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Low cost Utility VOM

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dj_theis

Joined: 28 Aug 2017
Posts: 56
Location: Minnesota

Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 2:54 pm Post subject: Low cost Utility VOM

I recall (seemed like less than a year ago) Bob had mentioned a digital VOM from Ebay that he thought was particularly (surprisingly) accurate and reliable.



I cannot seem to find the archive of that post but I know at the time I thought, " I should buy one for when I need it."  I did not follow my advice.



Well, I'm moving my project to the airport and I need to duplicate some of my tools.  I'm not inlclined to buy another Fluke without first looking into one of the capable off brands alternatives.  



Any suggestions on purchases that are reliable over the longer term? (I've heard nothing necessarily good about the HF version wrt reliability).



Thanks in advance for any comments.



Dan Theis

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_________________
Dan Theis
Scratch building Sonex #1362
Still working on the Revmaster Alternator improvement

nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect
Guest

Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2020 6:42 pm Post subject: Low cost Utility VOM

At 04:54 PM 11/30/2020, you wrote:

  	  Quote: 	
		  --> AeroElectric-List message posted by: "dj_theis" <djtheis58(at)gmail.com>



 I recall (seemed like less than a year ago) Bob had mentioned a digital VOM from Ebay that he thought was particularly (surprisingly) accurate and reliable.



 I cannot seem to find the archive of that post but I know at the time I thought, " I should buy one for when I need it."  I did not follow my advice.



 Well, I'm moving my project to the airport and I need to duplicate some of my tools.  I'm not inlclined to buy another Fluke without first looking into one of the capable off brands alternatives.  



 Any suggestions on purchases that are reliable over the longer term? (I've heard nothing necessarily good about the HF version wrt reliability).



 Thanks in advance for any comments.



 Dan Theis 	


   You almost cannot go 'wrong' . . . the technology

   for rudimentary measurements is an order of magnitude

   better than our treasured legacy instruments and at

   1/4 the price.



 

   Close your eyes and throw a dart.



  https://tinyurl.com/y2n5pfc6



  https://tinyurl.com/yyrgmr2p



  https://tinyurl.com/yxj3khuv



 

   I would avoid instruments with lots

   of 'cool' features like frequency,

   capacitance and inductance measurements.

   I have those capabilities on my workbench

   and even there, those features are seldom

   exercised. Similarly, you're not going to

   need to measure transistor quality.



   I prefer elastomeric push buttons as opposed

   to rotary switches. These are relatively

   'sealed' against intrusions. But if you go

   for a rotary switch, pick on with a minimum

   of range selections. More selections only

   increased mechanical complexity/environmental

   vulnerability.



   Clip off the black probe and replace with insulated

   alligator clip. Having black 'clip grounded' while probing

   the system is much handier.



   Check out the Holey Socks approach to protecting

   the instrument while rattling around with the tools.



  https://tinyurl.com/y5x2zugh



   This soft case wads up to fit in your pocket

   while the instrument is in use.



   The very best part of this experiment is what

   do you have to loose? If your selection proves

   unworthy of a place of honor in your toolbox,

   pitch the thing and try something else. It's

   a cheap experiment. 



   I've purchased dozens of this genre' of

   instrument over the years . . . the last one

   I pitched was a radio shack device that I

   purchased about 1975 for what I think was

   about $45.00.  Poor thing just gave up

   the ghost. Gave it a respectful burial about

   15 years ago. I don't think I've spent that

   much money again since.



   Sorry to have been ignoring you folks for the past

   4 or 5 weeks. Dr. Dee and I are climbing out of

   our bouts with the BigC. Dr. Dee is back at her

   desk and I'm in what promises to be a long,

   slow recovery of stamina. Not hurting, appetite

   returning. O2 sats pretty good . . . but I'd

   loose a sack race with a class of kindergartners. Been

   off the EMS crew for couple months. Sure miss

   those guys. Things are a bit better every day.



   

 

   Bob . . .

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bob.verwey(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2020 8:47 pm Post subject: Low cost Utility VOM

God speed with the recovery our revered mentor!



On Mon, 07 Dec 2020, 04:51 Robert L. Nuckolls, III, <nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com (nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com)> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		    At 04:54 PM 11/30/2020, you wrote:

  	  Quote: 	
		  --> AeroElectric-List message posted by: "dj_theis" <djtheis58(at)gmail.com (djtheis58(at)gmail.com)>



 I recall (seemed like less than a year ago) Bob had mentioned a digital VOM from Ebay that he thought was particularly (surprisingly) accurate and reliable.



 I cannot seem to find the archive of that post but I know at the time I thought, " I should buy one for when I need it."Â  I did not follow my advice.



 Well, I'm moving my project to the airport and I need to duplicate some of my tools.Â  I'm not inlclined to buy another Fluke without first looking into one of the capable off brands alternatives.Â  



 Any suggestions on purchases that are reliable over the longer term? (I've heard nothing necessarily good about the HF version wrt reliability).



 Thanks in advance for any comments.



 Dan Theis 	


 Â  You almost cannot go 'wrong' . . . the technology

 Â  for rudimentary measurements is an order of magnitude

 Â  better than our treasured legacy instruments and at

 Â  1/4 the price.



