multi-meter - which one?

[Oxford]

would anyone be able to recommend which of these 4 would be the most appropriate for automotive use?

http://www.maplin.co.uk/productsearch?c ... multimeter

Thanks

Pete

[Boris64]

sorry I note there are many more than 4 to choose from.

I have also corrected my user name.

Pete

[Matt]

Just about any of them will work fine (I like analogue ones where you can see the needle move)

All you need is DC voltage, DC Current, Resistance & Continuity - and even the cheapest ones do that. (I use one I got in the reduced bin at B&Q for £2.99).

If you want to be able to measure current drain & charging current etc clampmeters (http://www.maplin.co.uk/dc-ac-current-c ... ter-629713) are very useful as you don't have to unbolt anything and they can "see" high currents without damaging the internal circuitry.

[les]

The UZ82D and N20AX have been ok for me.

[Boris64]

Matt, Les

Thanks for the advice. I'll go to Maplin in the hope of not being baffled.

I'm looking for something not of complex but enough to cover all the bases.

Thanks

Pete

[les]

Good luck, the ones I mentioned are quite straightforward devices, one is digital the other analogue, the only reason I bought a digital type was because the needle on the other one moved so little on the particular thing I was checking that I couldn't read it very accurately, whereas the digital one did give me the figures but for all general use the analogue one is fine. As Matt has indicated, it's sometimes nice/reassuring to actually see something move!

[bmcecosse]

You only need the most basic meter to work on a Minor, in fact - a bulb and two wires with small croc clips will pretty much do all you need to trace wiring etc, only thing you NEED the meter for is when setting up the charge rate with a dynamo, or checking the charge volts of an alternator.. This meter is more than adequate...... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Digital-LCD-M ... 53f1c8bba5

[Boris64]

Les,Bmc,

Thanks for the advice, I have bought the one on ebay as suggested for exactly the reason you outline.

The recently fitted alternator is running hot.

Pete

[Sandun]

yes just u want to simple one - remember some time we have to use analog multimeeter some time have to use digitel one - an Ex: when ur dynamor working , if u want cheak Voltege u can not use digitel bz it not give fix value of volt then u haveto use analog one - i think u want simple 2 maltimeeters of them - i have two - good luck

[bmcecosse]

Is your battery behaving itself now Sandun??

[Boris64]

Sandun

Thanks for the advice. I bought the one Bmc suggested from eBay which arrived this morning. Looks far to complex for my simple brain.

I fitted a reversing light today with gear lever switching (restoration section) but have yet to do the wiring. I'll find something to try the meter on tomorrow.

Pete

[Sandun]

how u check electric wire short ? - it esy from analog maltimeeter - how u check ur battery volt ? It esy from digitel malti meeter - bay

[Matt]

Some basic instructions for using it...

Black wire goes in the "COM" hole (common). The Red wire either goes in the Volts hole or Amp hole depending on what you are measuring.

Lets see what the voltage of your battery is?

Rotate the dial until its pointing towards DC Voltage (A solid line with dots underneath) and then rotate to the lowest number above 12 (probably 20). Put the Black on the negative side of the battery and the red on the posative side. This will give you the battery voltage (engine stopped) or charging voltage (engine running).

The Volts with a wavey line is AC voltage - you won't need this on the car. (Same applies for A with the wavy symbol)

The other useful thing is a continuity check (i.e. can power travel down that wire). Put the red in the current/amp position. Turn the dial to the Triangle pointing at a line (diode symbol) and touch the red and black wire together... the meter will buzz to show continuiuty. If you connect between any 2 connections on the car which are electrically connected then the meter will buzz - if it doesn't then there is no connection.

Its easy to blow fuses on the Amp scale if you don't know what you are doing so at the moment I would advise against using that part of the meter

[Boris64]

Matt,

Thanks for the briefing, I love the plain English!!

Boris has largely disappeared for the week as junior mechanic's school transport so I won't get useful access until Saturday.

I'll try everything out then as I plan to wire in a couple of accessories.

I'll let you know.

Thanks

pete