Electronics Forum / Electronics / November 2005

Radio Shack has their Catalog #: 22-820 that is pocket-sized. I've
carried one like it (probably the same guts in a different plastic case)
for years in the laptop bag as a "just in case" tool. Similar ones are
also out there, like http://www.web-tronics.com/pocdigmul96.html.

As to size, generally you'll want the test equipment to be heavier than
the test leads. Worse, the small ones also typically have short leads so
they tend to get dragged around the workbench by the leads if you're not
careful. More, the leads are also "permanently" mounted, instead of with
banana jacks, so swapping, e.g., the ground lead for a clip-type is
inhibited.

Even though I have a couple of the tiny ones (good enough for "did that
relay really shut?" tasks) I usually use a "regular size" DMM. The
larger ones also have correspondingly larger displays and battery
capacities.

Recommend getting a couple of the "regular" meters for the staff,
instead. There are lots of good second-tier DMMs that are quite
inexpensive and fine for most jobs. Check out Meterman, Wavetek, B&K,
Extech; bunch of others. Heck, it's almost Xmas -- get 'm a couple
Fluke 87s.

  You do *not* want to buy "pen-sized" or pocket-sized DMMs, as they
will vaporize in less than a week.
  That is a chunk of money that serves no purpose in the work environment.
  Now, if you have a lot of money to blow, you could buy !two! for
EVERYONE in the company (include the janitors, guards, secretaries,
etc); tell them one is for *them* to take home, and the other is to be
kept at work.
  Make them sign for them with the paperwork stating that they will
*pay* for the company replacement at company price, at any time it is
discovered that they do not have one *at work*.
  This way, there are absolutely no excuses; they already have one to
drool over at home or sleep with or stomp on.
  The other one is signed for and covered under a legal contract: if
gone, pay!
  Do random, **truly** un-announced searches.
  Take full retail cost of replacenment out of their pay.
  *NO* exceptions - not Chairmen of the Board, not the CEO, CFO, etc &
etc.; ABSOLUTELY NO EXCEPTIONS.
  Why do i emphasize that?
  Open the door a crack, and any leagle beagle can blast it off the hinges.