Any recommendations please? Just needs Ac and DC volts (up to mains
level) amps and Ohms. All help appreciated.

On 16/04/2014 13:48, Broadback wrote:
Any recommendations please? Just needs Ac and DC volts (up to mains
level) amps and Ohms. All help appreciated.

If you are going to measure live mains with it, I would strongly suggest
making sure it is genuinely CAT rated with decent quality shrouded leads.

Though, saying that I guess that they all must be now?

On Wednesday, April 16, 2014 3:04:54 PM UTC+1, Lee wrote:
On 16/04/2014 13:48, Broadback wrote:

Any recommendations please? Just needs Ac and DC volts (up to mains
level) amps and Ohms. All help appreciated.

If you are going to measure live mains with it, I would strongly suggest
making sure it is genuinely CAT rated with decent quality shrouded leads.
Though, saying that I guess that they all must be now?

Personally I think the risk from shrouded leads outweighs the risk reduction.

On 16/04/2014 15:11, wrote:
On Wednesday, April 16, 2014 3:04:54 PM UTC+1, Lee wrote:
On 16/04/2014 13:48, Broadback wrote:

Any recommendations please? Just needs Ac and DC volts (up to mains
level) amps and Ohms. All help appreciated.

If you are going to measure live mains with it, I would strongly suggest
making sure it is genuinely CAT rated with decent quality shrouded leads.
Though, saying that I guess that they all must be now?

Personally I think the risk from shrouded leads outweighs the risk reduction.

Risk from uncertified meters does exist, but you take 1000s times the risk just walking to work, so I dont think its something to get excited over.

'Decent' is undefined; the OP's requirements suggest that even a £2 Rapid job would be upto that. Rapidonline is a good place to get good cheap meters.


NT


Ok, I'm genuinely interested in why you think shrouded meter leads are
dangerous. I can't even see how they would be, but if I'm missing
something it would be nice to know

The £2 meter, assuming it's not one of the 'banned' ones on the EU/RAPEX
list, is likely going to suffer from really poor leads. Would you trust
the insulation on those at mains voltages?

On 16/04/2014 17:57, Lee wrote:

The £2 meter, assuming it's not one of the 'banned' ones on the EU/RAPEX
list, is likely going to suffer from really poor leads. Would you trust
the insulation on those at mains voltages?

Oh, better just add this quick, I'm not suggesting Rapid would sell
anything like that.

Their £10 or thereabouts meter looks like it would do the job though.

On Wednesday, April 16, 2014 6:02:10 PM UTC+1, Lee wrote:
On 16/04/2014 17:57, Lee wrote:

The �2 meter, assuming it's not one of the 'banned' ones on the EU/RAPEX
list, is likely going to suffer from really poor leads. Would you trust
the insulation on those at mains voltages?

The single insulation on them is more than capable. I have no trouble trusting them to mains.

I grew up in a world where what's now known as speaker wire & bell wire were often used on mains. The insulation on such is electrically adequate, just not as abuse proof as modern double insulated leads. If youre using a multimeter on mains you really should be quite capable of detecting a lead cut half through.

Did you find them on Rapex? I dont see why theyd be there.

I bought a bundle or so of the things, and leave them wherever I might want one on occasion. The tiny investment has paid off many times over. The only downside I've found with them so far has been accuracy, they're not always within 1 or 2% as they claimed. I've got better meters as well, but tbh from my experience with the rock bottom ones I wouldnt have a problem recommending them, they're perfectly able.

Its just like Tesco value, Sainsbury basics etc. Some of that stuff I wouldnt touch, but some is just as good. The brandnames are more about image than anything more concrete.


NT

I can remember the old Avo 8 leads getting a nick in the rubber and nearly
making me slightly dead. I was perhaps not using the thing that carefully,
and another thing I used to notice was the tendency for the leads to fall
out exposing the live pin inside.
He did not say if he is after digital or analogue. When I could see i found
analogue good for most things, but of course digital gave very accurate
results and many of them could measure capacity and all sorts of other
clever stuff.


Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"Lee" wrote in message
...
On 16/04/2014 15:11, wrote:
On Wednesday, April 16, 2014 3:04:54 PM UTC+1, Lee wrote:
On 16/04/2014 13:48, Broadback wrote:

Any recommendations please? Just needs Ac and DC volts (up to mains
level) amps and Ohms. All help appreciated.

If you are going to measure live mains with it, I would strongly suggest
making sure it is genuinely CAT rated with decent quality shrouded
leads.
Though, saying that I guess that they all must be now?

Personally I think the risk from shrouded leads outweighs the risk
reduction.

Risk from uncertified meters does exist, but you take 1000s times the
risk just walking to work, so I dont think its something to get excited
over.

'Decent' is undefined; the OP's requirements suggest that even a £2 Rapid
job would be upto that. Rapidonline is a good place to get good cheap
meters.


NT


Ok, I'm genuinely interested in why you think shrouded meter leads are
dangerous. I can't even see how they would be, but if I'm missing
something it would be nice to know

The £2 meter, assuming it's not one of the 'banned' ones on the EU/RAPEX
list, is likely going to suffer from really poor leads. Would you trust
the insulation on those at mains voltages?

On Wednesday, April 16, 2014 5:57:46 PM UTC+1, Lee wrote:
On 16/04/2014 15:11, wrote:
On Wednesday, April 16, 2014 3:04:54 PM UTC+1, Lee wrote:
On 16/04/2014 13:48, Broadback wrote:

Personally I think the risk from shrouded leads outweighs the risk reduction.

Risk from uncertified meters does exist, but you take 1000s times the risk just walking to work, so I dont think its something to get excited over..

'Decent' is undefined; the OP's requirements suggest that even a �2 Rapid job would be upto that. Rapidonline is a good place to get good cheap meters.

Ok, I'm genuinely interested in why you think shrouded meter leads are
dangerous. I can't even see how they would be, but if I'm missing
something it would be nice to know

When the shrouds are sprung, the plug sometimes gets pushed partway out by the spring over time. The result is you test something live, the meter reads no volts, and the user who doesnt stop to be a bit suspicious then gets a shock. Imho its a bigger problem than the risk of the bare pins that shrouds were intended to prevent.


The �2 meter, assuming it's not one of the 'banned' ones on the EU/RAPEX
list, is likely going to suffer from really poor leads. Would you trust
the insulation on those at mains voltages?

Sure - I just replied on that one. FWIW I've used thinner insulation than that at 1kV on temporary lashups, pvc is quite capable stuff.


NT

On 16/04/2014 19:20, wrote:

When the shrouds are sprung, the plug sometimes gets pushed partway out by the spring over time. The result is you test something live, the meter reads no volts, and the user who doesnt stop to be a bit suspicious then gets a shock. Imho its a bigger problem than the risk of the bare pins that shrouds were intended to prevent.



Fairy snuff. I'm not keen on the spring loaded ones either, all mine are
just sleeved.

Lee

On 16/04/2014 15:04, Lee wrote:
On 16/04/2014 13:48, Broadback wrote:
Any recommendations please? Just needs Ac and DC volts (up to mains
level) amps and Ohms. All help appreciated.

If you are going to measure live mains with it, I would strongly suggest
making sure it is genuinely CAT rated with decent quality shrouded leads.

Though, saying that I guess that they all must be now?

Most of them are marked with a CAT rating - many of them clearly do not
deserve the rating when you look inside!

As you say it depends on if you are going to routinely use it for mains
work, and also where... in high energy locations (close to, or in a
Consumer Unit) then I would only use one that is properly CAT III or
better. Inside an appliance however the risk of using something less
capable would be negligible.


--
Cheers,

John.