 

 Â  Close your eyes and throw a dart.



  https://tinyurl.com/y2n5pfc6



  https://tinyurl.com/yyrgmr2p



  https://tinyurl.com/yxj3khuv



 

 Â  I would avoid instruments with lots

 Â  of 'cool' features like frequency,

 Â  capacitance and inductance measurements.

 Â  I have those capabilities on my workbench

 Â  and even there, those features are seldom

 Â  exercised. Similarly, you're not going to

 Â  need to measure transistor quality.



 Â  I prefer elastomeric push buttons as opposed

 Â  to rotary switches. These are relatively

 Â  'sealed' against intrusions. But if you go

 Â  for a rotary switch, pick on with a minimum

 Â  of range selections. More selections only

 Â  increased mechanical complexity/environmental

 Â  vulnerability.



 Â  Clip off the black probe and replace with insulated

 Â  alligator clip. Having black 'clip grounded' while probing

 Â  the system is much handier.



 Â  Check out the Holey Socks approach to protecting

 Â  the instrument while rattling around with the tools.



  https://tinyurl.com/y5x2zugh



 Â  This soft case wads up to fit in your pocket

 Â  while the instrument is in use.



 Â  The very best part of this experiment is what

 Â  do you have to loose? If your selection proves

 Â  unworthy of a place of honor in your toolbox,

 Â  pitch the thing and try something else. It's

 Â  a cheap experiment. 



 Â  I've purchased dozens of this genre' of

 Â  instrument over the years . . . the last one

 Â  I pitched was a radio shack device that I

 Â  purchased about 1975 for what I think was

 Â  about $45.00.Â  Poor thing just gave up

 Â  the ghost. Gave it a respectful burial about

 Â  15 years ago. I don't think I've spent that

 Â  much money again since.



 Â  Sorry to have been ignoring you folks for the past

 Â  4 or 5 weeks. Dr. Dee and I are climbing out of

 Â  our bouts with the BigC. Dr. Dee is back at her

 Â  desk and I'm in what promises to be a long,

 Â  slow recovery of stamina. Not hurting, appetite

 Â  returning. O2 sats pretty good . . . but I'd

 Â  loose a sack race with a class of kindergartners. Been

 Â  off the EMS crew for couple months. Sure miss

 Â  those guys. Things are a bit better every day.



 Â  

 

 Â  Bob . . .

- The Matronics AeroElectric-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

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nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect
Guest

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2020 10:08 am Post subject: Low cost Utility VOM

 	  Quote: 	
		  

   I would avoid instruments with lots

   of 'cool' features like frequency,

   capacitance and inductance measurements.

   I have those capabilities on my workbench

   and even there, those features are seldom

   exercised. Similarly, you're not going to

   need to measure transistor quality. 	


    It's been awhile since I last sifted

    the offerings for utility grade instruments.

    I see it's pretty difficult to 'avoid'

    some of the extras.



    Let's see if I can simplify a recommendation:



  https://tinyurl.com/yyc9x2n9

    

    Here's another offering that ships from the

    US.



  https://tinyurl.com/yy6aswvc



    I bought a couple of similar offerings

    about a year ago and added them to the

    toyboxes in a couple of our

    rural fire stations.  You can pretty

    much ignore these 'whistle' selections

    except, of course, for good 'ol Ohms.



 

 [img]cid:.0[/img]



    This instrument does include

    thermocouple based temperature measurement

    which may be handy.



    If anyone picks one up and finds it

    falls short of expectations . . .

    I'll buy it from you.



 

   Bob . . .



   Un impeachable logic: George Carlin asked, "If black boxes

   survive crashes, why don't they make the whole airplane

   out of that stuff?"

- The Matronics AeroElectric-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

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Ceengland

Joined: 11 Oct 2020
Posts: 391
Location: MS

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2020 10:45 am Post subject: Low cost Utility VOM

On 12/7/2020 12:02 PM, Robert L.       Nuckolls, III wrote:

     

      	  Quote: 	
		                 	  Quote: 	
		  

             I would avoid instruments with lots

             of 'cool' features like frequency,

             capacitance and inductance measurements.

             I have those capabilities on my workbench

             and even there, those features are seldom

             exercised. Similarly, you're not going to

             need to measure transistor quality. 	
       

            It's been awhile since I last sifted

            the offerings for utility grade instruments.

            I see it's pretty difficult to 'avoid'

            some of the extras.

         

            Let's see if I can simplify a recommendation:

         

                    https://tinyurl.com/yyc9x2n9

            

            Here's another offering that ships from the

            US.

         

                    https://tinyurl.com/yy6aswvc

           

            I bought a couple of similar offerings

            about a year ago and added them to the

            toyboxes in a couple of our

            rural fire stations.  You can pretty

            much ignore these 'whistle' selections

            except, of course, for good 'ol Ohms.

         

         

         [img]cid:part3.5983A634.B6A7F2D0(at)gmail.com[/img]

         

            This instrument does include

            thermocouple based temperature measurement

            which may be handy.

         

            If anyone picks one up and finds it

            falls short of expectations . . .

            I'll buy it from you.

         

                

             Bob . . .

            	
     To give you young whippersnappers some perspective, my 1st portable     True RMS digital meter was far cheaper than typical lab grade     instruments of the day, had an LED display (about 30 minutes on the     battery), was VOM-only, and cost $200. In 1975 dollars. So....

     	          		Virus-free. www.avast.com 		 	 [url=#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2] [/url]

- The Matronics AeroElectric-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

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_________________
Charlie

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