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Thread Tools | Display Modes |
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#21 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 1,868
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Homedepot sells some in the electrical section.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...&storeId=10051 |
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#22 |
BANNED
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bucks County, PA
Posts: 11,454
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for 13 bucks i bought one i will throw it under the seat
http://www.ebay.com/itm/A-W-Sperry-S...item20b8bf1cfe |
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#23 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Sacramento Ca
Posts: 1,179
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what ever tom says is really good advice,he is the best when it comes to answering electrical questions
the simpson is a great multipurpose meter it gets the job done just pay attention how you hook it up the only voltage you need on a model A is 6volts, either its there or its not |
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#24 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Aiken, SC
Posts: 42
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I tend to prefer digital, mostly because they will make measurements in both the positive and negative directions. In most cases, when you just need to know if there is electricity or how much, you can be lazy with a digital meter and not think about where the red and black wires are relative to the anticipated direction of the voltage or current.
An additional reason to steer clear of the high-dollar stuff is that you can damage the meter with the wrong settings for the measurement you are trying to make. I've used both the Sperry and a cheap digital (about $4) from Harbor Freight. Both are entirely adequate for the A. For those prices you could easily get one for the garage, one for the road tool kit, and see which you prefer. |
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#25 | |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 27,582
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![]() Here are a couple cases I picked up at the second hand store and a garage sale. They were about a dollar each and my favorite is the hard metal case since it offers the most protection and is the easiest to open. The camera case might be best to slip under the seat, and a little beeswax helps the zipper work smoothly. BTW, the AC and DC you see on my meter I did with a felt tipped pen. |
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#26 |
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Apex, North Carolina
Posts: 59
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#27 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Stayton, Oregon
Posts: 3,806
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If you want to be really cheap, when you want to buy something at Harbor Freight, they have at times a giveaway meter. I have a couple that I throw under the seat of each A so if I am out somewhere and need to check to see if I have any current where it should be, the thing does do that (most of the time). Just a very cheap way to have a way to pick up problems on the road.
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#28 | |
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 1,471
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Of course while this is true a quality meter will also have several layers of built in protection. While a Fluke DMM will typically be fused as well as protected via hardware of some type a Simpson 260 meter like a 7P is not only fused but also has a circuit breaker resettable via the front of the meter. |
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#29 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bucks County, PA
Posts: 11,454
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tom,
thats the ticket i might have something laying around the house i can use |
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#30 |
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Napa CA
Posts: 412
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For those of us who are really frugal (pronounced "cheap") just keep your OSH or Ace $9.95 + tax multimeter in its original cardboard (or clear plastic) container. The multimeter shown in my earlier post still resides in its cardboard box + rubber band after more years than I care to recall.
A dollar saved is a dollar earned... (well, not really; if it were "earned" then Uncle Sam and the great state of California would reduce that to about $0.64. I wish THEY were frugal; they're certainly not cheap!)
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Skip Keyser Napa Valley A's Olympic Vintage Auto Club (1980-1982) MARC of San Diego (1977-1978) MAFCA (since 1978) MARC (since 1977) ---------- Model A owners belong in their Model A’s; Model A’s belong on the road. |
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#31 |
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 53
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I have a "free with coupon" digital meter from Harbor Freight that I have used for everything. Works fine and if I forget and burn it out with the wrong setting it would be no big loss.
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#32 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Northport, NY
Posts: 1,597
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FREE one at Harbor Freight with a coupon works real good for this purpose. I must own ten multi-meters EXCLUDING th pile of free ones from Harbor Freight that I keep around, including one in the Model A tool Box as well as those I give them away for many occasions.
ANALOG is better than digital in my mind, particularly in RESISTANCE/OHM mode when a bunch of numbers in a digital multi-meter can be confusing. They seem to work well enough for anything I can find on a Model A, where its usually full voltage or not, or an open or dead short, all well within the capabilities of a "Free" multi-meter. How about it, Tom W? Shouldn't a guy who "Revives" scrapped car batteries use a free multi-meter, too? |
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#33 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 27,582
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How about it, Tom W?
Shouldn't a guy who "Revives" scrapped car batteries use a free multi-meter, too?[/QUOTE] Yes, any meter is better than no meter. I just think the quality and functions offered in the Sperry are a super value for only $9.99 and a few dollars delivery charge. ![]() I have some other meters including one my dad gave me when I was in the 7th grade, but I use the Sperry the most. |
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#34 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 27,582
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Time for an update and a warning on volt meters.
If you have a multimeter, such as the Sperry SP-152A, it runs on 2 AA batteries, and batteries can leak acid. Replace batteries as soon as they get weak, and that's one of the nice features of the Sperry meter. I can remove the 2 batteries and test them on the very meter they came from. The batteries are only needed to measure OHMS, and for the continuity feature on the Sperry. Well today I went to measure ohms on a Model A coil and found the meter didn't work. I found one of the Eveready batteries has leaked a bit on the negative end. It cleaned up easily with a small stainless brush and hot water. I then dried the contact and applied grease to the 4 battery ends and installed new batteries. Greasing the battery ends is a good idea for clocks, flashlights, smoke detectors, or many other such devices that use batteries. Here is a link to a cheap but good meter that measures 0-10 volts DC. This is easy to use and can be handy to carry in your car. If you use a 12 volt battery, then you can buy the same thing in 0-15 volts DC. You simply need to add a couple wires and alligator clips to the meter. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1x-DC-10V-An...MAAOxy2BBSUjHt Last edited by Tom Wesenberg; 01-26-2016 at 04:51 AM. |
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#35 | |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: In my garage
Posts: 465
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#36 | |
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Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 714
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#37 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 27,582
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When I get those free H/F LED flashlights, the first thing I do is grease the 6 battery contacts and the 2 battery holder contacts. Then as soon as those junky China batteries get weak I throw them away and install good quality batteries. This will take care of most of the complaints for the free flashlights. |
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#38 |
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Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 2,763
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Any good cheap analog will suffice... There is no "sample and hold" like all digital meters so you'll see "ALL"... Even it not 100% accurate, still better than a digital...
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-Mike Late 31' Ford Model A Tudor, Miss Daisy I don't work on cars --I'm learning about my Model A. Cleveland, Ohio |
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#39 |
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Whangarei, New Zealand
Posts: 298
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I haven't read the whole thread, but please do not use cheap meters for household voltage tests etc - They can be very dangerous.
I realize these cheapies are just going to be used for automotive use etc, but don't be tempted!
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Allan '29 Tudor, Canadian RHD Whangarei, NZ "Duct Tape can't fix stupid, but it can MUFFLE the sound" |
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#40 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: new britain,ct 06052
Posts: 9,390
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Napa Skip: The one on the left looks like what I had at IBM, til I went with a fluke.
For the A I think Harbor Freight free meter (occasionally) and a HF test light would do. The A isn't rocket science. FWIW Paul in CT |
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