best Multimeter under £20for Motherboard testing

[Greenslade]

I am after a Multimeter for under £20 ,for Motherboards.I was going to buy this one but after Richards review

says don,t buy it.So what would you recommend under £20?I have decided to buy a soldering station.This does not bleep on a diode so thats what i need

 

[dj-electric]

Honest question - why underspend on such long term tool? wouldn't you prefer spending a bit more on somethat accurate that lasts and stays accurate for a lot longer?
The 40-55 GBP zone would have significantly more familiar and reliable tools

 

[Jose Jeswin]

My Fluke Multi meter has been going strong since 2002.......

My trusted brands are
1.Fluke
2.Mastech
3.Meco
4.HTC
5.Aneng
6.Sanwa........Cheap....but their analog multi meters are excellent...

 

[DR4G00N]

I use one of these: https://www.ebay.ca/itm/New-Vici-VC99-3-6-7-Auto-range-digital-multimeter-with-bag/172574755759

Seems good enough for most things and it's still working after 8 years.

 

[dj-electric]

My Fluke Multi meter has been going strong since 2002.......

My trusted brands are
1.Fluke
2.Mastech
3.Meco
4.HTC
5.Aneng
6.Sanwa........Cheap....but their analog multi meters are excellent...

How is The Keysight not here. Cmon

 

[Jose Jeswin]

I have heard good things about keysight instruments...never had the chance to use one...not easily available in india...

 

[Frick]

My Fluke Multi meter has been going strong since 2002.......

My trusted brands are
1.Fluke
2.Mastech
3.Meco
4.HTC
5.Aneng
6.Sanwa........Cheap....but their analog multi meters are excellent...

Mastechs are cheap, Fluke is a desperate amount of overkill for home hobbyist use.

I am after a Multimeter for under £20 ,for Motherboards.I was going to buy this one but after Richards review

says don,t buy it.So what would you recommend under £20?I have decided to buy a soldering station.This does not bleep on a diode so thats what i need

Then buy one that bleeps on a diode. In my experience even the cheap ones measure ok.

How is The Keysight not here. Cmon

Different tools in different regions. I've never even seen a Keysight instrument.

 

[Jose Jeswin]

found some on local import e tailer website........they cost almost a months salary.......

 

[Shrek]

I like the the Fluke 101, but about twice your budget and does not measure current.
FLUKE-101 Digital Multimeter: Amazon.com: Tools & Home Improvement
also like that it uses AAA batteries and not 9V

You may want something that measures capacitance.

 

[Bill_Bright]

The brands I know and trust are (in no particular order), Fluke, Klein, and Mastech.

I always recommend "investing" in quality tools right from the start. You spend more up front but chances are you will never have to spend again.

But when the budget is tight, some times you have little choice. Still I recommend you try to stretch it a little bit and check out the Mastech MS8239C. At £28, it is only a little over your budget, but with auto ranging, fuse protection, diode and continuity (tone) tests, and more, it is a nice little meter for the price.

 

[Jose Jeswin]

I like the the Fluke 101, but about twice your budget and does not measure current.
FLUKE-101 Digital Multimeter: Amazon.com: Tools & Home Improvement
also like that it uses AAA batteries and not 9V

You may want something that measures capacitance.

I have the exact same one......i like the autoranging feature of the flukemeter 101.........

 

[Shrek]

I actually have a Fluke 110 and got it exactly not to have current measurement (safer that way)

 

[jsfitz54]

I am after a Multimeter for under £20 ,for Motherboards.I was going to buy this one but after Richards review

says don,t buy it.So what would you recommend under £20?I have decided to buy a soldering station.This does not bleep on a diode so thats what i need

Buy one that also has a temperature probe, a nice extra that you can use to dial in your refrigerator.

example: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Proster-Mu...x=ma+multi-meter+ma-600cf,aps,138&sr=8-2&th=1

 

[ir_cow]

Either get a Fluke or REED to get "true" values, or buy whatever. The cheapest ones are still pretty accurate. Just not guaranteed.

 

[Dan.G]

You could consider pen type multimeters, too, if you fancy.
#07 Best Pen type multimeters (For Circuit boards, 2023) (yamanelectronics.com)

 

[Greenslade]

How is The Keysight not here. Cmon

Thats what Richard uses Fluke.

How is The Keysight not here. Cmon

M

Mastechs are cheap, Fluke is a desperate amount of overkill for home hobbyist use.


Then buy one that bleeps on a diode. In my experience even the cheap ones measure ok.



Different tools in different regions. I've never even seen a Keysight instrument.

No Ke

I actually have a Fluke 110 and got it exactly not to have current measurement (safer that way)

Either get a Fluke or REED to get "true" values, or buy whatever. The cheapest ones are still pretty accurate. Just not guaranteed.

The Fluke ones are way over my. price limit.

 

[Solaris17]

My Fluke Multi meter

Same iv had mine since 08 love this thing

The brands I know and trust are (in no particular order), Fluke, Klein, and Mastech.

yes sir same

 

[Bill_Bright]

I actually have a Fluke 110 and got it exactly not to have current measurement (safer that way)

Safer that way? Ummm, no its not. Just because a meter can, or cannot measure current does not, in any way, mean it is safer. It is how the "user" uses it that makes it safe, or not.

If the user attempts to measure current with a meter that does not have that capability, that's on the user, not the meter.
If the user attempts to measure current incorrectly, with a meter that has that capability, that's again, on the user, not the meter.

 

[Shrek]

Because if I am fatigued, I can't make the mistake of shorting anything; I have other meters for current.

Sure it's on the user; just like the short feature on electric mowers, so the blades stop spinning when the lever is let go; ground fault protection is another example.

This is the meter I would let students learn on.


Which reminds me of a very nice feature some DMMs have, a self-healing fuse for current measurement.

 

[maxfly]

I've had my RadioShack branded multimeter (no idea who the oem might be)for well over 20yrs. Never even had to replace the battery in it so far. May have paid $20 for it... maybe. Only thing I've ever used it for was to test PSU rails and some automotive stuff. Cheap has its place.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Because if I am fatigued

"IF"? Come on!

And anyone who is totally wide awake and alert can still make a mistake.

I can't make the mistake of shorting anything

Sure you can. How does whether or not a meter supports measuring current prevent you from accidentally shorting anything? It doesn't. A single, misplaced meter probe can create a short.

In fact, since you must put the meter in series to measure current with a multimeter, having a meter that supports that is safer, not less safe.

I've had my RadioShack branded multimeter (no idea who the oem might be)for well over 20yrs. Never even had to replace the battery in it so far.

I sure wish RadioShack/Tandy was still around.

Since the battery is used primarily to measure resistance and continuity/diode checks, and that takes very little to do so, a decent battery can last many many years - as long as it doesn't leak.

 

[Shrek]

anyone who is totally wide awake and alert can still make a mistake.

Exactly!

 

[Bill_Bright]

Exactly!

Right. So the claim a meter that doesn't support measuring current is "safer" just doesn't make sense, does it?

It is not more safe, nor is it less safe. A tired, and/or distracted alert (or untrained/ignorant) user can make a mistake just as easily either way.

 

[bobbybluz]

My Fluke 8060A has survived abuse since 1981 and is still fully functional.

 

[Shrek]

The Mastech MS8264 has a resettable fuse (on the low current range)
Amazon.com: Mastech MS8264 Backlit 30-Range Digital Multimeter with Temperature Measurement (01DMMS8264) : Tools & Home Improvement
a very nice feature in my opinion

It also measures temperature