$5 DMM multi meter has a transistor tester!

[eatyourguitar]

http://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-digital-multimeter-90899.html
and I do hate harbor freight. fuck me running its $5. maybe buy a shitload then ....profit? you could throw in a free DMM with every pedal

[mysteriousj]

I have one of those but my transistor tester doesn't work, everything else goes as it should. The probes are badly made and fell off on mine too. But for $5 it's not all bad.

[eatyourguitar]

Well if its that bad ill pass. I have better ones already but my dc voltmeter is floating around 4v idk y. But i cant bias germanium.

[Here Lies The Fire]

My multimeter just died a while ago any ideas on a new one since this topic already exists and is about multimeters. xD

[McSpunckle]

I had one. It's not -that- bad... when you consider that it's $5.

The leads are pretty bad, and it doesn't have an audible continuity setting, which is the most important thing to me.

It can be used for basic tasks. Seeing if capacitors work, measuring rough voltage and current, checking continuity (on the lowest resistance setting).

The measurements come out different each time, even on the same component. That's especially true with diodes. And they're not horribly accurate to begin with.

If you're looking for a cheap multimeter, maybe try this one: http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9141 (... Sparkfun is becoming my favourite eStore if you can't tell).

It won't measure transistor hfe, but to be fair, that's a pretty complex measurement anyhow. Varies by the current into the transistor (at the base), so the meter would only be measuring it at one point. And with modern transistors, the datasheet should be good enough. If it's a Ge, you'll need a better method to test it. I'd suggest your ears.

[Here Lies The Fire]

an audible continuity setting

Whoever thought of this back in the day was a god among men.

[eatyourguitar]

ok so I got the atlas DCA55 for transistor and diode testing

I got this DMM
and no working voltmeter. I think I fried it with a 9v battery.


(sparkfun)^this might be what I need to take DC volt measurements. then I can finish that rangemaster on tag board.

EDIT: I'm a dumbass, my dc voltmeter is reading -30mv so -0.030 volts when I touch the probes to metal I get 0.000 volts! I'm gonna make some germanium pedals right now

[Jero]

I have one of those cheap ones from the freight. Its not bad, but then again I rarely use it.

[Scruffie]

Always check the impeadance of cheap Multi Meters, I bought a cheapy one for £3 and for the life of me couldn't work out why none of my Op Amp V.Ref inputs measured correctly... 'till I checked the manual.