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Products => Test Equipment => Topic started by: cybergibbons on December 04, 2017, 12:04:45 pm

Title: Best sub-£50 meter with really good continuity
Post by: cybergibbons on December 04, 2017, 12:04:45 pm
I'm looking for a meter that is available in the UK without having to wait weeks for a Chinese shipment, as I am recommending it for others to buy.

It's for hardware reverse engineering, so by far the biggest requirement is a good continuity buzzer, and ideally comes with decent probes.

Any recommendations?
Title: Re: Best sub-£50 meter with really good continuity
Post by: tautech on December 04, 2017, 11:14:08 pm
For continuity, check out data that Joe has put together on meters.
He found one sooooo fast it could play Van Halen while in continuity mode.  :-DD
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hear-kitty-kitty-kitty-nope-not-that-kind-of-cat/ (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hear-kitty-kitty-kitty-nope-not-that-kind-of-cat/)
Title: Re: Best sub-£50 meter with really good continuity
Post by: rhb on December 04, 2017, 11:22:00 pm
Mount a DPDT  slide switch on the side of the case and add a small piezo sounder.
Title: Re: Best sub-£50 meter with really good continuity
Post by: rsjsouza on December 05, 2017, 02:31:02 am
The UT136 Family is very well built, compact and has a lightning continuity tester. I have a UT136C (with temperature) bought for US$19.00.

Actually, 14 pounds at Amazon:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/UT136C-Handheld-Auto-ranging-Digital-Multimeter/dp/B06WGRB1VV (https://www.amazon.co.uk/UT136C-Handheld-Auto-ranging-Digital-Multimeter/dp/B06WGRB1VV)
Title: Re: Best sub-£50 meter with really good continuity
Post by: joeqsmith on December 05, 2017, 02:58:24 am
How loud do you want it, how fast, latching....  Really depends on what you personally like.  This is why when I test them, I don't just touch the leads together and call it a day.  I want to know the thresholds, open circuit voltages, short circuit currents. 

For continuity, check out data that Joe has put together on meters.
He found one sooooo fast it could play Van Halen while in continuity mode.  :-DD
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hear-kitty-kitty-kitty-nope-not-that-kind-of-cat/ (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hear-kitty-kitty-kitty-nope-not-that-kind-of-cat/)

:-DD

https://youtu.be/svJXiMMZzcQ (https://youtu.be/svJXiMMZzcQ)
Title: Re: Best sub-£50 meter with really good continuity
Post by: Fungus on December 05, 2017, 06:49:42 am
For continuity, check out data that Joe has put together on meters.
He found one sooooo fast it could play Van Halen while in continuity mode.  :-DD
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hear-kitty-kitty-kitty-nope-not-that-kind-of-cat/ (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hear-kitty-kitty-kitty-nope-not-that-kind-of-cat/)

Yes, but the reason it can do that is because it's non-latching (and sounds nasty when you use it). Still, at this price range and in a hurry you're unlikely to get better.

I always felt like a buzzing multimeter is the wrong way to do continuity. I'd like a LED on the probe that's in my hand. Maybe something could be built with an Arduino.
Title: Re: Best sub-£50 meter with really good continuity
Post by: kalel on December 05, 2017, 06:59:07 am
For continuity, check out data that Joe has put together on meters.
He found one sooooo fast it could play Van Halen while in continuity mode.  :-DD
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hear-kitty-kitty-kitty-nope-not-that-kind-of-cat/ (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hear-kitty-kitty-kitty-nope-not-that-kind-of-cat/)

Yes, but the reason it can do that is because it's non-latching (and sounds nasty when you use it). Still, at this price range and in a hurry you're unlikely to get better.

I always felt like a buzzing multimeter is the wrong way to do continuity. I'd like a LED on the probe that's in my hand. Maybe something could be built with an Arduino.

That's a good idea, but depending on implementation, it might still be easier to hear the sound than focus on the light.
Title: Re: Best sub-£50 meter with really good continuity
Post by: Fungus on December 05, 2017, 07:03:55 am
I always felt like a buzzing multimeter is the wrong way to do continuity. I'd like a LED on the probe that's in my hand. Maybe something could be built with an Arduino.

That's a good idea, but depending on implementation, it might still be easier to hear the sound than focus on the light.
If you're not looking where the probe is then what use is a buzzer?