Soldering iron / kit for electronics.

Frozen_up_north

Earlier in the thread, there was a link to Amazon for a kit that included hand tools, a soldering iron and a multimeter for £27.99.

Beware of cheap meters, they can be very dangerous if you try measuring the mains electricity on the wrong range. It is an easy trap for the unwary when something isn't working... At roughly 5 minutes into this YouTube video you will see how reliable £5 Chinese multimeters are 

https://youtu.be/OEoazQ1zuUM?si=-DT16GIg7kft9NQl

One of the best low cost multimeters is the Brymen BM235, I have one (and a much more expensive Fluke), it is one sold and recommended by Dave Jones of EEVBlog fame.

https://eevblog.store/collections/test-equipment

In the UK they are sold by Telonic:

https://telonic.co.uk/product/brymen-bm235-professional-multimeter-cat-ii-1kv-cat-iii-600v/

Eldi_Dos

@Frozen_up_north

On any project or site I worked on if a Technician or sparky was getting a multimeter out they almost invariably referred to them as Fluke meter.
If guys who are using them day in day out for their livelihood refer to them like that it is good enough for me.

Frozen_up_north

We all had Fluke meters at work, I am retired and have a Fluke 177, it’s a bit OTT for hobby users, the current price is typically over £400, I bought mine a few years ago for a lot less. The warranty is excellent on certain models too.

Eyeful

Fluke Equipment, is very good and expensive.. 
It is aimed at the professional market and not the hobbies market. 
I liked using them and found them reliable.

Eyeful

I have not used Brymen meters myself but understand they have a good reputation.

The warning about cheap mustimeters is valid.

You cannot expect a £27 kit (that has a mustimeter included) to have the same quality & safety as a single
multi meter costing £100 or  £400.

Emmia

Frozen_up_north said:

Earlier in the thread, there was a link to Amazon for a kit that included hand tools, a soldering iron and a multimeter for £27.99.

Beware of cheap meters, they can be very dangerous if you try measuring the mains electricity on the wrong range. It is an easy trap for the unwary when something isn't working... At roughly 5 minutes into this YouTube video you will see how reliable £5 Chinese multimeters are 

https://youtu.be/OEoazQ1zuUM?si=-DT16GIg7kft9NQl

One of the best low cost multimeters is the Brymen BM235, I have one (and a much more expensive Fluke), it is one sold and recommended by Dave Jones of EEVBlog fame.

https://eevblog.store/collections/test-equipment

In the UK they are sold by Telonic:

https://telonic.co.uk/product/brymen-bm235-professional-multimeter-cat-ii-1kv-cat-iii-600v/

We have a good multi meter, and the cost of the kit up thread worried me in relation to the quality, and the fact there are electrical and other components that will get very hot when it's in use.

Cheap kits can be fine. I have a very good kit for metal watch strap adjustment (I have small wrists, so metal watch straps which I prefer always need adjusting) bought for £6 from Amazon after watching a YouTube video which recommended it - but that's just a small hammer/mallet, a moulded plastic support and things to take out the pins holding the links together - no heat or electricals.

matelodave

Why does everyone think that you have to go overboard when its just a hobby.

Yes buy a Fluke if its for work but for general poking around you can get a more than adequate device.

You really don't need high precision unless you are running a laboratory. However if you do, then you need to get it properly calibrated and certified to traceable standards. (I used to manage the test equipment repair and calibration department for a major telecoms equipment manufacturer and getting our calibration stuff certified was quite expensive)

I do have an ancient Fluke (which has now become unreliable) and three other relatively inexpensive meters (Uni-T about £30-£50) which are all more than adequate for the job. One is kept in the caravan, one in the car and one for general use. One of them is a clamp meter which is handy for measuring current without disconnecting cables and all are accurate enough for general purposes.https://www.amazon.co.uk/uni-t-multimeter/s?k=uni-t+multimeter

Emmia

matelodave said:

Why does everyone think that you have to go overboard when its just a hobby.

Yes buy a Fluke if its for work but for general poking around you can get a more than adequate device.

You really don't need high precision unless you are running a laboratory. However if you do, then you need to get it properly calibrated and certified to traceable standards. (I used to manage the test equipment repair and calibration department for a major telecoms equipment manufacturer and getting our calibration stuff certified was quite expensive)

I do have an ancient Fluke (which has now become unreliable) and three other relatively inexpensive meters (Uni-T about £30-£50) which are all more than adequate for the job. One is kept in the caravan, one in the car and one for general use. One of them is a clamp meter which is handy for measuring current without disconnecting cables and all are accurate enough for general purposes.https://www.amazon.co.uk/uni-t-multimeter/s?k=uni-t+multimeter

It's all a bit irrelevant really as I've bought the stuff now. And a multimeter isn't needed.

Eyeful

There is a big difference between equipment aimed at the professional and hobbies markets. 

If your working on is low voltages then a cheap meter like the UNI-T may be OK.

However, as the commonly reported failures in UNI‑T multi meters include blown input protection parts means they may be better avoided when measuring high voltage.

Eldi_Dos

matelodave said:

Why does everyone think that you have to go overboard when its just a hobby.



You really don't need high precision unless you are running a laboratory. However if you do, then you need to get it properly calibrated and certified to traceable standards. (I used to manage the test equipment repair and calibration department for a major telecoms equipment manufacturer and getting our calibration stuff certified was quite expensive)

We where just pondering how a 21 piece kit that includes a soldering iron and multimeter along with assorted tools for £27.99 was possible not really advocating hobbists spend a few hundred on a meter.

As regards the cost of keeping equipment calibrated and running a calibration system thats all just part of the cost of doing business and the rates charged will reflect that. On the other hand the costs of getting caught using uncalibrated equipment can be bad for a company's reputation and balance sheet. I have known a couple of techs lose their jobs when they tried to flannel their way out after doing so.