Free multimeter on web-tronics.com

[scott916]

I am an idiot and forgot to put the free multi-meter code in when i ordered from webtronics. If anyone is planning on ordering anything over 50 dollars from there, would they please get the free meter for me and I'll pay shipping? It would be greatly appreciated.

 

[tangent]

They're not that great. I've received three, and I've been giving them away. The only one I still possess is in the emergency kit in the car, "just in case".

One came in with the knob falling off. On opening it up, I found that the knob mechanism snaps together, and it had fallen apart like a cheap Chinese toy...which isn't far from what it is.

Hey, it's better than nothing, but unless money is super-tight I'd get something better. A better cheapie is this one, also available at CSI. You can also find it at other places, such as MCM, usually under the Velleman brand name (DVM850BL). The Velleman version has a dark gray faceplate, not the lighter one pictured on CSI's site.

Spec-wise, they're pretty much identical, with the CSI "free" meter having a slightly wider range in some instances. The big difference is that the free meter's build quality is crap, and it's a lot bigger and heavier. I'll sacrifice dubious features like a 20 MOhm measurement range for a smaller, better built meter. Also, the Velleman/CSI meter has a backlight. Woo.

 

[Cyrillic]

That looks really great for $10. If I were to step it up to (whoa) $20 or $25, what could I get for that? I'm interested in building amps, so I'll need amp-building-features (lol), thanks!

 

[Sewer Guy]

Here is a full function digital multimeter. It has 29 functions, has a soft casing around it & looks similar to a fluke. In addition to the normal ranges it measures from 10hz to 200khz frequencies & checks capacitance.
I work with a FLuke 87 IV at work. This meter is very close in accuracy.
It costs $39.95 @ www.harborfreight.com , you can find them on sale every other month or so. The model is Cen-Tech 35017-1VGA.

I bought one for use at home on projects; for the money you can't beat it.
Got mine on sale for $29.95.

 

[bg4533]

I have one of these and I will say that it does feel pretty crappy. For a beginner just making things like a Cmoy it will do just fine as long as you get one that is in decent condition. If I were you I would just go to a store and buy one though.

 

[tangent]

Quote:

If I were to step it up to (whoa) $20 or $25, what could I get for that?

Honestly, the next step up from cheapies that I'd make would be to a repairable meter. That means name brands, and a sticker price of $100+. From that point down to $50, nothing makes sense to me because that's the cost of a basic repair or calibration. So, if the plan is to stay under $50, the farther under $50 the better, within reason.

Quote:

I'll need amp-building-features

All you really must have is an ohmmeter and a voltmeter. Everything else is gravy.

 

[aos]

I actually need inductance meter as well, in addition to capacitance meter. But then, I'm matching components for filters... So I got a 50 Euro one that measures all that stuff; looks like a Fluke but of course it isn't. I don't care much about calibration, as I found that even cheap stuff is more than precise enough for anything I need. If my cheap meter shows 5.03V when it's really 5.00V, I don't really care - I know that the 5V regulator is working fine. Until I got it in October, I used a 10-year old cheapie, that still works and is no wose in precision than it was back then. These are digital circuits and metal-film resistors, modern technology, it doesn't tend to drift that much.

It shouldn't be tough to find a $20 meter that will do everything you need.

If you're using it as a primary tool of bread-winning business, have it exposed to elements and high voltage and heavy daily use, and having it fail or mis-report would cause large monetary or personal loss, then by all means you need to get a model that's industry standard, with a big brand (so that you know they will pay if you sue and win) standing behind it.

 

[scott916]

They actually have a true rms multimeter on sale for 55 dollars. would it be worth it to get this one?
Im currently building a cmoy, but I plan on going further down the DIY road soon.