My main hobby for fifty years has been the restoration of vintage valve radios. Occasionally, in vintage radio circles, a novice will ask: 'Which basic multi-meter should I buy - I'm on quite a tight budget?". That will bring forth a stream of 'shroud-waving' responses, a debate will ensue which will generate more heat than light, and a 'beauty parade' of meters and brands, for which Fluke will come out on top. The 'tool junkie' contributors to those debates are so wrapped up in themselves that they fail to notice that the originator is long gone - probably in a home for the terminally bewildered.
I'm a hobbyist in a garden shed - I'm not putting rockets into space, I'm not working on live 3-phase mains, much of the testing I do is for continuity and resistance tests, or on low voltages, and very occasionally, on mains voltage. I've had various multi-meters over the years (AVO, Maplin etc), and about 15 years ago came across the 'Toolzone' large digit multi-meter. I bought two - one for indoors, one for the workshop. They've never skipped a beat. 'Toolzone' are wholesalers who don't sell to the general public - they sell cases of twenty to retailers, but the meters ae widely available from many sources online for around £15.00. EG:
https://www.manomano.co.uk/p/digita...ohm-battery-tester-ammeter-large-lcd-60911216
Unfortunately, most retailers give little detail about the ranges of the meter, and what standards the meter conforms to, so here's the spec:
TOOLZONE DIGITAL MULTIMETER WITH PROBES BATTERY + CASE.
Features:
- Auto Power Off (15 minutes)
- Measurement rate: updates 2-3/sec
- Over range indication: "1" figure only in the display
- Large Liquid Crystal Display: 3.5 x 6 cm
- Low Battery Indicator
- Automatic negative polarity indication
- Audible Continuity bleep
- Overload Protection
- Capacitance measurement auto zeroing
- High Impact Rubber Case with stand
- Probes and Leads included.
- Standard 9V Battery (supplied)
- Safety compliance: IEC 61010-1, 2000 CAT II 600V overvoltage standards
- Overvoltage installation categories per IEC 61010-1, 2000
The meter is designed to protect against transients in these categories:
- CAT 1: From high voltage low energy sources. EG: Electronic circuits or a copy machine
- CAT II: From equipment supplied from the fixed installation. EG: TV's PC's, Portable tools and household appliances
- CAT III: From equipment supplied fixed equipment installation. EG: Installation panels, feeders and short branch circuits and lighting systems in large buildings
Specifications:
- DCV: 200mV-20-200 to 600V ..........+/- 0.5%
- ACV: 2v-20v-200 to 600V ..............+/- 0.8%
- DCA:2m-20-200-10A......................+/-0.8%
- ACA: 20m-200m-10A.......................+/-1.2%
- Ohms:200-2k-20k-200k-2M-20M-20M.+/-0.8%
- Capacitance: 200pF-20n-200n-20MF............+/-0.2.5%
- Transistor Test: 1b 10MA Vce 3V
- Diode:3V/0.8Ma
- Protected by 10-Amp fuse when measuring current
Dimensions (approx.):
- Length: 200mm (8")
- Width: 95 mm (3¾")
- Depth: 52mm (2")
Includes:
- Leads and probes (red and black)
- 9V PP3 battery
- Soft plastic protective casing
For the avoidance of doubt, I have no connections with Toolzone or any other company. I'm just a hobbyist - too young to die, to old for nasty shocks. I'm not cash-strapped and could afford to buy Fluke, just as I could afford to by Lie Neilson planes, but am content to use Record or Stanley. ('Tis vain to do with more, what can be done with less').
As with any such meter, always ensure the test leads are in the correct socket for whatever is being measures - resistance, voltage, current, and on voltage tests, make sure you are on the AC or DC ranges as appropriate.
Hope that helps.
