Finally got my first Multimeter!

RE: Finally got my first Multimeter!

phoenixcomm — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 15:35:35 GMT

[mention:30e810a6bf614c2f98a930d9d6df822e:e9ed411860ed4f2ba0265705b8793d05]

You are very lucky! Congrats! I used to use my Dads but when I moved out well I need one. So I ended up with the HP 410B which can read RF to about 4Mhz. If you scroll down you will see the aluminum AC probe. [View:/resized-image/__size/211x335/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-00c9bf52-f2fd-41ab-bcab-2be1181d39e6/5658.contentimage_5F00_205003.jpg:211:335][View:/resized-image/__size/415x292/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-00c9bf52-f2fd-41ab-bcab-2be1181d39e6/4263.contentimage_5F00_205004.jpg:415:292]

Well I was trying to fix my first oscilloscope an HP 170, the AC probe fell down into its power supply: Trick question what blows faster? Germanium Power Transistors, or Fuses. Well if you said "Fuses" you lost, you see this was a hybrid transistor and tubes. and I blew up every Power Transistor on the back cooling ring.

Just out of sight there is a power rail that the AC probe fell on. [View:/resized-image/__size/291x181/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-00c9bf52-f2fd-41ab-bcab-2be1181d39e6/2110.contentimage_5F00_205005.jpg:291:181]

I just wanted to toss it in the dust bin.

RE: Finally got my first Multimeter!

three-phase — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 11:41:29 GMT

Looks like a good meter to start out with in electronics. Hope it gives you many years service.

I dug out my first meter, an old analogue unit from the now defunct Maplins.

[View:/resized-image/__size/620x413/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-00c9bf52-f2fd-41ab-bcab-2be1181d39e6/2654.contentimage_5F00_205002.jpg:620:413]

Still with its original test leads, the 3 wire lead for the transistor tester, I made up myself. Still sits on my shelf but doesn't see an awful lot of use these days.

Kind regards.

RE: Finally got my first Multimeter!

shabaz — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 10:54:47 GMT

I hope it gives you many years of good use. I think I have the same (or extremely similar) model : ) Just in a different color, yellow. I keep it in the car in case it's needed when I'm out.

RE: Finally got my first Multimeter!

dubbie — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 10:43:08 GMT

I cannot manage the 60 years of John but I bought my first multimeter 45 years ago. At the time it seemed important to buy the best that was available and this one cost £15 I think. As I was only 17 and not working at the time and this was many months of my pocket money. Still in it's original box and with the invoice. I have used it for a long time but now age has rendered it almost useless. It is a mechanical range selector switch and it just doesn't align with the PCB properly anymore so you never know if the scale is correct or not. The battery has gone flat as well, not surprising after 45 years. I am coming around to the idea of just chucking it away as I haven't used it for about 30 years. I am decluttering and anything that doesn't get used is being disposed of.

I now use one of those little yellow/black ones that cost about £4. Much easier to use, cheaper and just better.

[View:/resized-image/__size/620x463/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-00c9bf52-f2fd-41ab-bcab-2be1181d39e6/7220.contentimage_5F00_205001.jpg:620:463]

Electronics is great fun, but if you move onto robotics, especially mobile robotics, then it is even more fun.

Dubbie

RE: Finally got my first Multimeter!

phoenixcomm — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 04:35:30 GMT

[mention:30e810a6bf614c2f98a930d9d6df822e:e9ed411860ed4f2ba0265705b8793d05] Congrats! More the merrier! I think I have 3 of them.

RE: Finally got my first Multimeter!

jw0752 — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 02:59:41 GMT

Hi Alphons,

Congratulations, I hope it is a beginning to a lot of fun with electronics. Your post got me thinking hard to see if I could remember my first multimeter. So far it is eluding me but perhaps it wasn't that great and for sure it was about 60 years ago.

John