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Hib Halverson
Technical Writer for Internet & Print Media
Registered: January 2001
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5899
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Review Date: Thu May 17, 2007
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $350.50
| Rating: 10
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Positive aspects of the product (pros):
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I like this tool for its small size (7.2x2.5x1.4-inches) and light weight (6.7-oz.).
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Cons:
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It's a little costly.
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I became an automotive DIY in the “points-and-condenser” era, before engine computers–even before widespread use of electronic ignition. Even though there wasn’t near as much electronics in cars back then, for as long as I’ve worked on cars, electrical test equipment has always had a prominent place on my work bench.
Right about the time I started building my first hot rod, a ’63 Convertible, I bought my first dwell meter and tachometer, or “dwell-tach”. It wasn’t long until I had to have one of those “auto analyzers” (the sign of a serious DIY, right?) which combined a dwell-tach with a volt meter, an ammeter, an ohmmeter and a diode tester. Most of these analyzers were huge by today’s standards, maybe 16x5x5-in., and ran on a couple of D-cell batteries. They usually had one big, multi-scale meter with a bunch of knobs to select function, range and to zero the meter.
After a bunch of dwell/tachs, several analyzers and even a classic Simpson 260 (a commercial-grade VOM, which I still own), in the early-’90s; I “went digital”. For a number of years I’ve owned a MacTools ET-332 Automotive Multimeter. This unit, at 7.5x3.5x1.5-in., is about a third the size of those old auto analyzers and weighs considerably less. Plus, it has a digital display, more functions and is far more accurate than anything I’d used before, including my trusty Simpson.
At last November’s AAPEX trade show, I ran across Auto Meter’s DM-45 Digital Multimeter, a comprehensive piece of electrical test equipment you can, literally, stick in your pocket.
Corvetters are familiar with Auto Meter’s gauges but few know that, for over 40 years, Auto Meter’s test equipment division has made electrical system testers for the service trade. In 1997, seeing the need for a pocket-sized, automotive, digital multimeter, Auto Meter developed the DM-40. In December, 2001, Auto Meter added the DM-45. The key features of both are convenient size and an integral, AC/DC inductive Current Probe–that’s the loop-shaped extension on one end.
The DM-45 measures AC and DC voltage and current, resistance, engine RPM, temperature and capacitance. The less-expensive DM-40 measures AC/DC voltage and current, resistance and frequency.
I’ve been using the Auto Meter DM-45 for a month or so and I like this tool for its small size (7.2x2.5x1.4-inches) and light weight (6.7-oz.). I can measure some electrical parameter, then shove the unit in the front pocket of my jeans and drape the leads around my neck having it ready for the next test–very convenient. I also like the DM-45 for long road trips. I usually carry a small tool kit on the road and the DM-45 takes up a tiny space making it a wise addition.
 Both the DM series digital multimeters have an inductive
loop for easy measurement of current. The unit's range is 0-400 amps for
both DC and AC current. All you do is spread the loop's jaws, encircle
the wire whose current flow is to be measured, close the jaws. Set the
DM 40 or 45 to read amps and observe the display.
To date I’ve used every DM-45 function except capacitance. It’s proven very accurate. The display is easy to read. Its functions are simple to select via a rotary switch. With the exception of current, the unit is auto-ranging and the auto-ranging can be disabled if you so desire.
The only difficulties were: 1) getting rpm readings from engines with “waste-spark” distributorless ignition systems, however, this problem is not specific to the DM-45 and one most tachometer devices with inductive connections have, including some very high-end and very expensive pieces of equipment–the rpm sensors on DynoJet chassis dynamometers, for instance and 2) while the temperature function is certainly accurate, it takes a long time for readings to stabilize. This can be a bit “uncomfortable” if you’re working in hot areas because you must hold the temperature leads such that their end touches the object whose temperature you are taking. For temperature readings, I’ll continue to use a noncontacting infrared thermometer as it reads almost instantly and doesn’t require you to come close to hot objects.
Those two minor drawbacks aside, I found the DM-45 to be an accurate and convenient piece of test equipment. Yes, it’s a little costly for some DIYs, but for that money, you get the small package, powerful functions, the accuracy of digital multimeter and the durability of commercial-grade test equipment.
 The DM-45s small size makes its use very convenient.
Here, the output voltage of an alternator on an LT5 engine is being tested.
The DM-45 lists for $350.50 and the DM-40 for $288.50. For more information on the Auto Meter DM-45 and DM-40 Automotive Multimeters, contact Auto Meter Products, Inc., 413 W. Elm Street, Sycamore, IL 60178. Tel:815.899.0800. E-mail: test_sales@autometer.com Web: http://www.autometer.com/
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Hib Halverson
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Registered: January 2001
Location: Southern California