What specs do I need to look at when buying a multimeter for pc repair?

B

BlueDogAnchorite

Member
Hi, thanks. I really don't want to have to take stuff to a repair shop. would be fun to learn some new skills too :) (im in the uk)

As far as I know I need to care mainly about dc voltage and ohms.
I think if one has a setting of 20 dc then thats good for fully checking a psu, no idea about the rest of the computer though.

No idea what ohm range I need either. The ones I'm going to list show their ranges, but dont tell me specifically what setting I can turn them to inbetween damn it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Compact-Dig...575&sr=1-1&keywords=multimeter#productDetails

the cheapest one:

Compact and pocket sized with 19 testing ranges. Supplied with holster, battery and test leads., Diode and transistor test - Audible continuity - Square wave output, AC voltage - 0 - 600V (±1.2%) : DC current - 2000µA - 10A (±1.0%) : DC voltage - 200mV - 600V (±0.5%), Resistance - 200 ohms - 2M ohms (±0.8%) : Square wave output - 50Hz

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/precision-gold-pg10b-digital-multimeter-gw18u

DC voltage range: 200mV to 600V
AC voltage range: 200V to 600V
DC current range: 2mA to10A
Resistance range: 200Ω to 20MΩ
Battery test range: 1.5V to 9V
Continuity: Audible indication: <40Ω ±20Ω
Overload protection: 500Vdc or AC rms

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Laser-353...Tester-Digital-Tool-Garage-Auto-/320908946505

final one has really good review but doesnt tell me about its ranges, ill assume they are about the same as the other ones..

This Multi-meter incorporates a data storage facility, back light and holster and measures DC/AC voltage, DC current, resistance, temperature, diodes, HFE Parameters for transistors and continuity with a built in buzzer. Complete with test leads, temperature probe and holster. Maximum input is 1000v DC | 750v AC. Temperature range -30°C - + 250° Celsius.

Thanks!
 
Don't cheap out on a metering device. Not sure what brand that one is, but the first one's price seems very low. I skimmed some of the reviews and people liked it, but no idea what they're using it for and how much use it actually gets. Amprobe and Craftsman make good ones if they offer those around you.

For DC voltage, just turn it to that setting and test away; 12vdc, 24vdc, etc - it doesn't matter, it will read it. For Ohms, I'm honestly not sure how low you'll need for desktop stuff - I'm not sure why I don't know because I probably should:( However, like voltage, the meter will read anything in the given range of it's limits, just set it to Ohms and test away.
 
Thanatos said:
How's that? I've never heard anyone say that before.
Click to expand...
In days gone by I was an electronics tech among other things and unless the analog meter has a very high impedance input it loads the data lines down and kills the signal.
I basically have no use for an analog meter unless I want to see how the needle reacts.
 
Don't spend any money at all. All you need for pc repair is 12V, 5V and 3V ability. Everything else is essentially done on other kit.... Don't be fooled into spending coin...
 
Ah yeah, thanks. Someone else told me that to reliably test a psu under any real kinda load, I needed other specialist equipment. I couldnt find any guides to test parts of the mobo or gpu and im not smart enough to figure it out myself, (certainly not patient enough these days) so I didnt bother buying one lol.
 
Okedokey said:
Don't spend any money at all. All you need for pc repair is 12V, 5V and 3V ability. Everything else is essentially done on other kit.... Don't be fooled into spending coin...
Click to expand...

Oddly enough we might agree on something..

For many years all I ever used was this:

http://www.fruugo.us/29-range-multimeter/p-1316086?gclid=CK6Ns-HllbwCFQxo7Aod3FIAfQ#s-3456242

I recently bought a newer one for like $60 at autozone because my radio shack one broke, but I think it has all the same features of the radio shack one and more.

Hardware monitor will also tell you your voltages under load, it seems to be pretty accurate I think.
 
For the vast majority of things that most here would do this cheap meter will do the job.
I have at least 8 of them floating around (tractors, combine etc) for handiness when I need them right now.

image_23332.jpg

http://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-multimeter-98025.html
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top