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Cheap Multimeter reviewed by a friend. Getting started
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MRH Advertiser and MRH Author 2,806 posts Nick Santo amsnick MRH Advertiser and MRH Author 2,806 posts
Nick Santo amsnick

I guess I am biased once in a while.  I think that doing DCC without a multimeter is like walking in the dark in the woods at night with no moon.  If it beeps, even softly, tells me when the wire is connected, tells me that I’ve got power, tells me how many ohms an unreadable resistor is, or checks to see if I’ve burned out an LED, then I could be happy.  If it costs one tenth of what mine cost maybe it could make someone else happy too.  If I was starting out in DCC or continuing on in DC or DCC and wanted an initial inexpensive multimeter, I’d consider what my friend Paul has to say.  I don’t have my first couple of inexpensive multimeters, the first one was analog, but I have the knowledge I gained from using them.  They gave me the information I needed to understand what was happening in what I was looking at too!

Here’s a link to one of my respected mentors and a video that might help a few of you who are just starting to ask questions and look for answers.  I hope this helps!  Enjoy!

Nick

https://nixtrainz.com/ Home of the Decoder Buddy

Full disclosure: I am the inventor of the Decoder Buddy and I sell it via the link above.
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GeeTee Regular poster 147 posts
GeeTee

Harbor Freight used to give

Harbor Freight used to give Multimeters away as part of their freebies . There's really no reason not to have one . They can save you a lot pain and anguish trying to solve a problem .

They also used to give away free flashlights and free battery magnetic trouble lamps .

I don't know if they still have deals like that or not , they were coupons in flyers and Coop magazines. 

I am sure it was just a way to get you to come in and later to buy batteries for, but it paid for the gas to come in.
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Nick Santo amsnick MRH Advertiser and MRH Author 2,806 posts
Nick Santo amsnick

@ Gee Tee

B067088.jpeg 

Batteries or maybe a place to put them….

Hahahahahaha!

Nick

https://nixtrainz.com/ Home of the Decoder Buddy

Full disclosure: I am the inventor of the Decoder Buddy and I sell it via the link above.
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Pennsy_Nut Prolific poster 3,625 posts
Pennsy_Nut

Why?

I hate to say this. But why buy something like that? The Harbor Freight meter was OK. But, since those were free, naturally we go for it. But in my frugal mind, I'm not about to pay for junk. On the other hand, how do we decide what to pay for a meter that we only need for minor work. So I will thank the video maker/didn't see a name? and be glad he took the time an effort to do this review. I also agree with Amsnick. A cheap/or inexpensive meter is a necessity for any MR electrical work. I did pop $20 for a meter that seems to be accurate enough for me. But I also have 3 HF freebies. By the way, that knife he used to open the package was a hoot!

Morgan Bilbo, DCS50, UR93, UT4D, SPROG IIv4, JMRI. PRR 1952.
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