TractorByNet.com - View Single Post - What's a good choice when buying a Multimeter?

Soundguy · 01-13-2009, 02:56 PM

I see with your 'geek' comment you are resorting to red herrings vs actual reasonable arguments. I take it then you feel that anyone using meters for non industrial applications.. and or precision equipment like lab grade equipment are geeks. Good job.. nothing like an insult to really make your argument go across!

I already covered damaged leads... you got damaged leads.. you got a problem.. fix or replace. That's not a meter fault.. it's a user fault. ( As with any tool.. equipment INSPECTION is mandatory.. if you don't inspect your equipment.. how do you know it's safe.. IE.. the leads.. and ends.. etc.. again.. this is a user issue!)

Unsafe uses of a meter.. don't matter whether you got a 9$ or 290$ meter in your hand.. you touch the wrong stuff while holding the wrong stuff.. you're gonna have problems.. again.. not a meter fault.. it's a user fault.

People need to take some personal responsibility here... How many car accidents happen in the US every day?? What SMALL percentage of those are actually attributable to equipment failures ( other than maintenance/neglect issues ).. and how many of these accidents are USER ERROR. Applies accros the board to most every application of human interface with a machine. If the human makes an error... why blame the machine?

Give an idiot a 290$ menter and point him towards a 'hot' panel and tell him to start checkin'... Probably won't need long before something emits smoke, sparks or a scream... and it won't be the fault of the meter.

As i said..

Find a unit with a UL tag.

Don't use damaged leads.

Stay within the insulation voltage rating of the leads.. I havn't owned a set in the last 15years that didn't have the range printed right on the insulation.

Stay within the VOM's rated capacity with respect to the scale you are using when making current checks. If you are exceeding the rating, and don't expect a problem.. that's a user error not a machine error!.. Remember.. this includes the test leads!

If you do all this and you have a unit flame out in your hands.. then it's a meter error.

If you are already practicing a level electrical safety equal to the votlage ranges you are working with ( and don't forget frequency! ) you will likely be ok with respect to shock hazard. IE.. around high voltage and get them correct gloves, and or gloves and liners!.. non conductive boots and all the other things you should and shouldn't be doing.

In the end.. an idiot with the best equipment inthe world WILL find a way to circumvenbt the best of safety features and find a way to have a problem.. just the same.. a SAFE reasonable person using correctly rated, cheaper' equipment should be quite safe.

soundguy

01-13-2009, 02:56 PM	#37 (permalink)
Soundguy Epic Contributor Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Central florida Posts: 22,392	Re: What's a good choice when buying a Multimeter? I see with your 'geek' comment you are resorting to red herrings vs actual reasonable arguments. I take it then you feel that anyone using meters for non industrial applications.. and or precision equipment like lab grade equipment are geeks. Good job.. nothing like an insult to really make your argument go across! I already covered damaged leads... you got damaged leads.. you got a problem.. fix or replace. That's not a meter fault.. it's a user fault. ( As with any tool.. equipment INSPECTION is mandatory.. if you don't inspect your equipment.. how do you know it's safe.. IE.. the leads.. and ends.. etc.. again.. this is a user issue!) Unsafe uses of a meter.. don't matter whether you got a 9$ or 290$ meter in your hand.. you touch the wrong stuff while holding the wrong stuff.. you're gonna have problems.. again.. not a meter fault.. it's a user fault. People need to take some personal responsibility here... How many car accidents happen in the US every day?? What SMALL percentage of those are actually attributable to equipment failures ( other than maintenance/neglect issues ).. and how many of these accidents are USER ERROR. Applies accros the board to most every application of human interface with a machine. If the human makes an error... why blame the machine? Give an idiot a 290$ menter and point him towards a 'hot' panel and tell him to start checkin'... Probably won't need long before something emits smoke, sparks or a scream... and it won't be the fault of the meter. As i said.. Find a unit with a UL tag. Don't use damaged leads. Stay within the insulation voltage rating of the leads.. I havn't owned a set in the last 15years that didn't have the range printed right on the insulation. Stay within the VOM's rated capacity with respect to the scale you are using when making current checks. If you are exceeding the rating, and don't expect a problem.. that's a user error not a machine error!.. Remember.. this includes the test leads! If you do all this and you have a unit flame out in your hands.. then it's a meter error. If you are already practicing a level electrical safety equal to the votlage ranges you are working with ( and don't forget frequency! ) you will likely be ok with respect to shock hazard. IE.. around high voltage and get them correct gloves, and or gloves and liners!.. non conductive boots and all the other things you should and shouldn't be doing. In the end.. an idiot with the best equipment inthe world WILL find a way to circumvenbt the best of safety features and find a way to have a problem.. just the same.. a SAFE reasonable person using correctly rated, cheaper' equipment should be quite safe. soundguy