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One of the downsides of working from home is that I can't easily borrow kit from the lab at work. I'm in need of a multimeter for general use but there are lots of options around. Happy to spend up to £50 if it's worth it, but don't need anything like the fluke ones at work. Something basic and budget would do
I think most meters will be sufficient for home use. Perhaps something from RS components?
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/multimeters/1611625/
Something cheap from Screwfix! I always look for one that turns on with a dial, I had one with a push button to turn on and it was ALWAYS flat! Either I put something on it, slammed the tool drawer and knocked it, it out rolled around in the back of the van. Never seemed to turn itself off!
I've used some fancy flukes and super cheap £5 eBay specials and they all do the job. The cheap ones are perfectly fine for home use. Certainly accurate enough. A good cheap all-rounder is the Aneng AN8000. It's got a proper off switch. Feels nice for the money. There's a few in the AN800x range with slightly different modes so you can tweak your requirements
Cheap one from Screwfix +1
But not the cheapest as that doesn't have a continuity test (let alone an audible one), which is the most used setting (for me anyway)
What's "general use"?
Something that comes with decent leads for a start. If the leads are short or stiff plastic insulation it's rubbish.
Thanks all. "General use" is stuff like home electrical, some automotive, some for my music electronics etc. As I understand it, you can get more automotive specific units.. .. So not one of those.
I've been very happy with the UNI-T UT139C. Recommended on EEVblog too.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/UNI-T-Multimeter-Capacitance-Temperature-Measurement/dp/B08FCD7R9P/
Even the cheapest and nastiest meter will be accurate enough for home and hobby work, but the more expensive ones have proper fuses and won't shrapnel your face with bits of metal and plastic if you accidentally short a car battery or 240v through them.
For home electrical a cheap voltage prover might be more useful and much safer.
I bought one of these a couple of years ago. It seems to work well. I am pretty illiterate when it comes to all things electrical, so just tend to prod it at things & hope for the best.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B071JL6LLL
My wife however is an electronics engineer used to working with Flukes etc. and was impressed with how well this works for the money, when I have had to drag her in to help out.
but the more expensive ones have proper fuses and won’t shrapnel your face with bits of metal and plastic if you accidentally short a car battery or 240v through them.
Neither would a cheap one. Even if it didn't have any fuses the PCB track would vapourise inside the plastic case and it would just 'die' without any external signs of damage.