Should I buy one of these multimeters (1 Viewer)

[Bramidan]

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.

 

[tonka]

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.

 

[Oldrat]

When choosing a multi meter, I chose the one with the most idiot friendly instructions!

 

[funflair]

Be careful that a clamp meter is DC as a lot are AC only.

 

[Sheddy]

They are not DC clamp meters, you need to get up to £40 ish for that.
These are used by quite a few here on the Fun, they appear to be cheaper from the States

UNI-T DIGITAL UT210E 100Amp 600V AC DC CLAMP METER Multimeter True RMS VFC diode | eBay

1 Cloth Bag. 1 Gift Box.

www.ebay.co.uk

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[Bramidan]

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.

I actually don’t know how to put links on a thread particularly as I was reading the magazine.
This might explain to you that I know nothing!

 

[tonka]

Parkside Digital Auto-Range Multimeter - at Lidl UK

Parkside Digital Auto-Range Multimeter - For measuring current, voltage and resistance as well as for diode and continuity testing Easy to use with

www.lidl.co.uk

 

[Bramidan]

Parkside Digital Auto-Range Multimeter - at Lidl UK

Parkside Digital Auto-Range Multimeter - For measuring current, voltage and resistance as well as for diode and continuity testing Easy to use with

www.lidl.co.uk

Tonka, Thank you so much. What do think? For that price I can just play with it and claim I have one!

 

[dazandandrea]

I have one , cheap and cheerful.
Does what its supposed to do.
For that money its worth having it in the van.

 

[scotzsue]

Very similar to mine, and I can use it ok (most of the time)

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[Bramidan]

Thanks both, something else to have in the motorhome!
LHB needs to watch out!
Since buying the motorhome this is bugger all.

 

[Odd job]

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

 

[The Artilleryman]

Clamp meters are for measuring current AND you clamp single cable twin flex wont work.

 

[andysam]

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.

 

[autorouter]

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

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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[Odd job]

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'.

You have convinced me, I'll swerve the Lidl one and get one that does DC too. Thanks

 

[Kenp]

You have convinced me, I'll swerve the Lidl one and get one that does DC too. Thanks

Surely the Lidl clamp does DC & AC. https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/diy-heroes/parkside-pen-multimeter-digital-clamp-meter/p59091

 

[Lyrick]

Surely the Lidl clamp does DC & AC. https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/diy-heroes/parkside-pen-multimeter-digital-clamp-meter/p59091

Description doesn't include DC current for the clamp meter.

 

[Odd job]

Surely the Lidl clamp does DC & AC. https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/diy-heroes/parkside-pen-multimeter-digital-clamp-meter/p59091

Unfortunately not but that's why it's cheap

 

[Lenny HB]

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

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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[Odd job]

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.

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

 

[Lyrick]

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

Just read the Q & A's on this and it doesn't do DC current unfortunatly

 

[Lenny HB]

Just read the Q & A's on this and it doesn't do DC current unfortunatly

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.

 

[andysam]

Surely the Lidl clamp does DC & AC. https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/diy-heroes/parkside-pen-multimeter-digital-clamp-meter/p59091

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.

 

[andysam]

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

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!

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[autorouter]

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

 

[GMLS]

Might be too simple for your needs but might help others

 

[Odd job]

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!
View attachment 721189

Thanks I've cancelled the order, I'll keep looking

 

[funflair]

This one should be OK,

https://cpc.farnell.com/multicomp-pro/mp760608/clamp-meter-6000-count-600a/dp/IN08988?st=dc%20clamp%20meters

 

[autorouter]

Might be too simple for your needs but might help others

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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