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Bargin bit of kit for your garage
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UKdave2002
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 3:18 pm    Post subject: Bargin bit of kit for your garage Reply with quote

Mentioned this product in another thread, just bought one. It’s a digital meter but designed for automotive use, can measure both dwell and RPM as well. Setting the points by dwell angle is far easier and IMHO more accurate than using feeler gauges.

The RPM setting is great as many of our cars don’t have rev counters.

It has a very big LCD display, a softer plastic jacket great set of clear instructions, with examples of measuring, basic electrical, dwell, rpm, coil test, more modern stuff like oxygen, MAP, Mass Air Flow, throttle, etc sensors.

Best bit of all, its currently on offer at Maplin for less than £20!!! Very Happy
http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ITAG=SPEC&ModuleNo=46449&doy=31m7
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Rick
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 3:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've never tried setting points by dwell angle, can see I'll have to have a read up on this!!

Rick
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buzzy bee
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 5:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi

Slightly tempted, be handy to have!

On a simmilar note the multi meter I have is really good, well I like it, as my grandad made it just after the war, and under the plate with all the dials on, is a paper with all of his workings on, to make sure he used the correct resistors etc. I will try to get a picture of it for you.

I am a bit scared of using it, as I know with my luck, I will break it!

Cheers

Dave
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UKdave2002
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 6:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi

My original training is electrical / electronic, I have a multimeter I made many moons ago, the case is an old cigar box and like your grandad I worked out all the various resitors for the shunts needed.

I have an moving coil (analouge) Avo meter, which I often prefer to use as the way the needle moves, flicks or twitches can tell alot more than a digital display would!

Stuff like the meter in this post has got so cheap over the last few years, you just have to have them.

As an old mechanic once said to me "90% of carburettor faults (symptoms) turn out to be electrical"


Dave
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Glenn Crawford
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 7:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'd mention that unless your digital multimeter is designed specifically for automotive use you can get utterly wrong readings. An AVO or other traditional moving-coil meter (that's to say one with a needle on a dial) is often best for car work, as it won't react to the high levels of interference which older cars all generate caused by the ignition sparks, dynamo commutator, and voltage regulator contacts.
One would hope that the Maplin one is immune from all this!
I wonder how it is that so many of us electronics engineers end up involved with old cars?
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Uncle Joe
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 8:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I bought a similar piece of kit, specifically made for automotive use a few years ago. Maybe I was unlucky, but it turned out to be a waste of money!

Interesting to see that you others prefer the 'needle' type, I do as well, finding them more accurate.....

Are these newer types progress? Rolling Eyes

UJ
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UKdave2002
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 9:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi UJ

I guess what applies to any test & measurement gear is that the user has to understand its limitations and use it accordingly. For example battery chargers often have moving iron meter’s (needle type like a moving coil) they are cheap, have a calibrated scale, but accuracy is probably less that 20%, not a problem on a battery charger. If you measured the same current with a good moving coil or digital meter it probably still wouldn’t be that accurate because of the rough DC a battery charger churns out.

I have an Avo 8 which I wouldn’t swap for any digital meter, but am very nervous when it’s perched in an engine bay with a running engine!! I’m far happier with a robust digital under the bonnet that will take the knocks and can be used at any angle!

I’ll give this new meter a test against the dwell and rpm “analogue” meter on my Crypton tuner which I know is accurate, and let you know, hopefully they will have put a bit of filtering in to cope with the spike’s Glenn mentioned.!!
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Uncle Joe
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 12:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi UK, that will be interesting, I'll look forward to seeing the results.

I bought the digital meter for the same reason, I thought that it would be more robust.

I may try it on a 4 or 6 cylinder if I get the chance, to see if its any better. Maybe the one I have cant cope with a V8?

UJ
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pigtin
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 5:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi, I'm another AVO 8 fan, I used them (or maybe it was the 7) as an electrical engineering apprentice back in the 50s. I still remember that 'suicidal' feeling I got when I checked the mains, with it set to ohms, and the face went black.
I still am sceptical about any reading not taken on one, bit like the digital watch v the analogue watch, how many of you still have digital watches?

Amongst the aquired junk in my garage I have a Gunson's 'Testune' analogue Diagnostic Meter. it claims to do almost everything but the instruction book is not with it, can anyone help?

Lastly, if you think the AVO is old, what about this. It was amongst the effects of a deceased uncle.

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t103/donthebat/P2250003.jpg
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Rick
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 8:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

can u get a photo of the gunson jobbie, I can see if I have a book for it, there are some old gunson bits n bobs in the garage

RJ
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pigtin
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PostPosted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 9:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Many thanks Rick. There are some instructions on the back of the meter but I think they have to be used in conjunction with some sort of manual. Which I don't have.

Don.
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UKdave2002
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 4:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Don

is it the meter that is sort of triangular shaped? If so I may have some

Dave
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pigtin
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 7:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here is a pic of the meter,
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t103/donthebat/meter.jpg

S'pose I should be able to work it out; but I am working hard on senile decay and incompetence, if I don't my sons will have me back at work sooner than you can say 'Knife'.

Don.
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UKdave2002
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 5:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi I said a few weeks ago I'd compare the dwell reading on this meter to the dwell reading on my Crypton Tuner (which in its day was about £5K worth of kit).
If you can read the readings; the Crypton is 43 degrees and the Cheap meter 42.7 Degrees.
So for dwell accuracy it looks spot on.

Incidently this is on the Stag and it should be 34 degrees max !

Dave
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Rick
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Joined: 27 Apr 2005
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Location: UK

PostPosted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 5:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

blimey you could jump-start the Shuttle with that bit of kit Shocked

R
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