digital multimeter/solder

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Security and Convenience
Forum Discription: Car Alarms, Keyless Entries, Remote Starters, Immobilizer Bypasses, Sensors, Door Locks, Window Modules, Heated Mirrors, Heated Seats, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=34316
Printed Date: July 15, 2025 at 8:08 AM

Topic: digital multimeter/solder

Posted By: kel789
Subject: digital multimeter/solder
Date Posted: June 21, 2004 at 8:10 PM

There are many levels of digital multimeter. What type of digital multimeter and what size of solder should I purchase? Thanks.

Replies:

Posted By: Javelin3o4
Date Posted: June 21, 2004 at 9:33 PM

I have the snapon/bluepoint MT586BK multimeter does pretty much everything including reading RPM's.

https://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/pro_det.asp?P65=&tool=diagnostics&item_ID=16688&group_ID=1367&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Posted By: kel789
Date Posted: June 21, 2004 at 9:52 PM

it costs more than the security system. i thought i can get one for less than $50.

Posted By: auex
Date Posted: June 21, 2004 at 10:49 PM

Home depot usually has cheap generic DMM for 20 bucks. Just use electronics grade lead solder.

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Posted By: kel789
Date Posted: June 21, 2004 at 10:57 PM

thanks.

Posted By: Javelin3o4
Date Posted: June 22, 2004 at 3:52 AM

you can pickup cheapies from sears i think they have one for like 20 bucks. I havce the snap on one cause im an installer so i use it almost every day.

Posted By: kel789
Date Posted: June 22, 2004 at 10:21 AM

do you use a regular solder iron? i bought one a year ago. it's pretty big. is it a concern?

Posted By: draasch
Date Posted: June 22, 2004 at 11:59 AM

your soldering iron needs to low wattage. if it too hot, it will burn the solder or damage the wire.....

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Posted By: kel789
Date Posted: June 22, 2004 at 3:04 PM

what wattage should it be?

Posted By: flynntech
Date Posted: June 22, 2004 at 10:46 PM

15 watt weller soldering iron or cordless butane torch/soldering tip

.031" dia rosin core solder

You have to be horrible with a soldering iron to burn stuff, I could solder with a 150 watt soldering gun if I had to.

I have $30 crafstmen multimeter and it's as accurate as a $400 Fluke, it won't read RPMs, but everything else it does just fine. It will read DC duty cycles, so that might work for RPMs, I've never tried it.

Posted By: kel789
Date Posted: June 23, 2004 at 12:34 PM

thanks.

Posted By: Javelin3o4
Date Posted: June 23, 2004 at 9:55 PM

i use the craftsman dual heat 100/140 watt iron. Its the gun style soldering iron with the light above the trigger. I like it cause it gets hot only when the trigger is pressed and it takes about 20 sec or so to get hot enough to melt solder, i havent had any issues with it buring or melting wires Ive been using this iron for about a year now and it only cost 25 bucks. As for solder i use size .062

you can read the voltage of the "suspected" tach wire with a normal ac/dc multimeter it should read between about 1-6 volts.