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[Shackeng]

I'm not impressed with the cheap one I bought as it doesn't auto shut-off, and no zero faciility, which wouldn't matter if it read zero!
Any recommendations for a replacement? The mini Avo I bought in Change Alley 50 years ago has now packed up.

[dave the builder]

if you need to work with any accuracy , spend on a good set of test leads/probes too

[Shackeng]

if you need to work with any accuracy , spend on a good set of test leads/probes too

Check.
Leads sorted, now which meter do I stick them in.

[dave the builder]

if you need to work with any accuracy , spend on a good set of test leads/probes too

Check.
Leads sorted, now which meter do I stick them in.

can't advise on mid-range
I used to be a spark, my kit is old and NLS and very expensive ,rarely used
I usually carry el chipo ebay tat ,which I loose no sleep over when I drop it or the smoke comes out

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

I also need a new one. Plenty of Fluke versions sitting AROUND AT WORK, BUT I think they would miss one. I also think it would be wasted on me, as they look a bit confusing.

[Andy B]

Work bought me one of these years ago and it's still going strong.

But my Dad has had a cheap Clarke from Machine Mart for a number of years though I have to admit it doesn't really get much hammer.

[ronnyd]

Work bought me one of /Avo-M800-Digital-Multimeter-Multi-Function-Tester/312[/highlight]653377851?hash=item48cb97f13b:g:l0EAAOSwz21dANJ3]these years ago and it's still going strong.

But my Dad has had a cheap Clarke from Machine Mart for a number of years though I have to admit it doesn't really get much hammer.

My youngest "gave" me one of those, but when he left home he took it back and  left me with a shitty cheapo one.

[Kevin Wood]

Fix the AVO

[Andy B]

Fix the AVO

AVO makes me think of the AVOs we had at school like this ..... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AVO-8-Mk-5-Analogue-multimeter/193122699874?hash=item2cf7028a62:g:Yj4AAOSw71Fdd4OX 

[Kevin Wood]

Fix the AVO

AVO makes me think of the AVOs we had at school like this ..... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AVO-8-Mk-5-Analogue-multimeter/193122699874?hash=item2cf7028a62:g:Yj4AAOSw71Fdd4OX 

Oh, that's quite a modern one.

[Andy B]

Fix the AVO

AVO makes me think of the AVOs we had at school like this ..... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AVO-8-Mk-5-Analogue-multimeter/193122699874?hash=item2cf7028a62:g:Yj4AAOSw71Fdd4OX 

Oh, that's quite a modern one.

 

[Bigron]

Andy, you wouldn't be able to afford one of those old AVOs now - even if you could find one!

Ron.

[Andy B]

Andy, you wouldn't be able to afford one of those old AVOs now - even if you could find one!

Ron.

but would I want one? 

[Bigron]

NO. I did my apprenticeship using those and a Cambridge dynamometer, both large and unweildy - especially the Cambridge; all solid wood and ebonite casing!

Ron.

P.S. The Cambridge costs sixty times my weekly wage back then.

[Kevin Wood]

Andy, you wouldn't be able to afford one of those old AVOs now - even if you could find one!

Ron.

Yep, back when you could still buy them form RS they were about £700 IIRC.

You can pick one up for £20 at a radio rally these days. Don't think I've ever killed one, and I've been through a good few digital multimeters in my time.

[Andy B]

...

Yep, back when you could still buy them form RS they were about £700 IIRC.

 ....

I'm not sure RS was around when I was at school 

[Bigron]

They were called RadioSpares back then, Andy - and they were a lot  cheaper!

Ron.

[Shackeng]

Fix the AVO

It is not a real one, just a small square black box that looks like a mini Avo. It has been good in its time, but does not work on all scales and will no longer zero. 

