Multi meter question?

[tedstruk]

got my attention anyway...

The teach I learned from was a working guy, and he said it like this...
And I "kelly" on a supurb first post!
"...there are alot of bouncing millivolts out there, and there are even more hackers selling crappy meters, if it isn't reading right try a different meter, but get a good meter to start with and you probably won't have these problems...."
I always say, there are three things you need to know about meters..

1. they are not shock resistant
3. they follow the path of least resistance because they are electronics.
2. they operate under the same rules as you do in electronics

There is one situation in a multimeter where it doesn't follow the path of least resistance... the connection you make when you switch its functions...

I had a meter once, that I found in a trash can. Everytime I used it, it worked great... never made a single bad reading. One day it quit me.
I opened it up and the batteries had leaked all over inside the case, the board was corroded beyond repair, and the meter needle was even gummed up.
I think that if you venture outside of the basic rules of electronics and electricity that you are imagining things... even the things... you got a meter for.

 

[Terry01]

I doubt I'll ever get to anything above 240v UK mains. If I do I'll probably need a few feet blast area and something with more safety than the best of Flukes has to offer! I've been messing about and the cheapo Hyelec is best on DC but is all over the place with caps,the Craptech is OK with caps but out on DC and the continuity has packed up! The fluke I'm looking at is the 87 for £100 second hand. Its like new though so I'll snap it up. Will be good to have a meter that isn't making learning even harder!

 

[Terry01]

I ended up getting a fluke 177. I'll let you know how I go with it over the next week or so. I've decided too. I'm going to try and fix the Extech so long as it doesn't cost me any more £££. I think it'll be a challenge but I was going to strip it for fun so nowt to lose. I'll let you know how I go with that too.