DMM Oscilloscope for sons Auto Electrical Apprenticeship

[James NZ]

Hi guys,

My son will be starting an auto electrical apprenticeship soon and I thought I might buy him his first multi meter. I read on here that a DMM with oscilloscope was a good idea but I don't know anything about oscilloscopes. I was wondering if this might serve as a reasonable first meter for him -

HDS200 Handheld Oscilloscope Multiumeter 20000 Counts OSC+DMM+Waveform Generator for Automobile Maintenance and Power Detection|Multimeters| - AliExpress (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002121458572.html'spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.7f 6a322dWY5V8u&algo_pvid=749eb94f-c7be-4fc0-8c0b-e0984f8f3a09&algo_expid=749eb94f-c7be-4fc0-8c0b-e0984f8f3a09-1&btsid=0b0a556116195774834605561eca1b&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb 201603_)

I would appreciate some feedback from you guys that know best please. Also, I know Fluke is a good brand but is rather spendy here so not looking at that brand. He can buy his own if he wants one later.

Thanks, James NZ

[BradC]

Owon do make acceptable kit but you'd be better buying something local with a warranty.

To be honest I'd buy him a good DMM and wait for the scope until :
A ) He needs it ; and
B ) He knows what his actual requirements are.

A good DMM is worth its weight in gold. I still have/use the Protek 506 I got when I started my apprenticeship back in the early 90's. It was an acceptable meter then, and it's still acceptable. I'd have loved a Fluke, but $$$ when you are earning $4/hr as a first year.

A good DMM is also going to be considerably smaller, quicker to use and more rugged than any meter/scope combo.

Just my 2c.

[Blknight.aus]

the protec 506 is a great first meter, and for one with all the same tricks and an entry level osiliscope with data logging ability (if you tether it) the digitech QM-1577 get my mention.

But as hes starting out, make sure you get extra fuses for whatever you get.

In auto elec work its also worth getting a clamp meter/adaptor as well as a simple at a glance test light/probe type meter.

[FisherX]

I have this one I got from Aliexpress and I'm pretty happy with it. I'd recommend it for a low cost single cannel Multimeter/Oscilloscope but as he progresses he'll need a multi channel unit.

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2 IN 1 UPGRADED INTELLIGENT DIGITAL OSCILLOSCOPE MULTIMETER AC/DC TESTER ET826 743022320960 | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/283700208706?_trkparms=aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOME SPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D232196%26meid%3Db60dd5 4322f94ac3a047462863558e73%26pid%3D101195%26rk%3D5 %26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D114755250640%26itm%3D2837002087 06%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSim plAMLv9PairwiseUnbiasedWeb&_trksid=p2047675.c101195.m1851&amdata=cksum%3A283700208706b60dd54322f94ac3a047462 863558e73%7Cenc%3AAQAFAAACALAx0w0f28FwXZSqD9lEhIIO qcSMYOdsdKotMC89CQMzrR6UAhCYGbkDGgvvc0%252F83%252B oOlFL8HlJUZxd4tApUP43dEp%252FFo3udushx0n1fQgptMzYh 7OFe2sJ3laJoY4pVZ%252BM%252B1MYfvdqVcned9HQkgksGXh U7XmtzUJX5xP9mXc6m5ML%252BOWEaJDKw3V3zaUPrIr7348VC DHLVYR19aVIwj6vw6XHH8FrC6GQTFgNiidRcxqTAfm2GjmhRaq z8LSF0cUC5MzTrPSyUOK4jNlIumWlxq9Eg8CRxekjGjeSs%252 FDf9rrp8bZTlsnrx0FYNlokdz5Xfouv6dmWthUReqpad4N5psq DezjQTOd4yV8AgyWkBIGAZQBvL7gze5FNVP8wZl0ISeOMgmYE4 eaOPq91uXM2UMM5WHwVK%252FclfwxFb0FvBk4XP8kgJQgFLgX 7rLBhIGcad6pjDgpgGi0NVPXmQaVoZazXRFYKu%252B2Mf9r18 yY3zaZ0y2L5LJl1hmRct6nejW4ssrEP8rPG86TMJpqCelXCpyn qxw%252FBnLarpRUNzctVuxr%252BeFDQ0h7eYQuyaaztWHHZt YAckaVrBzVcI%252B%252FCaWa0%252FC6D4nKt%252B1hzCxx wKl2DfFQhHer5Y1sv5rwl1P9Rs7T1KrmP3f1OzfoFp6J7YhbdI CxQHWDx02phAsNwPjlD9%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2047 675&epid=8003423324)


