Decent multimeter

Monkeh · 27 Feb 2014

pompeygit said:
In fact he did not get a turd. I have one of these. I purchased it mainly for mreasuring capacitance and also kilo ohms and milliamps...something not possible on my Kewtech or fluke.

And for two of those three purposes, it's slow and inaccurate.

For the price an absolute bargain, especially for diy.

Yes, just look at that build quality and input protection. Those splashes of solder all over the PCB can't hurt anything, surely.

Sorry, but the Vichy is a pile of crap. There are much better built and/or more capable meters around at this price point.

stillp · 27 Feb 2014

Monkeh said:
There are much better built and/or more capable meters around at this price point.

I paid a lot less for my cheapo Chinese multimeter, so I don't think it's much of a bargain.
Monkeh, you probably need greater accuracy for some of the things you do, but for most DIYers accuracy in a mumtimeter is irrelevant.
What concerns me about the cheap MMs is not the accuracy, or the build quality, but the safety. I've seen a £5 meter explode when connected across a car bettery whon the high amps range, and the results were't pretty.

Monkeh · 27 Feb 2014

stillp said:
Monkeh said:

There are much better built and/or more capable meters around at this price point.

Click to expand...

I paid a lot less for my cheapo Chinese multimeter, so I don't think it's much of a bargain.
Monkeh, you probably need greater accuracy for some of the things you do, but for most DIYers accuracy in a mumtimeter is irrelevant.

Sure, but would you have any confidence in a tool which can't measure 10 ohms reliably? You can't even get a stable reading if you short the inputs.

What concerns me about the cheap MMs is not the accuracy, or the build quality, but the safety. I've seen a £5 meter explode when connected across a car bettery whon the high amps range, and the results were't pretty.

Safety and build quality are directly linked. And the Vichy has neither. It should succeed in interrupting a car battery short, though, as a wet piece of string is adequate fusing at 12V.

pompeygit · 27 Feb 2014

Your opinion Monkeh fair play...but I've never had a problem with it in 9 months. I'd say it was accurate. Sure I use it infrequently but for £20 I'd say it was a good buy. I've got good robust meters for the "real" work but for a diyer or for something that gets used fairly infrequently I'd say it was great value.
I've spent well over a grand on my most important testers because they are used often and travel in my van etc. But this item I compromised on and went cheap and it satisfies my needs with no problems. Just like my chinese phase rotation tester for £10. I only come across 3 phase once in a blue moon so I compromised by going cheap. Admittedly I did sh^t myself a bit the first time I used it.

stillp · 27 Feb 2014

Monkeh said:
stillp said:

Monkeh said:

There are much better built and/or more capable meters around at this price point.

Click to expand...

I paid a lot less for my cheapo Chinese multimeter, so I don't think it's much of a bargain.
Monkeh, you probably need greater accuracy for some of the things you do, but for most DIYers accuracy in a mumtimeter is irrelevant.

Click to expand...

Sure, but would you have any confidence in a tool which can't measure 10 ohms reliably? You can't even get a stable reading if you short the inputs.

What concerns me about the cheap MMs is not the accuracy, or the build quality, but the safety. I've seen a £5 meter explode when connected across a car bettery whon the high amps range, and the results were't pretty.

Click to expand...

Safety and build quality are directly linked. And the Vichy has neither. It should succeed in interrupting a car battery short, though, as a wet piece of string is adequate fusing at 12V.

As I'm sure you know Monkeh, the voltage is irrelevant in that case. The problem was a 10A glass fuse, that was not capable of interrupting the several hundred amps that a car battery will give for a few seconds through the melted remains of the fuse and its holder.
Yes, there's a link between safety and build quality, and it's usually price![/quote]

Monkeh · 27 Feb 2014

stillp said:
As I'm sure you know Monkeh, the voltage is irrelevant in that case.

Voltage is quite relevant to the current interrupting capability of a fuse, actually, especially at DC.

The problem was a 10A glass fuse, that was not capable of interrupting the several hundred amps that a car battery will give for a few seconds through the melted remains of the fuse and its holder.

A glass fuse typically will interrupt that (believe me, I've done it. I've also popped a £5 HRC fuse the same way, which is a good way to learn not to do it). You won't actually reach the several hundred amps before a quick blow fuse opens. Usually. I don't take that risk, though, and feed real fuses to my meters.

stillp · 27 Feb 2014

Monkeh said:
A glass fuse typically will interrupt that

Sometimes.

Yukster · 27 Feb 2014

I'll report back when I get it!

ericmark · 27 Feb 2014

I am sure it will do the job. As for accuracy on the 250 vac range of my AVO Mk8 although it has a mirror to line up needle I am sure even the cheapest of digital meter is more accurate as easier to read. And does it really matter!

With car then yes 12 - 15 volt will need to be within 0.2 volt to check charging again with out suppressed zero on an analogue meter the digital will be far better.

Good luck.

EFLImpudence · 27 Feb 2014

The thread is entitled decent multimeter.

'Only' £216 from the manufacturer, cheaper elsewhere.

Monkeh · 27 Feb 2014

EFLImpudence said:
The thread is entitled decent multimeter.

'Only' £216 from the manufacturer, cheaper elsewhere.

The lack of thermocouple input or a relative mode is a bit poor.

Big Tone · 27 Feb 2014

If it’s not too late, I'd take it back if I were you because I’d recommend the one I got from B&Q.

At the time, they had two types and I wanted something like my trusty ole AVO made from Bakelite but not as fragile or big. (Or expensive).

I also cannot stomach LCD displays! It has to be an analogue needle for me, just as with my speedometer.

I can’t see the model on their website now but I did see them a while ago still on sale in B&Q. IIRC I paid £35. It came with a protective yellow rubber-type cover. It’s only a question of time before you drop it.

I'll take a picture of mine and post it if I can't find where it is on the Web...

Having said all that; the one I actually use most of all is this one from Maplin.

Yukster · 28 Feb 2014

Big Tone said:
If it’s not too late, I'd take it back if I were you because I’d recommend the one I got from B&Q.

At the time, they had two types and I wanted something like my trusty ole AVO made from Bakelite but not as fragile or big. (Or expensive).

I also cannot stomach LCD displays! It has to be an analogue needle for me, just as with my speedometer.

I can’t see the model on their website now but I did see them a while ago still on sale in B&Q. IIRC I paid £35. It came with a protective yellow rubber-type cover. It’s only a question of time before you drop it. I'll take a picture of mine and post it if I can't find where it is on the Web...

Having said all that; the one I actually use most of all is this one from Maplin.

Hey Big Tone
What is it that you'd like to take back and yes it is too late. I ordered the VICHY VC99 3 6/7 Auto Range LCD Digital Multimeter. I kinda prefer digital display but i dont really mind.
I've got the Maplin multimeter. Mine has been unreliable and played up so I lost patience with it.

Big Tone · 28 Feb 2014

Just saying if I were you I'd take the one you bought back, but I'm not you and you sound chuffed with the one you got. So that's good

All digital meters get on my nerves! You only need the quickest of glances at a conventional clock or watch with proper hands. Digital is not the same IMO. They're commonplace everywhere because they're cheap to manufacture, and that's all.

The reason I'd get a Hayabusa over any other Super motorbike is the lovely dials; well and the stunning looks. Even the temp and fuel gauge is a proper needle.

Monkeh · 28 Feb 2014

Big Tone said:
They're commonplace everywhere because they're cheap to manufacture, and that's all.

And versatile, and precise, and reliable, and durable..

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Decent multimeter

Big Tone

Big Tone

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