Which DMM?

[ejschultz 10+ year member]

I went out and bought a Craftsman DMM. Turns out it only measures AC voltages up to 400 Hz so I guess I can't use it to set the gains for my 4 channel. It will be going back to the store. Any suggestions for a DMM that will accurately measure up to 1 kHz? A lot of the Craftsman DMMs that go up that high have an accuracy of +/- 2.5%. That could be almost half a volt off for my speakers. The max I'm looking to spend is about $50.

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[tEh ShOcKeR]

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[ejschultz 10+ year member]

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I'm using a 1kHz test tone to set my gains on my 4 channel amp. Is that too high of a frequency? I believe you're the one who told me to go that high. The only thing is, that's the top of the AC voltage range for most DMMs out there and a lot of them aren't too accurate at the top of the range. I'm looking at a Mastech MS8268 that goes up to 1kHz with a +/-1% accuracy rating. That's better than the Craftsman and it's a little cheaper. $47 after shipping. The Craftsman that goes that high has a lower accuracy and is like $10 more.

 

[bigaudiofanati2 10+ year member]

For a DMM I recommend Fluke as my choice I just love mine. To PROPERLY set your gains your going to need an oscilloscope for that which I do not have nor do I feel like investing in one.

 

[vellocet 10+ year member]

Setting gains with a dmm is only so so accurate. Guess it's better than by ear. I just do it by ear. Distortion isn't hard to hear.

 

[ejschultz 10+ year member]

For a DMM I recommend Fluke as my choice I just love mine. To PROPERLY set your gains your going to need an oscilloscope for that which I do not have nor do I feel like investing in one.

Haha. I wish I could afford a Fluke. I don't believe they have any in the $50 range.

 

[tEh ShOcKeR]

What does the hz frequency have to do with your DMM? I think you might be confused?

 

[Digital Designs 10+ year member]

You are measuring volts not hz. You just need something that will measure up to like 200 AC volts and you will be fine.

 

[ejschultz 10+ year member]

If I'm using the DMM to measure the voltage coming out of the amp, that voltage is an AC voltage in the frequency of the test tone. If the test tone is 1000 Hz, the meter should be able to measure AC voltages in frequencies up to 1000 Hz. The meter I purchased only goes up to 400 Hz. That's the limit for most meters. Some go up to 1000 Hz. I'm sure there's some that go even higher than that, but I haven't seen any because I'm not looking at anything above $100.

 

[bigaudiofanati2 10+ year member]

Haha. I wish I could afford a Fluke. I don't believe they have any in the $50 range.

HAHA you may laugh but just ask santa to bring you one this year that is how I got mine.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif Had it for 2 years and have never worked on a car without it or left home for that matter to work on one.

 

[ejschultz 10+ year member]

Lol. I'd like to get my gains set more correctly than they are well before Christmas. I'm thinking next week, Monday maybe Tuesday.

 

[tEh ShOcKeR]

The tone frequency has nothing to do with the voltage readout.

 

[ejschultz 10+ year member]

That Fluke boasts the same specs as the Mastech I'm looking at for more than double the price. But again, you probably get what you pay for.

 

[ejschultz 10+ year member]

The tone frequency has nothing to do with the voltage readout.

With AC, I'm pretty sure it does. The meter is going to be accurate within it's accuracy range within 40 hz to 400 hz. If you're measuring a frequency higher than that, I think it will make a difference with the reading you get. However, if you are correct, then I'm going to be happy with my Craftsman.

 

[Digital Designs 10+ year member]

The tone frequency has nothing to do with the voltage readout.

THats what I thought too..? My cheapo walmart one will measure the AC voltage from a 1khz tone, so I figured all of them would.