[cmeisenzahl]

My dad tried to give me one a few years and and I either declined or lost it. Now I wish I had it. ;-)

I'm about to buy one, any notable difference is practical functionality between analog and digital? Any must-have or who-cares features?

I think I'll use it for testing batteries, working on appliances, and some automotive work. I see several for sale at radio Shack and Sears for say $12 to $30.

All advice appreciated, thanks!

A few I was looking at ...

Craftsman Analog Multimeter - Model 82362 at Sears.com
"Craftsman Analog Multimeter"
Craftsman Analog Multimeter - Model 82362 at Sears.com

Craftsman Multimeter, Digital, with 8 Functions and 20 Ranges - Model 82141 at Sears.com
"Craftsman Multimeter, Digital, with 8 Functions and 20 Ranges"
Craftsman Multimeter, Digital, with 8 Functions and 20 Ranges - Model 82141 at Sears.com

[alligator]

Here are a few pro's and con's:

An analog meter is usually cheaper and you may get a better sense of changes in your measurement by watching the needle move. You have to determine your own scale though, which could lead to a wrong measurement. This is the type I started with.

A digital meter usually auto-scales, which is nice. But you get less information since you can't see how the needle moves. It may also be more accurate, to a few decimal points. I have a basic digital model and it is very simple to use.

If I had to choose all over again, I may end up with one of the newer units from Fluke or the like that could also function as a 'scope. But the price would probably be too high.

[Eriamjh]

I wouldn't buy an analog meter. A digital is far easier to use for most measurements. An analog has its advantages, but not nearly as many as a digital. It sounds like most of your work will be DC.

The Sears digital meters look good. Get one of those.

[ghporter]

I have a 25+ year old Fluke that is a workhorse. It's digital and solid. But I'm also used to it and I can see when it shows a change that would swing the needle of an analog meter. Alligator is right about how useful analog meters can be, though. If you're looking for sudden peaks or dips, analog shows that exceptionally well. Otherwise, if you're just looking for quick, accurate numbers, a digital meter is fine.

[subego]

I have the small yellow $30 one from Radio Shack.

RadioShack.com - Cables, Parts & Connectors: Test & measuring equipment: Multimeters: 22-Range Pocket Digital Multimeter

FWIW, when I was a film electrician I had others, but this is the one I kept in my belt pouch. It's built like a tank.

The only problem with it is that it's easy to forget to turn it off (though the current version might have an auto shut-off), and that you need a tiny screwdriver to open the battery cover. That's actually an improvement over the old version which had the slidey type cover. You needed to tape it over for it to stay on with day to day use.

Admittedly, I just needed quick numbers. Lights are about as simple as you can get electricity-wise.

[turtle777]

I doubt that these days, a good analog meter is cheaper.

Those analogs you can get for cheap are probably utter crap. Good analogs should cost MORE than digitals these days.

-t

[cmeisenzahl]

Great info, thanks everyone!

[OreoCookie]

Don't get an analog meter, they are much harder to read. If you forget which scale is the relevant one, you can screw up your test results for good (we had to use analog instruments on purpose during second and third semester experiments …).

I second turtle's comment: good analog instruments are expensive (all good instruments are expensive), go digital.

[phantomdragonz]

I dont do anything serious with mine, basically check continuity and the odd voltage here and there...

I hate digitals, I simply have not taken the time to learn how to read them, but for what I do a analog is much easier to read for me...

it all depends on what you need to do with it though...

-Zach

[iMOTOR]

For me it's Fluke or nothing. But even the cheapest Fluke is going to set you back about $150.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by iMOTOR 

For me it's Fluke or nothing. But even the cheapest Fluke is going to set you back about $150.

Not quite true. The Fluke 113 has just about everything a basic meter needs and it's just under $120. Like that's a big difference. My model 77 has been superseded about four times now, and its current successor is going for $249 (list). You just can't beat those Fluke meters. Hint: go to Fry's web site and search for "multimeter." If it says Fluke or Triplett, it's good stuff. (But I'm still partial to Fluke!)

[laieboy]

I'm partial to Fluke multi-meters.

[Railroader]

As has been said: Fluke.

[iMOTOR]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

and it's just under $120.

Okay; $150 ±$30

Regarding analog meters:

most decent DMMs’ these days have a bar-graph that gives you instant feedback on voltage, so that’s not that big of a deal anymore.

[PBG4 User]

If you're using it every day, Fluke is the answer. If it's for occasional checking for continuity, etc., then any inexpensive VOM will do the trick. Heck, look around and you might even get lucky and score an O-scope cheap. A buddy of mine found one at a garage sale for $40 a few years ago.

[DeathToWindows]

Fluke here - try eBay; I purchased mine (I don't have it here right now; it [along with much of the rest of my stuff] is on route from Boston to Nashville]) from there for ~$50 a couple years ago.

At my last lab job (where designing / building and debugging electronics was a big part of what I did), I used a Fluke 179 - this is immense overkill, but if you see one really cheap somewhere, grab it. They run about $250 new, as I recall.

[Rev-O]

Another vote for Fluke.

[subego]

Just noticed on Cool Tools that the Fluke T5-600 is only $78!

It even has jaws for testing amperage.

[ElRae]

I'd wait. I'm interning at a company that's coming out with some sweet SWEET test and measurement equipment. Get something cheap for now, and get a good one in a few months. These new ones are going to be awesome.

[Captain Curt]

Fluke.