Volt Meter

Jampy00

Jampy00

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Can anyone recommend a decent inexpensive volt meter. Mainly used for testing 110 & 220 volt lines.
I bought a cheap one from Amazon it takes watch style batteries, they don't last more than a week, every time I need it, it's dead.
So no watch batteries !!!

I'm sure I can find one on Amazon, but figured I'd ask here first. Thanks!
 
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Amazon.ca

www.amazon.ca

OR a nice kit for the house. Will allow you fine those circuits that are not labeledd.

1719103977396.png

Amazon.ca

www.amazon.ca
 
Jampy00 said:
Can anyone recommend a decent inexpensive volt meter. Mainly used for testing 110 & 220 volt lines.
I bought a cheap one from Amazon it takes watch style batteries, they don't last more than a week, every time I need it, it's dead.
So no watch batteries !!!

I'm sure I can find one on Amazon, but figured I'd ask here first. Thanks!
Click to expand...

 
If you want your grand-grand-grand kids to still have it, get a FLUKE.
 
Jampy00 said:
Can anyone recommend a decent inexpensive volt meter. Mainly used for testing 110 & 220 volt lines.
I bought a cheap one from Amazon it takes watch style batteries, they don't last more than a week, every time I need it, it's dead.
So no watch batteries !!!

I'm sure I can find one on Amazon, but figured I'd ask here first. Thanks!
Click to expand...

What do you consider cheap? I own about ten. Guess how I used to make my living? All are Fluke brand. My first was an analogue Triplett brand. My Flukes cost anywhere from $150 to $500. Hell, I've given away a thousand dollars or so in metres. Even a nice Fluke amp-clamp.

The Klein metre I posted earlier is good quality and AA batteries.
 
I have this cheap one needed a dc clamp one time. Has been handy even has a non contact voltage detected built-in.

KAIWEETS Smart Digital Clamp Meter with D-Shaped Jaws, Clamp Multimeter with Inrush Current Function, Auto-ranging Amp Meter Built-in HD Color Screen, Measures AC/DC Current Voltage Temperature NCV

Amazon.ca

Sent from the future
 
Fluke if you don't misplace tools or do anything over 220v
Uni-T for everyone else

Both available at Sayal at comparable price to the internet
 
What are you testing if the line has power?

I bought something like this to check if I got the right circuit on or off around the house.
www.homedepot.com

Commercial Electric 110-220-Volt AC/DC Voltage Tester VT-8900R - The Home Depot

Check voltage quickly and safely with the 110/220 VAC Voltage Tester from Commercial Electric VT-8900R. Designed to help verify outlet output and prevent overage. Indicator light shines when it detects
www.homedepot.com

I also got one of these to do some work on the bike and other things (same as @oioioi recommended)
(batteries were included! AAA no watch battery)

This might also work
 
sburns said:
What are you testing if the line has power?

I bought something like this to check if I got the right circuit on or off around the house.
www.homedepot.com

Commercial Electric 110-220-Volt AC/DC Voltage Tester VT-8900R - The Home Depot

Check voltage quickly and safely with the 110/220 VAC Voltage Tester from Commercial Electric VT-8900R. Designed to help verify outlet output and prevent overage. Indicator light shines when it detects
www.homedepot.com

I also got one of these to do some work on the bike and other things (same as @oioioi recommended)
(batteries were included! AAA no watch battery)

This might also work
Click to expand...
Basically does line have power on/off
But since many of our breaker are either not listed or incorrectly listed, being able to trace is a good idea.

As asked above, not looking for cheap looking for inexpensive, but I'm not an electrician so don't need that level of quality, this is something I use once to a few times a year.
 
mimico_polak said:
Been using something like this for 10+ years on the same batteries it came with.

General PDP Template

www.canadiantire.ca www.canadiantire.ca
Click to expand...
I have a bunch of the 9v cheapies @mimico_polak showed in his post. $20 at Ctc, Amazon. $10 off Temu. If you remember to switch them Off, a battery will last years.

Meters have the same behaviour problems you find with 10mm sockets. They are able to move and hide themselves, and never stay where you leave them.

I keep them everywhere. On my bench, in almost every box, kitchen, car.

Somewhere I have a fluke 101 - haven’t seen it for a while, I’m guessing it ran away with one of my socks.
 
Klein or Fluke if really good is required, CTC always has something on sale for the handi man .


Sent from my iPhone using GTAMotorcycle.com
 
I used to use cheapies or equus from CT. I had one jump calibration by 30% for no obvious reason. That messes with you as it went wrong when I was away from home and only had one meter so no comparison. Now everything I use is fluke/klein/hioki. Fluke/Klein feel more durable but the hioki is fine and has a recent cal. For you, I would get a Klein or uni-t. Either will be fine for a very long time.
 
One of my favorite multimeters is an Ideal Pocket multimeter 61-605.

I purchased it at Lowes probably 10+ years ago. I accidently cracked the screen on it and the item is now discontinued. (only the first digit is not visible when choosing the 2 decimal place scale)
I was able to find a similar one by Amprobe and swap the guts out.
The best part about it is that is has a way to store the leads in the pack of it without the dangling around.
It now lives on the bike it the mini tool case.

1719145621320.png

Amprobe version.
1719145736810.png
 
Jampy00 said:
Basically does line have power on/off
But since many of our breaker are either not listed or incorrectly listed, being able to trace is a good idea.

As asked above, not looking for cheap looking for inexpensive, but I'm not an electrician so don't need that level of quality, this is something I use once to a few times a year.
Click to expand...
Don't dismiss the value of a simple tool as cheap.
 
This will find the breaker and is cheap
e0ca02e2d3d97a8c029bb8509a9eedca.jpg


Sent from the future
 
Scuba Steve said:
This will find the breaker and is cheap
e0ca02e2d3d97a8c029bb8509a9eedca.jpg


Sent from the future
Click to expand...
Also guaranteed to be the right breaker (or burn your house down if shenanigans have happened in the past). Beeping breaker find is useful but I find it doesn't get it right 100% of the time. Must confirm before touching (always a good idea anyway).

I was replacing a fixture at my parents and their labeling is terrible. I just grabbed a crappy pair of pliers and some safety glasses and shorted it. Done. Not as fancy as the breaker finder 5000 but I'd need the BF6000 anyway with an edison base to use it in that application.

EDIT:
My latest purchase was a Simpson 635. I only use it for testing batteries. It was quite commonly available as a 635HV that was rated up to 6000V. There is no way in hell I would use a vintage meter at high voltage.
 
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