[aaronjb]

https://simonselectronics.co.uk/product/121gw-multimeter-eevblog-with-probes/

Might be a bit over the price range you were thinking, though 

[Rods2]

You can get a basic Fluke model 113 for £117 from Farnell. Cheap unbranded off the bay of thieves & more expensive fake branded ones which are fine if being used for indicating low voltages, currents & resistance where IME high voltage safety (anything above 100v), high quality components & calibration are considered an unnecessary extra expense is the Chinese knock off factory, so aren't included.

If you want a proper safe calibrated test instrument then you need to buy it from an official distributor like Farnell.

https://uk.farnell.com/fluke-digitalmultimeters

[Shackeng]

Thanks guys but I’m looking for one about £30 or less. I am surprised at these prices.

[Kevin Wood]

https://simonselectronics.co.uk/product/121gw-multimeter-eevblog-with-probes/

Might be a bit over the price range you were thinking, though 

Bookmarked! That site will form the basis of this year's Christmas pressie list.

[JasonH]

I've always found the Tenma stuff epically good value for money. They work and maintain their accuracy really well.

Something like this: https://cpc.farnell.com/tenma/72-10390a/dmm-handheld-manual-3-5digit/dp/IN07410

[Shackeng]

I've always found the Tenma stuff epically good value for money. They work and maintain their accuracy really well.

Something like this: https://cpc.farnell.com/tenma/72-10390a/dmm-handheld-manual-3-5digit/dp/IN07410

Just in my price bracket. Does it Auto shut off? 

[STEMO]

I've always found the Tenma stuff epically good value for money. They work and maintain their accuracy really well.

Something like this: https://cpc.farnell.com/tenma/72-10390a/dmm-handheld-manual-3-5digit/dp/IN07410

Just in my price bracket. Does it Auto shut off? 

Why? Are you getting forgetful? 

[Shackeng]

I've always found the Tenma stuff epically good value for money. They work and maintain their accuracy really well.

Something like this: https://cpc.farnell.com/tenma/72-10390a/dmm-handheld-manual-3-5digit/dp/IN07410

Just in my price bracket. Does it Auto shut off? 

Why? Are you getting forgetful? 

And you are?

[aaronjb]

https://simonselectronics.co.uk/product/121gw-multimeter-eevblog-with-probes/

Might be a bit over the price range you were thinking, though 

Bookmarked! That site will form the basis of this year's Christmas pressie list.

No affiliation with the site - to be honest, I just googled a UK reseller of the EEVBlog stuff

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

I've always found the Tenma stuff epically good value for money. They work and maintain their accuracy really well.

Something like this: https://cpc.farnell.com/tenma/72-10390a/dmm-handheld-manual-3-5digit/dp/IN07410

Just in my price bracket. Does it Auto shut off? 

Mine too, for the amount of time it would get used. I think I may order one today.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Tenma is best of the budget generally, CPC have this one:

https://cpc.farnell.com/tenma/72-7780/digital-multimeter-handheld-3/dp/IN07413

No auto ranging but has auto power off and reasonable ranges and accuracy

or for a tenner more:

https://cpc.farnell.com/tenma/72-10405/dmm-handheld-auto-manual-3-75digit/dp/IN07427?MER=sy-me-pd-mi-alte

[Shackeng]

Tenma is best of the budget generally, CPC have this one:

https://cpc.farnell.com/tenma/72-7780/digital-multimeter-handheld-3/dp/IN07413

No auto ranging but has auto power off and reasonable ranges and accuracy

or for a tenner more:

https://cpc.farnell.com/tenma/72-10405/dmm-handheld-auto-manual-3-75digit/dp/IN07427?MER=sy-me-pd-mi-alte

Thanks Mark. That one looks to be about the cheapest one they do with auto-shutoff.

[TheBoy]

I have some reasonable mid range digital ones, one was calibrated, but ages ago. But mostly use cheap digital ones as a drop them, run over them, or simply use them. And for 99% of what I do, they are good enough.  None of my better ones do auto shut off

I had a decent old AVO 8 and some other older analogue meters, but sadly lost them in the garage. For what I do now, I had no need to replace them.