Also a power probe is worth its weight in gold for fault diagnosis.

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[James NZ]

Thanks for the replies guys. BradC, good point about buying locally for the warranty. I've had a look for the Protec 506 but its discontinued, likewise the Digitech QM-1577. I've emailed Jaycar for the replacement model but I'm also going in to the store tomorrow to have a look at the QM1571 and clamp meters.

Thanks!

[johnp38]

B ) He knows what his actual requirements are.

As above, wait till the employer tells him what they want him to have. Nothing worse than being odd man out with a different bit of kit to what everyone else has coz you (dad) jumped the gun.

Let him tell you what to get as per workplace requirements.

[BradC]

Thanks for the replies guys. BradC, good point about buying locally for the warranty. I've had a look for the Protec 506 but its discontinued,

Oh, I love my 506 but I wasn’t recommending one. After all it’s a 30 year old design, but it was only discontinued a couple of years ago. My point was I bought a decent quality bit of kit in 1992 and I’m still using it today.

I still have the tools dad bought me when I started my apprenticeship too.

[AK83]

If you haven't decided yet what you are going to get him, check EEVBlog on Youtube.

Dave does a lot of detailed stripdowns, and measurement testing of some of the cheapies on ebay/aliexpress.

He has a lot of content on there, so may take a while to find the various tools and devices he tests.
I think(from memory) he also sells DMMs(EEVBlog website/forum).

[BradC]

If you haven't decided yet what you are going to get him, check EEVBlog on Youtube.

Dave does a lot of detailed stripdowns, and measurement testing of some of the cheapies on ebay/aliexpress.

He has a lot of content on there, so may take a while to find the various tools and devices he tests.
I think(from memory) he also sells DMMs(EEVBlog website/forum).

He sells a few, a couple of EEVBlog branded Brymen and an EEVBlog branded and co-designed meter (the 121gw). The former are ok. The latter has been a bit "problematic".

If I was buying new I'd be looking at a rugged 4 digit meter that takes AA batteries (preferably with a switchable backlight), and an "add-on" AC/DC current clamp.

I have several "clamp-meters", but once I bought one of these : Hantek AC/DC Current Clamp CC-65 (https://www.auscanners.com.au/hantek-ac-dc-current-clamp-cc-65-20khz-20ma-to-65a) I have only taken one of the other clamps out of the drawer once (to tong a switchboard > 65A). I bought this one because it plugs into the oscilloscope also (Perfect for looking at D3 LPFP current waveforms).

By separating them you get a much better selection of meters (which is the device going to get the most use) and the ability to use a high resolution clamp when you need it.

I ran the exercise a couple of years ago in looking for a replacement for my 506 and I couldn't find a candidate for money I could reasonably afford at the time but looking at the new EEVBlog BM786 I might go down that route.

[James NZ]

Some more good points raised, thanks guys. Thanks to Arthur for the suggestion to look at the EEVblog, I've just watched the hour long "#75 DMM buying for newbies" and learnt some stuff myself. In fact I'm having side ways glances at my multimeter haha, might have to replace it. I'm going to watch some more as I like his down to earth presentation.

I didn't get to Jaycar today as the lad dragged me along to look at, and then he bought, a 2000 Disco TD5! Its a basically sound, but lived in, just short of 300k, NZ top spec model. Once its thoroughly groomed it short look better.

On a side note, initiating the apprenticeship process over here seems to be a hell of a lot more complicated than when I did mine!

Cheers, James NZ