What to look for when buying a DMM?

[XaznKewLguyX 10+ year member]

What are some features that is necessary in a DMM for car audio purposes? I'm looking into buying a DMM but I don't know which one to buy? What are some you guys are using?

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[Death By Bass 10+ year member]

ah, ya dont really need many features if all you're using it for is car audio...

a $10 meter will do just fine.

edit: I personally have three...

$14.95

$29.95

$168.00

 

[mrwigglezdj 10+ year member]

i look for the max/min hold feature so i know what ohmage my amps are doing their most and least (impeadence wise)

and if you are interrested in a good meeter i have a extra one im geting rid of being i have 3 and only need 2 of the 3, its a fluke 27 multimeeter with 6foot heavy duty right angle probes $100.shipped

 

[Colt9699 10+ year member]

I have a dmm I bought at harbor freight for 10 bucks that gets the job done.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

Most DMM's are plenty adequate...just stay away from VOM's and you're good //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[Death By Bass 10+ year member]

yeah, min/max hold is handy, but you'll barely ever use it, and paying 20 times as much for a meter for something you'll probably never use really isn't the best idea

 

[trevor87 5,000+ posts]

Ill sell u my Dmm for $25 never been used

 

[XaznKewLguyX 10+ year member]

just bought one today at harbor freight for 2.99 FTW! it was 12.99 but its on sale

 

[CBFryman2 5,000+ posts]

As long as it has true RMS voltage readings and can handle both ~60Hz and ~1000Hz you are good to go.

But...True RMS Clamp Meters FTW!

 

[XaznKewLguyX 10+ year member]

hmm it doesn't look like it can read the voltage on car 12v batteries...which was the main purpose why i wanted it. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif the manual says:

never use this setting to test automotive or lead-acid batteries.

 

[90accordman 5,000+ posts]

lol that blows, go to sears get a craftsman one, i have one and it does **** near everything i think i paid 30 bucks

 

[XaznKewLguyX 10+ year member]

lol that blows, go to sears get a craftsman one, i have one and it does **** near everything i think i paid 30 bucks

sweet ill check it out later today.

 

[CBFryman2 5,000+ posts]

It cant measure 12v DC? I highly doubt that. Unless it has an inline voltage setting and that is the voltage setting it is pretaining to in which case it would be a direct short of the battery terminals and would blow the internal fuse.

 

[CBFryman2 5,000+ posts]

Walmart $12 DMM's can test a car battery.

 

[XaznKewLguyX 10+ year member]

on the battery charge measurement option it says 1.5v and 9v only.

and the manual says:

the high currenct could cause damage to the meter and or cause sever personal injury. use the appropriate dc voltage setting to test the open current voltage of such batteries instead.

LOL nevermind maybe it can. thats my first time reading that part which DCV setting do i use?