[Shackeng]

For any interested, these do have Auto shut-off: https://cpc.farnell.com/tenma/72-10390a/dmm-handheld-manual-3-5digit/dp/IN07410

[Shackeng]

For any interested, these do have Auto shut-off: https://cpc.farnell.com/tenma/72-10390a/dmm-handheld-manual-3-5digit/dp/IN07410

Ignore the above, this was based on a reply from Farnell Technical Dept. Having bought the unit based on this, I am annoyed to find that it does not have Auto Power Off.

[TheBoy]

For any interested, these do have Auto shut-off: https://cpc.farnell.com/tenma/72-10390a/dmm-handheld-manual-3-5digit/dp/IN07410

Ignore the above, this was based on a reply from Farnell Technical Dept. Having bought the unit based on this, I am annoyed to find that it does not have Auto Power Off.

Is age making you that forgetful to turn it off when finished

(sorry, couldn't resist that)

[STEMO]

For any interested, these do have Auto shut-off: https://cpc.farnell.com/tenma/72-10390a/dmm-handheld-manual-3-5digit/dp/IN07410

Ignore the above, this was based on a reply from Farnell Technical Dept. Having bought the unit based on this, I am annoyed to find that it does not have Auto Power Off.

Is age making you that forgetful to turn it off when finished

(sorry, couldn't resist that)

Been done at the beginning of the thread 

Ok....in the middle of the thread 

[TheBoy]

For any interested, these do have Auto shut-off: https://cpc.farnell.com/tenma/72-10390a/dmm-handheld-manual-3-5digit/dp/IN07410

Ignore the above, this was based on a reply from Farnell Technical Dept. Having bought the unit based on this, I am annoyed to find that it does not have Auto Power Off.

Is age making you that forgetful to turn it off when finished

(sorry, couldn't resist that)

Been done at the beginning of the thread 

Ok....in the middle of the thread 

Its my age. I'd forgotten

[Shackeng]

For any interested, these do have Auto shut-off: https://cpc.farnell.com/tenma/72-10390a/dmm-handheld-manual-3-5digit/dp/IN07410

Ignore the above, this was based on a reply from Farnell Technical Dept. Having bought the unit based on this, I am annoyed to find that it does not have Auto Power Off.

Is age making you that forgetful to turn it off when finished

(sorry, couldn't resist that)

Nope, I was quite capable of forgetting it when I was your age.

[JasonH]

The thing is things that have auto power off are always draining the battery a small amount.

For me having a DVM with a proper on/off switch means that if I don't use it for a year the battery still works.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

I also bought one. Im a tad disappointed by its very cheap plasticky build. My 10 year old £5 one was much more robustly built.

[dave the builder]

I also bought one. Im a tad disappointed by its very cheap plasticky build. My 10 year old £5 one was much more robustly built.

needs to be plastic to stop the "lectric" spilling everywhere 

[TheBoy]

For any interested, these do have Auto shut-off: https://cpc.farnell.com/tenma/72-10390a/dmm-handheld-manual-3-5digit/dp/IN07410

Ignore the above, this was based on a reply from Farnell Technical Dept. Having bought the unit based on this, I am annoyed to find that it does not have Auto Power Off.

Is age making you that forgetful to turn it off when finished

(sorry, couldn't resist that)

Nope, I was quite capable of forgetting it when I was your age.

At my age, I'm more than capable of forgetting what day of the week it is

though I cant remember - no pun intended - the last time I left a DVM on

[TheBoy]

LOL, I have no need for one that powers off, yet this is what is in the garage....




(I make no comments on its accuracy, it was cheap, and bought to basically tell the difference between 0v and 12v )

[TheBoy]

Mind you, those leads are so crap, I doubt they could tell between 0v and 12v

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

I also bought one. Im a tad disappointed by its very cheap plasticky build. My 10 year old £5 one was much more robustly built.

….And now I think it will have to go back. When set to continuity it beeps constantly, which is as useful as a chocolate teapot. It was ok on the one occasion I used it but fubar when I went to use it again.