Use code IFTKXK5H at checkout to get this Hasagei multimeter at a great price. Some of the nice features that make this better than many low-priced multimeters are its large backlit display, auto-ranging, and automatic shutdown after 15 minutes of idle time.

I have a few multimeters, and this is the one I usually grab first because it's so dead simple to use. I've had it for a least a year and have had no problems with it. Use promo code M2UAA4EY to get it for less than the price of a large, heavily sweetened coffee drink. — Read the rest

This PowerJive USB Multimeter measures amps, volts and mAh on all my portable devices.

I wanted to know if my 3 year old 10,000 mAh USB powerbank was still holding anything close to 10,000 mAh. This USB multimeter does exactly what I am looking for. — Read the rest

Clearly we love multimeters at Boing Boing! This great video, passed on via my friend Dan Rodarte, gives you a quick run down on using this diagnostic tool.

Phil Torrone from Adafruit sez, "Collin's Lab: Multimeters! The multimeter is your greatest ally when working with electronics. Learn how to measure voltage, resistance, current, & continuity – as well as which meter works best for specific tasks. Here are the previous episodes." — Read the rest

Make's inimitable Collin Cunningham made this video to show how to use a digital multimeter.

The ability to test resistance, voltage, current & continuity are vital to any electronics maker – even the freshest of newbies. In fact, having a reliable multimeter on hand is a huge help when learning the basics.

Oh, the joys of #vanlife!

I was checking up on my Vanagon yesterday and noticed the coolant was low. Missing coolant is very bad in a Vanagon for many, many reasons.

I looked for a leak.

I could not find a leak. — Read the rest

Many Arduino books assume you know at least a bit about electronics. Learn Electronics With Arduino by artist Jody Culkin and Eric Hagan is written for people who want to learn about electronics but are complete electronics newbies.

The 384 page book covers basic electronics equations, components, and circuits, as well as how to use and program an Arduino microcontroller. — Read the rest

I tested the capacity of two USB battery packs using two different USB multi-meters. The results did not surprise me.

I recently acquired two $10-each USB multi-meters, the Powerjive and a DROK . The Powerjive is "easier" to use. The DROK handles more complex advanced charging protocols like Qualcomm 2.0 quick charging, and is less intuitive. — Read the rest

A very good piece by Tom Simonite in the MIT Technology Review looks at the implications of Intel's announcement that it will slow the rate at which it increases the density of transistors in microprocessors.

Are they Alligator leads or Crocodile clips?

This $4 set certainly comes in handy when playing with our Makey Makey, and unsurprisingly have become standard kit when trouble-shooting electrical gremlins on my motorcycle.

Also useful for extending the reach of a multi-meter. — Read the rest

Unlike a multimeter, this battery tester isn't battery powered. Instead, it measures the voltage across the terminals of 9V, AA, AAA, C, D and 1.5V button type batteries. It's also easier to use than multimeter probes. It's only $(removed) on Amazon and has a 4.5 star rating with over 1500 reviews.

The Somerville Tool Library is where the real sharing economy is happening

[Video Link] MAKE's Collin Cunningham created a nice video explaining how to read a schematic.

Schematics are the functional diagram of electronic circuits. With so many designs available on the web, understanding how to read schematics can unlock a world of possibilities for the electronics maker.

[Video Link] Here's MAKE's Collin Cunningham with a quick primer on using infrared LEDs and phototransistors to send and receive wireless signals.

MAKE Circuit Skills: Infrared Light

Don't tell the Double-Rainbow guy, but all those beautiful colors really can have a deeper meaning. That's because different chemicals reflect and absorb different wavelengths of light, leaving tell-tale patterns in the rainbow. If you know what colors specific chemicals absorb, you can look at the light reflected off a sample and use the rainbow to figure out what you've got. — Read the rest

Maker Media has just published a new book called Make: Electronics, by Charles Platt, and it's the best electronics primer I've ever come across (admittedly, I'm the editor-in-chief of MAKE and Charles' friend, but I really do think it's the best). — Read the rest

Casemodder Sheyr produced this stunning Castle Wolfenstein-themed PC, called the FuG-01/ET. It features a field phone, bullet-holes (!), and has a matching keyboard and mouse. Bravo!

Besides the side-mounted telephone one of the most striking features on this case are the dual electric gauges.

It's 6AM here in London and I'm sitting in the living room with the baby, listening to the washing-machine hum away in the kitchen. The washing machine, a Hotpoint combo washer-dryer (jack of all trades, master of none, I'm afraid) started blowing the breaker every time we ran it about a month ago. — Read the rest

Make's videoblogger Bre Pettis put the Make MP3 player kit into a laser tag belt and gun. You pull the trigger to advance to the next song. Link

Other Makezine videos:

• How to use a Multimeter

• Circuit Bending

• How to Make a Birdfeeder Webcam

• Learn How To Solder – Skill Building Workshop

• Make Video Podcast 2006 Wrapup

• Build Bridges and Break Them! — Read the rest