Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Shackeng on 26 September 2019, 19:19:40

Title: Multi meter
Post by: Shackeng on 26 September 2019, 19:19:40
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. :(
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: dave the builder on 26 September 2019, 19:27:37
if you need to work with any accuracy , spend on a good set of test leads/probes too
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: Shackeng on 26 September 2019, 19:31:09
if you need to work with any accuracy , spend on a good set of test leads/probes too

Check. :y
Leads sorted, now which meter do I stick them in. :-\ ;D
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: dave the builder on 26 September 2019, 19:37:24
if you need to work with any accuracy , spend on a good set of test leads/probes too

Check. :y
Leads sorted, now which meter do I stick them in. :-\ ;D
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
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 26 September 2019, 21:12:47
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.
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: Andy B on 26 September 2019, 21:22:58
Work bought me one of these (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Avo-M800-Digital-Multimeter-Multi-Function-Tester/312653377851?hash=item48cb97f13b:g:l0EAAOSwz21dANJ3) 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.
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: ronnyd on 26 September 2019, 22:12:56
Work bought me one of /Avo-M800-Digital-Multimeter-Multi-Function-Tester/312[/highlight]653377851?hash=item48cb97f13b:g:l0EAAOSwz21dANJ3]these (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm[highlight) 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. ;D
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: Kevin Wood on 26 September 2019, 23:07:40
Fix the AVO :y
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: Andy B on 26 September 2019, 23:17:07
Fix the AVO :y

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  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: Kevin Wood on 26 September 2019, 23:29:11
Fix the AVO :y

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  ;D ;D

Oh, that's quite a modern one. ;D
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: Andy B on 26 September 2019, 23:48:26
Fix the AVO :y

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  ;D ;D

Oh, that's quite a modern one. ;D

 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: Bigron on 26 September 2019, 23:54:24
Andy, you wouldn't be able to afford one of those old AVOs now - even if you could find one! ::)

Ron.
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: Andy B on 26 September 2019, 23:56:08
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?  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: Bigron on 27 September 2019, 00:04:22
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. :o
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: Kevin Wood on 27 September 2019, 00:21:24
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. :o

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. ;D
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: Andy B on 27 September 2019, 00:36:30
...

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

 ....

I'm not sure RS was around when I was at school  ??? ;D
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: Bigron on 27 September 2019, 05:31:14
They were called RadioSpares back then, Andy - and they were a lot  cheaper! :)

Ron.
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: Shackeng on 27 September 2019, 07:15:57
Fix the AVO :y

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.  :(
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: aaronjb on 27 September 2019, 07:41:17
https://simonselectronics.co.uk/product/121gw-multimeter-eevblog-with-probes/

Might be a bit over the price range you were thinking, though  ;D
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: Rods2 on 27 September 2019, 12:18:13
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 (https://uk.farnell.com/fluke-digitalmultimeters)
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: Shackeng on 27 September 2019, 16:59:04
Thanks guys but I’m looking for one about £30 or less. I am surprised at these prices. :y
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: Kevin Wood on 27 September 2019, 17:23:59
https://simonselectronics.co.uk/product/121gw-multimeter-eevblog-with-probes/

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

Bookmarked! :P That site will form the basis of this year's Christmas pressie list. ;D
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: JasonH on 28 September 2019, 13:23:42
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 (https://cpc.farnell.com/tenma/72-10390a/dmm-handheld-manual-3-5digit/dp/IN07410)
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: Shackeng on 29 September 2019, 14:27:31
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 (https://cpc.farnell.com/tenma/72-10390a/dmm-handheld-manual-3-5digit/dp/IN07410)

Just in my price bracket. Does it Auto shut off?  :-\
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: STEMO on 29 September 2019, 15:30:25
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 (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?  :)
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: Shackeng on 29 September 2019, 17:10:10
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 (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? :-\ ;D
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: aaronjb on 30 September 2019, 08:38:56
https://simonselectronics.co.uk/product/121gw-multimeter-eevblog-with-probes/

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

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

No affiliation with the site - to be honest, I just googled a UK reseller of the EEVBlog stuff ;D
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 30 September 2019, 10:44:41
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 (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.
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 30 September 2019, 15:41:57
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
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: Shackeng on 30 September 2019, 16:04:51
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. :y
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: TheBoy on 30 September 2019, 19:30:12
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 ;D

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.
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: Shackeng on 01 October 2019, 18:52:53
For any interested, these do have Auto shut-off: https://cpc.farnell.com/tenma/72-10390a/dmm-handheld-manual-3-5digit/dp/IN07410
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: Shackeng on 11 October 2019, 15:11:14
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. >:(
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: TheBoy on 11 October 2019, 17:04:11
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 ;D

(sorry, couldn't resist that)
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: STEMO on 11 October 2019, 17:05:31
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 ;D

(sorry, couldn't resist that)
Been done at the beginning of the thread  :P

Ok....in the middle of the thread  ;D
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: TheBoy on 11 October 2019, 17:11:41
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 ;D

(sorry, couldn't resist that)
Been done at the beginning of the thread  :P

Ok....in the middle of the thread  ;D
Its my age. I'd forgotten ;D
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: Shackeng on 11 October 2019, 18:52:58
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 ;D

(sorry, couldn't resist that)

Nope, I was quite capable of forgetting it when I was your age. ::)
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: JasonH on 11 October 2019, 18:53:49
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.
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 11 October 2019, 22:33:48
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.
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: dave the builder on 12 October 2019, 07:50:16
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  :P
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: TheBoy on 12 October 2019, 09:35:22
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 ;D

(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 ;D

though I cant remember - no pun intended - the last time I left a DVM on
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: TheBoy on 12 October 2019, 15:59:49
LOL, I have no need for one that powers off, yet this is what is in the garage....

(https://theboy.omegaowners.com/oofpics/odds/measuring.JPG)


(I make no comments on its accuracy, it was cheap, and bought to basically tell the difference between 0v and 12v ;D)
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: TheBoy on 12 October 2019, 16:00:32
Mind you, those leads are so crap, I doubt they could tell between 0v and 12v ;D
Title: Re: Multi meter
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 16 November 2019, 23:12:21
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.