Mike_ wrote on Yesterday, 08:30:

Why would you need more than one multimeter? ....

Parttly because they serve different purposes (ScopeMeter, OtherTests, RS-232, Temp, Clamp, Size etc.)

Partly because you sometimes do need 2 or 3 (at once).

Partly because over 40+ years a few new ones "just come to you" (sometimes free)

Partly because once I "get used" to one, I don't give it up easily, even if I needed a different one for a certain job.

and Partly because used multimeters (esp cheap/unknown ones) have no real value to resell (and I hate to toss good/working stuff)

I am using a KAIWEETS KM601 multimeter. It's "smart" and digital and does the job quitte good. Wanted a new one with a bigger/brighter screen so my aging eyes can see the values a bit better from a distance. Also got some good reviews and was affordable.

Also got a couple of older/cheaper ones but they are mostly collecting dust atm.

PeakTech 3345
Have it since ancient times. May not be the most accurate but has me served well so far.
It can measure most things you'd need and is certified for measurements up to CAT III.
Most important and what's annoying me on many other devices is that you don't need to switch ports for voltage and current measurents (only for the 10A range).

What I'd really like to have is some good pair of tweezers for measureing small components like MLCCs and other SMD parts.
Those are always flipping away with the usual probes...

ChrisK wrote on Yesterday, 12:56:

... small components like MLCCs and other SMD parts. ...

I literally use "pins and needles"! - as I've aged and vision/dexterity has gotten worse, the attached photo shows what I've come up with the help working with really small stuff:

The whole thing is inside a magnifying headset .. I have 3x and 7x magnifiers for it. Left to right:

1. Fine extension for multmeter probe. I find it a bit long to be as stable as I'd like, but very useful when trying to get to something "way inside".

2. An the end of the mutimeter probe is add-on I made to reduce the contact point to a dressmakers pin.

3. Alternate magnifier for the headset.

4. You can see a "pin" adapter by itself.

5. A test-lead I made which IS a pin. The pin (and connection to wire is contained inside a small length of 110v wire insulation, with a bit of "black electrical tape" wrapped arouind the wire end just to make it a bit bigger and easier to hold.

I have a Klein. It works well but I don't like the probes, with their fat little stubby contacts.

Here is some more test equipment I use.

My oscilloscope is the Rigol DS1054Z with hacked firmware effectively upgrading it to the DS1104Z (100MHz support).

I also have a Peak DCA75 Pro and ESR70 plus, along with a TC-1 component tester. The ESR70 is one of my most used pieces of equipment.

Shponglefan wrote on Yesterday, 22:25:

Here is some more test equipment I use. […]
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Here is some more test equipment I use.

My oscilloscope is the Rigol DS1054Z with hacked firmware effectively upgrading it to the DS1104Z (100MHz support).

The attachment Rigol DS1054 oscilloscope.jpg is no longer available

I also have a Peak DCA75 Pro and ESR70 plus, along with a TC-1 component tester. The ESR70 is one of my most used pieces of equipment.

The attachment Test Equipment - various.jpg is no longer available

Peak ESR meter is really one terrific little gadget. Doesn’t cost an arm and leg, but does one thing extremely well.

Mike_ wrote on Yesterday, 08:30:

Why would you need more than one multimeter? 😀 Anyways, I have some random cheap multimeter...

Having several multimeters is essential when repairing electronics. This way you can measure several voltages simultaneously without moving probes. If one has a serious intrest in hardware repair, an extra multimeter and clip probes will pay for themselves. Probe slip-ups can cause severe damage to irreplaceable PCBs and ICs.

Shponglefan wrote on Yesterday, 22:25:

... Rigol DS1054Z with hacked firmware effectively upgrading it to the DS1104Z (100MHz support). ...

An excellent and fairly cheap scope (I have one) - you *can* usually get by with two channels, but can mean more measurements after moving probes... Sometimes four channels is just so much better!

Not sure I'd trust the hack - sure, it might seem fine ... often manufacturers use identical parts in higher-end products. But.. it probably wasn't tested/calibrated for 100mhz. Parts may have come from lower quality "bins" ...

I do find many people place too much emphasis on "speed" ...Especially with 4-channels. Sure, sometimes where you are debugging a noise/tight-timing related problem, you do want to see more clearly the harmonics etc... but you are rarely doing that with 4 signals at once (sometimes in certain designs you might - but the guys designing such equipment probably don't "cheap out" on their scopes)

Fun to "play with" and try "getting aroung limitations",but In general I don't trust tools (esp measuring tools) in capacities their maker didn't design/produce them for...