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Broadback wrote:
Any recommendations please? Just needs Ac and DC volts (up to mains
level) amps and Ohms. All help appreciated.

How many amps? For automotive use the more the better.

Bill

On 16/04/2014 16:34, Bill Wright wrote:
Broadback wrote:
Any recommendations please? Just needs Ac and DC volts (up to mains
level) amps and Ohms. All help appreciated.

How many amps? For automotive use the more the better.

Bill

Indeed. If measuring lots of amps, it either needs to incorporate a
pretty hefty shunt or to be a clamp meter. The latter is probably is a
better bet - something like
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/uni-trend-...ltimeter-n41nc
--
Cheers,
Roger
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Please reply to Newsgroup. Whilst email address is valid, it is seldom
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In article , Roger Mills
writes
On 16/04/2014 16:34, Bill Wright wrote:
Broadback wrote:
Any recommendations please? Just needs Ac and DC volts (up to mains
level) amps and Ohms. All help appreciated.

How many amps? For automotive use the more the better.

Bill

Indeed. If measuring lots of amps, it either needs to incorporate a
pretty hefty shunt or to be a clamp meter. The latter is probably is a
better bet - something like
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/uni-trend-...ltimeter-n41nc

Quite a nice little meter that, thanks for the tip.

--
fred
it's a ba-na-na . . . .

Yes Shunts can be used though.
Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"Bill Wright" wrote in message
...
Broadback wrote:
Any recommendations please? Just needs Ac and DC volts (up to mains
level) amps and Ohms. All help appreciated.

How many amps? For automotive use the more the better.

Bill

On 16/04/2014 13:48, Broadback wrote:
Any recommendations please? Just needs Ac and DC volts (up to mains
level) amps and Ohms. All help appreciated.


I have a 'pen' type multi meter like this;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Digital-Mult...tal+multimeter

Much easier to use, especially on light fittings. You don't need three
hands :-)


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

The Medway Handyman wrote:
On 16/04/2014 13:48, Broadback wrote:
Any recommendations please? Just needs Ac and DC volts (up to mains
level) amps and Ohms. All help appreciated.


I have a 'pen' type multi meter like this;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Digital-Mult...tal+multimeter


Much easier to use, especially on light fittings. You don't need three
hands :-)


So how does that meet the requirements of the OP then?

Bob Minchin wrote:
The Medway Handyman wrote:
On 16/04/2014 13:48, Broadback wrote:
Any recommendations please? Just needs Ac and DC volts (up to mains
level) amps and Ohms. All help appreciated.


I have a 'pen' type multi meter like this;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Digital-Mult.../ref=sr_1_18?s

=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1397669933&sr=1-18&keywords=digital+multimeter



Much easier to use, especially on light fittings. You don't need three
hands :-)


So how does that meet the requirements of the OP then?

He's just saying. It's an aside.

Bill

On 17/04/2014 12:09, Bob Minchin wrote:
The Medway Handyman wrote:
On 16/04/2014 13:48, Broadback wrote:
Any recommendations please? Just needs Ac and DC volts (up to mains
level) amps and Ohms. All help appreciated.


I have a 'pen' type multi meter like this;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Digital-Mult...tal+multimeter



Much easier to use, especially on light fittings. You don't need three
hands :-)


So how does that meet the requirements of the OP then?


It reads Ac and DC volts (up to mains level) amps and Ohms. Thats what
he wanted?

It has a test lead as well.

--
Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

On 16/04/2014 13:48, Broadback wrote:
Any recommendations please? Just needs Ac and DC volts (up to mains
level) amps and Ohms. All help appreciated.


I bought one of these .,... very pleased with it:

Aidtek VC97+ 4 digit large display auto range multi meter.
I got it via Amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aidetek-VC97...ref=pd_cp_ce_0

for under £23

Even includes a temp probe which is a nice bonus.
I find the audible continuity tester being used a lot



--
UK SelfBuild: http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/UK_Selfbuild/