[AT] Multimeters for tractors, etc.

[Gene Dotson]

    My favorite tool for checking for voltage on 12 volt systems is a seat 
belt buzzer. I plug leads onto it and attach clips to the ends of the wires. 
I don't have to watch a meter to tell if power is present. Just listen for 
the buzz. Works great for testing trailer connections.

                                            Gene



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ken Knierim" <ken.knierim at gmail.com>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Friday, January 01, 2010 9:16 PM
Subject: Re: [AT] Multimeters for tractors, etc.


> On Fri, Jan 1, 2010 at 3:24 PM, charliehill 
> <charliehill at embarqmail.com>wrote:
>
>> This doesn't apply to old tractors ............. well maybe it does. 
>> I've
>> been told that for testing things like throttle position sensors 
>> (basically
>> a reostat) that you need an analog meter so that you can see that the
>> instrument you are testing flows smoothly through it's range without any
>> dead spots.  You just can't really tell that on a digital.
>>
>> Charlie
>>
>
> Charlie,
>   That's not really true, if you buy a good digital one like a Fluke. They
> also have a bar along the bottom that acts like an analog meter and will
> show you noise if you have it in the rheostats like that. Fluke has done
> some amazing things with their products over the years. We have a slew of
> different DMM makes in my shop (many less costly units, etc) but I usually
> reach for a Fluke.
>
> An old adage I use: Quality is remembered long after price is forgotten. I
> am a small US manufacturer of electronic equipment for my day job and I 
> like
> to support folks who build stuff here in the States. Get a Fluke and a 
> cheap
> POS for kicking around the shop on things you don't care about (where you
> might drive over it, etc). After you get tired of buying batteries for the
> China built widget, you'll remember the battery in the Fluke is still good
> and you can get the job done.
>
> My opinion, and worth every penny you didn't pay for it. :)
>
> Ken in AZ
> _______________________________________________
> AT mailing list
> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at