Where can I buy a mega cheap multi meter from?

espresso

cossie23 wrote: »

Hi, am sure they will be fine for what you need but just a quick word of caution... cheap meters = cheap components. A sparkie would never use one of these meters in case they blow up. I've seen it happen to Flukes so be careful out there!! Personally i wouldnt go anywhere near those meters for voltages above 24Vdc. Ohms would be fine, testing 240 sockets....not a chance.

Scaremongering! Please ignore.

Cheap meters like that are just fine for home/DIY use. I got 2 for £5 from Maplin about 10 years ago and absolutely no problems at all with them. I have expensive test equipment on the bench but those meters are just fine for carrying in a toolbox.

System

All a Fluke blowing up proves is that it can happen to any meter regardless of cost

cossie23

Thats fine. You have your own opinion. I'm just pointing out the potential risks. Many companies have banned the use of these meters on their sites. A certain large oil company have now made it mandatory to wear safety glasses when working on live panels due to someone losing an eye when their meter exploded.Have these cheap meters got fused leads? Up to the end user how they feel. I would point out that i said "PERSONALLY I wouldnt....".

dx052

Rodders53 wrote: »

Measuring a decent hi-fi loudspeaker with a simple multimeter will not give a meaningful result. A loudspeaker is not a simple resistance as it is a coil of wire with inductance as well as resistance... in addition there will be a series of filters (aka 'crossover' circuits) to send the right frequencies to the different speakers in the box (woofer, mid-range and tweeter in many cases).

What are you really trying to measure and why?

My current speaker cable is not color coded or has no negative or positive marks on them. I was just going to do a simple test with the meter to find out which is which. I can't tell the difference by listening and it's simply bugging me. Someone suggested doing a battery test but I wasn't convinced about that & yes I have tried it. I thought for the sake of £3.50 I will find out for sure.

Fifer

dx052 wrote: »

My current speaker cable is not color coded or has no negative or positive marks on them. I was just going to do a simple test with the meter to find out which is which. I can't tell the difference by listening and it's simply bugging me. Someone suggested doing a battery test but I wasn't convinced about that & yes I have tried it. I thought for the sake of £3.50 I will find out for sure.

You could check that with a battery and a torch bulb.

ETA: Although I wouldn't discourage anyone who knows how to use one, from buying a multimeter.

Dave_C_2

dx052 wrote: »

My current speaker cable is not color coded or has no negative or positive marks on them. I was just going to do a simple test with the meter to find out which is which. I can't tell the difference by listening and it's simply bugging me. Someone suggested doing a battery test but I wasn't convinced about that & yes I have tried it. I thought for the sake of £3.50 I will find out for sure.

You don't need any external equipment to do this:

1. Place speakers facing each other a couple of inches apart.
2. Play music with heavy bass tones, preferably in mono if your set-up can do this.
3. listen - is the bass nice and deep?
4. swap round one speaker cable
5. listen - is the bass better or worse
6. play with swapping (one lead only) and differing CDs till you have the best bass response)
7. Job done

If you can't tell the difference then it doesn't matter anyway

An easier way if you can see the bass speaker cones is to briefly connect a 1.5v battery across each speaker in turn. The cone will move one way either in or out (honest). Both should move the same way.
Battery positive to positive on the speaker will move the speaker cone out.

Remember to mark the cable.

Dave

System

cossie23 wrote: »

Thats fine. You have your own opinion. I'm just pointing out the potential risks. Many companies have banned the use of these meters on their sites. A certain large oil company have now made it mandatory to wear safety glasses when working on live panels due to someone losing an eye when their meter exploded.Have these cheap meters got fused leads? Up to the end user how they feel. I would point out that i said "PERSONALLY I wouldnt....".

Companies should not be allowing personal test equipment to be used in the first place! That is probably closer to the reason for the ban.
Calibration?
PA testing?

Non-existent for private equipment.

cossie23

I agree but then how do you stop it? If a contractor goes onsite with all his kit in a bag would he walk to the stores for a multimeter or would he use his own?

(sorry to the OP for getting slightly off topic with this thread. My first post was only meant as friendly advice!)

Rodders53

dx052 wrote: »

My current speaker cable is not color coded or has no negative or positive marks on them. I was just going to do a simple test with the meter to find out which is which. I can't tell the difference by listening and it's simply bugging me. Someone suggested doing a battery test but I wasn't convinced about that & yes I have tried it. I thought for the sake of £3.50 I will find out for sure.

The Screwfix meter will do that for you with ease... although you'll need to disconnect the wires and get both ends within arm's reach do do so, of course.

Dave_C's numbered step-by-step method should work OK, and allow you to identify identify the +/red wires, once they're 'in phase' with the sound in the middle of your head (in mono especially, a male voice is usually a good sound to use - Radio 4 news?)

The meter has internal fusing to protect it, although the prods themselves don't, but it's a non-issue for amateur use.

The only way meter will "blow up" is if it is severely misused... e.g. set on ohms or current range across a set of bus-bars with 100A supply behind it?

For the £3.59 you also get a useful 1.5V & 9V battery tester thrown in :j

penrhyn

Wish I'd acquired an Avo Model 8 when I had the chance years ago, ho hum! Have to make do with the Fluke.