What brand of digital multimeter would you suggest to check voltage on battery and alternator?

Which ones do you use?

 

Honestly, even a cheap one from Harbor Freight is good enough if you just want to check voltage on a battery or the output of an alternator.

 

The more you spend the more features it has you might never use.

I do like the ones with the audible alarms for ringing out wires.

I got more involved then the average Home Mechanic I bought 3 Ideal Meters model 61-360 at Home Depot they have served me well for 12 years plus. They have a nice rubber case for when my fumble fingers drop them.

3 meters so no matter what vehicle I had the Meters are all the same.

 

I have one of these but keep in mind they have "varying" tolerances. I had an extra 3-4 ohms when trying to figure out if the coils were in spec (holding black to red points). I assume it's due to the cheap rubber coated wires and general cheapness of the product.

that being said @shankyjones you don't need a $200 multimeter either.

I've debated on getting myself a Klein one as I have a few of their other products that serve me well for general use

 

It always comes down to just how involved you get with electrical trouble shooting.

Just how accurate the Meter needs to be We had to get our Meters Certified for Calibrations.

 

Fluke would be my first choice for a multimeter. But, I have a Klein and it's just fine. I would just avoid generic store brand testers ("Commercial Electric", "Smart Electrician", etc).

 

I have been using Fluke for years. I just picked up a “cheap” Fluke 106 on Amazon that I keep in the truck.

 

Yep. I started with inexpensive meters, but now I have two different Flukes that together are probably over $500-600 for the pair. One is an amp clamp, etc - the other is for breaking a circuit and doing more detailed stuff. Both get used often.

For battery voltage testing you don’t need anything fancy. Just make sure it’s set to DCV

 

The brand Ideal made a meter that I got about a decade of use out of before handing it down to a newbie, and it was about $80. Could be a decent intermediate choice.

 

I did electrical for ten years a cheap 40 dollar Klein meter is all you need.
Works great and does everything you will ever need

 

I've got a Fluke Multi meter that's over 20 yrs old and it's still the most accurate of the other three cheaper version Multi meters I've got in my tool box

Fluke meters have a 0.5% accuracy rate !!

 

Fluke 77. Used one in the Corps then got out, used one in my civilian job. Has been in my toolbox for decades and the only thing I change is the 9V battery.

 

Fluke 77 is the model my guy... you were in before me. 2841 Ground Radio Repairer from '98-'04. Was selected for SSGT but got out. Tired of deploying.

 

I own a presicion diagnostic instruments (PDI) automotive multimeter thats served me well for at least 10 years without issue. The only reason I have thought about getting a snap on/mac multimeter is my PDI isn't quite fast enough to update the numbers when testing for voltage at a door latch actuator, my co workers snap on does catch it fully. I am pretty sure that the Cornwell meters are rebranded PDI's

 

Fluke T5….can test volts, resistance, continuity, and has the little open fork on the top to check current through a wire. Plus it auto detects AC or DC. Just turn the dial to what you want, V, amp, or ohm and test. Bought one a year or two ago and haven’t found a use that it can’t handle for basic home or truck needs.

https://www.fluke.com/en-us/product/electrical-testing/basic-testers/fluke-t5-1000

 

I bought my Fluke Multi meter off the Snap On truck in 1998 !!

 

In the end it comes down to a cheap $20.00 meter is still better then no meter at all!!