General > General Technical Chat
Starting a new CompSci/Electronics career -need advice!
rstofer:
--- Quote from: x_marx on September 12, 2022, 06:58:51 pm ---Edit:
Can anyone suggest any decent budget multi-meter (UK)?
https://cpc.farnell.com/c/test-equipment/multimeters-clamp-meters/prl/results
--- End quote ---
That's quite a price range to choose from. Cost from 2.95£ up to 700£ or more. You need to close up the range because all of the high dollar meters will be acceptable.
Dave sells a couple of Brymen meters, both are excellent: https://www.eevblog.com/store/
What you are after is range (low uA and low Voltage scales) and accuracy. Start a spreadsheet and see how meters compare and what they cost. The first one I picked from your list has lousy accuracy, 0.8% on DCV compared to 0.1% for the 121GW that Dave sells. I gave up! The only brands I recognize are Fluke (expensive but really good meters) and Amprobe which I think are rebranded. Be wary of meters that target electricians, they may not have the low uA and mV scales.
So, as a rough guess, if you are measuring 5V, you can be off by 40 mV on the cheap meter or 5 mV on the 121GW. Your choice.
Accuracy counts as do digits, ranges, True RMS (desirable) and so on.
So, I'm no help at all!
You might chase this further down the rabbit hole over in the Test Equipment forum. It usually gets quite animated! Have a price range in mind before posting. Otherwise, all you will hear is how great Fluke meters are. Yes, they're quite good but they are pricey. Disclaimer: I have a Fluke 189 - a very good meter currently selling on Amazon for nearly $1000. I bought it for around $400 about 20 years ago. Talk about inflation!
https://www.amazon.com/Fluke-189-True-Digital-Mutimeter/dp/B000MXB5C2
The search feature might be useful - or not...
tggzzz:
--- Quote from: x_marx on September 12, 2022, 06:58:51 pm ---Edit:
Can anyone suggest any decent budget multi-meter (UK)?
https://cpc.farnell.com/c/test-equipment/multimeters-clamp-meters/prl/results
--- End quote ---
To do what?
If to measure logic and opamp power rails, almost any piece of junk will be sufficient. If to measure whether an output is high or low, a resistor and LED is sufficient.
x_marx:
--- Quote from: tggzzz on September 13, 2022, 12:04:22 am ---
--- Quote from: x_marx on September 12, 2022, 06:58:51 pm ---Edit:
Can anyone suggest any decent budget multi-meter (UK)?
https://cpc.farnell.com/c/test-equipment/multimeters-clamp-meters/prl/results
--- End quote ---
To do what?
If to measure logic and opamp power rails, almost any piece of junk will be sufficient. If to measure whether an output is high or low, a resistor and LED is sufficient.
--- End quote ---
--- Quote from: tggzzz on September 13, 2022, 12:04:22 am ---
--- Quote from: x_marx on September 12, 2022, 06:58:51 pm ---Edit:
Can anyone suggest any decent budget multi-meter (UK)?
https://cpc.farnell.com/c/test-equipment/multimeters-clamp-meters/prl/results
--- End quote ---
To do what?
If to measure logic and opamp power rails, almost any piece of junk will be sufficient. If to measure whether an output is high or low, a resistor and LED is sufficient.
--- End quote ---
I'm trying to do some simple LED-based projects (addressable RGB LEDs) first. Then I plan to do more like drones as I have some aerospace design knowledge.
So for the time being, might need to check the resistance, test a diode, continuity and maybe... maybe the capacitance? All low voltage stuff.
The budget is quite low - like 30-40 quid?
x_marx:
This deal...is it any good?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/AstroAI-Multimeters-Capacitance-Transistors-Temperature/dp/B071JL6LLL
tggzzz:
--- Quote from: x_marx on September 13, 2022, 11:24:07 am ---
--- Quote from: tggzzz on September 13, 2022, 12:04:22 am ---
--- Quote from: x_marx on September 12, 2022, 06:58:51 pm ---Edit:
Can anyone suggest any decent budget multi-meter (UK)?
https://cpc.farnell.com/c/test-equipment/multimeters-clamp-meters/prl/results
--- End quote ---
To do what?
If to measure logic and opamp power rails, almost any piece of junk will be sufficient. If to measure whether an output is high or low, a resistor and LED is sufficient.
--- End quote ---
--- Quote from: tggzzz on September 13, 2022, 12:04:22 am ---
--- Quote from: x_marx on September 12, 2022, 06:58:51 pm ---Edit:
Can anyone suggest any decent budget multi-meter (UK)?
https://cpc.farnell.com/c/test-equipment/multimeters-clamp-meters/prl/results
--- End quote ---
To do what?
If to measure logic and opamp power rails, almost any piece of junk will be sufficient. If to measure whether an output is high or low, a resistor and LED is sufficient.
--- End quote ---
I'm trying to do some simple LED-based projects (addressable RGB LEDs) first. Then I plan to do more like drones as I have some aerospace design knowledge.
So for the time being, might need to check the resistance, test a diode, continuity and maybe... maybe the capacitance? All low voltage stuff.
The budget is quite low - like 30-40 quid?
--- End quote ---
Buy the cheapest piece of crap you can get your hands on. Learn what it can and can't show you a plus what you need to measure. Then, if necessary, you will be in a position to know what you need next.
If you wouldn't touch a naked conductor at the voltages in your system, or currents could melt metal, then you need better than cheap crap.
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