Multimeter for automotive work.

[ciscoford23]

I need to replace my 20yr old meter as the display is failing and need more functions. Will be used mostly for automotive work ranging from voltage check, resistance check, possibly Hybrid work in the near future. I'm looking for a meter with at least true RMS and back lit screen for my aging eyes. The ones I had in mind are:

Power Probe CAT-IV 600V
Uni-t Ut139C

Also thinking of picking up this mini amp clamp as it might come in handy at times.

UNI-T UT210E

Not looking for something super accurate or pricey just something more modern and durable. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[superskaterxes]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01L8WVHU0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

i have this one and i also have a $1000 fluke meter and i actually prefer to use the one above for automotive stuff. It can do Hz and capacitance which is nice plus all the normal functions. The probes are a little plasticy but overall it works great.

 

[Tim37]

I know I'm about to open up a box of **** by saying the brand but after deciding to simplify my life at work I went with

https://store.snapon.com/Digital-AC-DC-Clamp-On-Meters-Meter-Digital-Clamp-On-P649406.aspx

Unlike a lot of clamps it reads in to the meg ohms most will only read maybe a kilo ohm. It does temp and DC amps. After looking at many meters some much more expensive I decided to go with it and have been happy plus I was able to take two meters and a clamp home.

 

[dsmnickk90]

Used vantage pro

 

[mbshop]

I have used flukes my whole career. Never had an issue. One I bought over 20 years ago is still going. A fancier one went with the shop when I sold it.

 

[6PTsocket]

I know I'm about to open up a box of **** by saying the brand but after deciding to simplify my life at work I went with

https://store.snapon.com/Digital-AC-DC-Clamp-On-Meters-Meter-Digital-Clamp-On-P649406.aspx

Unlike a lot of clamps it reads in to the meg ohms most will only read maybe a kilo ohm. It does temp and DC amps. After looking at many meters some much more expensive I decided to go with it and have been happy plus I was able to take two meters and a clamp home.

Practically any meter sold can read resistace higher that 1K.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[LB-1911]

I need to replace my 20yr old meter as the display is failing and need more functions. Will be used mostly for automotive work ranging from voltage check, resistance check, possibly Hybrid work in the near future. I'm looking for a meter with at least true RMS and back lit screen for my aging eyes. The ones I had in mind are:

Power Probe CAT-IV 600V
Uni-t Ut139C

Also thinking of picking up this mini amp clamp as it might come in handy at times.

UNI-T UT210E

Not looking for something super accurate or pricey just something more modern and durable. Any advice is appreciated.

Maybe Fedwrench will be along later and give us an update.

12-10-2015

This new Powerprobe unit is gaining popularity at work
http://www.tooltopia.com/power-probe-ppdmm.aspx

 

[theoldwizard1]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01L8WVHU0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

i have this one and i also have a $1000 fluke meter and i actually prefer to use the one above for automotive stuff. It can do Hz and capacitance which is nice plus all the normal functions. The probes are a little plasticy but overall it works great.

IMHO, people make WAY TO BIG OF A DEAL about name brand multimeters for "general" DIY use. The most important feature is have a rubber "boot" to protect it when you drop it (notice I said, "when" not "if" !). That one has some nice additional features (back light, frequency and capacitance).

A not too expensive "amp clamp" is always a plus even if it can not handle starter motor current,

 

[pedrodagr8]

I need to replace my 20yr old meter as the display is failing and need more functions. Will be used mostly for automotive work ranging from voltage check, resistance check, possibly Hybrid work in the near future. I'm looking for a meter with at least true RMS and back lit screen for my aging eyes. The ones I had in mind are:

Power Probe CAT-IV 600V
Uni-t Ut139C

Also thinking of picking up this mini amp clamp as it might come in handy at times.

UNI-T UT210E

Not looking for something super accurate or pricey just something more modern and durable. Any advice is appreciated.

The Uni-T UT139C is a pretty decent meter. Moderately robust, okish input protection and a solid feature set.

The UT210E is actually an excellent clamp for the money. It is also hackable to add a bit of extra features and what not.

 

[joel63]

I know I'm about to open up a box of **** by saying the brand but after deciding to simplify my life at work I went with

https://store.snapon.com/Digital-AC-DC-Clamp-On-Meters-Meter-Digital-Clamp-On-P649406.aspx

Unlike a lot of clamps it reads in to the meg ohms most will only read maybe a kilo ohm. It does temp and DC amps. After looking at many meters some much more expensive I decided to go with it and have been happy plus I was able to take two meters and a clamp home.

I have one and I think you did well.

 

[ducksface]

After a great deal of resolve, some of us finally got the high end meter guys to admit the big difference between a cheap unit, even a free hf unit, and a $1000 unit, when it comes down to household consumer usage, is lead quality and how a fuse blows at 400+ volts.

 

[pstemari]

I've had Extech meters **** out within six months of purchase.

If you're working strictly on cars, the safety ratings are irrelevant, and so is true RMS. If you work on line voltage wiring, UL (or equivalent) listed meters are important. Many of the cheapies will short out in dangerous ways.

