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Multimeter questions
Question from Robert: Hey. You helped me a while back with a Tekken 3 cab question and introduced me to the Carolina Arcade Facebook group which has lead to my quick collection of a Donkey Kong (with the good plywood cab) another DK cab project and a MK2 and MK4! I have met great people and made good friends. So your knowledge is without question, very valuable. LOL
My question is what kind of multimeter should I get for troubleshooting and diagnosing anything arcade? I see you have a link to Sears for a Craftsman 8 function multimeter but don’t know if that’s a generic ad on your page for monetary support or if that specific model is exactly what I would need. I guess I’m asking if that one will cover everything I’ll need a multimeter for or is it missing features I should be needing? And if so what features should I be looking for in a miltimeter? I’ve seen people vouch for Harbor Freight cheap stuff and I’ve seen people be brand loyal to Fluke and their really high end equipment.
1 answer
Response from Jonathan: Robert,
As far as multimeters go, it really depends on how often you will be using it. For most people, the standard Craftsman 8 function multimeter will work fine. It’s a very basic multimeter (similar to the Harbor Freight on that you referenced) but it gets the job done.
Since you seem like you are getting deeper into the hobby, it might be time to consider getting an auto-ranging multimeter as they are easier to work with since you do not need to select a specific range in order to get the correct reading. During Christmas, Etekcity was running a sale on their auto-ranging multimeter model which we posted on our Facebook page. Right now, it’s $17.99 on Amazon which is a great deal for a multimeter with these features. We had several people order them and give us positive feedback on it’s performance.
Now, you might want to consider a Fluke if you’re going to make arcade repair more than just a hobby. Tim has a Fluke that he uses at his day job at Chuck E. Cheese and it is definitely the best multimeter money can buy. Of course, it’s also the most expensive too which is why we don’t like to recommend it. For example, a comparable Fluke multimeter that has all the functions of the Etekcity multimeter would run you around $50. With that said, Fluke multimeters are VERY rugged and are made for industrial environments. They will take a beating and keep going. Of course, for the type of stuff we do in arcade repair that’s not really necessary but for HVAC guys or electricians, it’s definitely the multimeter to get.
Hope that helps. Thank you for your question and good luck with your future repairs.
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