Recommendations for AC/DC voltmeter purchase

[GrowleyMonster]

Originally Posted by Bleemus

Amprobe TL36A Test Leads with Alligator Clips, 1000V https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0029XS6KW..._nJ9nBbH3APBRC

Ok gotcha. Anyway as Bleemus points out above, you can get them ready made. You can also just make one out of an old test lead and an alligator clip or whatever. I do this all the time, especially with DC circuits where I clip the ground lead to a grounded terminal and then only have to manipulate one probe.

[john61ct]

Fluke iFlex leads, comes with 376 meter, very handy for isolating a wire from a bundle.

~$200-250 on eBay

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Depends I guess on how you value tools.
I’ve made most of my living with them and to me quality tools are a necessity. A fluke 115 is not that expensive, not for a long time purchase.

Making a living with a tool and casual usage is two different items. From what I've read here, having something someone does know how to use and paying prime dollar for it isn't smart. Most seem to be why does something not turn on. I'm not berating those but spending the money on a book might be prudent.

[hellosailor]

A book? For multimeters?
Hey, for five bucks I'll sell you the URLs to some web sites that can replace that. I mean, books are dangerous, they have sharp corners, they've been used to smash flies and spiders, too.

While a HF meter can be a useful tool, if the user doesn't know anything about issues like "calibration" ? A HF multimeter should be considered an overcomplicated test light that needs a battery to run. Or at least, the two right digits should be covered with black tape and not allowed to confuse or distract or deceive the user.

[CatNewBee]

I guess it would be a book with lessons about general elctric circuits, voltages, currents, wattage, resistance, capacity, inductivity, semi-conductors and how to test them using multimeters etc. Probably a school book for teenagers would do the trick to get a grip on the issue, not too complicated for easy reading, with some experiments you can reproduce.

Do not use college / university material, it would be too overwhelming with field theories, integral calculations and stuff like that.

Also some DIY repair books could have some chapters on electricity and are an interesting read anyway - like the BOAT OWNERS MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL MANUAL fron Nigel Calder and the like...

[grecko]

I find my Fluke 87V to be very accurate.

[CharlieJ]

As a pro, I have literally thousands of dollars worth of meters and instruments in the shop and in the truck. The one that is my tool bag is a Fluke T+Pro. http://en-us.fluke.com/products/elec...cal-tester.htm

Measures AC voltage, DC voltage to 10.7V, resistance, continuity, and phase rotation. All without an on/off switch or a selector knob.
The tool that is in my pocket is the Fluke VoltAlert non contact AC voltage detector: http://en-us.fluke.com/products/elec...al-tester.html

That said, I feel that every boat owner needs a reasonable AC/DC clamp meter onboard to aid in diagnosing faults.

[sparrowhawk1]

this is what comes up on the first link

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by CharlieJ

That said, I feel that every boat owner needs a reasonable AC/DC clamp meter onboard to aid in diagnosing faults.

So have you got any cheap but OK models to add to the rec list?

[Russian007]

Originally Posted by john61ct

So have you got any cheap but OK models to add to the rec list?

the one I linked to has great build quality low price.

[Zil]

I use a set of test leads. One end gator clip to negative probe, other end gator clip to handy negative spot or even battery terminal.

[sparrowhawk1]

Originally Posted by Russian007

the one I linked to has great build quality low price.

The photo of the link is referring to that meter. Link does not work. How much does it sell for?

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by sparrowhawk1

The photo of the link is referring to that meter. Link does not work. How much does it sell for?

His was the Mastech.

CharlieJ did not mention any specific **clamp meter**.

The non-working links he posted were not for measuring DC current, which is the more important / difficult feature.

Voltage measurement is easy to get cheap.

[sparrowhawk1]

Originally Posted by john61ct

His was the Mastech.

CharlieJ did not mention any specific **clamp meter**.

The non-working links he posted were not for measuring DC current, which is the more important / difficult feature.

Voltage measurement is easy to get cheap.

Thanks. Yes I want a meter that clamps on and measures DC amperage. Seems like the first one mentioned is the one I'm going to get.

[sparrowhawk1]

https://m.banggood.com/MASTECH-MS210...ign=m-tools-US

This one goes to 600 amps both AC and DC seems to have fairly slim Jaws for getting in tight spaces. Any comments?