If you're working in the breaker box, then you absolutely need something with a solid CAT III/IV rating. At that point you're at risk for arc flash.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[M_George]

I favor my old tried and true Fluke meter. But I picked up two HF freebies to keep in the car travel bag. Used it once on the road to see if the battery was charging, worked for that and saved me a few dollars.

 

[cashishift]

I bought a Klein MM-2000 (which appears to be the 2300 now) because it had temp probes also, thought that might be handy.

Couldnt justify a Fluke.

 

[VRStrickland]

+1 on the Power Probe meters. They seem to hold ohm calibration better than my Fluke or SO units. However, as was mentioned above, don't overlook the used SO Vantage Pro. Best automotive meter ever IMHO. Yea, a little big and sometimes hard to get places, but no matter how frustrated I get with that aspect of it, I always drag it back out


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[theoldwizard1]

After a great deal of resolve, some of us finally got the high end meter guys to admit the big difference between a cheap unit, even a free hf unit, and a $1000 unit, when it comes down to household consumer usage, is lead quality and how a fuse blows at 400+ volts.

Yep ! I have an older Craftsman with a rubber boot. I paid around $20 for it. I have probably spent over $50 on clips, probes, adapter, splices, extensions, etc. Even if the meter shits the bed, the accessories should go on for ever !

 

[Tim37]

Practically any meter sold can read resistace higher that 1K.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

I ment 100kilo ohms any way I need something that reads around 10 meg ohms or better I also need the diode check and it does capacitances that comes in handy on occasion.

 

[joel63]

+1 on the Power Probe meters. They seem to hold ohm calibration better than my Fluke or SO units. However, as was mentioned above, don't overlook the used SO Vantage Pro. Best automotive meter ever IMHO. Yea, a little big and sometimes hard to get places, but no matter how frustrated I get with that aspect of it, I always drag it back out


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

X2^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Team the So Vantage Pro with the amp clamp and you have a most useful

automotive multimeter.

 

[ciscoford23]

Thank you all. I'm sure all the suggested meters would be a step up from my old Wavetek

Anyone have experience with Amprobe AM-510?

 

[rexer]

I have a Electronic Specialty ES-585K & Klein Tools MM1000 like them both.

Also a very old Radio Shack analog,still works...

 

[claymont]

Lots of good info below. If you're thinking of using it for checking AC line voltages also, get one that is properly fused.

$50 Multimeter Shootout

$100 Multimeter Shootout

Mid Range / Priced Multimeter Shootout / Buyers Guide

High Energy Multimeter Destruction

Multimeter Input Protection Tutorial

 

[ttpete]

I have 3 Flukes, a handheld, a bench meter, and a snap-over ammeter.

I also have an analog Simpson 260. Can't get along without one. I grew up playing with vacuum tube stuff, mostly audio equipment. Nostalgia, I guess.

 

[M_George]

There's a lot to be said for the old Simson's. Having the meter movement will show things the digital one won't. If the voltage or resistance is changing, you will see it on the Simson while the digital will just seem to display randomly.

 

[General Geoff]

There's a lot to be said for the old Simson's. Having the meter movement will show things the digital one won't. If the voltage or resistance is changing, you will see it on the Simson while the digital will just seem to display randomly.

Many nicer DMMs have a bar display which shows increasing and decreasing values more easily.

 

[xjfish]

Fluke 87 is my favorite...

 

[dogdog]

OP, I think you should define what functions you wanted then the budget and go shopping....... just as long as the meter does the function that is needed..... and in the ranges it's needed it... I doubt much of it needs a lab quality meter to trouble shoot. A tool is It's just a tool, dependents on your needed and how you used it.

 

[bdelmar2]

I mostly use a Power Probe II for most stuff, cord is handy.

I also use an older craftsman $40, for the stuff the PPII won't do.

I keep a better ESI with tach lead in the back of my box for the rare occasion I need that function, or to check the craftsman with if I don't believe it.

Edit: And a bunch of various extra leads and tips that interchange among all of them and also adapters to use them with my scope.

 

[Cope]

There's a lot to be said for the old Simson's. Having the meter movement will show things the digital one won't. If the voltage or resistance is changing, you will see it on the Simson while the digital will just seem to display randomly.

They're invaluable for checking solenoids; unfortunately I fried mine checking a 240vac circuit with the meter set for amps.

 

[guy48065]

They're invaluable for checking solenoids; unfortunately I fried mine checking a 240vac circuit with the meter set for amps.

~1980 a co-worker burned his nose off when a plant union electrician handed him a Simpson 260 set for AMPS to use to check 480V fuses in a live main panel.

 

[Citation]

Flukes are great if expensive. Deals can be had on the brick dung house Fluke 27. I've picked up several for under $30 on eBay without probes.

Brymen based Greenlee and Matco meters are great values.

I'm not a big fan of Uni-T meters but they are good for the money. A fast bar graph can be really nice but remember 'fast'. For example, Fluke bar graphs run at x10 the digits, about 30 hz. Some update at the same speed as the digits and are this useless.

Extech is all over the map. There meters are made by oems. Like Craftsman tools, some are great others are junk.

For auto work RMS isn't needed.

 

[ciscoford23]

Thank you all for your inputs.

I ordered the Amprobe AM-510 and UNI-T UT210E clamp.