Anyone who is required to carry out electrical work on a regular basis will find it beneficial to equip themselves with a multimeter. More or less essential depending on your needs, the multimeter remains a very practical electrician’s tool in many situations. But it can seem delicate to choose your multimeter when you are a layman. Professionals give you the best advice. With the best Best Houston Energy Rates you can expect the best now.
The role of a multimeter
As you know, the multimeter is an electrical measuring device, which will come in handy in many circumstances. This tool makes it easy to measure electrical signals, and will, therefore, be essential for measuring the voltage of electrical equipment.
The multimeter combines the functions of ammeter, voltmeter and ohmmeter. Most current multimeters are digital multimeters. The analog multimeter, if there are still some models, is indeed technologically outdated. There are a large number of multimeter models, so much so that it is easy to be overwhelmed when choosing. Request free quotes from professionals in your region for your small electrical work.
How to choose your multimeter?
The choice of a multimeter will above all depend on your needs. It is obvious that an electrical professional will equip himself with a more efficient multimeter than an individual who rarely uses his multimeter.
As often in the case of the purchase of electrical equipment, it will be necessary to opt for a multimeter that allows you to carry out the tasks which you wish to carry out. Here are the main criteria for choosing a multimeter:
The measuring range of the multimeter
The measurement range of the device will determine the maximum limit of magnitude that your multimeter can measure. A device that has a large measurement range will allow more universal use.
However, there is no point in buying a large more expensive multimeter if you only want to measure the voltage of small electrical devices. Note that at least you will have to opt for a category III multimeter to measure the voltage of domestic electrical installation. This is the device you will choose if you are looking to work on your electrical installation.
The accuracy of the device
Each multimeter model will be more or less precise. We then speak of multimeter precision. For particular jobs, it will not be necessary to opt for a multimeter with extreme precision. Thus, an accuracy of 0.5% will be more than enough, unless you have very specific measurement needs. Professionals will systematically search for the most precise device possible. If you need a more precise device, you will necessarily have to invest more in the cost of your multimeter.
Protection
The multimeter is a device for measuring electric current. Therefore, it is essential that it is perfectly protected. Always opt for a multimeter fitted with a safety fuse. This will prevent you from grilling the appliance due to improper use. Before purchasing an electrical measuring device, always make sure that it meets French and European standards.
Features
There are more or less sophisticated multimeters. If you are looking for specific features, you will certainly have to move upmarket. Note that a multimeter can have multiple applications:
- Automatic polarity support
- Continuity test
- Temperature measurement
- Diode test
- Resistance measurement
If all the features are not essential, they can be very practical and save you time if you use the device on a regular basis.