Tool Smackdown: Pocket Multimeters

Our favorite devices for measuring volts, ohms, amps, and Hz
in the real world.

On any given day you can find a miniature multimeter in my
pocket. These devices are the equivalent of a Leatherman for
electronic enthusiasts. (The Leatherman would be in my other
pocket.) Most of the time, I want to check the voltage of
a deep-cycle battery in my electric-vehicle or troubleshoot
a problem with a solar photovoltaic system. But multimeters
do things like current measuring, resistance and continuity,
which make them handy for solving problems ranging from home
wiring to electronics repair. I've used a number of
"portable" units over the years, and while many are anything
but, one jumps out as my solid favorite. Here's my take on
a few popular units.

Portable multimeter Victor (VC921):

This meter feels like a piece of crap. The case is all
plastic and wide enough that it will have to sit in the back
pocket of your jeans. I dislike the aesthetics of this model
so much that I have banished it to my battery room. This
meter cannot measure current at all, though that's common in
the mini-meter world. That said, the clunky old Victor has
a some cool tricks that the other meters do not have.

1. A frequency counter (eg. 60Hz for electrical mains. this
beats using $300 / 30 pound oscilloscope to measure
frequency).
2. A capacitance tester (testing small surface mount sized
capacitors - not that useful)
3. A clever plastic flap which allows for the meter probes to
quickly be released.

Portable multimeter Cen-tech P34907:

This Cen-Tech model used to be sold at Harbor Freight for $10.
Google around and you can probably still find it or a similiar
version elsewhere. This has been my primary meter for the
last three months after I purchased it on a whim from my
local autoparts store. What I like best about this model is
the test probes can be released with one hand! Tying the
probes back up is much faster than the other two meters as
they are designed to wrap around the case and lock in place.
The Cen-Tech does not have the special features that the
Victor model, but can measure up to .5A—a slight improvement
over the Radio Shack model. The Cen-Tech is also a lot better
looking than the Victor so if you can find it for $10, it's
a pretty sweet deal.

Pocket Multimeter Radio Shack (22-820):

The Radio Shack 22-820 is hands down my favorite unit. My
eyes tear up just thinking back to this one as I managed to
destroy it during a freak high voltage accident. The comments
on RS's site have multiple people stating that they broke the
continuity testing. I never had that problem and I use the
continuity option often to verify my connections are good on
new circuit boards and old automotive wiring. This unit is
smaller than the others and good looking with a smooth rubber
case. Many meters have a big silly dial to change between
settings but I prefer this one's small slider switch. The
drawbacks to this unit are price, .2A current limit, and the
fact that the wire leads take some practice to put away. The
benefits are that it's small and sexy: While I had this unit
I did actually carry it everywhere and people would drool
over it.