Who does, who doesn't?
 

This is the best kind of thread. :) One that can be fun and serious too. That's not a common combination.

I had a conversation in chat about checking something simple on a power supply in a friends computer that is giving him grief. I mentioned using a multimeter and was a little surprised to hear he didn't own one. That started a conversation about what common household tools are normally found in the home.

We all have different areas of expertise and interests, but I believe there are some common tools that would be found in the majority of households in 'developed countries'. I assume I'm safe to say most people (households) own a few screwdrivers, a hammer and pliers. I also know that not everybody's profession is technical, but in the 21st century, electricity is part of most environment and everything we do from making breakfast to opening the garage door to turning on your puter. To me, the common tire pump in 'every' household of fifty years ago is now a cheap air compressor and the cheapie multimeter is as basic a necessity for everyday functioning as a flashlight.

If you become stymied when a light bulb burns out, tell us that. If you built your own home and car, share that with us. It's not about what you do or don't enjoy doing personally or professionally, but about what you readily have to do some basic things with. Primarily, do you have a multimeter in the house? Also what do you just consider the normal 'lawn mower and duct tape' type items around a home.

Common tools ... Hammer, screwdrivers, wrenches, keyhole saw, assortments of screws and nails, ... but, alas ... no multimeter. Since my wife decided to turn our garage into a backup closet, I haven't done nearly as many "build 'em" things. But, in the past, I've replaced doors, built a trellis for ourback yard and do a lot of the odds and ends kind of things on the cars (like inflate tires, recharge batteries ... stuff like that).

I need to replace a window ... but I haven't quite got up the courage to try that yet. One of these days. :(

Yes I own a multi-meter, two in fact.

One for vehicles (no longer used except when charging a car battery) and one common (Radio Shack equivalent).

I am a gadget magnet.

I have married a 'handyman'. Cobalt has pretty much every tool available to man and woman.. lol. And if he doesn't have something, he has other stuff to make that something. I do know he doesn't have one of the computer thingies that is hooked up the the newer vehicles to diagnose an issue with the cars. THAT he doesn't have.

He is sooooooo sexy when he wears his tool belt... ;)

Sexy................tool belt.....................where's the pics!!!!!!!!!

We have basic tools and a few extra. We have most outdoor tools and it always surprises me when new people move in to the rental next door and don't have a lawn mower yet. We also have a lot of office type equipment /tools but no adding machine and sometimes I really need one.

We have a multimeter...and an oscilloscope. We have every type of pliers and wrench known to man. We have an IR reader that measures temperature. Hammers, nails, duct tape, vacuums, shop vacs, saws, electric drills, etc. And we never so anything more advanced with any of them than design and solder circuit boards and hang the occasional picture... :rofl:

If you name the tool,I probabaly have,at least,two of them.I have worked as a mechanic & done mechanical & electrical work since I was 15/16 plus I ran two of my own motorcycle repair,customizing,& building businesses. Irish :)

Multimeter... check! Although I'd really like a new one. The one I have is old and you have to press on just the right place for it to work. :rolleyes2

Also have a variety of hammers, screwdrivers, saws, drills, and files. Plus a Dremel tool. :)

I do *not* have a multi-meter,and I'm not happy about it. I've often needed one, and not having it around is a bitch.

Hey, I'm 45+1/2 years old today. Maybe that's a good excuse into cajoling someone into getting me one.

After starting this thread I thought maybe my prospective is narrower than I presumed. I'm happy to see that I'm not alone in thinking a basic multimeter is as handy as a yard stick around the home. You don't have to be IEEE certified or a NEC electrician to need or use one. It simply measures a couple features (properties) of something we can't see (electricity) but is part of every aspect of our daily life.

To check if a battery is good, or an outlet has power, or is this fancy-smancy, expensive light bulb really burned out, are just common situations we run into daily without being (or wanting to be) technicians. After watching my granddaughter grab a meter to check an outdoor outlet for something she was trying to plug in last summer, (and after an inner smug pride that I had started passing something down through my kids :cool: ) I thought of just how basic it is today.

Because this tool is as handy and versatile as a hammer that can hang a picture or chisel out a David in the right hands, how can a society so involved with electric energy not have one? Good old Wikipedia states the basics in the first couple paragraphs and they are available in almost throwaway form today. I happen to have 4 of them laying around from a junkie in the kitchen drawer to a good recording unit I use in my work. We must have a dozen of varying quality in the 3 households of my family.

Knowing Cobalt a little bit, I bet he has one of some sort, Cheyanne. :) The diagnostic code reader for the modern car is different than a standard multimeter, but that is a good reason to have to buy another tool. :roflmao:

The sheet that comes with EVERY meter is enough to let you use it to check the most basic things a home owner (or occupier) may run into. There are a ton of sites ranging from in-depth specialty applications to the 'wall nut cracking hammer' use, available on the web.

If you think your car and computer are essential parts of your life, your tire iron and multimeter are too. :nod:





PS
I hope you get fluked good for your 45.5 birthday, GG. ;)

Tire Iron, I use an air compressor and impact wrench. As for checking an outlet I just stick my finger in it. :yikes:


I must have three multimeters, it's just finding one when I need it.

Sweet Mary, have I got tools?!? I got tools out the ass, Pedro...
I view my old multimeter with a combo of pride & shame...pride, because it was nearly state-of-the-art when I bought it at Radio Shack way back in nineteen-mumblty-mumble (Looks a lot like the analog example pic in the Wiki article), shame because I haven't gotten around to upgrading to nice little digital number (like the cheapie from Harbor Freight)...the connector plugs are a little wobbly from the time some dumbass dropped it once :rolleyes2 , but it still tests nearly everything I've ever asked it too. Radio Shack used to sell a lot of these, plus they had an almost identical model in kit form...I wanted badly to build it myself, but they put the off the shelf model on sale at a price I couldn't pass up. Since I seldom work with small scale electronic projects anymore (I used to build my own "stomp-box" effects pedals for my guitars), I don't have as much use for it now, but it still comes in handy when something stops working around the house (as they often do) & I don't have the $$$ to buy a new one...I've kept a 20-yr-old clothes dryer limping along for years with just a multimeter, power screwdriver, & the phone# & address of the local appliance parts shop :)

I'll have to revisit this thread soon, I can't let this go w/o some further documentation...

Well I've done all aspects of home building except for the wiring and plumbing,yes I do have a multi -meter and I used to have curly hair,till i used said multimeter ! But my son-in-law says that bailing wire,an ampmeter guage and a flashlight bulb and non-conductive duct tape dosent make a multimeter who would have thought that?

But I just shake the light bulb to make sure it is burnt. :D