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Modern cars are fitted with a huge amount of complex electrical systems and are extremely reliant upon them. Gone are the days of cars being a simple concoction of a combustion engine and a small amount of power, it’s a very different story nowadays.
With that in mind, a good quality multimeter is an essential bit of a kit for any vehicle owner. A multimeter will allow you to quickly trace and diagnose any potential electrical problems and what’s more, a multimeter combines an ammeter, voltmeter and an ohmmeter all in one to provide everything that you need on one device.
In this review and buying guide, we take a look at the best multimeters to buy, analyse differences and considerations and also explain their exact uses.
In A Rush?
Are you struggling for time and would like a quick overview of our best multimeter picks? No problem.
1. AstroAI DM6000AR Digital Multimeter
- Features a large, easy to read LCD display
- 6000 counts true RMS
- Ability to do transistor tests, diode tests and continuity tests
- Features the ability to perform temperature tests
- Wide range of features such as data hold, auto shut off, a hanging magnet and a kickstand for extreme ease of use. This makes it extremely to rest in place whilst taking readings instead of having to hold the multimeter in your hands whilst trying to attach the probes
- An impressive varied range of tests for Voltage, Current, Resistance, Continuity, Capacitance, Frequency; Tests Diodes Transistors, Temperature
- A resounding 3 year manufacturer warranty as well as built-in F400mA/600V and F10A/600V explosion-proof ceramic fuse tubes and double protection
2. Kaiweets HT118A Digital Multimeter
- 6000 counts and wide ranging
- Large 2.9″ LCD backlit display
- Flashlight on the side of the device for when working in dark confined spaces
- Impressive dual display with bar graph
- IEC-61010-1 CAT III 1000 V, CAT IV 600 V specification
- A wide range of features such as resistance, continuity, frequency, capacitance and diode, liquid temperature, wire on-off, and also battery checking
- IEC Rated CAT III 1000V, CAT IV 600V, CE, RoHS certified. Anti-Burn with double ceramic fuse and thermistor protection circuit. High Voltage Protection is active on all ranges. Double insulated unit
- A rugged, silicone constructed case provides protection from damage
- A superb 3 year after sales technical support and warranty
3. AstroAI DT132A Digital Multimeter
- True RMS 4000 counts
- Manual and auto ranging features
- Versatile with a wide range of features such as AC/DC Voltage, AC/DC Current, Resistance, Continuity, Capacitance, Frequency and Temperature and Tests Diodes
- Polarity and overload indication
- Low battery indicator
- Built-in F500mA/600V and F10A/600V explosion-proof ceramic fuse tubes, which provide double protection and extra reliability
- Features a backlit LCD display with auto hold feature
- Extremely energy efficient automatically shutting off after 15 minutes of no use
- 3 year manufacturer warranty
Top Considerations When Buying A Multimeter
Buying a multimeter can be mildly confusing with a magnitude of different features to consider. Follow our top considerations below and you’ll be just fine, well, we think so anyway!
Price – As with any purchase, price is a key consideration, probably the biggest one. Our advise is always to set yourself a budget dependant on how heavily and often you’ll be using the item. For example, if you’re going to be using the multimeter very lightly, a few times a year etc, then something fairly budget and low cost would probably be a wise bet and more than sufficient. If however you’re going to be using the multimeter often, for example as part of your job, you’ll want to spend a bit more cash to ensure you’re purchasing something that’s up to the task. In this instance you’d want to ensure that you purchase a multimeter that’s constructed well, potentially with a rubber or silicone based casing for example. This will be able to withstand the rigours of being used often and tossed back into a work bag etc. You may also need a wider range of features if you’re using the multimeter on a regular basis, again it would make sense to spend a little bit more cash and purchase a multimeter that’s going to do what you need.
Auto Range – Auto range is a key feature of a multimeter and one that we feel you should always strive for. In a nutshell, it means that the multimeter will do the range detection itself as opposed to you having to manually doing it. This means that the multimeter will detect the voltage, current and any other input that’s being measured automatically. Some multimeters don’t offer this feature, our advice would be to avoid these and go with an auto range equipped unit.
Overload Protection – An extremely important safety feature of any electrical device is overload protection, multimeters are no exception to this. It’s possible to buy a multimeter which doesn’t feature overload protection, our advise would be to avoid these, like the plague infact. That is ofcourse if you wish to avoid being electrocuted!
When choosing your multimeter, you’ll need to check and verify it’s overload protection features and capabilites. A good example is our top pick, the AstroAI DM6000AR features an impressive construction of F400mA/600V and F10A/600V explosion-proof ceramic fuse tubes.
True RMS – A word of caution, true RMS is extremely complex and difficult to explain and relies heavily upon mathematic equations – not everyone’s cup of tea! In a nutshell, a multimeter which features True RMS will absolutely always deliver more accurate readings than one that doesn’t. That said, we don’t think it’s an absolute neccesity to have. Most multimeters that don’t support True RMS will more than likely be more than adequate for the average car owner. If you’re heavily reliant upon a multimeter, if it’s used at work on a daily basis for example, you may want to consider it. This feature is almost always reserved for the more premium of multimeter models.
