommend a Fluke for a beginner. Too expensive.
Especially not if as Brian says, someone's gonna measure current across the battery...

gortour wrote:Nice meters gcorky.
But I wouldn't recommend a Fluke for a beginner. Too expensive.
Especially not if as Brian says, someone's gonna measure current across the battery...

well previous to this one ...the drapers and the like were lucky to last me a couple of years....this was a hundred pounds at the time and is not showing any sign of giving up...i do agree as stated a bit ott for hobby...but would say as with all things get the best you can afford ,a multimeter is great for allsorts not just cars....youll feel the urge to bring it out when the washer breaks ,or even a fuse in a 3 pin plug blows -you will just wanna know why ????or is this just me

I've got an el cheapo Altai analogue one, which does everything you'd want it to (as long as you can work out which setting to put it on) & has stood up to 15 years of use abuse just fine. Why spend more (unless you're using it every day obviously)?! If you can't work out how to use it, you probably won't understand what it's saying anyway...

Any el cheapo meter will do the standard DIY stuff with no problems.
Flukes are wonderful meters but expensive.
For DIY, get whatever's cheapest, for professional / heavy use get a Fluke. The 187 is a very nice unit.

I have got a fluke easy to use

I've got an old Fluke (8030A), one of the early LED display ones containing lots of 7400-series TTL chips. Doesn't half guzzle battery juice though (runs on 4 C-size Ni-Cds!)

ed325i wrote:I have got a fluke easy to use

Yes, easy to use, and well able to take all the sh1t you can throw at it.
Never - yet - known one go wrong. I use one all day most days at work.
We have about 15 in my department, apart from yearly calibration, no problems.

320iSE wrote: does anyone offer a meter capable of reading HT?

Probably someone does, but it's more usual to look at the HT on an oscilloscope. I have a gadget that consists of loads of loads of series connected high value resistors, connected to a final load resistor which has connections for an oscilloscope connected across it.

Smart thinking, Brian! Any idea of what values are used for this potential divider gadget?

I think they are 2.2M ohm each, and there's loads of them. The quantity is so that not to exceed the voltage rating of each resistor. It was originally produced for measuring television EHT.

OK, thanks Brian. May well have a bash at making something similar...

Pop down to Maplins, they do a cheapo digital one for about £6. I've got one and it has more that enough functions for the amateur user

The very cheap ones tend to lack a bit in the quality of their leads.

Brianmoooore wrote:The very cheap ones tend to lack a bit in the quality of their leads.

Agreed, but they'll be good enough to find pos and neg for a 'novice user' though.
No good whatsoever for anyone needing accurate or frequent measurements, but will be fine for occasional very basic use.

In defence of the Sealey MM12, and perpetuating the reputation of E30 owners being tighter than a camel's arse in a sandstorm, I repaired it today; turned out one of the test leads had broken internally next to the probe

320iSE wrote:In defence of the Sealey MM12, and perpetuating the reputation of E30 owners being tighter than a camel's arse in a sandstorm, I repaired it today; turned out one of the test leads had broken internally next to the probe

Charming...
I'm an E30 owner, wouldn't say I was that tight...

gortour wrote: I'm an E30 owner, wouldn't say I was that tight...

Speak for yourself! One of my meter leads is twisted together at the meter plug end (the 'live' one; concentrates the mind when measuring high voltages), and the other lead just has a bare wire at the probe end.

Brianmoooore wrote:

gortour wrote: I'm an E30 owner, wouldn't say I was that tight...

Speak for yourself! One of my meter leads is twisted together at the meter plug end (the 'live' one; concentrates the mind when measuring high voltages), and the other lead just has a bare wire at the probe end.

Rather you than me Brian. Haven't you even got any insulating tape...???

gortour wrote:. Haven't you even got any insulating tape...???

Yes, but that costs money as well.