Inexpensive Multimeter recommendation?

[nickelplate759]

My ancient multimeter is getting flakey.  It's bulky and heavy (Bakelite case!), and really not ideal for modern electronics work.  It was made by EICO (Electronic Instrument Co, of Long Island City, NY).  I got it well-used in the late 1980s and it was already old then.

So - I think it's time to get a brand new one.  I'd like recommendations for one that is
1. inexpensive (say $40 or less?)
2. useful for model railroad applications, including model railroad electronics like N-scale DCC boards and their components.  Small probes would be nice.
3. easy to read
4. bonus points if I can also use it for checking household electrical stuff (like "is that neutral wire really neutral?"), but not a must-have.

[Doug G.]

I bought a cheap digital multimeter at the local hardware store (Ace) at least 10 years ago, probably closer to 15 years ago for simple voltage, resistance, and current measurements and it still works perfectly and has had considerable use. In addition, it has a diode function.

Brand name - GB
Model GDT-190A.

It still has the original battery in it.

Doug

[C855B]

Home Depot, Lowes and the other DIY stores have a decent selection of digital multimeters that will do the job. Just look in the electrical tools aisle and I'm sure you'll find something you like.

[Ike the BN Freak]

I bought a Craftsman one a few years ago when I was getting ready for college. Got it on sale for $20. Does what I need it to do, and much cheaper than the couple hundred dollar Fluke I have for work.

[Lemosteam]

Harbor freight as an inexpensive version.  One must have on it is an on/off switch.  I had one without- the main dial would have to be rotated, and I kept forgetting to do that using up 9V over and over.  The swithc allows you to keep the dial on the last setting you had.

[DKS]

What is your preference, digital or analog? I still have a very strong preference for the latter. I don't care for flickering numbers that take a while to settle down, and a numbers-only display doesn't provide me with a context for the reading--is it high or low relative to the scale, does it drift up or down, etc. Also, a beeper option for continuity is a valuable feature, allowing you to keep your eyes on the probes while testing for an open or completed circuit.

 

[nickelplate759]

i'm comfortable with digital (I'm a digital kind of person I guess).   The on-off switch seems like a good idea!

My conclusion from the helpful comments above is that I'm overthinking this - there are plenty of inexpensive meters out there that will do.

Thanks!

[Maletrain]

One thing to consider in digital vs analog is the need to make sure you have the correct polarity and voltage scale before touching the probes to a circuit if using an analog meter.  Digital meters typically can read + or - volts and are self-ranging, so no chance of damaging any little needle mechanism like those used in the analog versions.

I don't usually have any problem with flickering displays so long as the batteries are fresh in my digital versions.  Jumpy displays are usually a matter of how well I am holding the probes in contact with a dirty circuit conductor.

And, if I am looking for small changes like voltage drops, those are easier to read with a digital display than the needle on the analog display, where you may need to count unnumbered increments along a scale from the last numbered tick mark.

[eja]

Make sure whatever you get turns itself off after some time period.  Otherwise, you will have dead batteries the next time you want to use it.


Just saying ....  don't ask .

[Steveruger45]

My favorite quality made multimeter is any of the Fluke brand. I Used these for years in the merchant marine.
Having said that I also got a bunch of free digital multimeters from Harbor Freight Tools. They often have a coupon where the multimeter is free if you buy something else.
They work fine for simple stuff like continuity-resistance / volts / amps / testing and seem reasonably accurate and they have an on off switch, which can be a bit flakey. They have a transistor tester port too, although never tried it.

[MK]

What he said.    I have a Fluke on the bench and a bunch of Harbor Freight freebies thrown into various tool boxes.

[AKNscale]

Even auto parts stores carry the $20 cheapies.

[Point353]

My favorite quality made multimeter is any of the Fluke brand.

The OP wants a meter for $40 or less.
Is any Fluke model available within that budgetary limit?

[Kentuckian]

This isn’t a Fluke, but I do like it. Amazon’s choice.https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=tenma+multimeter&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=174218463735&hvpos=1t2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15892859622496448129&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9014406&hvtargid=kwd-2678174721&ref=pd_sl_8cmtomuasi_e I did buy an aftermarket case for it from Harbor Freight.

[Steveruger45]

The OP wants a meter for $40 or less.
Is any Fluke model available within that budgetary limit?

I doubt you could get a Fluke for less than $80.  However, IMHO if you want a great multimeter that will last forever get a Fluke.  If you just need a cheap one get the free ones from harbor Freight.  I have about six of these and five are still unopened. The one I am using I have had about two years and I even changed the battery on it a week or so ago, so they aren’t that bad.