Should I buy one of these multimeters

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Bramidan

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I read a lot of posts which mention multimeters especially testing fuses.
Right colours nailed to the mast, some of the posts when they get complicated lose me.
Wife just brought the Lidl Weekly home and I see Digital Auto Range Multimeter @ £12.99
also Pen Multimeter/ Digital Clamp Meter @ £14.99.
Price is not an issue! Which one should I buy?
I am reasonably intelligent ( depending on who you ask) so I’m sure I‘ll get the hang of using one.
Over to the panel.
 
Any multimeter is better than none. 👍. You haven't put any links so can click and see what your looking at.
Screwfix usually have a selection.
 
When choosing a multi meter, I chose the one with the most idiot friendly instructions!
 
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I have one , cheap and cheerful.
Does what its supposed to do.
For that money its worth having it in the van.
 
Very similar to mine, and I can use it ok (most of the time)

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Thanks both, something else to have in the motorhome!
LHB needs to watch out!
Since buying the motorhome this is bugger all.
 
I am thinking of getting the Lidl clamp even an AC only would be useful, I'm trying to think of a need for a clamp on DC 12v where it's easy to put the meter into the circuit by cutting a wire if needed
 
I use a DC clamp to verify full operation from solar, but I carry a cheap screwfix multimeter in the van to verify continuity and check fuses and the like whilst away. Better to have and not use etc.
 
The Ex-Gasman said:
I'm trying to think of a need for a clamp on DC 12v where it's easy to put the meter into the circuit by cutting a wire if needed
Click to expand...
A lot of modern items never actually switch off, they just go into different commanded states, including 'deep sleep mode'. Switching between states can depend on all kinds of inputs, as well as elapsed time. Things like alarms, head units etc. So cutting the wire to slot in a meter can disturb the very state you are trying to measure. A clamp meter measures without disturbing anything. And they're not expensive nowadays like they used to be.

I'd especially recommend a clamp meter for a newbie. Without a clamp meter, measuring amps is a pain even for a professional, and for a beginner there's lots of potential for errors and accidents. That's why everyone quotes voltage measurements even when what you really want to know is the amps. Like 'is the battery being charged or not'.

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autorouter said:
A lot of modern items never actually switch off, they just go into different commanded states, including 'deep sleep mode'. Switching between states can depend on all kinds of inputs, as well as elapsed time. Things like alarms, head units etc. So cutting the wire to slot in a meter can disturb the very state you are trying to measure. A clamp meter measures without disturbing anything. And they're not expensive nowadays like they used to be.

I'd especially recommend a clamp meter for a newbie. Without a clamp meter, measuring amps is a pain even for a professional, and for a beginner there's lots of potential for errors and accidents. That's why everyone quotes voltage measurements even when what you really want to know is the amps. Like 'is the battery being charged or not'.
Click to expand...
You have convinced me, I'll swerve the Lidl one and get one that does DC too. Thanks
 
The Ex-Gasman said:
I am thinking of getting the Lidl clamp even an AC only would be useful, I'm trying to think of a need for a clamp on DC 12v where it's easy to put the meter into the circuit by cutting a wire if needed
Click to expand...
A DC clamp meter is invaluable for fault finding a Motorhome.
I wouldn't want to see your after you have cut ½ dozen wires or more in your van trying to find the fault.

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Lenny HB said:
A DC clamp meter is invaluable for fault finding a Motorhome.
I wouldn't want to see your after you have cut ½ dozen wires or more in your van trying to find the fault.
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I've seen the error of my ways and bought one from Screwfix which list AC/DC I will confirm that when I pick it up it's £30 so a good price of it's ok
 
The Ex-Gasman said:
I've seen the error of my ways and bought one from Screwfix which list AC/DC I will confirm that when I pick it up it's £30 so a good price of it's ok
Click to expand...
Just read the Q & A's on this and it doesn't do DC current unfortunatly
 
Lyrick said:
Just read the Q & A's on this and it doesn't do DC current unfortunatly
Click to expand...
A bit confusing when you click on more info it gives the spec for a different meter.
Looks like he will be taking it back.
 
Kenp said:
Surely the Lidl clamp does DC & AC. https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/diy-heroes/parkside-pen-multimeter-digital-clamp-meter/p59091
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All of the AC clamp meter manufacturers are sneeky like this. I got caught out by it once myself. They often list the two together, so the brain fills it what it expects to see, but it does only say AC current.


1677497529389.png
 
The Ex-Gasman said:
I've seen the error of my ways and bought one from Screwfix which list AC/DC I will confirm that when I pick it up it's £30 so a good price of it's ok
Click to expand...
If it's this one, it's AC only...they caught me out with the description too! I posted a review to stop others making the same mistake but it was never published!
1677498061381.png

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There are two clamp technologies for measuring amps. One type, a transformer coil, only measures AC, it can't detect DC. The other type, a Hall Effect probe, detects the magnetic field of the amps flow by its effect on a small piece of semiconductor material. Hall effect clamps work on both AC and DC, but are a bit more expensive than transformer coil clamps.

Since many electricians rarely work on DC wiring, clamp meters that only do AC current are popular, cheaper and useful to most electricians. So if you want one for DC amps you need to read the small print. I think the advertising copywriters just don't appreciate this, I don't think they mislead deliberately.

For example, the popular Uni-Trend UT210 series comes in 5 versions. A, B and C are AC only, D and E do both AC and DC. I have a UT210E, as suggested by Sheddy in post #5
 
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Might be too simple for your needs but might help others
 
GMLS said:
Might be too simple for your needs but might help others
Click to expand...
As he says right at the end, it doesn't measure amps. Not even AC amps. That's why it only has two sockets, not 3 as most multimeters have. If you don't want to measure amps then it's a nice auto-ranging meter.

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