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Craftsman Multi-meter (aka DMM) kit Half Price! - 82146 from Sears $12.49 (reg. $25.)

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Got it! Looks to be made pretty well. Product picture looks different than what I received. Face on mine has red numbers and product image on website shows different colors for the different settings. No big deal. My only complaint so far is that it is not auto-ranging but at this price it is a great buy. Will update if I find anything to note after putting it to the test.
 
I tried it out last night and it seems to be pretty well made. Soft plastic case/cover is nice. Voltage readings in my house read 122.7 - 123.3 VAC. It fluctuated a bit so I am unsure how accurate it is. I will grab a Fluke from my wife's work and compare the readings to it.
The continuity doesn't seem to work very well. Even touching the leads together often produced a weak reading and wavered in and out. Might give false readings of not having continuity. I will have to do some more testing. All in all I can't complain too much considering this was only ~$15 and seems to be well built. The voltage tester seems to work ok but I probably won't use it too much since I already have a test light that is smaller and more trustworthy. Nice bonus freebie though.
 
Originally posted by: knightc2
Product picture looks different than what I received. Face on mine has red numbers and product image on website shows different colors for the different settings. No big deal.
I ordered and picked up two from a local store. They are both 82146 but the labeling on the packages as well as the meters for the two I have are different. One meters has a silver face with... heck it would be easier to show a picture...one sec

Pics
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I received the one on the left. The one on the right is the picture represented on the website. No big deal although the one on the right looks like it might be easier to read the numbering???
 
"Tester:
AC Current Yes
Continuity Yes
DC Current Yes
Diodes Yes
Resistance Yes
Volts Yes "

Does it test a battery's maH?

If so, which of those 6 is it?
 
Originally posted by: JEDI
"Tester:
AC Current Yes
Continuity Yes
DC Current Yes
Diodes Yes
Resistance Yes
Volts Yes "

Does it test a battery's maH?

If so, which of those 6 is it?
Click to expand...

I don't think you can measure the capacity (Amp . Hour) of a battery without completely discharging it! I would be very interested to learn if there is a way.

Edit:
I did some reading:
http://sackheads.org/~jimmie/battery/analysis.html
http://www.crypto.com/chargers/
http://www.rcbatteryclinic.com/ESVbyHoff.html
http://www.rcbatteryclinic.com/ESVbyHoff.html
http://www.camerahacker.com/Definitions/Battery_Capacity_Conversion.shtml
http://pdfserv.maxim-ic.com/en/an/AN3874.pdf

The capacity of a battery is a complicated parameter to measure.
 
Originally posted by: Navid
Originally posted by: JEDI
"Tester:
AC Current Yes
Continuity Yes
DC Current Yes
Diodes Yes
Resistance Yes
Volts Yes "

Does it test a battery's maH?

If so, which of those 6 is it?
Click to expand...

I don't think you can measure the capacity (Amp . Hour) of a battery without completely discharging it! I would be very interested to learn if there is a way.
Click to expand...


A multimeter is just a tool, you have to devise your own testing methodology for whatever test you measure WITH this tool.

You can get close enough to meaningful results with mAH testing if you set up a constant current load (multimeter comes in here to measure that it's working as expected, constant current), down to 0.9V/cell (again multimeter, to determine when 0.9V is reached).

Another way to look at it is that instead of measuring a more common C/n current rate, you might instead measure the rate expected from your target device.

So in short, yes you want a multimeter to do such testing measurements but no, you can't just hook the leads up and turn the dial to do it, it's not a multimeter feature to do the entire battery test itself.
 
I think all the meters mentioned have a battery test for 1.5 and 9V batts. but IDK what kind of load it puts on the batts. IDK how the single 1.5 load can cover from button to D cells.

.bh.
 
The kinda battery does this thing use? I have a RadioShack one that I have not touched since it uses a funky 12V battery that costs $5 each to replace.
 
Originally posted by: Slaimus
The kinda battery does this thing use? I have a RadioShack one that I have not touched since it uses a funky 12V battery that costs $5 each to replace.
Click to expand...


While I highly prefer meters that use regular 9V or 2 x AA batteries, you can get the small 12V various places for less than $5. Here's one example, if it's the right size. Shipping is a few bucks but they have a lot of other stuff that might interest someone who owns a meter, OR I'm sure you can find it elsewhere for near the same price.
 
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