Choosing a good multimeter for stator testing.

[Guest]

I read somewhere in the stator papers that a cheep 50$ multimeter will not cut it.

So my question is will a 51$ multimeter work?
Hehe seriously what multimeter do you suggest.


Thank you.

[tkent02]

Cheap ones are OK, there's nothing critical about it.

[koolaid_kid]

Price is no indication of quality. I picked up a really nice one at Sears for less than $20. It is a model 82140. It lacks 2 features: AutoRanging (which I do not like) and AutoOff (which is a nice to have but not necessary unless you are forgetful). It has a very nice wrap around protective case with a flip out stand. Small enough to be the main bike multimeter (which you always carry on a GS).
I also picked up a Radio Shack 22-172 off eBay for less than $50 to my door. It has a clamp for testing AC/DC current, handy when testing starters and automotive alternators, current draw on the battery, current from the R/R to the battery, etc. It is a bit large to carry around on the bike, though but is my main garage meter.

[bwringer]

I've tested stators successfully with a free meter from Harbor Freight. (Look for coupons in your favorite gearhead/handyman mags.)

Don't let the meter snobs scare you. All you need is a very basic meter, not laboratory-grade instrumentation.

What you can get for a little more money than free is something a bit more durable and reliable, or a more useful size and shape. The compact meter I carry on the bike is an inexpensive Triplett with a nice case and a design that ensures you can't leave it on accidentally. About $15 at Fry's, also easy to find via Amazon/fleaBay.

[c&c]

Thanks I 'll keep using mine unless I need RR.
BTW what is the R/R?

[koolaid_kid]

Regulator/Rectifier. Changes the AC voltage to DC voltage (Rectifier) and keeps it from overcharging (Regulator).

[mike10]

investment tools

I look at tools as an investment, money well spent. But I buy tools from Harbor freight ,the ones I will use very little to save some money. The tools I use all the time I go with quality. Wrenches sockets ratchets screw drivers.

[Sojourner]

Steve and I diagnosed charging issues on my GS1100ET tonight on a cheap yellow multimeter I picked up from Wal-lyworld. I normally avoid Walmart like the plague but I was picking up a battery charger at the time for my overgrown Power-Wheels (bike ran off the battery, wasn't charging). So I picked up a multimeter while was there. Cheap, but it worked like a charm.

Thankfully I know have a properly functioning charging system thanks to a Rick's stator, a Compufire, and Steve's help!

That man is the freaking GS Whisperer, no lie.

[loud et]

I don't know what could be cheaper than a harbor Freight multimeter but that seems to be the 1 that I had...... It seems like such a piece of garbage I didn't trust it. So I went to Walmart and got their 24 dollar model and turns out that they both gave darn near identical readings .. I gave the super cheap cheap one to a friend and I'm very happy with the Walmart one, they have 2 or 3 different models.

[rustybronco]

This is what I use on a day to day basis > http://www.harborfreight.com/ac-dc-d...ter-37772.html

It's a little slow to settle on a reading for my tastes, but for the average user it's just fine.

[koolaid_kid]

That is the same as the Craftsman I mentioned, just rebranded.

[duaneage]

Someone I know thought they had a bad stator, RR, charging system. Turns out the new Harbor Freight DVM was off, way off, to the point of being useless.

I use very high quality meters, I have owned them for over 20 years, and they are accurate and dependable. But to each their own.

[tkent02]

I have a few meters, including some very expensive ones. I don't carry the good ones on the road, the cheap ones are fine for that. The Harbor Frieght ones read the same, except the one $2 HF one that failed right away.

[SqDancerLynn1]

This is what I use on a day to day basis > http://www.harborfreight.com/ac-dc-d...ter-37772.html

It's a little slow to settle on a reading for my tastes, but for the average user it's just fine.

That looks like an old B&K I used to have, a bit smaller !! For serious work I use the Fluke

[bwringer]

Protip: if you're using a HF or El Cheapo meter, put in a new battery.

Any meter can give wonky readings when the battery is low, and the cheap meters tend to arrive on our shores with even cheaper batteries.