[ChrisH]

I use a cheap Radio Shack digital multimeter. I'm not sure how long I've had it, but I know it's more than 13 years. It runs off of two AA batteries. In the time I've had it, I think I've replaced the batteries once. No, I don't store it with the batteries in it, but I do keep them in the box so I always know where to find them. I think I paid about $15-20 for it brand new.

As a mechanical, it does about everything I need. Though a clamp-on ammeter would have been nice. I don't need it very often, but when I do, I NEED it. The only time it ever failed me was the one time when the original batteries finally died. It was so unexpected, it took me a while to figure out what the problem was. (Gee, how do you check the continuity of a switch on your continuity checker?)

I figure the second set of batteries are due to be replaced anytime now...