Case / Construction – Multimeters can be quite small and fragile devices and certainly benefit from a case that’s constructed from rubber or silicone. A rubber or silicone constructed case provides protection against drops and bangs to the device. The more budget orientated of multimeters will almost certainly be constructed from hard plastic. If you’re planning on lightly using the device, this may be fine. However, bare in mind that any drop from a decent height may result in the device being rendered useless, likewise when you’re storing the device. Our advice would be to purchase a multimeter which features a rubber or silicone constructed casing.
What Are The Benefits Of A Car Multimeter?
A multimeter provides a whole host of benefits, we feel the biggest benefits to a car owner are as follows;
Save Money On Repair Bills – A multimeter could save you a fortune in repair bills. How many times have you had a fault with your car and you’ve unfortunately been left to the mercy of the mechanic dealing with the repair? We can safely say that in almost all of those circumstances, a multimeter would have been an invaluable asset to you. Modern vehicles are so heavily reliant upon electrical components, it makes perfect sense to add a multimeter to your arsenal of tools. Let’s think of a random scenario… all of the interior lights in your car stop working. This may be a fairly daunting scenario and you may be tempted to run the car down to your local garage. With the aid of a good multimeter and a simple bit of testing, you’ll soon be able to isolate the fault and fix it yourself. It may be that the fuse for the interior lighting circuit has popped and needs replacement, you’ll quickly be able to establish that with a multimeter.
Vehicle Maintenance – If you’re anything like me, the maitenance and upkeep of your vehicle is a big deal to you. Keeping on top of regular maintenance and checks of your vehicle is a key challenge for all vehicle owners and a good quality multimeter will be able to help with that. Arguably, one of the most important compoments on your is the main car battery. If the car battery doesn’t deliver enough power to start the engine, you aren’t going anywhere. A good quality multimeter quickly and easily allows you to check the health and output of the battery and avoid any nasty surprises on your way to work on a Monday morning.
Multimeter FAQ’s
Q. Are multimeters completely accurate?
A. Quite a difficult one to answer, it’s one of those yes and no answers. Even the most expensive of multimeters will always have a very small error range. Having said that, you’ll still be able to get enough of a reading to make the relevant diagnosis and judgements.
Q. How long do the batteries in multimeters last?
A. This is entirely dependant on how often you use the device and also how many features the multimeter sports. Generally speaking, we would expect the battery to last 1-2 years when being moderately used. Clearly this figure may reduce if you’re using the multimeter every day.
Our Top Pick Multimeters
1. AstroAI DM6000AR Digital Multimeter
- Features a large, easy to read LCD display
- 6000 counts true RMS
- Ability to do transistor tests, diode tests and continuity tests
- Features the ability to perform temperature tests
- Wide range of features such as data hold, auto shut off, a hanging magnet and a kickstand for extreme ease of use. This makes it extremely to rest in place whilst taking readings instead of having to hold the multimeter in your hands whilst trying to attach the probes
- An impressive varied range of tests for Voltage, Current, Resistance, Continuity, Capacitance, Frequency; Tests Diodes Transistors, Temperature
- A resounding 3 year manufacturer warranty as well as built-in F400mA/600V and F10A/600V explosion-proof ceramic fuse tubes and double protection
2. Kaiweets HT118A Digital Multimeter
- 6000 counts and wide ranging
- Large 2.9″ LCD backlit display
- Flashlight on the side of the device for when working in dark confined spaces
- Impressive dual display with bar graph
- IEC-61010-1 CAT III 1000 V, CAT IV 600 V specification
- A wide range of features such as resistance, continuity, frequency, capacitance and diode, liquid temperature, wire on-off, and also battery checking
- IEC Rated CAT III 1000V, CAT IV 600V, CE, RoHS certified. Anti-Burn with double ceramic fuse and thermistor protection circuit. High Voltage Protection is active on all ranges. Double insulated unit
- A rugged, silicone constructed case provides protection from damage
- A superb 3 year after sales technical support and warranty
3. AstroAI DT132A Digital Multimeter
- True RMS 4000 counts
- Manual and auto ranging features
- Versatile with a wide range of features such as AC/DC Voltage, AC/DC Current, Resistance, Continuity, Capacitance, Frequency and Temperature and Tests Diodes
- Polarity and overload indication
- Low battery indicator
- Built-in F500mA/600V and F10A/600V explosion-proof ceramic fuse tubes, which provide double protection and extra reliability
- Features a backlit LCD display with auto hold feature
- Extremely energy efficient automatically shutting off after 15 minutes of no use
- 3 year manufacturer warranty
Just so you know, we may earn a small commission through the links on this page but we think that’s a fair trade off for the hours research and time that we put in.