El Cheapo DMM

[xtitan1]

Hey guys, I'm looking to get a DMM. Unfortunately my budget is tight as heck, so while it would be cool to get a $150+ Fluke or something, I'm looking at the sub $50 range for right now. I'm pretty novice at electronics, so I'm planning on using this for DC circuits to check for the basics (resistance, voltage, continuity if possible).

I hear okay things about this one:
MASTECH AC/DC Auto/Manual Range Digital Multimeter, MS8268: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

Any suggestions? I was going to give installing my side signal mirrors a shot and want a DMM just to make it easier to double check what I'm doing. Plus that way I have one in case I need to check something in the future.

Might as well throw these stripper/cutters in for comments as well:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000XEUPMQ/?tag=gmtnation-20


also would get this

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008WWC6FU/?tag=gmtnation-20

 

[blazinlow89]

I picked up a $20 from Walmart. It gets the job done and has given me no issues. I had a fluke however some jackass decided they wanted it more than I did.

This is the meter I have

INNOVA 3320 Auto-Ranging Digital Multimeter:Amazon:Automotive

These are the strippers I have and they work great.

Automatic Wire Stripper with Cutter:Amazon:Home Improvement

I keep that dmm in the glove box just in case.

Everything you posted should work fine though. I am not a fan of those style strippers, however I know some guys don't like the style I have as the possibility to lose a few strands of the wire is increased.

 

[Team Dougherty]

7 Function Multimeter $5.49

http://widgets.harborfreight.com/ws...dium=email&utm_campaign=4613a&utm_source=1010 20% off

 

[neohio]

TPI was the OEM for Snap-on for many years on their multimeters

Amazon.com: tpi multimeter - Prime Eligible

 

[budwich]

X2 unless you are going to a whole lot of electronics, you likely won't need anything exotic (ie. fluke or otherwise). Plus, if you are just "learning", blowing a cheap DMM won't hurt as much. I own a few meters including the HF one posted (got it for $3). Its not auto ranging so you potentially might have some issues if you choose a wrong range but the worse that might happen is an internal fuse goes. Autorangers are a bit better in terms of "needs for hands" (ie. set once and measure) but in general cause auto stuff deals with low voltages, you probably won't get much out of that feature.

 

[jonbo2002]

x3 Got the Harbor Freight one for free with one of their monthly coupons

 

[xtitan1]

Lol, I was skeptical of a multimeter that costs a third of a wire stripper, but I guess all of this agreement is changing my mind. After all, at that price, what have you really got to lose. If it blows up, I'll buy a smaller coffee at Starbucks to make up for the cost.

As far as strippers go, it seems that there are several camps of guys who each like a certain style of stripper, and there are experienced dudes in every one of them. One guy was saying that he thinks people don't like this type because people are doing it wrong—he says you need to not put the wire in your left hand and just pull with the strippers in your right hand, but rather push the strippers with your left hand's thumb as you clamp down on them with your right (not so hard that you cut the wire, of course).

I don't have a preference obviously since I'm new, but I definitely want something that is good with stranded wire. That's because I wanted to perhaps try my hand at making some basic audio cables as I have been reading up on how to do that over at head-fi.com. That's where I was intending to kind of go next after I cut my teeth and those use stranded wire. Then perhaps I was thinking of trying a DIY amplifier kit for beginners. I've been watching how-to videos on soldering and all of this stuff like over at EEVblog on YouTube, and MAY03LT gave me a quick and dirty soldering lesson in person, which was cool.

 

[Team Dougherty]

I have one of these 6-1/2" Wire Strippers with Pressure Adjustment great for doing a lot of wires to do.

for one or two wires I use these. 7 in. Wire Stripper with Cutter

 

[tblazerdude]

GB GS 70 Combination Strippers Crimpers Cutters in Good Working Condition USA | eBay

I have one of these. It's not flimsy like a lot of the ones in this style. Klein tools also makes quality linemen tools, for reasonable prices. A lot of people will say get an semi-automatic stripper, but I would invest in an semi-auto crimper, I love mine. Perfect crimps every time, and it doesn't hurt the hand. I have used a radio shack $20 dmm for over 10 years now. It still works great.

 

[kkoether]

MCM Electronics

MCM Electronics - Search Results for dmm

They are in Springboro, OH just south of Dayton. Their Tenma house brand is pretty good. They also do mail order.

 

[jaguarjoe]

Xtitan-

Those strippers you show in your 1st post only does awg 20 to 32 wire. That's pretty small wire, especially #32 which you prolly won't find on a car. The coarser version of these strippers would be handier.
I have had a pair of Miller strippers since I was a kid and they're still going strong.

That $5/free Harbor Fright meter is very useful and pretty accurate too. There is a website that took one through its paces and it came out OK accuracy-wise.

 

[xtitan1]

Xtitan-

Those strippers you show in your 1st post only does awg 20 to 32 wire. That's pretty small wire, especially #32 which you prolly won't find on a car. The coarser version of these strippers would be handier.
I have had a pair of Miller strippers since I was a kid and they're still going strong.

That $5/free Harbor Fright meter is very useful and pretty accurate too. There is a website that took one through its paces and it came out OK accuracy-wise.

Roger that, I threw those up there because I wanted to get something that could do 26 awg since I also want to mess around with headphone cables. I'm probably going to end up getting both here real soon. I just got my soldering iron so I'm about ready to go with this project

Edit: it seems like Miller sells a whole variety of strippers, which are the ones you like?

 

[jaguarjoe]

Here is what I have:

Miller 100: Wire Stripper with Screw Stop

After a while, I got frustrated with the stop screw so I took it out. I do my wire stripping by feel.

Be wary of Radio Shack and Harbor Fright strippers like the Miller-they are made of soft steel and will twist apart.

-Joe

 

[Mark20]

Xtitan-

Those strippers you show in your 1st post only does awg 20 to 32 wire. That's pretty small wire, especially #32 which you prolly won't find on a car. The coarser version of these strippers would be handier.
I have had a pair of Miller strippers since I was a kid and they're still going strong.

That $5/free Harbor Fright meter is very useful and pretty accurate too. There is a website that took one through its paces and it came out OK accuracy-wise.

I compared one against a freshly calibrated Fluke DMM and the HF held its own.

 

[Team Dougherty]

Free HF DMM

See Attachment