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Meters [message #358968] Sat, 26 September 2020 11:29 Go to previous message
jhbridges is currently offline  jhbridges   United States
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
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Since we've got a number of new owners, let's talk a bit about your electrical test set, the multimeter. They come in two forms, digital and analog. While the digital is normally more accurate, it doesn't show trends well. Watch the needle on an analog meter and trends are readily apparent. Here's an analog under 8 dollars shipped which will serve nicely: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Voltmeter-Ammeter-Ohmmeter-Analog-Multimeter-Tester-Meter-Volt-AC-DC-1000V-4000mA/264735286860?_trkparms=aid%3D555017%26algo% 3DPL.CASSINI%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160406134228%26meid%3D3b1d6dd10f7f4933abb93e4c05ba854e%26pid%3D100625%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D7%26itm%3D264735286860%26pmt%3D 1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2499334%26brand%3DUnbranded&_trksid=p2499334.c100625.m3682

For more accurate measurements, the digital meter shines. Unless you do a lot of AC measurements on reactive circuits (you probably don't) there's no need to drop the extra money for a true RMS meter, peak AC will do just fine. I bought this one because it had many more features : https://www.ebay.com/p/9032118639?iid=283654194902&chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=2836541949 02&targetid=935083617307&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9011014&poi=&campaignid=10897367470&mkgroupid=108153776780&rlsa target=pla-935083617307&abcId=9300403&merchantid=118875260&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzN7JqJ2H7AIVBL7ACh1wywXjEAQYAyABEgLNFvD_BwE

If you don't use the features, eBay has digital meters for less than fifteen dollars delivered which are suitable for everything on a GMC. One caveat on all the heaten chionee cheap meters, which I have run into several times. Often the plastic outer cover on the prob banana plug (the end that fits into the meter) is a bit too long resulting in intermittent readings. Take an X-Acto and trim it back an eight of an inch or so to cure this problem.

For work (55 years in broadcast engineering) I used a Simpson 260 series analog meter and a couple of John Fluke digitals. They are way beyond anything needed in the GMC and are far from inexpensive. The ones listed above are totally sufficient for GMC work, and if you trash one by measuring all the ohms in the plughole you haven't lost a lot of money.

--johnny

Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons. Braselton, Ga. I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell

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