Which multimeter?

[lou556]

Morning PH's,

Looking to purchase a multimeter to test the coil packs on my fathers jag and the abs sensors on my BMW. Which multimeter would you recommend? I have been looking at these on ebay >

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Digital-Automotive-Multi...

Any good ? All recommendations welcome, cost not a issue. I just want one that gives accurate readings.

Regards,
Lewis

[stevieturbo]

lou556 said:

Morning PH's,

Looking to purchase a multimeter to test the coil packs on my fathers jag and the abs sensors on my BMW. Which multimeter would you recommend? I have been looking at these on ebay >

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Digital-Automotive-Multi...

Any good ? All recommendations welcome, cost not a issue. I just want one that gives accurate readings.

Regards,
Lewis

A lot is going to depend on the items you are testing. With modern coils with built in ignitors, a multimeter isnt really going to be much use.

Again with ABS sensors, or any rotational sensor for that matter. A Multimeter will be of limited use to properly test these. They might be able to give some indication of functionality, but not a proper test.
Closest might be if the meter has a frequency, pulse width or duty cycle feature. For a proper test on a rotational sensor you need a scope.

For basic voltages and resistance measurements, even a cheap meter will be fine, and used correctly will pose no risk of damaging any sensors etc. The internal battery a unit uses has nothing to do with how it works.

Looking on ebay, the only two I might consider would be

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Testmate-ADM-100-Automot...

or

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sealey-Tools-Automotive-...

The others claiming to be for automotive use just lack some basic features like pulse width measurement

Slightly cheaper albeit from oz

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Automotive-Multimeter-En...

[MFaulks]

Some good points raised by Steve

Personally, given the kind of use, and similar money I would go for either:

http://uk.farnell.com/tenma/72-7740/multimeter-dig...

or a little more , and better accuracy and resolution:
http://uk.farnell.com/tenma/72-9280/multimeter-dig... Products

Diode check, continuity, plus the usual voltage and current are essential. 10A current range is very useful, but note the internal protection fuses are expensive if you over current. Frequency range, and capacitance are also highly recommended. But if this is your first meter, as the others have said, provided reasonable quality you won't go wrong, and if you do damage it, it won't matter.

I have Flukes etc and possibly more money than needed, and I tend to keep my better meters out of the workshop as they will get dropped and generally abused..

Edit - link works, just looks a bit odd

Edited by MFaulks on Tuesday 28th February 18:57

[stevieturbo]

For current, you can buy an AC/DC clamp meter now for under £30. So it really is the best option for that.

or a normal style meter you can attach a current clamp to, although it would be as cheap just to buy a clamp meter really.

I bought one of these last year

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-UNI-T-UT203-AC-DC-AM...

Cheap as chips really. Does volts, frequency, duty cycle and of course current, with no silly 10A limitations for measurement, and because it's a clamp on ( for current only of course ) it's so simple to use.

[Nick1point9]

stevieturbo said:

For current, you can buy an AC/DC clamp meter now for under £30. So it really is the best option for that.

or a normal style meter you can attach a current clamp to, although it would be as cheap just to buy a clamp meter really.

I bought one of these last year

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-UNI-T-UT203-AC-DC-AM...

Cheap as chips really. Does volts, frequency, duty cycle and of course current, with no silly 10A limitations for measurement, and because it's a clamp on ( for current only of course ) it's so simple to use.

I have one of those at work and its pretty poor, don't use it for anything more than "ballpark" figures, only trust it to the nearest 5 Amps, it can show around 4 or 5 Amps difference whether it's on the positive or negative lead without the load actually changing.

But as you say it is unbelievably convinient. Shame it's not more accurate.

[stevieturbo]

Nick1point9 said:

I have one of those at work and its pretty poor, don't use it for anything more than "ballpark" figures, only trust it to the nearest 5 Amps, it can show around 4 or 5 Amps difference whether it's on the positive or negative lead without the load actually changing.

But as you say it is unbelievably convinient. Shame it's not more accurate.

Ive tried it on a few circuits on the car and at home. Ive little reason to believe the readings arent pretty damn close. Certainly nowhere near out by 5A.

That's ranging on circuits from less than 1 amp to about 30A so far

[lou556]

Thanks for all the info. To reiterate will be looking to test the coil packs on my fathers X300 XJ6 and the ABS sensors on my E36 328i. I may go on to test other automotive systems in the future. It does not have to be ultra accurate and will be used as a guideline only. So, will the multimeters suggested be suitable or will I need other equipment.

Regards,
Lewis

[Nick1point9]

stevieturbo said:

Nick1point9 said:

I have one of those at work and its pretty poor, don't use it for anything more than "ballpark" figures, only trust it to the nearest 5 Amps, it can show around 4 or 5 Amps difference whether it's on the positive or negative lead without the load actually changing.

But as you say it is unbelievably convinient. Shame it's not more accurate.

Ive tried it on a few circuits on the car and at home. Ive little reason to believe the readings arent pretty damn close. Certainly nowhere near out by 5A.

That's ranging on circuits from less than 1 amp to about 30A so far

Could just be that our one had been used virtually day in day out for years!

[stevieturbo]

lou556 said:

Thanks for all the info. To reiterate will be looking to test the coil packs on my fathers X300 XJ6 and the ABS sensors on my E36 328i. I may go on to test other automotive systems in the future. It does not have to be ultra accurate and will be used as a guideline only. So, will the multimeters suggested be suitable or will I need other equipment.

Regards,
Lewis

The issue is, a multimeter is not the ideal tool for doing what you ask.

You also have not stated if the coils are normal inductive, or if they have built in ignitors. If they have built in ignitors as many modern ones do, I'm not honestly sure if any multimeter will be of any use.
If they are inductive, then pretty much any meter with ohms will offer some usable readings.

For ABS sensors, the only way to test properly is with an oscilloscope. Some meters may give you some indication of them working, but it will only be an indication.
I guess like saying a battery does show some voltage, but not how much.

You could try asking over on BBA-Reman's forum. It's a dedicated diagnostic site so there may be people making use of basic meters, or at least some with more experience to make a suggestion of a cheap and suitable unit.