AmprobePM55A Pocket Multimeter with Non-Contact Voltage Detection, Black

Amprobe, cousin of FlukeThis is a really nice pocket meter. Keep in mind it is a low voltage/current general purpose tool. Both on my job and hobby wise, I often need to check the status of batteries and this is where it shines. Accuracy is 0.5% +-3 digits at 6V or less. So at low voltages its more accurate than my other cheapees. Above that, the accuracy declines but it can't easily be acertained because you just crossed the 6000 count i.e. after 6V you only get 2 decimal places i.e. less resolution. This is not necessarily a bad thing; are you critical of whether an AAA cell is 1.603V or 01.60V ?? LOLProsNice, compact and lightNice clear displayIt beeps in a second to indicate the reading is readyLoud beeps for continuityIn manual selection for continuity, it latches pretty wellIn fact if the modes are manually selected the autoranging is really fast eg. less than half a second on all voltages I've tried thus farA CR2032 replacement battery is quite commonPermanantly attached to the leads is this rubber holder to protect the lead tipsLeads are sharpCase is a nice touchNon-contact AC current magnitude works okFrequency/duty cycle readings are ok tooConsTest leads wires seem really thin.Test leads lack the stoppers which prevent slidingThere is a strange discoloration on the display after turning it off-this disappears in approximately one minuteClosing RemarksThis is a handy low voltage/current device. Input impedance is in the order of KILO ohms not Mega. Use accordingly.Coupled with the AutoTech for checking voltage/current/resistance/impedance/capcitance/continuity without changing the scale or pressing a single button, this one is staying in my shirt pocket most anywhere I go :-]UPDATE 2015-11-10I incorrectly gave the meter a bad review due to erroneous behavior when attempting to power it on. The meter didn't indicate a low battery right away. A CR2032 at 2.996V has to be changed. Something to watch out for and keep a spare in the pouch.I own an AM270 and this PM55A is still my favourite.

Pros: accuracy is within 1% of my B&K on DC volts, easy-to-read display, simple operation, rugged case and construction, threaded brass insert and captive case screw (wow!), turns on and auto-ranges reasonably quickly. Con: tiny battery... pro: tiny battery makes it small. Con: no current measurement... pro: no current measurement to unsafely do something stupid. Con: no rubberized cover... pro: which makes it smaller. Con: lightweight fixed leads... pro: which you can't lose. Con: comes with a 90 day, not lifetime, warranty... pro: actually comes with a replacement warranty. Con: frequency is for 20 volts or less, peak-to-peak... pro: which is ok for most digital stuff. Hey, it is a pocket meter, not a bench meter, not a Fluke 87V, not a Megger. It is an exceptionally small, reasonably safe, reasonably rugged, reasonably accurate, reasonably priced, easy to use volts, ohms, continuity, diode and capacitance digital meter. It is fine if you UTRTFTJ (use the right tool for the job).A fabric carry case for this meter is sold separately. However, the case is too big for a shirt pocket, but it might provide some protection in a tool box. Amprobe VC3A ZIPPERED CARRY CASE PM POCKET SERIES

At the time of purchase, this multimeter was discontinued and not very available elsewhere. Small multimeters will not have the highest accuracy, nor the digits to even display higher accuracy. This will serve my purposes however, more as a pretty good check than a laboratory measurement tool. This multimeter bests its successor, but if I were not able to get this older model, I'd probably go for the Hioki Card 3244-60 for the range it has over the PM55, or the DM78C also Amprobe.It's a multimeter that really fits in a pocket. If that's the use case, there aren't many good options. By the specs, this is one of the best.