Electronics > Beginners

First DMM?

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JS:
You could get a new meter, even if cheap they come bang on from factory, like a $20 aneng AN8008 with 9999 counts which will be good to check and you end with a really nice meter for the lab, maybe even better than the 87 as the lowest ranges are sweet for electronics.

Some voltage regulators are pretty accurate, easily better than a 9V. You won't get a cheap way to compare to factory specs but much better than not knowing at all.

JS

Mr. Scram:

--- Quote from: Gizzygone on July 18, 2018, 08:05:54 pm ---Any way to tell for sure without bringing it for calibration?

 Maybe just try a fresh 9volt battery to test it against?

--- End quote ---
Get a cheap voltage reference from China or a more expensive one from elsewhere. You won't know the exact numbers, but they're accurate enough to at least a ensure it's within a handful of digits. That's plenty accurate for all but the most demanding stuff.

If you could measure your cheap reference on someone's calibrated meter you'll know quite accurately where you are.

A working 87III for under a hundred bucks is a nice score!

james_s:
Or find someone else with a known working meter to compare it with.

Really though, if you measure a few things and get reasonable values then the meter is very likely accurate. If something like a 10k resistor or 9V battery read wildly off then the meter is probably damaged in some way, but if it looks close then it's probably spot on. They just don't drift by any appreciable amount, you only need calibration if you need a paper trail for some sort of work where someone is auditing things.

drussell:

--- Quote from: Gizzygone on July 18, 2018, 08:05:54 pm ---Any way to tell for sure without bringing it for calibration?

Maybe just try a fresh 9volt battery to test it against?
--- End quote ---

I would use a single alkaline cell like a single AA, C or D cell so there is less error instead of a bunch of series cells in the 9v battery.

Just like setting the bias on an old Dynaco tube amplifier...  :)

GeoffreyF:
I don't have a picture of the one I used, but this is a photo of it
Before that I had a Heatkit VTVM.

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