LXRob Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Hi, I need to get a decent robust Tester to go in my tool bag. The kit list for the course I am starting in a few months time doesn't specify a brand but says to get one with a DMX tester in that is robust. Obviously a student here so nothing too expensive!!! Any recommendations? Thanks in advance :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Do they mean a continuity tester that includes 5 pin XLR sockets, or a real DMX tester? We're talking a HUGE difference in price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LXRob Posted March 29, 2012 Author Share Posted March 29, 2012 Not sure this is the kit list spec Electricians voltage and continuity testing equipment – This could be two separatedevices or one integrated device. The important things are that the equipment isrobust and of professional quality. It is possible to spend as little as £25 or over £500on suitable kit. My advice is save money here and buy DMX test equipment as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordontech Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Bit of a strange one... You could get a good multimeter that meets the requirements or you could go for a swisscon DMX tester which is from double to tripple figures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LXRob Posted March 29, 2012 Author Share Posted March 29, 2012 Okay thank you! I would like to avoid triple figures if possible, but needs must I will shop around a bit, no rush. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pritch Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 What do you want your DMX tester to do? Do you want it to tell you a multitude of things about the quality of the signal, or will a simple "there's some sort of signal here" indication do? If you're not after anything fancy, but just want to see if DMX is making it all the way to the end of the chain, how about this?http://bigclive.com/dmxtest.htm e2a: Of course, that tester won't do the voltage, resistance, whatever, but at the price, it'll leave you with plenty to spend on a decent meter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 I think before spending lots, I might just make sure I had a decent tool kit built up, and leave the DMX until you find out their expectations. It occurs to me that if the kit list is not specified, then it's highly unlikely to be required. a simple continuity tester and a bigclive DMX gadget should be enough. I've never found the needs for anything cleverer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 No two sparkies will agree on the best test equipment, from non-contact volt stick to two probe meter http://uk.rs-online.com/web/c/?sra=oss&searchTerm=voltstick&x=0&y=0 Voltsticks from £20 upwards http://www.maplin.co.uk/domestic-multimeter-37279 supercheap meter almost disposible http://www.maplin.co.uk/3-in-1-autoranging-multimeter-with-non-contact-detector-46020 http://www.xtba.co.uk/pricelist.htm Three DMX testers here but NOT cheap! Other vendors exist! Some people can supply a DMX tester with just plug, socket and some LEDs They just tell you that there is signal they cannot read the DMX values. As a student you will not yet know where you will be going in terms of industry sector so spending several grand on over featured test kit may be OTT. What will be worth every penny is how you keep your meters. Do not leave meters in the bottom of your toolbag with the hammer and spanners the meter will die before the hammer. Added:The most important idea with a meter is to learn where to put the probes! Keep your fingers clear of everything DOn't be afraid to wear safety specs when using meters in live panels. If you can't see a safe way to get probes in to where you want to take measurements then find a different approach. One probe tip vaporised just in front of your face is life threatening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmills Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 The phrase "Electricians voltage and continuity...." leads me to think that I would be inclined to forgo the DMX testing side and just get something from Fluke that does the basics. Ideally I would be looking for at least a class IV instrument for safety with suitably fused test leads, you can always add a DMX tester if you ever really see the need (Most DMX faults that are fixable at a gig can be found with a voltage and continuity tester). I would be very leery of cheap multimeters as they sometimes fail in dangerous ways when connected to the kind of rather stiff power supplies we typically use. "In fluke we trust" is a common sentiment in the electrical game for a reason. IIRC something like a Fluke T140 is usually a better tool in the heat of battle then a multimeter (for all that a multimeter is useful too), and if I was putting a basic electrical test kit together I might be very tempted by the T140 instead of a multimeter, much easier to handle up a ladder, even a T120 would rate as very handy and something even lower down their range would meet the specifications for the course. These are the sorts of tools that will last many years, so you may as well get the good stuff (It is also usually safer to have good tools). Shop it around, it should leave plenty of change out of a hundred quid, but advertised prices vary widely. Regards, Dan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LXRob Posted March 29, 2012 Author Share Posted March 29, 2012 Thanks guys! Really helpful I am going in to lighting design but am aware that I will have to do my fair share of electrician work alongside that. I do have a good toolkit I have been building up over the last few years of working, just want to make the right spend on this. I agree Dan, I look after my tools and think it tends to be safer to go for good quality, just not at excessive expense. I will have a browse of all that has been suggested :) Much appreciated! Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LampTramp Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Looking at the first line of the question and taking into consideration that Rob (as per p'file) is at 6th form theatre college and going on a 'course'Who would expect a youngster to spend loads of money on a piece of kit that might not get used again, as he wants/is going into lighting design (eventually). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twjlighting Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Hi Have a look at one of these http://www.vellemanusa.com/products/view/?country=us&lang=enu&id=524228 I bought mine on thomann but they dont seem to have it on their site anymore Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramdram Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Possibly out of stock at that instant? Try here: http://www.thomann.de/gb/millenium_mct20.htm This was as of 2mins ago. Very nice testers but beware of "badge engineering" and coughing up a bit more for a blue one, say. I would suggest this is one of the most useful bits of kit you could own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrummerJonny Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Possibly out of stock at that instant? Try here: http://www.thomann.d...enium_mct20.htm This was as of 2mins ago. Very nice testers but beware of "badge engineering" and coughing up a bit more for a blue one, say. I would suggest this is one of the most useful bits of kit you could own. While knowing nothing useful about Multimeters, I also recommend the MCT20. Easy to use, Robust, and can test pretty much any type of cable including 3-5pin, jack-XLR, and indeed any combination of the connectors.Very robust too: It gets thrown in my toolbag along with hammers, podgers and the like and barely has a scratch on it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieH Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 While knowing nothing useful about Multimeters, I also recommend the MCT20. Easy to use, Robust, and can test pretty much any type of cable including 3-5pin, jack-XLR, and indeed any combination of the connectors.Very robust too: It gets thrown in my toolbag along with hammers, podgers and the like and barely has a scratch on it!Especially useful to find which are the phase-reversal cables when your comms decide they're not happy http://www.blue-room.org.uk/public/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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