Good (cheap) multimeter.

[Lemmings]

Can anyone recommend a basic multimeter to help me with some basic effects building / guitar wiring etc. I'm not 100% on what I should be looking for. I know I need at least something that does continuity so that I can check the shielding on my guitar.

If I could get it somewhere local (Auckland) or through trademe that would be a bonus.

Thoughts?

[Rog]

I normally prefer Fluke meters.
Its like instruments, buying good quality is normally the better way.

[Bg]

I normally prefer Fluke meters.
Its like instruments, buying good quality is normally the better way.

+1 Cheap <> accurate

[rocklander]

in the pedals I've built a cheapie has been fine... continuity and that the components measure within cooey is all I've needed.

http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp ... rm=KEYWORD

or if you want capacitance (although porlly not so accurate down in pF)
http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp ... rm=KEYWORD
(plan on getting myself one of these ones.. I've been using one not unlike the first)

[Lemmings]

Wow. The Fluke models look good, but i'm not sure if I can justify that kind of money I'm only putting together a couple of basic pedals and wiring a guitar at this stage. I'll keep them in mind though.

[Lemmings]

in the pedals I've built a cheapie has been fine... continuity and that the components measure within cooey is all I've needed.

http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp ... rm=KEYWORD

or if you want capacitance (although porlly not so accurate down in pF)
http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp ... rm=KEYWORD
(plan on getting myself one of these ones.. I've been using one not unlike the first)

Now THAT is more in my price range I might be popping into Jaycar this week so i'll go have a look.

[Bg]

I was skint a while ago and bought a digitech from jaycar, its good for continuity but forget anything on the lower ranges i.e. mV's, as it doesn't actually read zero to begin with Oh and the on/off button broke within a week, took it back about 3 times then gave up in the end, just put up with it. If all you want is continuity, an led, resistor and a battery will be cheaper still, just as accurate and just as reliable

Oh and my last Fluke, true RMS and very accurate, lasted me over 15 years, probably still going strong - though I'd have to ask the bastard that pinched it.

[Anvil Amps Alan]

JAYCAR.
Digitech QM 1535 - cost me about $30 4 yrs ago, does everything and accurate.

[rocklander]

I was skint a while ago and bought a digitech from jaycar, its good for continuity but forget anything on the lower ranges i.e. mV's, as it doesn't actually read zero to begin with Oh and the on/off button broke within a week, took it back about 3 times then gave up in the end, just put up with it. If all you want is continuity, an led, resistor and a battery will be cheaper still, just as accurate and just as reliable

Oh and my last Fluke, true RMS and very accurate, lasted me over 15 years, probably still going strong - though I'd have to ask the bastard that pinched it.

good to know about the on/off..
with that in mind,
http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp ... rm=KEYWORD

this is pretty close to the $30 one I got from the warehouse... mine's been fine, but isn't autoranging... 30 odd pedals and various other projects later.

what the hell are you doing to the buttons BG? hamfisted or what?

how useful is true RMS is going to be in building a pedal?.. where would I use that? serious question.

[Bg]

what the hell are you doing to the buttons BG? hamfisted or what?

Shit components...

how useful is true RMS is going to be in building a pedal?.. where would I use that? serious question.

probably not, I was just saying what the meter was. I wouldn't trust a digitech as far as I could throw it. Having just bought a chinese made fluke which IS accurate down to millivolts and ohms and I'd happily trust my life on it, I only had to throw the digitech as far as the bin.... which hasn't been emptied yet so if you can put up with a shit on/off button that sometimes works its available for free. You DO get exactly what you pay for.

[rocklander]

JAYCAR.
Digitech QM 1535 - cost me about $30 4 yrs ago, does everything and accurate.

good to know... that's the one I linked to, so will prolly go for that too then

[Rog]

For most applications close enough is good enough. I worked in an industry where our 4.5 digit meters had to be calibrated every 90 days against a sub-standard, which was itself calibrated against a standard every year. If any measuring gear was dropped it was immediately not used until recalibrated.

[Bg]

For most applications close enough is good enough. I worked in an industry where our 4.5 digit meters had to be calibrated every 90 days against a sub-standard, which was itself calibrated against a standard every year. If any measuring gear was dropped it was immediately not used until recalibrated.

yeah I just think a meter that reads 15-17mv when it should be zero i.e. not connected, is not exactly going to give me a true reading when I'm looking for about 32mv for valve biasing etc. The digitech meter I have has shit construction and is made out of flimsy plastic, and the ongoing issues with the on/off switch alone would put me off buying another.

[rocklander]

they saw ya coming beeg

[Bg]

they saw ya coming beeg

They see all their customers coming But hey, I've no problems with Mainfreight