I am not in a job where I require a multimeter all the time, but I have found myself wishing I had one too often. My compromise has been to get the smallest one I could find and add it to my secondary EDC set. (I have a vest that is not always on my person, but is generally in the same building where I am.)

After doing some research, and trying out a few, I have been pleasantly surprised by the Amprobe PM51A that I now carry. It is as small as the smallest I’ve run across (4.4″x2.1″x0.4″), and not at all expensive (around $25), but offers a nice set of features. In addition to the usual multimeter stuff, AC and DC voltage, amperage, resistance, diode and continuity testing, it also measures frequency and capacitance. The on/off switch is not a button and is pretty much impossible to activate by accident, which makes it more pocket-friendly than most.

I’m sure some of you carry full-sized meters for work, but does anyone carry a miniature multimeter? If so what kind do you have and how do you like it?

–Bob Q