Any recommendations for a decent multimeter??

[CaptSteve]

My multimeter has gone crazy. I made a new coil today for my Ody and usually I know exactly how long to make my resistance but just got via vapemail a new spool of Kenthal. So I figured I'll meter it to get my length right for about 1.5ohms. Tried to measure my internal resistance first, numbers were going crazy all over the place. Tried to measure the coil after I made the first joint of NR and R wires, again numbers on the meter all over the place. Then tried new batteries in the meter, same thing. Time for a new one.
Any recommendations for a trustworthy meter, have no clue what to get.
Thanks
Steve

 

[CaptSteve]

By the way eyeballed the length and worked out just fine. Love this Ody

 

[Moshmarr]

This one has treated me well since I got my iatty last summer, available at most auto parts stores too-
EQUUS 3300 EQUUS INNOVA Multimeter Equus Products

 

[CaptSteve]

Thanks Moshmarr, looks good to me

 

[5vz]

Maybe you need a new battery for your current DMM.

While not the best, I'm sure a really nice one from Lowe's would be much better, I have this one, it's still working after a couple years, of course I bought it from a different vendor at the time. It works for what I need.

Hongda DT-95B multimeter voltage meter

 

[CaptSteve]

Thanks 5vz, I changed batteries and still it's a no go. Thanks for this one

 

[oplholik]

I've been looking at this one, seems to be pretty good. I believe it shows 3 places to the right of the decimal.
Amazon.com: Sperry DM6400 Digital Multimeter Manual 8 Function 28 Range: Home Improvement

 

[CaptSteve]

Thanks, looks like it can brew coffee too

 

[MrKrinkle]

you can get great multimeters for under $15.00 from places like Wal-Mart & K-mart also Frys has a few to choose from including a very small version that would work great for travel purposes... they will break eventually no matter how much money you spend some sooner than others and usually depends on if you ever drop it or not... my opinion is just pick up a couple cheap ones and have one as back up until you can get another if and when one breaks....

 

[CaptSteve]

I like your thinking MrKrinkle, and even more so since I know nothing about meters. I like these idiot proof one's that just get the job done. I mean I only use them to check resistance and maybe measure bat voltage. Don't have the knowledge to do anything else with them anyway. Sounds like a great idea to me

you can get great multimeters for under $15.00 from places like Wal-Mart & K-mart also Frys has a few to choose from including a very small version that would work great for travel purposes... they will break eventually no matter how much money you spend some sooner than others and usually depends on if you ever drop it or not... my opinion is just pick up a couple cheap ones and have one as back up until you can get another if and when one breaks....

 

[Tgoode]

I'm partial to the Fluke 21

 

[dspin]

My multimeter has gone crazy. I made a new coil today for my Ody and usually I know exactly how long to make my resistance but just got via vapemail a new spool of Kenthal. So I figured I'll meter it to get my length right for about 1.5ohms. Tried to measure my internal resistance first, numbers were going crazy all over the place. Tried to measure the coil after I made the first joint of NR and R wires, again numbers on the meter all over the place. Then tried new batteries in the meter, same thing. Time for a new one.
Any recommendations for a trustworthy meter, have no clue what to get.
Thanks
Steve

This is the one I use at home - very accurate and has a stand built in

Craftsman Digital Multimeter with Manual Ranging & Non-Contact Voltage Detector Reviews - Craftsman Community


I carry a Hongda with me wherever I go, I also have a cheap one from a flea market in my locker for just in case

 

[CaptSteve]

Thanks guys I have food for thought now. I admit I'm equally confused as when I posted this thread
dspin I like the idea of the stand.

 

[6pointprime]

Generally most multimeters at the low end price point are very similar. They all cost around $10 or $20 and will give you accurate voltage readouts and resistance readouts to a tenth of an ohm. That's good enough for most people.

The reason why I use a Fluke 87 is because it gives resistance measurements to a hundredth of an ohm. Most cheap meters will read, for example, a dual coil cartomizer with a resistance of 1.40 the same as an dual coil cartomizer with a resistance of 1.49 ohms. It will just say 1.4

That will result in an error of over a full watt when doing an under load power calculation.

I also regularly use the memory function on the Fluke so that I don't' have to manually subtract the resistance of your leads when measuring resistance. Not at all necessary, but very handy.

Unfortunately Fluke meters are expensive. I bought mine used for $100. If you can find a deal like that you're in good shape.

Otherwise just go with a cheap one and live with the lack of features an inherent error when doing power calculations.

 

[Rick.45cal]

I'm partial to the Fluke 21

Does that one come with a degree in electrical engineering too? Even I can't justify a $260 multimeter to myself... and I can justify almost anything

 

[Rick.45cal]

Generally most multimeters at the low end price point are very similar. They all cost around $10 or $20 and will give you accurate voltage readouts and resistance readouts to a tenth of an ohm. That's good enough for most people.

The reason why I use a Fluke 87 is because it gives resistance measurements to a hundredth of an ohm. Most cheap meters will read, for example, a dual coil cartomizer with a resistance of 1.40 the same as an dual coil cartomizer with a resistance of 1.49 ohms. It will just say 1.4

That will result in an error of over a full watt when doing an under load power calculation.

I also regularly use the memory function on the Fluke so that I don't' have to manually subtract the resistance of your leads when measuring resistance. Not at all necessary, but very handy.

Unfortunately Fluke meters are expensive. I bought mine used for $100. If you can find a deal like that you're in good shape.

Otherwise just go with a cheap one and live with the lack of features an inherent error when doing power calculations.

While I agree, that there is an inherent error. It all ends up being a wash if the meter measures consistently with the same error, we are all basing our resistance on a personal preference. If the meter measures consistently wrong then it doesn't matter whether the ohm rating is exactly accurate or not. If it gives you the vape that you like then the number is arbitrary anyway. If all of my coils that I make are 3.5 Ohm (according to my meter) but are really 3.25 Ohm (with the inaccuracy figured in) then it doesn't matter unless I try to use your corrected meter to make a coil, then it will seem different to me, and won't be the vape I like.

I'm just playing the debil's advocate here, I'm a numbers person and like accuracy in things (especially measuring devices)
but for building coils I don't really need to know the true corrected value if I am using the same equipment consistently, it doesn't really matter.

 

[Tgoode]

My place of employment pays for it.

 

[mikeK]

I have this one :



Cheap , small - portable , trustworthy !
MASTECH MS8216 | eBay
MAS8216 4000 Counts Digital Multimeter-Digital Multimeter-MASTECH

 

[Rick.45cal]

My place of employment pays for it.

That makes sense

 

[CaptSteve]

Here is my $25 Radio Shack one which works great