Decent small multimeter?

[Muse]

like I said, just keep a small one in the car. not like you need more than 2 digit precision for cars anyway.

OK, well I have kept a small HF Cen-tech in the car, behind the driver's seat, for some years. Trouble is, sometimes (not infrequently) I do NOT trust what it says. I have a mind to put my old (25 years) Metex M-3800 back there instead. I'll keep the new Triplett in the house because it's small and hopefully easily tucked in my kitchen tool drawer (replacing the Cen-tech in there!). My Fluke would never fit in that drawer.

I've been checking my car battery voltage every time I figure up the machine these days. The battery's 8 years old. I have a replacement in my Walmart cart, but it's shown OOS for nigh on a year... Maybe sitting on a cargo ship?

 

[sdifox]

OK, well I have kept a small HF Cen-tech in the car, behind the driver's seat, for some years. Trouble is, sometimes (not infrequently) I do NOT trust what it says. I have a mind to put my old (25 years) Metex M-3800 back there instead. I'll keep the new Triplett in the house because it's small and hopefully easily tucked in my kitchen tool drawer (replacing the Cen-tech in there!). My Fluke would never fit in that drawer.

I've been checking my car battery voltage every time I figure up the machine these days. The battery's 8 years old. I have a replacement in my Walmart cart, but it's shown OOS for nigh on a year... Maybe sitting on a cargo ship?

It's eight year old, just replace it.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Does the US have something like Canadian Tire? Should be able to buy one there.

 

[Muse]

It's eight year old, just replace it.

I wanted the Walmart one because way cheaper (like 1/2 the price), the others shake you down. I had good luck with theirs in the past as well.

 

[herm0016]

Does the US have something like Canadian Tire? Should be able to buy one there.

Yes, harbor freight.

 

[Muse]

Yes, harbor freight.

Checking I see a number of MMs at HF, noticed this, which has features similar to the Triplett 1101-B at Harbor Freight, they say compare with the Klein MM400. Reviews there are positive. It sells for ~$45 but there's an Xmas promotion at ~$25:

Ames DM600

DM600 Compact Digital Multimeter

Amazing deals on this Dm600 Compact Digital Multmeter at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[sdifox]

I wanted the Walmart one because way cheaper (like 1/2 the price), the others shake you down. I had good luck with theirs in the past as well.

You can afford Interstate if you are replacing battery after eight years.

 

[Muse]

You can afford Interstate if you are replacing battery after eight years.

Not sure I should bother. I made a cheapo last 8 years by:

1. Not driving my car more than 1500/year, less usually, much less during pandemic

2. Keeping it charged with an AC charger

 

[sdifox]

Checking I see a number of MMs at HF, noticed this, which has features similar to the Triplett 1101-B at Harbor Freight, they say compare with the Klein MM400. Reviews there are positive. It sells for ~$45 but there's an Xmas promotion at ~$25:

Ames DM600

DM600 Compact Digital Multimeter

Amazing deals on this Dm600 Compact Digital Multmeter at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

so get that. good enough for car battery

 

[sdifox]

Not sure I should bother. I made a cheapo last 8 years by:

1. Not driving my car more than 1500/year, less usually, much less during pandemic

2. Keeping it charged with an AC charger

then don't bother to get another multimeter just go buy a battery and use the 25 towards the battery.

 

[Muse]

so get that. good enough for car battery

I already ordered the Triplett 1101-B. I could order the HF too, sure looks decent for the money. Looks to be ~10% bigger than the Triplett, though.

 

[Muse]

then don't bother to get another multimeter just go buy a battery and use the 25 towards the battery.

I sometimes want to be sure the battery has a good charge. Just cranking doesn't tell me enough. I want to know it's charged well, if it isn't it's deteriorating faster than need be.

 

[herm0016]

I already ordered the Triplett 1101-B. I could order the HF too, sure looks decent for the money. Looks to be ~10% bigger than the Triplett, though.

I thought you did not want any more harbor freight stuff?

also, the batteries in an analog meter will last a lot longer than in a Digital. it should also measure voltage without batteries.

 

[sdifox]

I sometimes want to be sure the battery has a good charge. Just cranking doesn't tell me enough. I want to know it's charged well, if it isn't it's deteriorating faster than need be.

You probably wasted more time checking on that battery than a new one would cost.