by bgsengine » Wed Jun 28, 2017 10:25 am
Most any good quality branded basic multi-meter - UEI, Fluke, Etc would cover most needs. You will want one that can handle Ohms (the more ranges the better) Diode testing can be done with an ohmmeter but most will have diode test feature (basically a go / no-go ohms test) and you want it to be able to read DC volts (12v scale at a minimum) and AC volts (up to 240v AC if you plan to do generator work) It's nice to have amps but not especially important (and easy to blow your meter fuse if you aren't careful about testing where high amps might hit) I have a Fluke 73 iii and almost never use the amps measurement (I got an Amp Clamp for that anyway) Finally, make sure it has an auto-ranging feature which, while it can cause confusion - especially reading Ohms - it's nice to have.
Good brands = UEI, Fluke, Extech, Klein are good brands I have had experience with (be careful about "knock-off" brands from china where they might brand something with a very similar looking name - if it seems too cheap, it probably is) You might expect to spend something like $50 - $75 for a good quality meter that will last you a while. Make sure the meter you get offers support (parts such as replacement leads, fuses, etc) and a good set of leads is nice (especially the type you can thread on an alligator clip adapter to the probe, and/or a needle-tip probe adapter)
The reason for the wide variety of meters is the "specialization" they can offer - but a meter geared towards automotive service would be the main thing to look for. However, you don't want to get one with a bad case of "feature-itis" so look at the dial scale - the simpler the better - Ohms, DC Volts, AC Volts (all with auto ranging) means you only have to set the dial to that one setting - fewer points on the dial to think about. (but that's a feature you can expect to pay extra for)
How poor are they who have not patience. What wound did ever heal, but by degrees? - Iago (Othello Act II, Scene 3)