Newbie 1st Multimeter Purchase

[Strega]

I used the search feature to see if could answer my own question. Got some ideas and where I am at right now is moving away from the idea of spending a ton on a Fluke and heading towards the Amprobe brand.

Here are my specifics:

I know next to nothing, maybe not even that much. I had an idea for a small device, bought some components online and started soldering stuff to a breadboard. Did pretty good, only brunt up a few things and got a battery superhot.

Figured I better learn something so I am buying these two books:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0071771336/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0596153740/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

If you have better book recommendation feel free to toss those in.


So, I know I need a multimeter for reasons I don’t even understand yet.
Most of my work will be on small breadboard type stuff and a standard household batteries.
Between Amprobe 510,520,530,560,570 which has the right features to start my journey?

I’m not as concerned with a “budget” as I am finding the right match for small electronics stuff.
My daughter has a slight interested in robots so maybe we’ll get to the stage where we buy a home kit or something and try to make something move across the floor.

Really lost at where to begin so any advice towards a multimeter or in general would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much!
 

[Richard Crowley]

There is a nice feature comparison grid on their web page....
http://www.amprobe.com/amprobe/usen/digital-multimeters/am-500-digital-multimeter-series/amp-am-510.htm?pid=74033

It shows that the AM-510 has a surprising number of features for the "low-end" model.  I would think certainly all of the features that you need at your level of work.  It is probably not worth obsessing over the decision.

[Strega]

It is probably not worth obsessing over the decision.

Richard thanks for the suggestion on the multimeter.  However I obsess over just about everything, any suggestions for curbing that? So far drugs and therapy on only mildly successful.   

[Strega]

The AM-510 has a pretty low sticker price and I'm willing to spend a little more. If I spent the extra money and purchased the AM-570 would it make it harder to do the basic task? Would reading be more confusing or in anyway would it be a disadvantage to spend a little more for something with a bit more features?

[Lightages]

Yes the AM-510 is a good meter at a great price. It would be hard to find a better basic meter at that price. Even the AM-570 is a good deal too, except for its accuracy specifications. For a beginner any of the series would be suitable, and safe. You will also have advice from many people that having two multimeters is an advantage as you can measure two things at once, voltage and current or input and output for examples. It is also helpful for some measurements to have True RMS capability and the AM-510 does not have this.

I assume from the fact that you are considering Amprobe that you are in the US. It is easier for us to make recommendations if we know where you live.

What is your maximum price?

Other meters to consider:

Uni-T UT139C, TRMS,still lower accuracy, full featured, $50 shipped to your door
Amprobe AM-270, TRMS, very good meter, higher accuracy, poor back light, $120
Brymen BM257s, TRMS, the favorite of many owners, higher accuracy, $135 shipped to your door
BK Precision 2709B, TRMS, still lower accuracy, $90

If you can spend the money, my personal recommendation would be the BM257s, but you can't go wrong with any of the Amprobes you have considered, nor with the ones I have recommended. There are others too but I am afraid of confusing you with too many options.

As far as more features making it harder to use? Generally this is not the case. You can just ignore the more advanced features until you want to use them or need them.

[Wytnucls]

If you can afford it, in the long run, the AM-570 is a better meter for electronic work, being true RMS and having important extra features, like a bar graph, Min/Max and Peak hold.
Like Richard said, at your level the AM-510 would be fine, but it pays to aim a little higher in case you get absorbed by your new hobby and start building more intricate circuits.

[Strega]

I assume from the fact that you are considering Amprobe that you are in the US. It is easier for us to make recommendations if we know where you live.

What is your maximum price?

Yes I'm in the USA and pretty sure that I'd like to keep it under $150. I have a tendency for buy the better than my skills so I'm trying to balance that down a bit. Hence it took me a few days to set aside the idea of burning money on Fluke.

[mtdoc]

I know next to nothing, maybe not even that much. I had an idea for a small device, bought some components online and started soldering stuff to a breadboard. Did pretty good, only brunt up a few things and got a battery superhot.

Figured I better learn something so I am buying these two books:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0071771336/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0596153740/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

First tip: Don't solder anything to a breadboard - the plastic melts and it will ruin your iron......(did you mean perf board???)

Those are good book choices.  The Make book is a good place to start. Practical Electronics for Inventors is a good reference but be aware that there are several errors.  There's a large errata posted here on the forum (just do a search).

FWIW - I'd recommend the Brymen 257 as well. You may have noticed it has been Dave's go to meter in his recent videos. I suspect he has discovered, as others have that it's features and form factor make it a very attractive tool for everyday use.  I reach for mine more often than my Fluke 87V. 

[Strega]

First tip: Don't solder anything to a breadboard - the plastic melts and it will ruin your iron......(did you mean perf board???)

mtdoc, thanks for the tips.
I read the above and had to laugh it is what I wrote and it's almost true. I used the breadboard to test out my idea. After which I went to the basement found a 2x4 and cut it down to a smaller "bread board" sort of size soldiered stuff together and used duck tape hold it all together for "field" testing. So I guess that's a 2x breadboard sort of thing but I get what you mean about not soldering on it... that would be a mess.