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 Forum index » DIY Hardware and Software » The Repair Shop
Choice of multimeter for DIY/repair
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electrospeaker



Joined: Jun 30, 2006
Posts: 49
Location: Norway

PostPosted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 3:24 pm    Post subject: Choice of multimeter for DIY/repair
Subject description: Which multimeter with which features should I get?
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My (cheap and cheerful) digital multimeter is about to die so I'm looking for a replacement and don't know what to get. So, for synth repair and DIY projects (MIDI and audio mostly), what functions/features do I need apart from the following?:

AC/DC voltage
Amperage
Resistance
Capacitance
(quick responding) continuity tester w/buzzer
LED/diode tester
Frequency counter (but which range?)

Anything else?
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DES



Joined: Feb 28, 2003
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 5:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Hmm, that list pretty much covers the range of available options in affordable multi-meters with the exception of a transistor tester...I have never had any luck with any of the built in testers giving me values that were usuable. to check whether they're good or not you can use your diode check and resistance capabilities. You might want to consider the resolution...most meters will read 3 1/2 digits. Being able to have more (4 or 5 +) will make it easier to fine tune oscillators, etc. That usually adds to the price though.

As for frequency...audio range should be fine and I think most meters that do measure frequency would be in that range. Of course accuracy is another thing...a decent scope or dedicated freq counter would probably be better since their time base will be more stable/accurate.

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electrospeaker



Joined: Jun 30, 2006
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 2:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

According to this multimeter buying guide by EEV-blog the transistor HFE testing feature is a useless gimmick.

Thanks for the tip on the resolution. I'll look into that. Sampling rate is probably an issue as well -with fluctuating voltages it would be hard to get a correct reading if it only updates the reading once every two seconds!

I've been considering the Uni-T UT61E which is rated (by various electronics forums, including a thread in the EEV-blog forum) as an overall very good and reasonably priced meter, but being a budget meter doesn't have the safety features/approval of the big name ones. I do occasionally check household AC voltages, and I don't want it to blow up in my face or something. I could go for a lower spec'd meter of a more well known quality brand (Amprobe perhaps, which I've told are owned by Fluke) with less features (but perhaps good enough for my use), or get the UT61E and use a separate voltage detector for AC voltages. Then again that's one more device to pile in in my box of toys Confused

As for oscilloscopes -that would probably be useful in order to trace a signal through a synth for troubleshooting, wouldn't it? I've actually never used a scope before (they've always been too expensive), so I wouldn't know where to start and which specs/features to look for, but there are some cheap ones available now such as the JyeTech DSO-138 kit (I think they might be available assembled as well, I'm not too confident about soldering SMD devices). Are these good enough for synth and MIDI related projects/repair?
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PHOBoS



Joined: Jan 14, 2010
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 5:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Higher resolution could indeed come in handy when matching transistors, for the rest you probably won't really need it.
As long as you don't get one of the cheapest meters you'll probably do fine. Make sure it has an auto power-off feature
though, that can save you a lot of batteries Rolling Eyes

An oscilloscope is definitely VERY useful for synths, actually in general it is a very useful tool for electronics. I don't know
about those kits, that is I have no experience with them. I know some people here use those or similar ones and they
probably are allright. And they are pretty cheap so you could always upgrade to a better scope later if needed. I myself
got an old scope for 25,- so that could be an option too.

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prgdeltablues



Joined: Sep 25, 2006
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 25, 2016 4:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

I'd disagree with the transistor tester being a gimmick. Not because I've ever needed to know Hfe, but I use it a lot to check the pinouts - 2N3904 and BC547 are different for example, but effectively interchangable in most synth circuits. Nice not to go through the frustration of troubleshooting a circuit only to find you'd installed the transistor incorrectly!

Peter
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belltones



Joined: Aug 08, 2017
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 23, 2017 10:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

I am a professional synth tech and have a Mastech MS8268 which I've been using for several years... it's under $30 from Amazon and has most of the features you mentioned. To be honest, most synth work applications don't require immaculate accuracy. It is great and seems like a much more high-end meter than it is based on its price. I think the next appreciable step up would cost 6 or more times the price and barely make a difference for what are, in the grand scheme of things, the very low frequency applications of synth work.
Also, I use it for testing mains quite often and I think I've only popped the fuse once in several years (when it was connecting to a malfunctioning power amp circuit in a Wurlitzer), but it's resettable anyway.
A nice little bonus besides what they tell you in the specs: batteries in it last SO LONG! Plus, it's big and rock solid and can withstand being dropped on a hard floor at least several times!
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belltones



Joined: Aug 08, 2017
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 23, 2017 10:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

yikes I didn't realize how old this thread was... oh well, I hope you're enjoying whatever meter you got!
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wackelpeter



Joined: May 05, 2013
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 10:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

No worries,

Great that you mentioned the type of your DVM, seems pretty usable and perhaps i think i can spend those bucks on an other DVM too...

Cool that it has uA range and capacitance and frequency measurement too. Mine has the latter 2 but could be useful to have those functions twice at times.

I have an Voltcraft VC270 btw.

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Grumble



Joined: Nov 23, 2015
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 26, 2017 12:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

about scopes: I have purchased a small lcd diy scope kit and in the video below I use it together with a freeware program that turns your computer into a scope using the soundcard for capturing the audio.

the youtube video: https://youtu.be/qyvAb40cOTY

where to get the scope program: https://www.zeitnitz.eu/Scope_en

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