hi guys as you can see I'm new here... and also new to the audio dyi thing. as far as i read on the internet i'm thinking i need a digital multimeter. so can anyone help me find the right one? I'm looking for something I can get on ebay, even used because I don't want to end up spending too much... $200 at most i would say... so here's what I need: something that also measures low ohms, capacitance, and frequency and it MUST be able to do accurate AC voltage measurements over the 20hz-20khz range. RMS and a dB readout option would also be nice.
Please guide me towards something that would do all of theese.
Thanks in advance.
Please guide me towards something that would do all of theese.
Thanks in advance.
Welcome ad_breaker,
You might want to read these threads, some of them are very recent.
Clicked 'Have you searched' a bit too fast? tsk,tsk...😉
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/sear...d=279523&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=72248&highlight=
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=70705&highlight=
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=70270&highlight=
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6560&highlight=
/Hugo
You might want to read these threads, some of them are very recent.
Clicked 'Have you searched' a bit too fast? tsk,tsk...😉
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/sear...d=279523&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=72248&highlight=
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=70705&highlight=
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=70270&highlight=
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6560&highlight=
/Hugo
thanks for the links and the quck reply... read them up but still quite puzzled... right now it looks like a good choice for my needs would be the Fluke 89 IV... which I can probably get on ebay for less that $200 but from the data sheets I can find on this and my understanding it doesn't measure AC voltage at frequencies lower than 45hz... is this so? What else should I be looking at that would be able to measure AC voltage throughout the whole 20hz to 20khz range?
hey I see yours is an 87 IV... basically the same as the 89 IV except for the logging functions right? Well some other thing I noticed on a website is that the 87 V only goes up to 20khz with a low pass filter - 3db @ 1kHz. Is this the case with the 87 IV too?
Now, really? Don't believe what's written on websites. 😉
Go to www.fluke.com and download the PDF.
The model 87's frequency ranges from 0.5Hz to 1000Khz.
Just go and buy one, you'll be happy as a clam*.
*clam: happy creatures but it remains unknown where the contentment resides from.
/Hugo 🙂
Go to www.fluke.com and download the PDF.
The model 87's frequency ranges from 0.5Hz to 1000Khz.
Just go and buy one, you'll be happy as a clam*.
*clam: happy creatures but it remains unknown where the contentment resides from.
/Hugo 🙂
While you're at it get a 'cheap and nasty' meter too.
There will be occasions when you'd rather not risk your good meter (Fluke are rugged, but nevertheless), and certainly times when you want to measure two parameters at the same time.
There will be occasions when you'd rather not risk your good meter (Fluke are rugged, but nevertheless), and certainly times when you want to measure two parameters at the same time.
Don't get confused between frequency measurement and voltage measurement.
Most of the Fluke DMMs measure frequency over a wide range, but when they measure RMS voltage or current, the frequency range is much more limited.
The maximum frequency when measuring voltage is usually much lower than when you measure frequency.
Most of the Fluke DMMs measure frequency over a wide range, but when they measure RMS voltage or current, the frequency range is much more limited.
The maximum frequency when measuring voltage is usually much lower than when you measure frequency.
yes pixpop that's exactly what I'm talking about... I know that it can do frequency measurements over a broad range of frequencies but my concern is if it can do accurate AC Volts measurements in the 20hz-20khz range...
You're generally better off with a 'scope for doing that.
Remember that unless you're dealing with pure sine waves, the 'RMS' voltage will be pretty meaningless for most purposes - and even then, you need a 'true RMS' meter for accuracy.
OTOH, if you want to check frequency response, etc., knock up an integrating AC voltmeter from an op-amp and a handful of bits.
Remember that unless you're dealing with pure sine waves, the 'RMS' voltage will be pretty meaningless for most purposes - and even then, you need a 'true RMS' meter for accuracy.
OTOH, if you want to check frequency response, etc., knock up an integrating AC voltmeter from an op-amp and a handful of bits.
Hi,
the spec for the frequency range of voltage reading ability should look just like that for amplifiers. eg. 20Hz to 500Hz +0.5db -3db or something much superior to suit your requirements.
If you arrange to make comparisons of almost identical voltages then the response errors of the DMM can be almost eliminated to quite high frequencies. I use mine upto 200kHz but it's spec is to only 500Hz.
Asumming my sine wave generator is putting out nearly constant voltage as I sweep through the frequency range, I find that a 1990mV signal at 100Hz appears to have fallen to about 160mV when reading a 100kHz signal, but comparison negates that big apparent error.
the spec for the frequency range of voltage reading ability should look just like that for amplifiers. eg. 20Hz to 500Hz +0.5db -3db or something much superior to suit your requirements.
If you arrange to make comparisons of almost identical voltages then the response errors of the DMM can be almost eliminated to quite high frequencies. I use mine upto 200kHz but it's spec is to only 500Hz.
Asumming my sine wave generator is putting out nearly constant voltage as I sweep through the frequency range, I find that a 1990mV signal at 100Hz appears to have fallen to about 160mV when reading a 100kHz signal, but comparison negates that big apparent error.
ad_breaker said:
You forgot the most important: 'diode' buzzer (beep-beep).
Priceless tool when debugging circuits.
The Fluke 89 IV is a very nice meter but I think what you're really after is an AC test set AND a DVM. As has been pointed out, DVMs have their limitations at AC and the true RMS feature is rarely of use in audio. You might like to have a look at the Neutrik Minilyser.
Frequency measuring multimeter
Hi guys,
in this day and age, there is no requirement to spend megabucks on test equipment.
The far East is falling over itself to provide cheap and accurate measuring kit.
This item would probably do the business for the original poster;
http://www.jaycarelectronics.co.uk/...&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=546
A lot less than $200 and certainly seems to meet his requirements.
I've dealt with thios supplier and they are excellent.
HTH,
Sandy
Hi guys,
in this day and age, there is no requirement to spend megabucks on test equipment.
The far East is falling over itself to provide cheap and accurate measuring kit.
This item would probably do the business for the original poster;
http://www.jaycarelectronics.co.uk/...&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=546
A lot less than $200 and certainly seems to meet his requirements.
I've dealt with thios supplier and they are excellent.
HTH,
Sandy
Hi ad_breaker,
Everything Hugo, EC8010 and AndrewT said.
Fluke makes about the only accurate handheld DMM out there. It is the only one that will hold it's calibration. I know you are not going to send your meter in every (even) two years for calibration.
Buy the Fluke. <- period 😀
I worked as a calibration technician, this is a fact. I have some Fluke handhelds.
Sandy,
Sadly, no that meter can not be trusted. Many techs spend good $$ on bench meters. Mine was around $1,500. They can go higher too. There is very good reason to spend money on good test equipment. Think of it as an investment, not unless you only have to check if the mains are present, the fuse is good and the battery has voltage. Then all you need is a couple of test lights and a continuity tester.
-Chris
Everything Hugo, EC8010 and AndrewT said.
Fluke makes about the only accurate handheld DMM out there. It is the only one that will hold it's calibration. I know you are not going to send your meter in every (even) two years for calibration.
Buy the Fluke. <- period 😀
I worked as a calibration technician, this is a fact. I have some Fluke handhelds.
Sandy,
Sadly, no that meter can not be trusted. Many techs spend good $$ on bench meters. Mine was around $1,500. They can go higher too. There is very good reason to spend money on good test equipment. Think of it as an investment, not unless you only have to check if the mains are present, the fuse is good and the battery has voltage. Then all you need is a couple of test lights and a continuity tester.
-Chris
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